Transgene inheritance in plants genetically engineered by microprojectile bombardment

Microprojectile bombardment to deliver DNA into plant cells represents a major breakthrough in the development of plant transformation technologies and accordingly has resulted in transformation of numerous species considered recalcitrant toAgrobacterium- or protoplast-mediated transformation methods. This article attempts to review the current understanding of the molecular and genetic behavior of transgenes introduced by microprojectile bombardment. The characteristic features of the transgene integration pattern resulting from DNA delivery via microprojectile bombardment include integration of the full length transgene as well as rearranged copies of the introduced DNA. Copy number of both the transgene and rearranged fragments is often highly variable. Most frequently the multiple transgene copies and rearranged fragments are inherited as a single locus. However, a variable proportion of transgenic events produced by microprojectile bombardment exhibit Mendelian ratios for monogenic and digenic segregation vs events exhibiting segregation distortion. The potential mechanisms underlying these observations are discussed.     

A combined use of microprojectile bombardment and DNA imbibition enhances transformation frequency of canola (Brassica napus L.)

Efforts to increase the frequency of recovered homozygous transgenic B. napus plants from direct DNA transformation treatments led to the development of a method of combined microprojectile bombardment and desiccation/DNA imbibition. The combined method was compared to individual treatments in two experiments utilizing microspore-derived embryo hyocotyls as targets for the -glucuronidase (GUS) and NPT II genes. Both the transient gene expression of -GUS and the stable transformation by NPT II demonstrated that the combined use of microprojectile bombardment and desiccation/DNA imbibition yielded more transgenic plants (at least three-times more) than either individual transformation protocol. In a histochemical analysis for -GUS activity, an average of 37% of the hypocotyls receiving the combined treatment displayed a positive response, whereas only 8% of the hypocotyls showed a positive response following microprojectile bombardment alone. The hypocotyls obtained by the joint treatment also showed more multisite expression of the -GUS gene per hypocotyl than those treated only with microprojectile bombardment. Southern analysis of NPT II gene integration into subsequently-derived secondary embryos indicated that the transformation efficiency of the combined treatment was 2% in comparison to 0.6% for that of the singular microprojectile bombardment. The number of inserts integrating per transformation event appears to be independent of the transformation methods. Neither of the marker genes was expressed in hypocotyls treated only with desiccation/DNA imbibition. Utilization of hypocotyl regeneration from microspore-derived embryos via a secondary embryogenesis system provided a reliable method for producing transgenic plants. The combined use of microprojectile bombardment and desiccation/DNA imbibition proved to be an efficient approach to obtain homozygous transgenic canola plants.     

An efficient method for transformation of pre-androgenic,isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> microspores involving microprojectile bombardment and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium-</Emphasis>mediated transformation

The physical barrier imposed by the thick microspore wall constitutes an obstacle for an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of vacuolate microspores prior to androgenic induction and haploid embryogenic commitment. It is thus necessary to implement additional methods to overcome this drawback. In this study, we focused on the optimization of a protocol to allow for the exogenous DNA to enter the microspore in an efficient manner. We tested different options, based on microprojectile bombardment, to be applied prior to agroinfiltration. From them, the best results were obtained through co-transformation by microspore bombardment with DNA-coated microprojectile particles, followed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens infection. This method provides an efficient means to integrate extraneous DNA into rapeseed microspores prior to androgenesis induction.     

Genetic Transformation of Rice

Rice was the first major monocot crop species to be transformed and regenerated. Initially, rice transformation was limited to japonica cultivars. Subsequently, a number of indica and javanica cultivars have also been transformed and regenerated into fertile transgenic plants. Most transformation studies in rice have used direct DNA uptake into protoplasts, induced by polyethylene glycol treatment or electroporation. Recently, other transformation methods have been developed that are less genotype dependent, such as microprojectile bombardment of cell suspensions and immature embryos. This review summarizes progress in both protoplast-based and other transformation methods.     

Optimization of factors influencing microprojectile bombardment-mediated genetic transformation of seed-derived callus and regeneration of transgenic plants in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleusine coracana</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn

Microprojectile bombardment mediated genetic transformation parameters have been standardized for seed derived callus of Eleusine coracana. Plasmid pCAMBIA 1381 harboring hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) as selectable marker gene and β-glucuronidase (gus A) as reporter gene, was used for the optimization of gene transfer conditions. The transient GUS expression and survival of putative transformants were taken into consideration for the assessment of parameters. Optimum conditions for the microprojectile bombardment mediated genetic transformation of finger millet were 1,100 psi rupture disk pressure with 3 cm distance from rupture disk to macrocarrier and 12 cm microprojectile travel distance. Double bombardment with gold particles of 1.0 μm size provided maximum transient GUS expression and transformation efficiency. Osmotic treatment of callus with 0.4 M sorbitol enhanced efficiency of particle bombardment mediated genetic transformation. Regenerative calli were bombarded at optimum conditions of bombardment and placed on regeneration medium with hygromycin to obtain transformed plants. The integration of hptII and gus A genes was confirmed with PCR amplification of 684 and 634 bp sizes of the bands respectively from putative transformants and Southern blot hybridization using PCR amplified DIG labeled hptII gene as probe. PCR analysis with hptII gene specific primers indicated the presence of transgene in T₁ generation plants. Thus a successful genetic transformation system was developed using particle bombardment in E. coracana with 45.3% transformation efficiency. The protocol will be helpful for the introgression of desired genes into E. coracana.     

麦类作物遗传转化

麦类作物包括小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)、硬粒小麦(Triticum turgidum con v.durum Dest.e.m)、大麦(Hordeum vulgare L.)、黑麦(Secale cereal L.)、燕麦(Avena sativa L.)及小大麦(×Tritordeum Ascherson et Graebuer.).自从基因枪被发明以来,科学家们已经利用来自麦类作物的幼胚、 盾片、成熟种子胚、花粉粒、花药、幼穗、叶基组织、发芽种子幼苗的顶端分生组织及其愈伤组织或培养物作为外植体,通过基因枪、农杆菌介导、 PEG法、电激法、微注射法、硅化纤维素介导、幼穗注射法等技术先后将一些选择标记基因、报告基因和有用的目的基因如抗真菌、抗虫、 籽粒品质、抗干旱基因等转化到麦类作物中.转基因植物表现为抗性增强或籽粒的加工品质提高和营养成份增加.被转化的基因通常以单位点多拷贝的形式随机整合到受体细胞的基因组中,并以孟德尔规律遗传.整合位点一般分布在染色体的近端粒区域,整合的拷贝数大多为5～10个拷贝,最高可达到50个拷贝.在转化过程中,被转化的质粒上的片段包括选择标记基因、目标基因、甚至质粒的抗生素基因和其他无关序列,随机地连接并形成多个分子量大小不等,组成成分不同的分子簇,或首先由其中一个分子簇整合到植物基因组中,这会导致在整合位点附近产生"热点",易于其他分子簇在此处整合,从而完成两期整合;或被转化的质粒上的选择标记基因、目标基因、质粒的抗生素基因和其他无关序列、植物基因组DNA等片段共同形成各种不同类型的分子簇,当植物细胞染色体复制时,在复制叉处整合到植物基因组中.转基因可以在各种水平上表达,也会时常发生基因沉默,这会导致转基因植物DNA水平上表达但在蛋白质水平上不表达,后代偏向分离,沉默的转基因重新表达.转基因的位置效应、甲基化和启动子都会诱发转基因沉默.在麦类作物中,35S启动子易于导致转基因沉默,应尽量减少使用.转基因还导致被转化麦类作物在农艺性状和细胞学上的变异.目前,麦类作物遗传转化已经成为一种常规的技术,转基因麦类作物正开始进入商业应用阶段.相信多种转化新技术的应用和发展将会培育出高产、稳产、优质、低投入的各类品种和种质.     

麦类作物遗传转化(英)

麦类作物包括小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)、硬粒小麦 (Triticumturgidumconv .durumDest.e.m)、大麦 (HordeumvulgareL .)、黑麦 (SecalecerealL .)、燕麦 (AvenasativaL .)及小大麦 (×TritordeumAschersonetGraebuer.)。自从基因枪被发明以来 ,科学家们已经利用来自麦类作物的幼胚、盾片、成熟种子胚、花粉粒、花药、幼穗、叶基组织、发芽种子幼苗的顶端分生组织及其愈伤组织或培养物作为外植体 ,通过基因枪、农杆菌介导、PEG法、电激法、微注射法、硅化纤维素介导、幼穗注射法等技术先后将一些选择标记基因、报告基因和有用的目的基因如抗真菌、抗虫、籽粒品质、抗干旱基因等转化到麦类作物中。转基因植物表现为抗性增强或籽粒的加工品质提高和营养成份增加。被转化的基因通常以单位点多拷贝的形式随机整合到受体细胞的基因组中 ,并以孟德尔规律遗传。整合位点一般分布在染色体的近端粒区域 ,整合的拷贝数大多为 5～ 10个拷贝 ,最高可达到 5 0个拷贝。在转化过程中 ,被转化的质粒上的片段包括选择标记基因、目标基因、甚至质粒的抗生素基因和其他无关序列 ,随机地连接并形成多个分子量大小不等 ,组成成分不同的分子簇 ,或首先由其中一个分子簇整合到植物基因组中 ,这会导致在整合位点附近产生“热点     

农杆菌介导法与基因枪轰击法结合在植物遗传转化上的应用

根癌农杆菌介导法(Agrohacterium mediated transformation)和基因枪轰击法( particle bombardment transformation)是植物遗传转化的主要方法。两种方法各有优缺点．农杆菌介导法是一种天然的植物遗传转化系统,外源基因在转基因植物中的拷贝数低,遗传稳定性好;基因枪转化法不受材料基因型的限制。通过结合两种方法的优点,发展了3种农杆菌介导和基因枪轰击法相结合的遗传转化方法,分别为农杆枪法、基因枪轰击／农杆菌感染法、金粉或钨粉包裹菌体细胞作为微弹轰击法。对3种结合转化方法的技术途径、原理、转化受体及研究进展等方面进行了综述。     

Deletion analysis of pollen-expressed promoters

Summary We have used microprojectile bombardment of tobacco pollen to study the DNA sequences involved in the expression of pollen-expressed genes. Promoter-reporter gene fusions constructed with the promoters of three different pollen-expressed genes from tomato (LAT52, LAT56, and LAT59) and either theβ-glucuronidase or luciferase reporter genes were assayed by bombarding hydrated tobacco pollen with the gene constructs precipitated onto tungsten microprojectiles. Reporter gene expression can be assayed within 30 min, with the maximal level of expression between 6 and 12 h after bombardment. By constructing and assaying promoter deletion derivatives, we have been able to delimit regions of the promoters that are necessary for high level expression in pollen. We also demonstrate that results with this transient expression system parallel the expression levels seen in pollen from stably transformed transgenic plants. The microprojectile bombardment assay can be used to rapidly test constructs for pollen expression beforeAgrobacterium-mediated plant transformation. Furthermore, it may be possible to adapt the microprojectile bombardment technique to achieve stable transformation of pollen. Presented in the Session-in-Depth Genetic Transformation and Genetic Analysis Using Microprojectile Bombardment at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, Houston, Texas, June 10–13, 1990. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, ARS CRIS 5335-22230-002-00D, and by the NSF Center for Plant Developmental Biology, UC-Berkeley, DIR-8719933.     

A comparative study on the transformation of Aspergillus nidulans by microprojectile bombardment of conidia and a more conventional procedure using protoplasts treated with polyethyleneglycol

 An Aspergillus nidulans strain, auxotrophic for pyrimidine, was transformed to prototrophy by means of microprojectile bombardment. The transformation frequency was somewhat lower than conventional polyethyleneglycol-mediated transformation of protoplasts. However, the percentage of stable transformants was considerably higher with the biolistic approach. Typically, integrations of several copies of the plasmid introduced into chromosomal DNA were observed. The effect of several parameters, like the concentration of conidia, chamber pressure during bombardment and size of microprojectiles, on transformation frequencies were investigated and compared to previously published data on microprojectile bombardment of fungal conidia. Optimum results (6 transformants/μg plasmid DNA) were obtained when 10⁸ conidia were bombarded with a helium pressure of 5.5–8.3 MPa (800–1200 lb/in²). M5, M10 and M17 tungsten particles were equally efficient. Received: 9 August 1995/Received revision: 27 September 1995/Accepted: 4 October 1995     

Genetic engineering for cut-flower improvement

The application of modern biotechnological approaches to cut flowers has clearly become instrumental and rewarding for the floriculture industry. In recent years, several gene-transfer procedures have been developed for some of the major commercial cut flowers. Using Agrobactrium or microprojectile bombardment, several basic protocols are now available. However, despite the great progress and interest in gene transfer to these crops, their transformation is routine in only a limited number of laboratories, and its application is still considered to be an "art form". This review summarizes the reported gene-transfer procedures for the main cut-flower crops, with an emphasis on the unique factors of each method and the recent progress in introducing new traits of horticultural interest into these species.     

Microprojectile particle effect on stable transformation of black spruce via bombardment

Three types of microprojectile particles, 1.0-μm gold, 1.3-μm tungsten, and 1.6-μm gold, were studied for their effectiveness on genetic transformation of black spruce via bombardment with somatic embryos as the target tissue. Different particles resulted in different levels of transient expression of theGUS reporter gene; 1.0-μm gold particles produced the highest level of expression, and 1.6-μm gold particles produced the lowest level. Particle type also affected stable transformation; 1.0-μm gold particles had a 10-fold higher stable transformation efficiency than did 1.6-μm gold particles and a 2-fold higher efficiency than did 1.3-μm tungsten particles. This study indicates that microprojectile particle type and size are important in bombardment-mediated plant transformation.     

基因枪转化技术及其在禾谷类作物遗传转化中的应用

基因枪转化法广泛用于禾谷类作物的遗传转化研究,是目前禾谷类作物遗传转化的有效方法。简要介绍了基困枪转化法的产生与发展、转化的特点以及影响转化频率的主要因素;系统地概述了基因枪法在禾谷类作物遗传转化的应用。     

Artificial gene-clusters engineered into plants using a vector system based on intron-and intein-encoded endonucleases

Summary The ability to create artificial gene-clusters for genetic transformation could facilitate the development of crops with multiple engineered traist, or with traits which result from the expression of multiple genes. A simple method to assemble artificial gene-clusters was developed by designing a multiple cloning site consisting of an array of homing endonuclease cleavage sites into a single vector. These enzymes are also known as intron-or intein-encoded endonucleases, and have very long recognition sequences, which makes them very rare cutters. The resulting vectors are pUGA for microprojectile-mediated transformation, and pUGA2 for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In addition, a series of unidirectional shuttle vectors containing various combinations of homing endonuclease restriction sites was constructed. Gene cassettes can be cloned into individual shuttles, and then transferred to either pUGA or pUGA2 to construct artificial gene-clusters. To test the feasibility of this approach, a six-gene cluster was constructed and transformed into soybean via microprojectile bombardment and into tobacco via Agrobacterium. The genes were assayed for expression in both the T₀ and T₁ generations for three independent transgenics. Up to five of the six genes were expressed. Additional changes to the construction of individual gene cassettes may improve the frequency with which all genes in the cluster are expressed.     

Microprojectile bombardment of plant tissues increases transformation frequency by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Bombardment of plant tissues with microprojectiles in an effective method of wounding to promote Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Tobacco cv. Xanthi leaves and sunflower apical meristems were wounded by microprojectile bombardment prior to application of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains containing genes within the T-DNA encoding GUS or NPTII. Stable kanamycin-resistant tobacco transformants were obtained using an NPTII construct from particle/plasmid, particle-wounded/Agrobacterium-treated or scalpel-wounded/Agrobacterium-treated potato leaves. Those leaves bombarded with particles suspended in TE buffer prior to Agrobacterium treatment produced at least 100 times more kanamycin-resistant colonies than leaves treated by the standard particle gun transformation protocol. In addition, large sectors of GUS expression, indicative of meristem cell transformation, were observed in plants recovered from sunflower apical explants only when the meristems were wounded first by particle bombardment prior to Agrobacterium treatment. Similar results in two different tissue types suggest that (1) particles may be used as a wounding mechanism to enhance Agrobacterium transformation frequencies, and (2) Agrobacterium mediation of stable transformation is more efficient than the analogous particle/plasmid protocol.     

Transient transformation of pollen and embryogenic tissues of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss) resulting from microprojectile bombardment

Detailed analyses of the physical parameters inherent in the microprojectile bombardment technology necessary to produce optimum transient -glucuronidase (GUS) expression were undertaken in pollen and embryogenic tissues of white spruce. Higher helium pressure used for microprojectile bombardment resulted in lower GUS expression in pollen, but in higher GUS expression in embryogenic tissues. Modification of the osmoticum of the culture medium had a limited effect on GUS transient expression in pollen but substantially increased the transient expression in embryogenic tissues. The viability of transformed pollen was not affected by the bombardment procedure. This is the first detailed analysis of microprojectile bombardment technology reporting the conditions needed for optimum transient transformation of pollen and embryogenic tissues of white spruce.     

Efficient microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation of rice using gene cassettes

This study was aimed at determining whether gene cassettes (promoter-coding sequence-terminator) can be efficiently used in microprojectile acceleration-mediated co-transformation of rice in the place of whole plasmids, and to what extent their use influences the integration and expression of the co-transferred gene of interest. Two non-linked marker genes (yfp and hph) were co-introduced by microprojectile bombardment into cells of embryogenic calli in three separate experiments. Three different DNA structures were compared for their ability to transiently and stably transform rice cells: supercoiled or linearized whole-plasmid DNA, gene cassette DNA and single-stranded gene cassette DNA coated with Escherichia coli single-stranded binding (SSB) proteins. Our results demonstrate that microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation of rice using gene cassettes is possible without significantly reducing transformation efficiency in comparison to the use of whole-plasmid DNA. Furthermore, no obvious difference in transgene integration pattern and inheritance was observed among plants transformed with gene cassettes compared to those transformed with the whole plasmid, except that concatemerization of molecules prior to integration was rarely observed in gene cassette transformants. Received: 4 April 2001 / Accepted: 13 August 2001     

Factors affecting the genetic engineering of plants by microprojectile bombardment

Since its development in the mid-1980s, microprojectile bombardment has been widely employed as a method for direct gene transfer into a wide range of plants, including the previously difficult-to-transform monocotyledonous species. Although the numerous instruments available for microprojectile-mediated gene delivery and their applications have been widely discussed, less attention has been paid to the critical factors which affect the efficiency of this method of gene delivery. In this review we do not wish to describe the array of devices used for microprojectile delivery or their uses which have already been definitively described, but instead wish to report on research developments investigating the factors which affect microprojectile-mediated transformation of plants.     

月季的植株再生及遗传转化研究进展

本文对近20年月季植株再生和转基因研究进展进行了较为系统的回顾和总结。月季通过器官和体细胞胚发生途径都能再生植株,但遗传转化主要是利用体细胞胚发生途径。通过农杆菌介导法和基因枪法,外源基因如报告基因、抗病基因和改变花色的基因等已转化成功。文章还对今后月季转基因研究的方向进行了讨论。     

Accumulation of Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus is Significantly Reduced in Transgenic Wheat Plants Expressing a Bacterial Ribonuclease

An rnc70 gene encoding a mutant bacterial ribonuclease III (RNase III) was introduced into wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Bobwhite) by microprojectile bombardment. T1, T2, and T3 plants regenerated from three transgenic callus lines were challenged with barley stripe mosaic virus. Plants expressing RNase III exhibited a high level of resistance to the virus infection. This resistance was evidenced by the absence of virus symptoms and reduced accumulation of virions in these plants. The result demonstrates that this pathogen-targeted resistance strategy can be effectively employed in conferring resistance to viral diseases of cereal crops.