Silent T-DNA genes in plant lines transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens are activated by grafting and by 5-azacytidine treatment

Summary A shooty tumor induced by a shooter mutant of an octopine strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was cloned. One clone obtained (TS038) behaved aberrantly in that it grew as a shooty tumor tissue on phytohormone free medium, but did not contain octopine synthase activity. In line TS038 the genes for octopine synthase and for the enzymes involved in agropine and mannopine synthesis were present, but were not transcribed. However, the above genes became active in TS038 tumor shoots after grafting as well as after treatment with the hypomethylating agent 5-azacytidine. After an unusually long incubation period in the growth cabinet shoot cultures appeared to have developed small shoots from the top of the leaves. This unusual form of differentiation was found to be accompanied by the induction of octopine synthase activity.     

农杆菌介导转化黑曲霉分生孢子及产孢缺陷突变子T-DNA插入位点分析

【目的】利用农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)T-DNA系统,建立转化黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)分生孢子的方法,构建T-DNA插入突变子文库,为黑曲霉基因组功能注释研究打下基础。【方法】采用携带二元质粒载体pCAMBIA1301的农杆菌EHA105,诱导转化黑曲霉分生孢子,筛选具有潮霉素抗性的突变子。分析抗性稳定突变子菌株的表型,采用反向PCR方法分析T-DNA插入位点相邻位置的序列,并推测突变基因可能具有的功能。【结果】实验获得具有稳定潮霉素抗性转化子193株,转化率为5.6×102转化子/108分生孢子。部分转化子表型出现较为明显改变,其中一株不能产孢,对其T-DNA插入位点序列分析比对结果显示,突变基因属于超级转运家族(major facilitator superfamily,MFS)。【结论】本研究建立的农杆菌转化黑曲霉分生孢子平台,结合T-DNA插入突变位点分析,可以为黑曲霉基因组功能注释研究提供一种简便有效的途径。     

抗冻蛋白(afp)基因表达载体的构建及对香蕉胚性细胞悬浮系的转化

通过PCR从‘京都七寸人参'胡萝卜基因组DNA中扩增抗冻蛋白基因,测序结果表明该基因的核苷酸序列与从宁夏‘吴忠'胡萝卜中克隆的完全一致。先后将获得的胡萝卜afp基因克隆和亚克隆至pMD18-T和pBI121,构建植物表达载体pBI121-afp。通过冻融法将pBI121-afp导入根癌农杆菌EHA105中。以香蕉栽培品种‘北大矮蕉'的胚性细胞悬浮系为受体,采用农杆菌介导法将胡萝卜afp基因导入其中,然后在Kanamycin的选择压力下通过体细胞胚发生途径进行植株再生。共获得抗性再生植株9株,其中两株经PCR检测呈阳性,可初步确定目的基因已经整合到这两株转基因香蕉植株的基因组中。     

根癌农杆菌介导合欢转TaNHX2基因体系的优化

通过对农杆菌菌液浓度、侵染时间、预培养时间和共培养时间等影响转化效率的因素进行优化,建立了合欢农杆菌转化体系。在此基础上,利用农杆菌介导法将TaNHX2基因导入合欢基因组内,获得大量Kan抗性再生植株。常规PCR和实时荧光PCR检测结果表明,外源基因已整合到合欢基因组中,并正常转录。     

Rapid induction of genomic demethylation and T-DNA gene expression in plant cells by 5-azacytosine derivatives

We have optimized conditions for demethylation of the genome and induction of a silent, hypermethylated T-DNA gene (ipt) by 5-azacytosine (5-azaCyt) derivatives in a suspension culture of tobacco cells. In this system, 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) is more effective in causing genomic demethylation and ipt gene induction than 5-azaCyt or 5-azadeoxycytidine (5-azadC). A single treatment with 2.5 M 5-azaC resulted in a maximal level of ipt gene induction without inhibiting cell growth. However, we could not reduce the level of genomic methylation below approximately 2/3 of that found in untreated controls, even after extensive 5-azaC treatment. Furthermore, remethylation of the genome occurred after removal of 5-azaC. The use of 5-azaC as an inducer of silent plant genes is discussed, along with differences in the response of plant and animal genomes to demethylating agents.Abbreviations C cytidine - Cyt cytosine - 5-azaCyt 5-azacytosine - 5-azaC 5-azacytidine - 5-azadC 5-azadeoxycytidine - m⁵Cyt 5-methylcytosine     

Artificial Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains exhibit diverse mechanisms to repress Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae‐induced hypersensitive response and non‐host resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) rapidly triggers a hypersensitive response (HR) and non‐host resistance in its non‐host plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, we report that Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 blocks Xoo‐induced HR in N. benthamiana when pre‐infiltrated or co‐infiltrated, but not when post‐infiltrated at 4 h after Xoo inoculation. This suppression by A. tumefaciens is local and highly efficient to Xoo. The HR‐inhibiting efficiency of A. tumefaciens is strain dependent. Strain C58C1 has almost no effect on Xoo‐induced HR, whereas strains GV3101, EHA105 and LBA4404 nearly completely block HR formation. Intriguingly, these three HR‐inhibiting strains employ different strategies to repress HR. Strain GV3101 displays strong antibiotic activity and thus suppresses Xoo growth. Comparison of the genotype and Xoo antibiosis activity of wild‐type A. tumefaciens strain C58 and a set of C58‐derived strains reveals that this Xoo antibiosis activity of A. tumefaciens is negatively, but not solely, regulated by the transferred‐DNA (T‐DNA) of the Ti plasmid pTiC58. Unlike GV3101, strains LBA4404 and EHA105 exhibit no significant antibiotic effect on Xoo, but rather abolish hydrogen peroxide accumulation. In addition, expression assays indicate that strains LBA4404 and EHA105 may inhibit Xoo‐induced HR by suppression of the expression of Xoo type III secretion system (T3SS) effector genes hpa1 and hrpD6. Collectively, our results unveil the multiple levels of effects of A. tumefaciens on Xoo in N. benthamiana and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the bacterial antibiosis of A. tumefaciens and the non‐host resistance induced by Xoo.     

Targeted gene exchange in plant cells mediated by a zinc finger nuclease double cut

Genome modification by homology‐directed repair (HDR) is an attractive tool for the controlled genetic manipulation of plants. Here, we report the HDR‐mediated gene exchange of expression cassettes in tobacco BY‐2 cells using a designed zinc finger nuclease (ZFN). The target contained a 7‐kb fragment flanked by two ZFN cutting sites. That fragment was replaced with a 4‐kb donor cassette, which integrates gene markers for selection (kanamycin resistance) and for scoring targeting (red fluorescent protein, RFP). Candidates resulting from cassette exchange were identified by molecular analysis of calli generated by transformation via direct DNA delivery. The precision of HDR‐mediated donor integration was evaluated by Southern blot analysis, sequencing of the integration locus and analysis of RFP fluorescence by flow cytometry. Screening of 1326 kanamycin‐resistant calli yielded 18 HDR events, 16 of which had a perfect cassette exchange at the insert junction and 13 of which produced functional RFP. Our results demonstrate that ZFN‐based HDR can be used for high frequency, precise, targeted exchange of fragments of sizes that are commercially relevant in plants.     

Absence in monocotyledonous plants of the diffusible plant factors inducing T-DNA circularization and vir gene expression in Agrobacterium

Summary T-DNA circularization is one of the molecular events specifically induced in agrobacterial cells upon their infection of dicotyledonous plant cells. We developed a seedling co-cultivation procedure to determine whether or not monocotyledonous plants have the ability to induce T-DNA circularization and vir gene expression. Co-cultivation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with seedlings of dicotyledonous plants showed that the circularization event takes place efficiently. The exudates and extracts of the seedlings also effectively induced T-DNA circularization and vir gene expression, indicating that dicotyledonous seedlings contain diffusible factors capable of inducing these molecular events. In contrast, neither T-DNA circularization nor vir gene expression was detectable when Agrobacterium was incubated with seedlings of monocotyledonous plants. Supplementing with acetosyringone, a known inducer of vir gene expression and T-DNA circularization, resulted in the induction of circularization during co-cultivation with monocotyledonous seedlings. These results indicate that the seedlings of monocotyledonous plants have no detectable amounts of diffusible inducers, unlike dicotyledonous seedlings. Therefore, it is unlikely that the vir genes are expressed in Agrobacterium inoculated in monocotyledonous plants. This may be one of the blocks in tumorigenesis of monocotyledonous plants by Agrobacterium.     

Consistent and stable expression of the nptII, uidA and bar genes in transgenic Pinus radiata after Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation using nurse cultures

An Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol has been developed for embryogenic cell cultures of Pinus radiata. Transgenic lines were only produced when embryogenic tissue was placed on nurse tissue during the Agrobacterium co-cultivation and recovery stages of the procedure. Plantlets were regenerated via somatic embryogenesis from ten of the 11 transgenic lines tested and at least 20 of each line were planted in a GMO glasshouse. Expression of the nptII, uidA and bar genes in up to ten plants of each individual transgenic line was evaluated by molecular, biochemical and functional analysis. As expected, expression of the nptII gene varied among the ten lines, while within ten replicates of the same line, nptII expression appeared to be consistent, with the exception of one line, K3. Likewise, the level of GUS activity varied among transgenic lines, but was relatively consistent in plants derived from the same tissue, except for two lines, G4 and G5. Moreover, similar absolute values and pattern of gene expression of uidA was observed in the transgenic plants, for two consecutive years. Plantlets from eight lines survived a spray treatment with the equivalent of 2 kg/ha and 4 kg/ha of the commercial formulation Buster, whereas non-transformed controls died. Southern hybridisation analysis of embryogenic tissue and green needle tissue from putative transgenic lines demonstrated a relatively low number of gene insertions (from one to nine) of both the bar and nptII genes in the nine transgenic lines tested.     

Modification of competence for in vitro response to Fusarium oxysporum in tomato cells. III. PR-protein gene expression and ethylene evolution in tomato cell lines transgenic for phytohormone-related bacterial genes

 Previous work carried out in our laboratory has shown that, in tomato, the alteration of endogenous phytohormone equilibria through the integration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens genes for auxin and cytokinin synthesis can modify the active defense response to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The susceptible cv ‘Red River’ acquires a stable competence for active defense, particularly when the phytohormone equilibrium is altered in favour of cytokinins. Here, we analyse the expression of genes involved in the defense response against pathogens, i.e. pathogenesis-related (PR)-protein genes, in the susceptible ‘Red River’ and resistant ‘Davis’ cultivars transgenic for the aforementioned genes. Fungal cell-wall components, glutathione, salicylic acid and the ethylene-forming ethephon are used as “probes” for the induction of defense processes, including ethylene production. The data obtained show that the extracellular PR-proteins (acidic chitinase and PR-1 protein) that were inducible in the control tissue of the resistant ‘Davis’ cultivar and not expressed in the susceptible ‘Red River’ cultivar became constitutive in the transgenic tissues of both. On the other hand, expression of the intracellular PR-proteins (basic chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase) was found to be constitutive in all cases, both in the control and in the transgenic cell lines of the resistant and the susceptible tomato cultivars. Ethylene production was higher in ‘Davis’ than in ‘Red River’, and significantly increased in the transgenic cell lines, particularly when cytokinin synthesis was altered. Received: 25 February 1998 / Accepted: 7 April 1998     

Growth phase-dependent expression of proteins with decreased plant-specific N-glycans and immunogenicity in tobacco BY2 cells

Plants possess some desirable characteristics to synthesize recombinant glycoproteins for pharma-ceutical application. However, the mammalian glycoproteins produced in plants are somewhat different from their natural counterparts in terms of N-glycoforms. The immunogenicity of plant-specific glyco-epitopes is the major concern in human therapy. Here, the distribution of N-glycans in different growth phases of tobacco BY2 cells and their immunogenicity in mice were determined. It was ob-served that the percentage of β1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose in proteins of growing cells increased and the corresponding protein extracts caused accelerated immune response in mice. Based on this ob-servation, the recombinant erythropoietin in BY2 cells was expressed and characterized, and Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant erythropoietin contained a relatively small amount of plant-specific glyco-epitopes in the early phase of culture growth. This study may provide a simple but effective strategy for the production of therapeutic glycoproteins with human-like N-glycan structures in plant hosts to avoid a great allergenic risk.     

The expression of the 14D9 catalytic antibody in suspended cells of Nicotiana tabacum cultures increased by the addition of protein stabilizers and by transference from erlenmeyer flasks to a 2‐L bioreactor

The effect of two protein stabilizers (polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP] and gelatine) on growth and 14D9 yield of Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension cultures (Ab‐KDEL and sec‐Ab) was analyzed. The addition of PVP at a concentration of 1.0 g L^?1 produced the highest total 14D9 yield (biomass + culture medium) in the Ab‐KDEL line (4.82% total soluble protein [TSP]). With the addition of gelatine, the highest total 14D9 yield (2.48% TSP) was attained in the Ab‐KDEL line at 5.0 g L^?1 gelatine. When the Ab‐KDEL suspended cells were cultured in a 2‐L bioreactor, the highest 14D9 yield was 8.1% TSP at a 5% w/v inoculum size, which was the best 14D9 yield so far obtained in the platforms tested (E. coli, N. tabacum leaves and seeds, N. tabacum hairy roots, and cell suspension cultures). © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1185–1189, 2014     

Modification of competence for in vitro response to Fusarium oxysporum in tomato cells. II. Effect of the integration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens genes for auxin and cytokinin synthesis

We have studied the effect of a change in the endogenous hormone equilibria on the competence of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cells to defend themselves against the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Calluses from cvs Davis and Red River, respectively resistant and susceptible to Fusarium and transgenic for an auxin- or cytokinin-synthesizing gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, were used. The integration of Agrobacterium hormone-related genes into susceptible cv Red River can bring the activation of defense processes to a stable competence as assessed by the inhibition of mycelial growth in dual culture and gem-tube elongation of Fusarium conidia, the determination of callose contents, peroxidase induction and ion leakage in the presence of fusaric acid. This is particularly true when the transformation results in a change of phytohormone equilibria towards an higher cytokin in concentration. On the contrary, in resistant cv Davis the inhibition of both fungal growth in dual culture and conidia germination is higher when the hormone balance is modified in favour of the auxins. No significant effect was observed for ion leakage and peroxidase induction, probably because of a constitutive overproduction of cytokinins in Davis cells.     

Induction of a Citrus gene highly homologous to plant and yeast thi genes involved in thiamine biosynthesis during natural and ethylene-induced fruit maturation

Maturing citrus fruit undergo pigment changes which can be enhanced by exogenous ethylene. In order to identify genes induced by ethylene in citrus fruit peel, we cloned the gene c-thi1. mRNA corresponding to c-thi1 increased gradually in the peel during natural fruit maturation and in response to ethylene. GA₃ pretreatment reduced the inductive effect of ethylene. Levels of c-thi1 increased also in juice sacs but the effect of ethylene was much less prominent. c-thi1 is homologous to yeast and plant genes encoding for an enzyme belonging to the pathway of thiamine biosynthesis. The data suggest that thiamine is involved in citrus fruit maturation.