Somatic Embryogenesis in Leguminous Plants

Abstract: This review examines recent advances in the induction and development of somatic embryos in leguminous plants. Emphasis has been given to identify the current trends and successful strategies for the establishment of somatic embryogenic systems, particularly in the economically important species. It appears that, in legumes, somatic embryogenesis can be realized relatively easily especially in young meristematic tissues such as immature embryos and developing leaves. In the majority of the species examined, chlorophenoxyacetic acids remained the most active inductive compounds; however, the new generation growth regulators such as thidiazuron are emerging as successful alternatives for high-frequency direct regeneration of somatic embryos, even from well differentiated explant tissues. Low-frequency embryo production, poor germination and conversion of somatic embryos into plantlets and somaclonal variation are the major impediments limiting the utility of somatic embryogenesis for biotechnological applications in legumes. These limitations, however, may be considerably reduced in the near future, as more newly developed growth regulators with specific morphogenic targets become available for experimentation. From the published data, it is apparent that more effort should be given to develop repetitive embryogenic systems with high frequency of germination and regeneration, since such systems will find immediate application in mass propagation and other crop improvement programmes. As our understanding of various morphogenic processes, including growth and differentiation of zygotic embryos, is fast expanding, it is conceivable that development of highly efficient somatic embryogenic systems with practical application can be anticipated, at least for the important leguminous crops, in the foreseeable future.     

Somatic and Meiotic Chromosomal Recombination between Inverted Duplications in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Homologous recombination has been extensively studied in bacteria, yeast, and more recently in animal cells, but little is known about this process in plants. We present here an analysis of meiotic and somatic chromosomal recombination between closely linked inverted duplications located on a single chromosomal region in tobacco. Transgenic tobacco lines were constructed by Agrobacterium transformation with plasmid vectors containing a functional hygromycin phosphotransferase (hyg) selectable marker flanked by a pair of defective neomycin phosphotransferase (neo) genes positioned as inverted repeats. As each neo gene is mutated in a different site, recombination between the two defective genes can be detected following selection for kanamycin-resistant plant cells. The recombination substrates were designed to allow investigation into the nature of molecular events underlying homologous recombination by restriction endonuclease analysis. Chromosomal recombination was studied in mitotically dividing cells (cultured leaf mesophyll cells) and after meiosis (germinated seedlings). Spontaneous somatic recombinants were recovered at frequencies between ~3 x 10-5 to 10-6 events per cell. Low dose [gamma] irradiation of somatic cells resulted in a threefold maximum increase in the recovery of recombinants. Recombinants were also detected at low frequency when transgenic T3 seeds were germinated under kanamycin selection. DNA gel blot analyses demonstrated that homologous recombination occurred mainly as gene conversion unassociated with reciprocal exchange, although a variety of other events including gene coconversion were also observed.     

木本植物体细胞胚胎发生技术

体细胞胚胎发生技术是植物规模化、产业化快速繁殖和基因转化再生植株的重要手段。对近年来进行体细胞胚胎诱导并再生植株的木本双子叶植物、单子叶植物及裸子植物等树种进行了综述 ,并探讨体细胞胚胎发生中的技术影响因素及其基因表达与调控等研究进展 ,最后提出今后应该加强研究的关键问题。     

Expression of a Thermostable Bacterial Cellulase in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

The bacterial gene of the thermostable endo--1,4-glucanase (cellulase) was shown to retain its activity and substrate specificity when expressed in transgenic tobacco plants. The leader peptide of the carrot extensin was efficient in transferring the bacterial enzyme into the apoplast. The expression of the bacterial cellulase gene leads to changes in the plant tissue morphology. In the transgenic plant lines, regeneration of primary shoots from callus occurred at the three to five times higher cytokinin (6-BAP) concentration than in control plants. The transgenic plants that expressed the bacterial gene exhibited increased bushiness and altered leaf shape. The transgenic plants developed can be used as models for studying the cellulases role and function in plants.     

HPV-16L1植物表达载体的构建及HPV-16L1在转基因烟草中表达的鉴定

利用PCR技术克隆人乳头瘤病毒HPV-16L1蛋白编码基因 ,将其重组于pUCmT和pBI12 1中 ,构建含HPV 16L1基因的植物双元表达载体pBI L1,L1基因由CaMV 35S启动子控制表达。采用叶盘共培育法经根瘤农杆菌介导转化烟草 (NicotianatobacumL .) ,获得HPV-16L1转基因烟草植株。经PCR及Southern杂交分析 ,HPV 16L1基因整合到烟草基因组中 ;Westernblot和ELISA分析检测显示转基因烟草叶片蛋白可与HPV 16L1单克隆抗体特异性反应 ,且定位于 5 5kD处 ,其最高表达量占烟草叶片总可溶蛋白的0.076 %。小鼠红细胞凝集试验 (HA)及小鼠红细胞凝集抑制试验 (HAI)显示转基因烟草叶片蛋白可引起小鼠红细胞凝集。结果表明已成功地构建了HPV-16L1的植物双元表达载体 ,并证实了利用转基因烟草植物能够表达出HPV-16L1蛋白 ,所表达的L1蛋白具有良好的抗原性并具有介导小鼠红细胞凝集的生物活性.     

Expression and Chloroplast Targeting of Cholesterol Oxidase in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Cholesterol oxidase represents a novel type of insecticidal protein with potent activity against the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman). We transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with the cholesterol oxidase choM gene and expressed cytosolic and chloroplast-targeted versions of the ChoM protein. Transgenic leaf tissues expressing cholesterol oxidase exerted insecticidal activity against boll weevil larvae. Our results indicate that cholesterol oxidase can metabolize phytosterols in vivo when produced cytosolically or when targeted to chloroplasts. The transgenic plants exhibiting cytosolic expression accumulated low levels of saturated sterols known as stanols, and displayed severe developmental aberrations. In contrast, the transgenic plants expressing chloroplast-targeted cholesterol oxidase maintained a greater accumulation of stanols, and appeared phenotypically and developmentally normal. These results are discussed within the context of plant sterol distribution and metabolism.     

两种凝集素基因在转基因烟草中表达的研究

构建了含尾穗苋凝集素基因(ACA)的cDNA序列和改造后的雪花莲凝集素基因(GNA)的植物表达载体pBACG。在此表达载体中,ACA和GNA基因的表达分别由35S启动子和CoYMV启动子控制。通过农杆菌介导,将ACA和GNA基因转化到烟草中,经卡那霉素筛选获得60株转化再生植株。对PCR检测呈阳性的50株植株进行接蚜虫实验,结果表明,其平均抑虫率达83．9％。Southern blotting分析表明,ACA和GNA基因都已整合到烟草基因组中。Western blotting结果显示这两个基因在不同植株中都可表达其相应的蛋白质,但表达水平不同。部分Western blotting分析呈阳性植株的抗蚜性与T0代相近,达85．3％,说明这两个基因的抗蚜功能可以稳定遗传。     

植物生长素与体细胞胚发生

简要介绍了植物生长素对体细胞胚发育的作用及其调控机制的研究进展。     

PttGA20ox1基因在转化烟草植株中的表达

构建了P ttGA 20ox 1基因的植物表达载体并在烟草植株中进行了表达.结果表明:转化烟草与对照烟草之间以及转化烟草之间的形态特征出现很大差异;所有转P ttGA 20ox 1基因烟草的顶端优势得到明显促进,其生长速度明显高于对照烟草.实验结果为今后利用P ttGA 20ox 1基因促进木本植物的顶端优势奠定了基础.     

转拟南芥ICE1基因增强烟草抗寒性的研究

ICE1是CBF冷响应通道的上游转录调控因子,通过与CBF启动子中MYC顺式作用元件的结合激活CBF3基因表达.采用RT-PCR方法,从拟南芥获得AtICE1基因,将AtICE1导入pCAMBIA1301构建35S:AtICE1植物表达载体.通过根癌农杆菌GV3101,将AtICE1基因导人烟草,T1代植株经潮霉素抗性筛选,PCR、RT-PCR检测,结果表明AtICE1基因已经整合到烟草基因组中,并在转录水平表达;在正常生长条件下,转基因烟草与对照烟草的生长未见明显区别,而在瞬时低温冻害下,转基因烟草存活率明显高于对照烟草植株,说明Atl-CEI基因可以提高低温敏感作物的耐寒性.     

A Chimeric Arabinogalactan Protein Promotes Somatic Embryogenesis in Cotton Cell Culture

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are a family of extracellular plant proteoglycans implicated in many aspects of plant growth and development, including in vitro somatic embryogenesis (SE). We found that specific AGPs were produced by cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) calli undergoing SE and that when these AGPs were isolated and incorporated into tissue culture medium, cotton SE was promoted. When the AGPs were partly or fully deglycosylated, SE-promoting activity was not diminished. Testing of AGPs separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that the SE-promoting activity resided in a hydrophobic fraction. We cloned a full-length complementary DNA (cotton PHYTOCYANIN-LIKE ARABINOGALACTAN-PROTEIN1 [GhPLA1]) that encoded the protein backbone of an AGP in the active fraction. It has a chimeric structure comprising an amino-terminal signal sequence, a phytocyanin-like domain, an AGP-like domain, and a hydrophobic carboxyl-terminal domain. Recombinant production of GhPLA1 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells enabled us to purify and analyze a single glycosylated AGP and to demonstrate that this chimeric AGP promotes cotton SE. Furthermore, the nonglycosylated phytocyanin-like domain from GhPLA1, which was bacterially produced, also promoted SE, indicating that the glycosylated AGP domain was unnecessary for in vitro activity.Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) comprise a diverse group of plant proteoglycans (for review, see Fincher et al., 1993; Nothnagel, 1997; Seifert and Roberts, 2007; Ellis et al., 2010). They are structurally complex, generally consisting of a Pro-, Ala-, Ser-, and Thr-rich protein backbone that is extensively modified, principally by hydroxylation of Pro residues (to Hyp) and subsequent glycosylation through O-linkages with type II arabinogalactans (Tan et al., 2003; Shimizu et al., 2005). Many AGPs also have a C-terminal hydrophobic domain that is processed and replaced with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, which acts to tether the molecule to the extracellular face of the plasma membrane (Schultz et al., 1998). AGPs are also defined by their ability to be bound and precipitated by the synthetic dye β-glucosyl Yariv reagent (β-GlcY) and related molecules (Yariv et al., 1967). These dyes have been useful in isolating, localizing, and quantifying AGPs.AGPs are grouped into three subclasses (Schultz et al., 2002): AGPs have an N-terminal signal sequence, an arabinogalactosylated domain, and a hydrophobic C-terminal domain; “chimeric AGPs” contain at least one arabinogalactosylated domain and a domain with an unrelated motif; while “hybrid AGPs” contain arabinogalactosylated as well as different Pro/Hyp-rich glycoprotein motifs.AGPs are implicated in many aspects of plant cell growth and development. Historically, it was not possible to assign roles to individual AGPs, as tests were conducted with unfractionated mixtures of AGPs. More recently, individual AGPs, mainly from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), have been studied using techniques such as mutant analysis and gene knockout/silencing, providing evidence for roles of individual AGPs in cell expansion, root and seed regeneration, the coordination of vascular development, both male and female gametogenesis, the development of cotton fibers, and as contributors to plant stem strength (Shi et al., 2003; van Hengel and Roberts, 2003; Acosta-García and Vielle-Calzada, 2004; Motose et al., 2004; Yang et al., 2007; Levitin et al., 2008; Coimbra et al., 2009; Li et al., 2010; MacMillan et al., 2010).Conditioned media from in vitro embryogenic cultures contain factors that can promote somatic embryogenesis (SE), implying the presence of secreted signaling molecules (de Vries et al., 1988). There is evidence that secreted AGPs, which are components of conditioned media, are involved in SE. For example, SE in carrot (Daucus carota) and spruce (Picea abies) cell cultures was promoted when AGPs from conditioned media were added exogenously (Kreuger and van Holst, 1993; Egertsdotter and von Arnold, 1995). Subsequent studies showed the association of particular AGP epitopes with SE-promoting activity and the involvement of AGPs in SE for several other species (Kreuger et al., 1995; McCabe et al., 1997; Toonen et al., 1997; Chapman et al., 2000; Saare-Surminski et al., 2000; Ben Amar et al., 2007). There is also evidence that SE-promoting AGPs may be cleaved by an endochitinase (Egertsdotter and von Arnold, 1988; Domon et al., 2000; van Hengel et al., 2001, 2002), but neither the identity of the individual AGP(s) involved in promoting SE nor the mechanism of action has been established.In this study, we focused on SE in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum ‘Coker 315’), which is a limiting step in cotton transformation, and the potential role of AGPs in this process. We show that cotton calli undergoing somatic embryogenesis secrete an AGP fraction that promotes SE when incorporated back into the growth medium. We report the cloning and sequencing of a complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a chimeric AGP present in this fraction and show that this molecule promotes SE.     

Induction of Expression Instability of the nptII Gene in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

A comparative analysis of the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene expression was performed in two groups of transformed tobacco plants, one of which included plants with direct and inverted tandem uidA gene repeats in the T-DNA insertion. This insertion of inverted repeats was shown to reduce the level of stable nptII gene expression to 20%, as compared with 65% in the control transformants. The level of unstable expression of this gene substantially increased (up to 71.4% vs. 5.5% in the control group) when homologous sequences were brought together with direct tandem repeats in the genome of hybrid plants.     

沙打旺胚性原生质体培养优化及高频再生植株

外植体类型和光照条件决定沙打旺胚性愈伤组织的形成。用生长10d的胚性愈伤组织可分离到1.2×10⁶个/g(原生质体/细胞),活力超过80%。当原生质体以1.0×10⁵/mL的植板密度培养在含0.6%琼脂糖附加1.5mg/L 2,4-D、0.5mg/L BA和0.5mol/L葡萄糖的培养基(无机盐降为1/4)中,植板率为16.8%。条件培养基显著促进原生质体的生长发育。长大的细胞克隆经2周4℃低温处理后转到含0.1mg/L NAA和1.0mg/L BA分化培养基上,体细胞胚胎发生频率高达70%,每克细胞产生的体细胞胚数在200个以上。成熟的体细胞胚转到无激素的1/2MS培养基中即分化成苗,再生植株为正常的二倍体。     

Peroxidase-Induced Wilting in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Peroxidases are a family of isoenzymes found in all higher plants. However, little is known concerning their role in growth, development, or response to stress. Plant peroxidases are heme-containing monomeric glycoproteins that utilize either H2O2 or O2 to oxidize a wide variety of molecules. To obtain more information on possible in planta functions of peroxidases, we have used a cDNA clone for the primary isoenzyme form of peroxidase to synthesize high levels of this enzyme in transgenic plants. We were able to obtain Nicotiana tabacum and N. sylvestris transformed plants with peroxidase activity that is 10-fold higher than in wild-type plants by introducing a chimeric gene composed of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and the tobacco anionic peroxidase cDNA. The elevated peroxidase activity was a result of increased levels of two anionic peroxidases in N. tabacum, which apparently differ in post-translational modification. Transformed plants of both species have the unique phenotype of chronic severe wilting through loss of turgor in leaves, which was initiated at the time of flowering. The peroxidase-induced wilting was shown not to be an effect of diminished water uptake through the roots, decreased conductance of water through the xylem, or increased water loss through the leaf surface or stomata. Possible explanations for the loss of turgor, and the significance of these types of experiments in studying isoenzyme families, are discussed.     

Transgenic Expression of FoxM1 Promotes Endothelial Repair following Lung Injury Induced by Polymicrobial Sepsis in Mice

Enhancing endothelial barrier integrity for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) is an emerging novel therapeutic strategy. Our previous studies have demonstrated the essential role of FoxM1 in mediating endothelial regeneration and barrier repair following lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury. However, it remains unclear whether FoxM1 expression is sufficient to promote endothelial repair in experimental models of sepsis. Here, employing the FoxM1 transgenic (FoxM1 Tg) mice, we showed that transgenic expression of FoxM1 promoted rapid recovery of endothelial barrier function and survival in a clinically relevant model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We observed lung vascular permeability was rapidly recovered and returned to levels similar to baseline at 48 h post-CLP challenge in FoxM1 Tg mice whereas it remained markedly elevated in WT mice. Lung edema and inflammation were resolved only in FoxM1 Tg mice at 24 h post-CLP. 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation assay revealed a drastic induction of endothelial proliferation in FoxM1 Tg lungs at 24h post-CLP, correlating with early induction of expression of FoxM1 target genes essential for cell cycle progression. Additionally, deletion of FoxM1 in endothelial cells, employing the mouse model with endothelial cell-restricted disruption of FoxM1 (FoxM1 CKO) resulted in impaired endothelial repair following CLP challenge. Together, these data suggest FoxM1 expression in endothelial cells is necessary and sufficient to mediate endothelial repair and thereby promote survival following sepsis challenge.     

植物激素对体细胞胚胎发生的诱导与调节

以作者自己的工作为背景,结合国内外近几年的有关报道,综述了几种外源和内源激素对植物体细胞胚胎发生的诱导与调节作用。外源生长素和细胞分裂素是诱导离体培养细胞分化与增殖所必需的,2,4-D是诱导胚性愈伤组织的重要激素。在体细胞胚胎发生中内源激素含量和代谢的平衡起着关键的作用,而且外源和内源激素对诱导体细胞胚胎发生起相互调节作用。ABA在提高体细胞胚胎发生频率和质量上具有重要作用,同时,外源与内源ABA对体细胞胚胎发生起相互促进作用。本文还较为深入地讨论了这些激素诱导体细胞胚胎发生的可能作用机制。 Abstract:The paper summarizes the induced and regulatory effects of a few exogenous and endogenous hormones in plant somatic embryogenesis by our studies and related international reports.The exogenous auxin and cytokinin are necessary to induced differentiation and proliferation of cells of culture in vitro.2,4-D is an important hormone of induced embryogenic calluses.The contents and the metabolic balances of endogenous hormones have key effects for somatic embryogenesis.In addition,the exogenous and endogenous hormones have mutual regulatory effects for somatic embryogenesis.ABA has an important effect to improving the frequency and quality of somatic embryogenesis.Meanwhile,the exogenous and endogenous ABA have mutual promoted effects for somatic embryogenesis.The paper discusses possible mechanism of hormones-induced somatic embryogenesis in a deep-going way.