Breaking-off tissue specific activity of the oil palm metallothionein-like gene promoter in T1 seedlings of tomato exposed to metal ions

Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins that are involved in cell growth regulation, transportation of metal ions and detoxification of heavy metals. A mesocarp-specific metallothionein-like gene (MT3-A) promoter was isolated from the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq). A vector construct containing the MT3-A promoter fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene in the pCAMBIA 1304 vector was produced and used in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato. Histochemical GUS assay of different tissues of transgenic tomato showed that the MT3-A promoter only drove GUS expression in the reproductive tissues and organs, including the anther, fruit and seed coat. Competitive RT-PCR and GUS fluorometric assay showed changes in the level of GUS mRNA and enzyme activity in the transgenic tomato (T₀). No GUS mRNA was found in roots and leaves of transgenic tomato. In contrast, the leaves of transgenic tomato seedlings (T₁) produced the highest GUS activity when treated with 150 μM Cu²⁺ compared to the control (without Cu²⁺). However, Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ treatments did not show GUS expression in the leaves of the transgenic tomato seedlings. Interestingly, the results showed a breaking-off tissue-specific activity of the oil palm MT3-A promoter in T₁ seedlings of tomato when subjected to Cu²⁺ ions.     

Effect of an enhanced CaMV 35S promoter and a fruit-specific promoter on uida gene expression in transgenic tomato plants

Summary Two different promoters, a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter with a 5′-untranslated leader sequence from alfalfa mosaic virus RNA4 (designated as CaMV 35S/AMV) and an E-8 fruit-ripening-specific promoter, were compared to evaluate their effects on expression of the uidA reporter gene in transgenic tomato plants. In order to generate sufficient numbers of transgenic tomato plants, both a reliable regeneration system and an efficient Agrobacterium transformation protocol were developed using 8-d-old cotyledons of tomato (Lycopersicon ecsulentum Mill. cv. Swifty Belle). Two sets of constructs, both derivatives of the binary vector pBI121, were used in transformation of tomato whereby the uidA gene was driven either by the CaMV 35S/AMV or the E-8 fruit-ripening-specific promoter. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the stable integration of the chimeric uidA gene into the tomato genome. Fruit and leaf tissues were collected from T₀ and T₁ plants, and assayed for β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzyme activity. As expected, both vegetative and fruit tissues of transgenic plants carrying the uidA gene under the control of CaMV 35S/AMV showed varying levels of GUS activity, while no expression was observed in vegetative tissues of transgenic plants carrying the uidA gene driven by the E-8 promoter. All fruits from transgenic plants produced with both sets of constructs displayed expression of the uidA gene. However, when this reporter gene was driven by the CaMV 35S/AMV, GUS activity levels were significantly higher than when it was driven by the E-8 fruit-specific promoter. The presence/absence of the uidA gene in T₁ plants segregated in a 3∶1 Mendelian ratio.     

Pollen-specific gene expression in transgenic plants: coordinate regulation of two different tomato gene promoters during microsporogenesis

To investigate the regulation of gene expression during male gametophyte development, we analyzed the promoter activity of two different genes (LAT52 and LAT59) from tomato, isolated on the basis of their anther-specific expression. In transgenic tomato, tobacco and Arabidopsis plants containing the LAT52 promoter region fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene, GUS activity was restricted to pollen. Transgenic tomato, tobacco and Arabidopsis plants containing the LAT59 promoter region fused to GUS also showed very high levels of GUS activity in pollen. However, low levels of expression of the LAT59 promoter construct were also detected in seeds and roots. With both constructs, the appearance of GUS activity in developing anthers was correlated with the onset of microspore mitosis and increased progressively until anthesis (pollen shed). Our results demonstrate co-ordinate regulation of the LAT52 and LAT59 promoters in developing microspores and suggest that the mechanisms that regulate pollen-specific gene expression are evolutionarily conserved.     

LE-ACS6启动子在LE-ACS6::GUS转基因拟南芥中的特异性

通过对不同发育时期LE-ACS6::GUS转基因拟南芥中GUS表达特异性的研究,证明LE-ACS6基因的启动子在拟南芥中也表现启动参与第一系统乙烯合成的关键酶基因的活性.在转基因拟南芥中,LE-ACS6启动子还表现响应外源生长素处理、伤害处理等多种刺激因子的特点.     

Functional Characterisation of the Oil Palm Type 3 Metallothionein-like Gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">MT3-B</Emphasis>) Promoter

In silico analysis showed that the differentially expressed type 3 oil palm metallothionein-like genes MT3-A and MT3-B share at least 11 common putative promoter regulatory elements. The identified motifs include W-boxes, TATCCA element, binding element for cytokinin response regulators and pollen-specific elements. A high degree of conservation was observed in their genomic organisation where the coding regions are divided at two identical positions in both genes by two AT-rich introns. Promoter activity of the MT3-B gene was analysed using a transient assay by bombarding oil palm tissue slices with a β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene construct and a stable reporter assay by analysing GUS expression in transformed Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Transient expression analysis revealed MT3-B promoter activity in oil palm root tissues but not in fruit mesocarp at 12 weeks after anthesis and spear leaves. The T3 homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis plants, harbouring the MT3-B promoter/GUS construct, showed reporter activity in cotyledons and mature leaves with lower expression levels in root tissues. The expression levels in the roots of the T3 homozygous transgenic plants increased five- and 2.5-folds when treated with 80 μM of Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺, respectively. Altogether, these results indicate that the MT3-A and MT3-B promoter activities may be regulated by a variety of abiotic factors and MT3-B promoter may potentially be manipulated for use in plant genetic engineering for induced synthesis of gene product.     

玉米19kD醇溶贮藏蛋白基因启动子种子特异性表达控制区段的分析

为研究玉米（Ｚｅａｍａｙｓ　Ｌ．）１９ｋＤ醇溶贮藏蛋白（ｚｅｉｎ）基因启动子种子特异性表达的控制区段,将全长６９４ｂｐ的启动子进行５’端缺失,共得到６个缺失突变体,长度分别为４８８ｂｐ、３７８ｂｐ、３０２ｂｐ、１５２ｂｐ、１２４ｂｐ和８５ｂｐ。将６个片段分别与报告基因ｇｕｓ连接构建成表达载体ｐＤＧＢ系列,经土壤农杆菌（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ）介导转化,引入烟草。ＧＵＳ活性检测证明,４８８ｂｐ启动子片段能促使ｇｕｓ基因在种子中特异表达。３７８ｂｐ、３０２ｂｐ、１５２ｂｐ和１２４ｂｐ片段启动子引导的ｇｕｓ基因在烟草根、叶柄、种子中均可表达。     

番茄rbcS3A启动子控制的GUS融合基因在转基因水稻中的表达

为研究不同启动子用于转基因水稻,克隆了番茄Rubisco小亚基rbcS3A基因的5′上游调控区,构建了由rbcS3A启动子引导的GUS嵌合基因,并经农杆菌介导导入到水稻中。对转基因水稻植株中GUS活性的定性与定量测定结果表明,rbcS3A启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株茎和叶组织中高效表达,而在根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,表现出一定的组织特异性。在转基因水稻中,番茄rbcS3A启动子驱动外源基因的表达不受光诱导。     

Analysis of the Maize 19 kD Zein Gene Promoter Fragment Driving Seed specific Expression

A deletion works of a maize 19 kD zein gene promoter in the 5'end was performed and six promoter fragments of different length were obtained. A series of expression vectors was constructed and then transferred into tobacco ( Nicotiarta tabacum L. ) plants. GUS activity assays indicated that the expression of 488 bp promoter was tissue-specific, for which GUS was active only in transgenic tobacco seeds. The other four fragments containing 378 bp,302 bp,152 bp and 124 bp also have the activity of promoter. They could drive gus gene expressed not only in seeds but also in roots and petioles.     

西瓜wml1 5'端启动子区域对番茄的遗传转化及其转录调控功能研究

根据wml1 5’端启动子区域内部的限制性酶切位点,分离得到长度分别为1573bp、1197bp、896bp、795bp的片段,并与GUS基因融合构成转录融合体。用农杆菌介导法将这些片段转入番茄中,对转基因植株进行GUS活性分析,发现1573bp、1197bp、896bp的片段都能诱导GUS在授粉后15天、30天、45天的番茄果实中表达,且表达强度随果实发育而增强,而在叶片、茎、根中未检测到GUS基因表达。而795bp的片段转化的植株中则未检测到GUS基因表达。推定857bp至957bp之间的序列中包含了启动子行使正常功能必需的元件。     

西瓜wml1 5＇端启动子区域对番茄的遗传转化及其转录调控功能研究

根据wml1 5‘端启动子区域内部的限制性酶切位点,分离得到长度分别为1573bp、1197bp、896bp、795bp的片段,并与GUS基因融合构成转录融合体。用农杆菌介导法将这些片段转入番茄中,对转基因植株进行GUS活性分析,发现1573bp、1197bp、896bp的片段都能诱导GUS在授粉后15天、30天、45天的番茄果实中表达,且表达强度随果实发育而增强,而在叶片、茎、根中未检测到GUS基因表达。而795bp的片段转化的植株中则未检测到GUS基因表达。推定857bp至957bp之间的序列中包含了启动子行使正常功能必需的元件。     

油棕DGAT2基因启动子克隆及表达的组织特异性研究

以油棕(Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)叶片基因组DNA为模板,克隆获得长度为1035 bp的二酰甘油酰基转移酶基因(DGAT2)的启动子区序列。序列分析结果表明,DGAT2基因启动子含有大量光反应元件、激素响应元件及部分转录因子结合位点。本研究同时构建了DGAT2基因启动子和GUS基因植物融合表达载体,通过蘸花法侵染拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana L.),并对转基因拟南芥中GUS基因表达的特异性进行了分析。结果显示,GUS基因在拟南芥各组织中均有表达,但没有明显的组织特异性;荧光定量PCR分析结果表明DGAT2在油棕不同器官中的转录水平存在明显差异。     

Fruit-specific overexpression of wound-induced tap1 under E8 promoter in tomato confers resistance to fungal pathogens at ripening stage

Based on high economic importance and nutritious value of tomato fruits and as previous studies employed E8 promoter in fruit ripening-specific gene expression, we have developed transgenic tomato plants overexpressing tomato anionic peroxidase cDNA (tap1) under E8 promoter. Stable transgene integration was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern analysis for nptII. Northern blotting confirmed elevated tap1 levels in the breaker- and red-ripe stages of T(1) transgenic fruits, whereas wild-type (WT) plants did not show tap1 expression in these developmental stages. Further, tap1 expression levels were significantly enhanced in response to wounding in breaker- and red-ripe stages of transgenic fruits, whereas wound-induced expression of tap1 was not detected in WT fruits. Confocal microscopy revealed high accumulation of phenolic compounds at the wound site in transgenic fruits suggesting a role of tap1 in wound-induced phenolic polymerization. Total peroxidase activity has increased remarkably in transgenic pericarp tissues in response to wounding, while very less or minimal levels were recorded in WT pericarp tissues. Transgenic fruits also displayed reduced post-harvest decay and increased resistance toward Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani infection with noticeable inhibition in lesion formation. Conidiospore germination and mycelial growth of F. solani were severely inhibited when treated with E8-tap1 fruit extracts compared to WT fruits. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed reduced spore viability when incubated in E8-tap1 fruit extracts. Thus, fruit-specific expression of tap1 using E8 promoter is associated with enhanced total peroxidase activity and high phenolic accumulation in fruits with minimized post-harvest deterioration caused by wounding and fungal attack in tomato fruits.     

Assessment of the utility of the tomato fruit-specific E8 promoter for driving vaccine antigen expression

To assess the utility of the tomato fruit-specific E8 gene's promoter for driving vaccine antigen expression in plant, the 2.2 kb and 1.1 kb E8 promoters were isolated and sequenced from Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Jinfeng #1. The 1.1 kb promoter was fused to vaccine antigen HBsAg M gene for the transfer to Nicotiana tabacum, and the CaMV 35S promoter was used for comparison. Cholera toxin B (ctb) gene under the control of the 1.1 kb promoter was transformed into both N. tabacum and L. esculentum. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the stable integration of the target genes into the tomato and tobacco genomes. ELISA assay showed that the expression product of HBsAg M gene under the control of the 1.1 kb E8 promoter could not be detected in transgenic tobacco tissues such as leaves, flowers, and seeds. In contrast, the expression of HBsAg M gene driven by CaMV 35S promoter could be detected in transgenic tobacco. ELISA assay for CTB proved that the 1.1 kb E8 promoter was able to direct the expression of exotic gene in ripe fruits of transgenic tomato, but expression was absent in leaf, flower, and unripe fruit of tomato, and CTB protein was not detected in transgenic tobacco tissues such as leaves, flowers, and seeds when the gene was under the control of the 1.1 kb E8 promoter. The results indicated that the E8 promoter acted not only in an organ-specific, but also in a species-specific fashion in plant transformation.     

Expression of the Fusarium resistance gene I-2 colocalizes with the site of fungal containment

The tomato resistance gene I-2 is one of at least six members of a gene family that are expressed at low levels in the roots, stems and leaves of young tomato plants. Plants transformed with constructs containing a functional I-2 promoter fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene were used in detailed expression studies. Highest GUS activity was found in stems of young tomato plants. Histochemical analysis revealed that the I-2 promoter drives expression of the reporter gene in vascular tissue of fruits, leaves, stems and mature roots. In younger roots, expression was most abundant at the base of lateral root primordia. Microscopical analysis of young tomato plants revealed expression in tissue surrounding the xylem vessels. We show that in resistant plants, fungal growth into this region of the vascular tissue is prevented, suggesting a correlation with the I-2-mediated resistance response.     

Tomato prosystemin promoter confers wound-inducible, vascular bundle-specific expression of the β-glucuronidase gene in transgenic tomato plants

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Better Boy) plants were transformed with a fused gene containing a 2.2-kb promoter fragment of the tomato prosystemin gene and the coding region of the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. The transgenic plants exhibited a low constitutive level of prosystemin-β-glucuronidase gene expression, assayed by histochemical staining and GUS enzyme activity, that was associated in the vascular bundles of leaf main veins, petiolules, petioles and stems. The GUS activity in the vascular bundles in each tissue was increased by wounding and by treatment of the plants with methyl jasmonate, similar to the induction of prosystemin in wild-type plants. The increase in GUS activity in the vascular bundles of leaves in response to wounding correlated with the wound-inducible increase in prosystemin mRNA. Tissue printing, using rabbit anti-serum prepared against prosystemin, confirmed that inducible prosystemin protein was localized in vascular bundles of petiolules, petioles and stems of wild-type tomato plants. The evidence indicates that the 2.2-kb promoter region of the tomato prosystemin gene contains elements conferring its correct temporal and spatial expression in the vascular bundles of transgenic tomato plants. Received: 7 January 1997 / Accepted: 2 April 1997