Liposome-mediated transfer of nucleic acids in plant protoplasts

Liposomes spontaneously interact with the plasma membrane of protoplasts. The delivery of their content to the protoplast, however, has to be induced by physical or chemical treatments. Three major approaches have been used to study and optimize the delivery of RNA or DNA molecules: viral infection, transient gene expression and stable transformation. Conclusive evidence for the delivery of nuclei acids to the treated protoplasts has been obtained. Stable transformants expressing kanamycin resistance have been further characterized by hybridization techniques and progeney analysis. The potential and limitations of this approach for the transformation of higher plants is discussed.     

Transient expression in leaf mesophyll protoplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana

Conditions for maximising transient expression of GUS in leaf mesophyll protoplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype C24 were investigated. It was found that the factors most influencing expression levels, with optimum levels in parenthesis, were plasmid DNA quantity (100 g per 5 × 10⁵ protoplasts), inclusion of carrier DNA (50 g), PEG pH and amount (pH above 6, and total PEG concentration at least 9% w/w) and the topological form of the DNA. Linearised plasmid DNA with long flanking sequences 3 and 5 to the marker gene yielded the highest levels of GUS expression.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GUS -glucuronidase - MU methylumbelliferone - PEG polyethylene glycol - X-gluc 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl--glucuronic acid     

Functional analysis of an auxin-inducible DNA-binding protein gene

Over the past decades, several studies indicate a correlation between the phytohormone auxin and cell division. The molecular players of this signaling pathway are now being uncovered. DNA Binding Protein1 from Arabidopsis (AtDBP1) is an auxin-inducible gene able to bind DNA non-specifically. In this work the tissue-expression pattern of this gene was investigated. Promoter-GUS analysis demonstrated that the AtDBP1 promoter is active in regions exhibiting intense cell division such as meristems and nematode feeding sites. Also, the promoter expression was modulated upon incubation with cell cycle blockers, indicating a potential role in cell division for this gene. Lastly, AtDBP1 antisense plants presented a higher insensitivity to auxin, and interfered negatively with auxin–induced callus formation and reduced apical dominance.     

Reporter gene introduction and transient expression in protoplasts of Porphyra yezoensis

The transient expression of foreign genes in the protoplasts of Porphyrayezoensis was examined using three recombinant vectors, pYez-Rub-GUS, pYez-Rub-GFP and pYez-Rub-LUC, which were constructed with the promoter sequence of the ribulose-bisphosphate-carboxylase / oxygenase (Rubisco) gene as a promoter and the bacterial β-glucuronidase (GUS), mutant of green fluorescent protein (S65T-GFP) and firefly luciferase (LUC) genes, respectively, as reporter genes. When the pYez-Rub-GUS was introduced into protoplasts by electroporation, cells stained dark blue by indigotin were observed after the histochemical GUS assay. GUS activity was also detected by quantitative enzyme assays with a chemiluminescent substrate. When the pYez-Rub-GFP was electroporated into protoplasts, the expression of GFP could be detected in vivo observations with fluorescence microscopy. However, the rates of gene expression cells to the total number of cells were different between the GUS and GFP genes. LUC activity was also detected by assay with a chemiluminescent substrate after the introduction of pYez-Rub-LUC into protoplasts, although the activity levels were considerably lower. Relatively high expression rates of introduced GUS genes were observed 3 to 5 days after electroporation. These results show that the promoter sequence of the chloroplast Rubisco gene functions as a promoter of foreign gene expression and that transient expression occurred in protoplasts of P. yezoensis after the introduction of foreign genes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stably transformed herbicide resistant callus of sugarcane via microprojectile bombardment of cell suspension cultures and electroporation of protoplasts

Stably transformed callus of a hybrid sugarcane cultivar (Saccharum species hybrid, CP72-1210) was achieved following high velocity microprojectile bombardment of suspension culture cells, and electroporation of protoplasts. A three-day old cell suspension culture (SC88) was bombarded with gold particles coated with pBARGUS plasmid DNA containing the ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and the bar selectable gene that confers resistance to the herbicide basta. The pBARGUS plasmid was also electroporated into the protoplasts of another cell line (SCPP). Colonies resistant to basta were recovered from both sources. Stable integration of the bar gene in the resistant cell lines was confirmed by Southern analysis. In addition, phosphinothricin acetyltransf erase (PAT) activity was also demonstrated in the transformed cell lines.Abbreviations GUS ß-glucuronidase - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP benzylaminopurine - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - MES 2[N-Morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - HEPES [N-2-hydroxyethyl] piperazine-N-[2-ethane sulfonic acid] - PAT Phosphinothricin acetyltransferase - CTAB cetyltrimethylammonium bromide     

高粱品种BTx623原生质体分离及瞬时表达体系的建立

高粱(Sorghum bicolor)是世界上仅次于小麦、水稻、玉米和大麦的重要粮食作物之一,虽然高粱基因组已经完成了测序,但是针对高粱测序品种BTx623,遗传转化方法的缺乏限制了高粱遗传育种和功能基因组研究的发展。而原生质体瞬时表达技术,则因为其高效、快速的特性,在功能基因组研究中具有重要的作用。为了在高粱品种BTx623中建立原生质体瞬时表达体系,本研究以BTx623幼苗为材料,对原生质体分离过程中的渗透压、酶液成分、酶解时间进行研究。结果表明:BTx623幼苗的原生质体分离过程中,最佳酶解液组成为1%纤维素酶、0. 25%离析酶、0. 6 mol/L甘露醇、10 mmol/L吗啉乙烷磺酸、1mmol/L CaCl_2、0. 1%小牛血清蛋白和5 mmol/Lβ-巯基乙醇,并获得了每毫升1×107个的高质量原生质体,所获原生质体活性在90%以上。之后利用PEG介导的转化方法,将含有35S::egfp的质粒导入到原生质体中,并通过荧光显微观察统计,遗传转化率达到(61. 31±3. 91)%。本研究通过优化高粱品种BTx623原生质体制备及瞬时转化的条件,成功建立了其原生质体瞬时表达体系,为进一步开展高粱品种BTx623功能基因组的研究奠定了基础。     

Effect of pol III dependent elements on CAT reporter gene transcription in Nicotiana tabacum protoplasts

ABSTRACT

The effect of RNA polymerase III promoter elements on the expression of RNA polymerase II dependent genes was evaluated. The influence of tRNA(Tyr) gene, derived from Nicotiana rustica, on the expression of CAT gene, driven by CaMV35S, was tested in transformation experiments using Nicotiana tabacum protoplasts. Five “tRNA(Tyr) gene-CaMV35S?d combinations, differing in the position and orientation of the RNA polymerase III dependent gene, were utilised. Transient gene expression was evaluated by HPLC analysis. CAT expression increased with only two plasmidic constructs compared with control. Our results suggest that RNA polymerase III promoter elements exert a position- and orientation-dependent enhancer effect in Nicotiana tabacum protoplasts.     

无核白葡萄愈伤组织瞬时转化体系的优化与应用

为了优化根癌农杆菌介导的葡萄愈伤组织瞬时转化体系,该研究以欧洲葡萄品种无核白(Vitis vinifera L.cv.Thompson Seedless)单芽茎段诱导的愈伤组织为材料,探讨重悬液pH、菌液浓度、真空渗透时间等主要因素对葡萄愈伤组织瞬时转化效率的影响。结果表明:(1)以激素组合分别为1.0mg/L BAP、1.0mg/L BAP+0.02mg/L NAA、2.0mg/L BAP+0.02mg/L NAA和4.0mg/L BAP+0.02mg/L NAA的系列培养基更适合无核白葡萄单芽茎段逐步诱导胚性愈伤组织。(2)葡萄愈伤组织瞬时转化体系中,重悬液pH 5.1,菌液浓度OD6001.0,真空渗透20min为转化效率最佳条件。(3)利用优化的瞬时转化体系瞬时转化无核白葡萄的不同组织,发现在不同器官中转化效率存在显著差异。其中以愈伤组织为受体的转化效率显著高于其他器官(65 231.99±3 339.29mU/g),而且愈伤组织的GUS组织化学染色最深,以叶片为受体的转化效率则最低。利用该体系转化质粒载体pCAMBIA0390∷GUS,瞬时表达产物经过GUS蛋白活性检测,结果表明该研究优化的葡萄愈伤组织瞬时转化体系有助于外源基因在葡萄愈伤组织内的表达,为后期通过转基因技术研究目标基因功能奠定了技术基础。     

“红颜”草莓原生质体制备及瞬时转化体系的建立

为探索“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞系原生质体提取的最优条件,并建立“红颜”草莓原生质体瞬时转化体系,以“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞为材料,对酶液组成、酶解温度、酶解方式进行研究。用PEG介导的瞬时转化法将标记基因GFP转化到“红颜”草莓原生质体中。结果显示：以“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞系作为分离材料,酶液组合为CPW中含有0.5%PVP+0.1%MES+1%纤维素酶+0.5%离析酶+0.01%半纤维素酶+0.9 mol/L甘露醇,在低速（50 r/min）恒温（31 ℃）震摇下进行酶解反应,酶解10 h时,达到“红颜”草莓原生质体最佳分离效果,每克鲜重产量可得原生质体6×10⁸ 个,活力值可达93.0%。PEG介导法成功将含有绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescent protein, GFP）的植物表达载体转化“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞原生质体,转化效率达44%。通过实验筛选得到“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞原生质体的最佳制备条件,建立“红颜”草莓悬浮细胞原生质体的瞬时转化体系,为进一步开展“红颜”草莓功能基因及合成生物学研究奠定基础。     

Electroporation of embryogenic protoplasts of sweet orange (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus sinensis</Emphasis> (L.) Osbeck) and regeneration of transformed plants

Summary Electroporation conditions were optimized for the transfection of protoplasts isolated from an embryogenic cell line of sweet organe [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ev. Hamlin]. Electric field strength (375–450 V cm⁻¹) vector DNA concentration (100 μgml⁻¹), carrier DNA concentration (100 μgml⁻¹), electroporation buffer (pH 8), and preelectroporation heat shock of protoplasts (5 min at 45°C) were optimized. The plasmid vector pBI221 containing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) coding sequence under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter was used and GUS activity was measured 24h after electroporation. All variables significantly affected transfection efficiency and when optimal conditions for each were combined. GUS activity was 7714 pmol 4-methylumbelliferone (MU) mg⁻¹ (protein) min⁻¹. Protoplasts were then electroporated in the presence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression vectors pARS101 or pARS108. Green fluorescent embryos were selected, plants regenerated, and integration of the transgene was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Both plasmids were constructed using EGFP, a GFP variant 35 times brighter than wtGFP, having a single, red-shifted excitation peak, and optimized for human codon-usage. pARS101 was constructed by placing EGFP under the control of a 35S–35S promoter containing 33 bp of the untranslated leader sequence from alfalfa mosaic virus. pARS108 was constructed similarly except sequences were added for transport and retention of EGFP in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Mention of a trademark, warranty, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee by the US Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or veudors that may also be suitable.     

利用花色素苷合成调节基因C1-R作为基因枪转化效果指示的研究

报道了玉米花色素苷合成调节基因Ｃ１－Ｒ在小麦幼胚、玉米愈伤组织、水稻愈伤组织、烟草叶片中的瞬时表达情况。由于调节基因Ｃ１－Ｒ激活了植物体细胞内花色素苷的合成,因此不需任何生色底物,即可活体观察到花色素苷的表达。结果表明,对于目前仍主要通过基因枪法转化的几类主要粮食作物──小麦、玉米、水稻、枪击４８ｈ后,放大２倍便清晰可见红色斑点,且其表达强度远高于ＧＵＳ的表达,证明Ｃ１－Ｒ可作为一个很好的衡量打枪效果的指示,同时还证明其在双子叶植物──烟草叶片的基因枪转化瞬时表达体系中也起同样的作用。