Tissue partitioning of cadmium in transgenic tobacco seedlings and field grown plants expressing the mouse metallothionein I gene

Since agricultural crops contribute >70% of human cadmium (Cd) intake, modification of crops to reduce accumulation of this pollutant metal during plant growth is desirable. Here we describe Cd accumulation characteristics of seedlings and field grown tobacco plants expressing the Cd-chelating protein, mouse metallothionein I. The objective of the transformation is to entrap Cd in roots as Cd-metallothionein and thereby reduce its accumulation in the shoot. Transformed and control seedlings were exposed for 15 days in liquid culture at a field soil-solution-like Cd concentration of 0.02 μm. Transformed seedlings ofNicotiana tabacum cultivar KY 14 contained about 24% lower Cd concentration in shoots and about 5% higher Cd concentration in roots than control seedlings. Dry weights of transformed and control tissues did not differ significantly. In the field in 1990, mature transformedN. tabacum cv. KY 14 plants exposed only to endogenous soil Cd contained about 14% lower leaf lamina Cd concentration than did controls. Differences were significant at thep≤0.1 level in 13 of 16 leaf positions. Leaf dry weight did not differ significantly but transformed field plants had 12% fewer leaves and were 9% shorter than the controls. Copper (Cu) concentration was significantly higher (ca10%) in the bottom nine leaf positions of transformed plants suggesting that reduced leaf number and plant height may be due to Cu deficiency or toxicity. Alternatively, somaclonal variation or gene position effects may be involved. No differences were found in zinc levels. WithN. tabacum cv. Petit Havana, transformed seedlings contained no less Cd in shoots but 48% higher Cd concentration in roots. However, dry weights of shoots and roots of transformed seedlings were 25% and 26%, respectively, greater than in controls. In the field, transformed and control plants of this cultivar showed little significant differences in leaf Cd content, plant height or leaf number. Although comparison of additional metallothionein-expressing tobaccos and other plants is needed, results obtained with cultivar KY 14 support the hypothesis that sequestration of Cd in roots as Cd-metallothionein may have potential for reducing Cd content of above root tissues of certain plants.     

Cadmium resistance in transgenic tobacco plants enhanced by expressing bean heavy metal-responsive gene PvSR2

Heavy metal pollution such as Cd, Hg, Pb, As and Se is an increasing environment problem worldwide. These metals and metalloids have toxic effect on both plants and animals, which are strongly poisonous to metal-sensitive enzymes, resulting in growth inhibition and death of the organism[1]. Contamination of soils with heavy metals, either by natural causes or due to pollution, often has pronounced effects on the vegetation, resulting in the appearance of metallophytes, and heavy-metal tolera…     

Expression of a bacterial gene in transgenic tobacco plants confers resistance to the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Plants resistant to the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were produced through the genetic engineering of a novel detoxification pathway into the cells of a species normally sensitive to 2,4-D. We cloned the gene for 2,4-D monooxygenase, the first enzyme in the plasmid-encoded 2,4-D degradative pathway of the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus, into a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter expression vector and introduced it into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing the highest levels of the monooxygenase enzyme exhibited increased tolerance to 2,4-D in leaf disc and seed germination assays, and young plants survived spraying with levels of herbicide up to eight times the usual field application rate. The introduction of the gene for 2,4-D monooxygenase into broad-leaved crop plants, such as cotton, should eventually allow 2,4-D to be used as an inexpensive post-emergence herbicide on economically important dicot crops.     

Expression of a bacterial gene in transgenic plants confers resistance to the herbicide phenmedipham

Tobacco plants were genetically engineered to express a detoxifying pathway for the herbicide phenmedipham. A gene fromArthrobacter oxidans strain P52 that encodes an enzyme catalysing the hydrolytic cleavage of the carbamate compound phenmedipham has recently been cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence was fused with a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and introduced into tobacco plants byAgrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Transgenic plants expressing high levels of phenmedipham hydrolase exhibited resistance when sprayed with the herbicide at up to ten times the usual field application rate.     

Cadmium resistance in transgenic tobacco plants enhanced by expressing bean heavy metal-responsive gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">PvSR2</Emphasis>

PvSR2 (Phaseolus vulgaris stress-related gene) has been cloned from French bean and shown to be expressed specifically upon heavy metal treatment. In order to investigate the role of PvSR2 in plant, PvSR2 gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter was introduced into tobacco mediated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. The regenerated plantlets were selected on medium with 100 mg/L kanamycin. PCR and Southern blot analysis showed PvSR2 gene was integrated in tobacco genome. Gus and Northern blot analysis indicated PvSR2 gene was expressed in transgenic seedling. The heavy metal resistance assay showed that the transgenic tobacco seedlings with the PvSR2 coding sequence exhibited higher tolerance to Cd compared with wild-type (WT) under Cd exposure. The Cd content accumulated in root between transgenic and WT seedlings had no obvious difference at lower Cd external concentration (0.05-0.075 mmol/L CdCl2), whereas transgenic plant showed a lower root Cd content than the control at higher external Cd concentration (0.1 mmol/L CdCl2). These results suggested that the expression of PvSR2 can enhance the Cd tolerance, and PvSR2 may be involved in Cd transportation and accumulation at the test concentration of 0.1 mmol/L Cd.     

Heat-inducible hygromycin resistance in transgenic tobacco

We have constructed a chimaeric gene consisting of the promoter of the soybean heat shock (hs) gene Gmhsp17,6-L, the coding region of a hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene, and the termination sequence of the nopaline synthase (nos) gene. This gene fusion was introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Heat-inducible synthesis of mRNA was shown by northern hybridization, and translation of this RNA into a functional protein was indicated by plant growth on hygromycin-containing media in a temperature-dependent fashion. One hour incubation at 40 °C per day, applied for several weeks, was sufficient to express the resistant phenotype in transgenic plants containing the chimaeric hs-hpt gene. These data suggest that the hygromycin resistance gene is functional and faithfully controlled by the soybean hs promoter. The suitability of these transgenic plants for selection of mutations that alter the hs response is discussed.     

Paraquat resistance of transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing the Ochrobactrum anthropi pqrA gene

Transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing the Ochrobactrum anthropi pqrA gene, which encodes a membrane transporter mediating resistance to paraquat, were generated. Transgenic plants displayed higher resistance against paraquat than wild-type plants, as estimated by plant viability, ion leakage and chlorophyll loss, but no resistance against other active oxygen generators, such as H2O2 and menadione. Moreover, lower levels of paraquat accumulated in transgenic plants, compared to wild-type plants, indicating that the PqrA protein detoxifies paraquat either via increased efflux or decreased uptake of the herbicide, but not by removing active oxygen species. The results collectively demonstrate that the bacterial paraquat resistance gene, pqrA, can be functionally expressed in plant cells, and utilized for the development of paraquat-resistant crop plants.     

转OsMAPK4基因烟草的抗旱性研究与遗传分析

以低温处理的水稻辽盐241植株叶片总RNA为模板, 用OsMAPK4基因特异引物通过RT-PCR扩增出OsMAPK4基因, 构建了由E12启动子调控的OsMAPK4基因植物表达载体pBME12。通过农杆菌介导法将OsMAPK4基因导入烟草, 筛选获得25株转基因植株。抗旱性研究结果表明, OsMAPK4基因的超量表达提高了T1代转基因植株的抗旱性。卡那霉素抗性在T1代转基因植株中的分离情况表明, 大多数转基因株系符合单基因遗传规律。     

The sequence of a pea vicilin gene and its expression in transgenic tobacco plants

A 5.5 kb Eco RI fragment containing a vicilin gene was selected from a Pisum sativum genomic library, and the protein-coding region and adjacent 5 and 3 regions were sequenced. A DNA construction comprising this 5.5 kb fragment together with a gene for neomycin phosphotransferase II was stably introduced into tobacco using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector, and the fidelity of expression of the pea vicilin gene in its new host was studied. The seeds of eight transgenic tobacco plants showed a sixteen-fold range in the level of accumulated pea vicilin. The level of accumulation of vicilin protein and mRNA correlated with the number of integrated copies of the vicilin gene. Pea vicilin was confined to the seeds of transgenic tobacco. Using immunogold labelling, vicilin was detected in protein bodies of eight out of ten embryos (axes plus cotyledons) and, at a much lower level, in two out of eleven endosperms. Pea vicilin was synthesized early in tobacco seed development; some molecules were cleaved as is the case in pea seeds, yielding a major parental component of M _r50000 together with a range of smaller polypeptides.     

Expression and production of bioactive human interleukin-18 in transgenic tobacco plants

The cDNA of human interleukin-18 (hIL-18) was successfully inserted into the genome of tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum cv. NC-89, using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Insertion and translation of hIL-18 in transformants were confirmed by PCR, ELISA, and Western blot, respectively. The transformed extracts contained the recombinant hIL-18 protein up to 0.05% of total soluble protein. Activity of the recombinant hIL-18 in plant cells was confirmed by the induction of IFN- on IL-18-responsive J6-1 cells by the extracts obtained from the transformants. The expression level of hIL-18 (351 ng g^–1 tobacco tissue) obtained in the present study may be sufficient to induce responses/effects in vivo.     

转基因抗虫烟草研究进展

烟草为模式植物,也是外源杀虫基因最早转化成功的植物。文章从转Bt内毒素基因,植物凝集素GNA,Plec,AHA基因,蛋白酶抑制剂PIⅠ,PIⅡ,MTI,SKTI基因,昆虫特异性神经毒素基因,几丁质酶基因,畸形细胞分泌蛋白基因以及双抗虫基因等方面综述了转基因抗虫烟草的抗虫性、转基因抗虫烟草的经济性状等,展望了转基因抗虫烟草的研究和应用前景,以期对烟草害虫的治理尤其是对其他转基因抗虫作物的培育和研究有借鉴作用。     

转小麦冷胁迫蛋白截短基因烟草及其抗病性分析

TA3-13是克隆于小麦冷胁迫蛋白基因的截短片段。原核表达的TA3-13蛋白能够诱导烟草产生显著的抗烟草花叶病毒(TMV)的作用。文章将TA3-13基因片段克隆到植物表达载体pBI121上,构建成转基因重组体pB-3-13,通过冻融法转化农杆菌EHA105,构建成转基因侵染菌株。采用叶盘法将pB-3-13转化三生烟草,经卡那霉素抗性筛选,获得48株T0代再生植株。通过PCR检测,鉴定出33株转基因单株,收获了20株种子作为T1代株系。PCR-Southern杂交结果显示,PCR阳性条带与TA3-13探针有特异性杂交,说明外源基因被转化到烟草的基因组中。选取两个T1代株系的烟草植株用于各项测定。GUS组织化学活性鉴定和RT-PCR检测结果显示,外源基因可以成功地表达。接种TMV病毒后,转基因烟草抗TMV的能力较转空载体烟草提高3～5倍。转基因烟草具有抗TMV侵入和抗病毒病害发展的作用,同时转基因烟草可以抗细菌软腐病菌的扩展。     

Overexpression of thaumatin-like protein in transgenic tomato plants confers enhanced resistance to Alternaria solani

Abstract

A cDNA encoding thaumatin-like protein (TLP) from rice was cloned into the binary vector pMON410 under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato. All putative transformants were tested for the integration and expression of the chimeric gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for hygromycin resistance gene (hph) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for TLP respectively. Constitutive, high-level expression of TLP was observed in transgenic plants. The transgenic lines exhibited increased resistance to Alternaria solani, the early blight pathogen compared to non-transgenic tomato plants.