Expression of a staphylokinase,a thrombolytic agent in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

A gene encoding staphylokinase from Staphylococcus aureus was cloned into the plant transformation binary vector pCAMBIA 1304. The transgene was introduced into the genome of A. thaliana via in planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated genetic transformation. The presence of the staphylokinase gene was confirmed by PCR in 60% of the investigated plants. The presence of the fusion protein (119 kDa) was confirmed by SDS–PAGE and Western blot analysis in protein extracts from putative transgenics. Furthermore, the amidolytic assay confirmed the activity of SAK in protein extracts in 23 out of 45 transgenic lines of A. thaliana plants.     

Expression of a cholera toxin B subunit in transgenic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system

To increase expression level of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) in lettuce plants, synthetic CTB (sCTB) gene based on the optimized codon usage was fused with an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal, KDEL. The sCTB gene was introduced into a plant expression vector and transformed to lettuce plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. As a selection marker, a bialaphos resistance (bar) gene that encodes phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), conferring tolerance to the herbicide phosphinothricin (PPT), was used. PCR amplification of genomic DNA confirmed the presence of the sCTB gene in the transgenic lettuce plants. Expressions of mRNA and protein of sCTB were observed by Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively. The sCTB synthesized in the transgenic lettuce showed strong affinity for GM₁-ganglioside suggesting that the sCTB conserved the antigenic sites for binding and proper folding of pentameric CTB structure. The expression level of CTB was relatively high, reaching total soluble protein (TSP) levels of 0.24% in transgenic lettuce.     

Production of herbicide-resistant transgenic sweet potato plants through <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis> method

Transgenic herbicide-resistant sweet potato plants [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Embryogenic calli derived from shoot apical meristems were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the pCAMBIA3301 vector containing the bar gene encoding phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) and the gusA gene encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS). The PPT-resistant calli and plants were selected with 5 and 2.5 mg l⁻¹ PPT, respectively. Soil-grown plants were obtained 28–36 weeks after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Genetic transformation of the regenerated plants growing under selection was demonstrated by PCR, and Southern blot analysis revealed that one to three copies of the transgene were integrated into the plant genome of each transgenic plant. Expression of the bar gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by RT-PCR and application of herbicide. Transgenic plants sprayed with Basta containing 900 mg l⁻¹ of glufosinate ammonium remained green and healthy. The transformation frequency was 2.8% determined by herbicide application which was high when compared to our previous biolistic method. In addition, possible problems with multiple copies of transgene were also discussed. We therefore report here a successful and reliable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the bar gene conferring herbicide-resistance and this method may be useful for routine transformation and has the potential to develop new varieties of sweet potato with several important genes for value-added traits such as enhanced tolerance to the herbicide Basta.     

Efficient regeneration and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated stable transformation of perennial ryegrass

We utilized gene transfer technology for genetic perennial ryegrass improvement, efficient regeneration, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene (bar). Four growth regulator combinations were compared and intact seeds of six turf-type cultivars as mature embryo sources were tested to optimize the regeneration conditions. Callus formation and regeneration were observed in all seeds. The highest callus formation frequency was observed in the seeds cultured on MS medium supplemented with 9 mg/l 2,4-D, without benzyladenine. Cv. TopGun revealed the highest callus induction and regeneration frequencies of 96 and 48.9%, respectively. By using an optimized regeneration system, embryogenic calli were transformed by an Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 containing the plasmid pCAMBIA3301. After the selection of the potentially transgenic calli with phosphinothricin, a herbicide, 22 transgenic resistant plants were regenerated. With PCR, Southern-blot hybridizations, and GUS expression techniques, we confirmed that some regenerants were transgenic. Two of the tested transgenic plants showed herbicide resistance. Our results indicated that embryogenic calli from mature seeds can be directly used for perennial ryegrass efficient regeneration and transformation and this protocol is applicable for genetic engineering of herbicide-resistant plants. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2007, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 590–596. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

High frequency production of rapeseed transgenic plants via combination of microprojectile bombardment and secondary embryogenesis of microspore-derived embryos

Transgenic doubled haploid rapeseed (Brassica napus L. cvs. Global and PF₇₀₄) plants were obtained from microspore-derived embryo (MDE) hypocotyls using the microprojectile bombardment. The binary vector pCAMBIA3301 containing the gus and bar genes under control of CaMV 35S promoter was used for bombardment experiments. Transformed plantlets were selected and continuously maintained on selective medium containing 10 mg l⁻¹ phosphinothricin (PPT) and transgenic plants were obtained by selecting transformed secondary embryos. The presence, copy numbers and expression of the transgenes were confirmed by PCR, Southern blot, RT-PCR and histochemical GUS analyses. In progeny test, three out of four primary transformants for bar gene produced homozygous lines. The ploidy level of transformed plants was confirmed by flow cytometery analysis before colchicine treatment. All of the regenerated plants were haploid except one that was spontaneous diploid. High frequency of transgenic doubled haploid rapeseeds (about 15.55% for bar gene and 11.11% for gus gene) were considerably produced after colchicines treatment of the haploid plantlets. This result show a remarkable increase in production of transgenic doubled haploid rapeseed plants compared to previous studies.     

Expression of the B subunit of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> heat-labile enterotoxin in tobacco using a herbicide resistance gene as a selection marker

The B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) has been transformed to plants for use as an edible vaccine. We have developed a simple and reliable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method to express synthetic LTB gene in N. tabacum using a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar) gene as a selectable marker. The synthetic LTB gene adapted to the coding sequence of tobacco plants was cloned to a plant expression vector under the control of the ubiquitin promoter and transformed to tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plants were selected in the medium supplemented with 5 mg l^-1 phosphinothricin (PPT). The amount of LTB protein detected in the transgenic tobacco was approximately 3.3% of the total soluble protein, approximately 300-fold higher than in the plants generated using the native LTB gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. The transgenic plants that were transferred to a greenhouse had harvested seeds that proved to be resistant to herbicide. Thus, the described protocol could provide a useful tool for the transformation of tobacco plants.     

Expression of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit in transgenic watercress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nasturtium officinale</Emphasis> L<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>)

A gene encoding the B subunit of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) was adapted to the optimized plant coding sequence, and fused to the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal SEKDEL in order to enhance its expression level and protein assembly in plants. The synthetic LTB (sLTB) gene was placed into a plant expression vector under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, and subsequently introduced into the watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.) plant by the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. The integration of the sLTB gene into the genomic DNA of transgenic plants was confirmed by genomic DNA PCR amplification. The assembly of plant-produced LTB protein was detected by western blot analysis. The highest amount of LTB protein produced in transgenic watercress leaf tissue was approximately 1.3% of the total soluble plant protein. G_M1-ganglioside enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that plant-synthesized LTB protein bound specifically to G_M1-ganglioside, which is the receptor for biologically active LTB on the cell surface, suggesting that the plant-synthesized LTB subunits formed biologically active pentamers.     

Immunogenicity of recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen fused with preS1 epitopes expressed in rice seeds

To test the possibility of producing a novel hepatitis B vaccine in plants, the modified hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) gene SS1 was expressed in rice under the control of the seed-specific Glub-4 promoter. The SS1 gene encodes a fusion protein consisting of amino acids 21-47 of the hepatocyte receptor-binding presurface 1 region (preS1) fused to the truncated C-terminus of the major HBV surface (S) protein. The production of antibodies against the preS1 region acts to protect humans against HBV infection by preventing HBV from binding to hepatocytes. The presence of SS1 in the genome of transgenic rice was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis, and RNA dot blot analysis indicated that the fused SS1 gene was specifically expressed in rice seeds, with the highest expression level being about 31.5 ng/g dry weight grain. Western blot analysis revealed that the recombinant SS1 protein could be specifically recognized by both an anti-S protein antibody and an anti-preS1 antibody. The recombinant SS1 protein was also observed to form virus-like particles with a diameter of about 22 nm and a density of 1.25 g cm(-3). Furthermore, immunological responses against both the S and preS1 epitopes were induced in BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant SS1 protein, indicating that this rice-derived SS1 protein could be a promising candidate as an alternative HBV vaccine for preventing hepatitis B.     

Introduction and constitutive expression of a tobacco hornworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Manduca sexta</Emphasis>) chitinase gene in soybean

Summary Embryogenic soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultures were transformed with a Manduca sexta chitinase (msc) gene using microprojectile bombardment. A 1.7 kb DNA fragment encoding a tobacco hornworm chitinase was cloned into the rice transformation vector pGL2, under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter and linked to the hpt gene as a selectable marker. After bombardment, hygromycin-resistant tissues were isolated and cultured to give rise to clones of transgenic material. Four hygromycin-resistant clones were converted into plants. Two clones were positive for the msc gene via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis. The integration inheritance, and expression of transgenes were confirmed by molecular analysis of transgenic soybean plants. Progeny analysis showed that the introduced genes were inherited and segregated in a 3:1 Mendelian fashion. DNA blot experiments and progeny inheritance analysis indicated that the plants contained several copies of the msc gene and that the insertion occurred at a single locus. Northern blotting analysis confirmed the expression of the transgenes. Western blot analysis of transgenic plants and their progeny revealed the presence of a protein with a molecular weight of 48kDa that reacted with the Manduca sexta antibody. Progeny from the chitinase-positive plants were tested for their resistance to the soybean cyst nematode. Plants expressing the insect chitinase did not manifest enhanced resistance to the soybean cyst nematode.     

Transgenic fertile Scoparia dulcis L., a folk medicinal plant, conferred with a herbicide-resistant trait using an Ri binary vector

Summary Transgenic herbicide-resistant Scoparia dulcis plants were obtained by using an Ri binary vector system. The chimeric bar gene encoding phosphinothricin acetyltransferase flanked by the promoter for cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA and the terminal sequence for nopaline synthase was introduced in the plant genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation by means of scratching young plants. Hairy roots resistant to bialaphos were selected and plantlets (R0) were regenerated. Progenies (S1) were obtained by self-fertilization. The transgenic state was confirmed by DNA-blot hybridization and assaying of neomycin phosphotransferase II. Expression of the bar gene in the transgenic R0 and S1 progenies was indicated by the activity of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase. Transgenic plants accumulated scopadulcic acid B, a specific secondary metabolite of S. dulcis, in amounts of 15–60% compared with that in normal plants. The transgenic plants and progenies showed resistant trait towards bialaphos and phosphinothricin. These results suggest that an Ri binary system is one of the useful tools for the transformation of medicinal plants for which a regeneration protocol has not been established.Abbreviations CaMV cauliflower mosaic virus - NPT-II neomycin phosphotransferase - PAT phosphinothricin acetyltransferase - PPT phosphinothricin     

Analysis of Transgenic Tobacco Plants Carrying the Gene for the Surface Antigen of the Hepatitis B Virus

The plasmids carrying the gene encoding the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) under the control of 35S RNA single or dual promoters of the cauliflower mosaic virus CaMV 35S were constructed. These constructions were used for obtaining transgenic tobacco plants that synthesize the HBs antigen. The presence of HBsAg in tobacco plant extracts was confirmed by the enzyme-linked immunoassay using antibodies against the native HBs antigen. The antigen amount in plants carrying the HBsAg gene under a single 35S promoter was 0.0001–0.001 of the total soluble protein whereas the use of a dual 35S promoter increased the antigen synthesis to 0.002–0.05% of the protein. The antigen-synthesizing ability was inherited by the offspring. In the F₁ plants, the antigen expression varied in different lines comprising 0.001 to 0.03% of the total soluble protein, which corresponded to the antigen amount in the F₀ plants.     

Cloning and Drought Resistance Analysis of Soybean <i>GmHsps_p23-like</i> Gene

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important cultivated crop, which requires much water during its growth, and drought seriously affects soybean yields. Studies have shown that the expression of small heat shock proteins can enhance drought resistance, cold resistance and salt resistance of plants. In this experiment, soybean GmHsps_p23-like gene was successfully cloned by RT-PCR, the protein encoded by the GmHsps_p23-like gene was subjected to bioinformatics analysis, and the pCAMBIA3301-GmHsps_p23-like overexpression vector and pCBSG015-GmHsps_p23-like gene editing vector were constructed. Agrobacterium-mediated method was used to transform soybeans to obtain positive plants. RT-PCR detection, rehydration experiment and drought resistance physiological and biochemical index detection were performed on the T₂ generation positive transgenic soybean plants identified by PCR and Southern hybridization. The results showed that the overexpression vector plant GmHsps_p23-like gene expression increased. After rehydration, the transgenic overexpression plants returned to normal growth, and the damage to the plants was low. After drought stress, the SOD and POD activities and the PRO content of the transgenic overexpression plants increased, while the MDA content decreased. The reverse was true for soybean plants with genetically modified editing vectors. The drought resistance of the overexpressed soybeans under drought stress was higher than that of the control group, and had a stronger drought resistance. It showed that the expression of soybean GmHsps_p23-like gene can improve the drought resistance of soybean. The cloning and functional verification of soybean GmHsps_p23-like gene had not been reported yet. This is the first time that PCR technology has been used to amplify the soybean GmHsps_p23-like gene and construct an expression vector for this gene. This research has laid the foundation for transgenic technology to improve plant drought resistance and cultivate new drought-resistant transgenic soybean varieties.     

Transgenic tobacco plants containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">GNA</Emphasis> genes

A new plant expression vector (pBSbtCry1Ac-GNA) containing two insect resistant genes, a synthetic chimeric gene SbtCry1Ac encoding the insecticidal protein CrylAc and a gene GNA encoding snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin) was constructed. Transgenic tobacco plants containing these two genes were obtained through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco leaf discs. Results from PCR detection and genomic DNA Southern blot analysis indicated that both SbtCrylAc gene and GNA gene were integrated into the genome of these plants. Results of Western blot analysis indicated that these two proteins were expressed in the analyzed plants. Bioassays of Myzus persicae and Helicoverpa assulta on detached leaves of transformed tobacco plants were carried out. The average aphid inhibition rate of these plants tested at 12 d post-infestation was 71.9 %. The average H. assulta mortality of these plants tested at 6 d post-infestation was up to 89.8 %. The kanamycin resistance of the T₁ progeny of these transgenic plants was analyzed and a typical 3:1 segregation was observed.     

Genetic transformation of a hepatoprotective plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus amarus</Emphasis>

Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn. is a source of various pharmacologically active compounds such as phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, gallic acid, catechin, and nirurin, a flavone glycoside. A genetic transformation method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens was developed for this plant species for the first time. Shoot tips of full grown plants were used as explants for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plants were obtained by co-cultivation of shoot tips explants and A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 containing the pCAMBIA 2301 plasmid harboring neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) and β-glucuronidase encoding (GUS) genes in the T-DNA region in the presence of 200 μM acetosyringone. Integration of the NPT II gene into the genome of transgenic plants was verified by PCR and Southern blot analyses. Expression of the NPT II gene was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. An average of 25 explants was used, out of which an average of 19 explants produced kanamycin-resistant shoots, which rooted to produce 13 complete transgenic plants.     

Expression of a synthetic cholera toxin B subunit in tobacco using ubiquitin promoter and bar gene as a selectable marker

A protocol has been developed to produce a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) in tobacco tolerant to the herbicide phosphinothricin (PPT) by means of in vitro selection. The synthetic CTB subunit gene was altered to modify the codon usage to that of tobacco plant genes. The gene was then cloned into a plant expression vector and was under the control of the ubiquitin promoter and transformed into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plantlets were selected in a medium supplemented with 5 mg/L PPT. Polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed stable integration of the synthetic CTB gene into a chromosomal DNA. A high level of CTB (1.8% of total soluble protein) was expressed in transgenic plants, which was 18-fold higher than that under the control of the expressed CaMV 35S promoter with native gene. The transgenic plants when transferred to a greenhouse proved to be resistant to 2% PPT.     

Seed-specific expression of a lysine rich protein sb401 gene significantly increases both lysine and total protein content in maize seeds

The sb401 gene from potato (Solanum berthaultii) encoding a pollen-specific protein with high lysine content was successfully integrated into the genome of maize plants and its expression was correlated with increased levels of lysine and total protein content in maize seeds. A plasmid vector containing the sb401 gene under the control of a maize seed-specific expression storage protein promoter (P19z) was constructed and introduced into maize calli using microprojectile bombardment. The integration of the sb401 gene into the maize genome was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and its expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Quantification of lysine and protein content in R1 maize seeds showed that, compared to the non-transgenic maize control, the lysine content increased by 16.1% to 54.8%, and total protein content increased by 11.6% to 39.0%. There was no visible morphological change in vegetative parts and seeds of the transgenic maize plants. Lysine and protein analysis of the transgenic maize grains showed that the levels of lysine and total protein remained high for six continuous generations, indicating that the elevated lysine and total protein levels were heritable. These results indicate that the sb401 gene could be successfully employed in breeding programmes aimed at improving the nutritional value of maize.     

美洲商陆抗真菌蛋白转化烟草的研究和抗病性检测

本研究为美洲商陆抗病毒蛋白(PaAFP)基因首次对植物遗传转化的研究,转入烟草中研究此蛋白对烟草立枯病的抗性。从美洲商陆叶片中获得美洲商陆抗真菌蛋白前体蛋白基因cDNA序列,构建植物表达载体pCAMBIA1300-PaAFP,通过三亲杂交法将其导入根癌农杆菌LBA4404受体菌,转染烟草获得了大量再生转基因植株。PCR、Southern杂交、RT-PCR以及Tris-Tricine-SDS-PAGE检测结果表明目的基因已经整合到烟草基因组中,并且已经得到转译。转基因植株苗期抗立枯病试验表明,转基因烟草植株对立枯丝核菌表现出了抗性。