The impact of hybrids between genetically modified crop plants and their related species: biological models and theoretical perspectives

Forces affecting the rate of spread and increase of hybrids between genetically modified crop plants and their related species remain qualitatively similar, irrespective of whether genetic modification was achieved using traditional methods, those of biotechnology or as a result of the natural evolutionary process. However, the precise magnitude of the forces and, consequently, the likely environmental impact of such hybrids, may depend strongly on the nature of the gene or genes introduced into the native species. While many classes of transgenes are similar to those manipulated by conventional breeding techniques or evolution, biotechnology offers the potential to introduce genes into crops which are novel both from the point of view of function and origin. The qualitative similarity between transgenes and the products of conventional or evolutionary modification suggests that a historical view of the environmental impact of hybrids between traditionally produced crops or exotic species and their relatives would be of use in estimating the probable fate of hybrids containing transgenes in the environment. However, with certain classes of transgenes for which there are no existing analogues, there will need to be greater care in assessing the possible risks associated with release into the environment.     

Recovery of transgenic trees after electroporation of poplar protoplasts

Protoplasts from leaflets ofin vitro cuttings were electroporated in osmotically adjusted and buffered solutions containing plasmid DNA: pABD1, carrying thenptII gene for resistance to neomycin; pGH1, carrying a mutant acetolactate synthase gene,als, for resistance to sulfonylurea; and pGSFR781A, carrying a synthetic phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (pat) for resistance to phosphinothricin (Basta). Gene transfer was repeatedly efficient, without use of carrier DNA, in the range of one transformant for 10⁵ to 10⁴ protoplast-derived cell colonies. This was probably due to the high plating efficiency (30%) of protoplasts in our culture process. Selection for expression of foreign genes was applied in liquid medium and repeatedly achieved with 30 M paromomycin for NPTII, 200 nM chlorsulfuron for the mutant ALS ofArabidopsis and 25 M phosphinothricin for PAT expression. Integration of foreign genes into genomic DNA of resistant poplar trees was demonstrated by Southern blot hybridizations, which revealed that for some transformants practically no other part of the vector plasmid than the selected gene was integrated.Effective processes for protoplast culture, efficient selection at the cell colony stage and gene transfer will provide new possibilities in poplar breeding.     

Metabolic engineering of plant secondary products

Plants interact with their environment by producing a diverse array of secondary metabolites. Many of these compounds are valued for their medicinal, industrial or agricultural properties. Other secondary products are toxic or otherwise undesirable and can reduce the commercial value of crops. Gene transfer technology offers new opportunities to modify directly plant secondary product synthesis through metabolic engineering. This article reviews some of the strategies which have been used to increase or decrease the synthesis of specific plant metabolites, as well as methods for expanding the biosynthetic capabilities of individual species.     

Visualization and ablation of phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase producing cells in transgenic mice

We cloned and sequenced the mouse phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase (PNMT) gene which encodes the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine. The ability of various length sequences flanking the mouse or human PNMT genes to direct expression of reporter genes in transgenic mice was examined. We show that 9 kb of 5 flanking sequences from the cloned mouse PNMT gene can direct expression of theEscherichia coli -galactosidase (lacZ) gene to predicted regions of the adrenal, eye can direct in the adult transgenic mouse. The transgene was also expressed during development, in the myelencephalon, adrenal medulla and dorsal root ganglia. PNMT-producing cells were ablated by expression of the diphtheria toxin (DT-A) gene driven by the human PNMT promoter, resulting in abnormalities in the adrenal medulla, eye and testis. The hPNMT_{8 kb}-DT-A line presents a model with which to examine the developmental ramifications of deletion of PNMT-producing cell populations from the adrenal medulla and retina.     

Opportunities for gene transfer from transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) to related species

Before novel transgenic plant genotypes are grown outside containment facilities and evaluated under field conditions, it is necessary to complete a risk assessment to consider the possible consequences of that release. An important aspect of risk assessment is to consider the likelihood and consequences of the transgene being transferred by cross-pollination to related species, including other crops, weeds and ruderal populations. The purpose of this report is to review the literature to assess the ease with whichBrassica napus can hybridize with related species. The evidence for hybridization is considered at three levels: a) by open pollination, b) by hand pollination and c) by the use ofin vitro ovule and embryo rescue techniques; and also examines the fertility and vigour of the F₁, F₂ and backcross generations. Four species are reported to hybridize withB. napus by open pollination:B. rapa andB. juncea using fully fertile parents; andB. adpressa andR. raphanistrum using a male-sterileB. napus parent. Seventeen species are reported to form hybrids (including the four species above) withB. napus when pollination is carried out manually. At least 12 of these species were unable to form F₂ progeny, and eight were unable to produce progeny when the F₁ was backcrossed to one of the parental species. Many factors will influence the success of hybridization under field conditions, including: distance between the parents, synchrony of flowering, method of pollen spread, specific parental genotypes used, direction of the cross and the environmental conditions. Even where there is a possibility of hybridization betweenB. napus and a related species growing in the vicinity of a release, poor vigour and high sterility in the hybrids will generally mean that hybrids and their progeny will not survive in either an agricultural or natural habitat.     

旋毛虫肌幼虫ES抗原的基因克隆及高效表达

作者对编码旋毛虫肌幼虫ES抗原的部分结构基因进行了克隆、鉴定和表达。用RNA PCR技术直接从旋毛虫肌幼虫总RNA中反转录并扩增出0．7kh的靶DNA,酶切分析后将其克隆到融合表达载体pEx3lC中。SDS—PAGE电泳表明,含重组子的大肠杆菌能够表达出一分子量为37kDa的融合蛋白(P37),后者占菌体总蛋白的22%以上,并以包含体形式存在于菌体中。经对纯化后表达蛋白的ELlSA检测,证明它能被猪旋毛虫病阳性血清和抗旋毛虫单克隆抗体识别。研究结果揭示,重组蛋白P37对于研制旋毛虫病诊断抗原和免疫抗原具有潜在的应用价值。     

番木瓜环斑病毒复制酶(亚基)基因的克隆、序列分析及其植物表达载体的构建

近二年报道,在TMV^⑴、PVX^⑵、PEBV^⑶和CMV^⑷等病毒中,利用病毒编码的复制酶(亚基)基因或相关cDNA片段转化烟草,工程植株获得绝对或极高的病毒抗性。大量研究认为：马铃薯Y病毒组的核内含体大分子量蛋白(Nib)是依赖于RNA的RNA复制酶(或核心亚基),Nlb与上述病毒的复制酶有广泛的同源保守区^⑸。因此,Nib基因的克隆,不但在植物抗病基因工程方面,而且在马铃薯Y病毒组基因组的复制研究方面．均有重要的意义。本文以马铃薯Y病毒组的重要成员番木瓜环斑病毒的华南强株系(PRSV—sM)为材料,克隆了PRSV的Nib基因,并完成其全序列测定和植物表达载体的构建,为探索马铃薯Y病毒组复制酶可能介导的抗病性打下了基础。     

抗人PAI—1单克隆抗体制备,鉴定和应用

以重组PAI-(rPAI-1)为抗原,通过杂交瘤技术获得6株阳性杂交瘤细胞(AP1、AP2、AP3、AP4、AP5和AP6),并用SPA亲和层析纯化了抗PAI-1单克隆抗体(McAb)。所有McAb均能识别rPAI和天然PAI-1,腹水滴度均为10~6以上。6种McAb对PAI-1亲和常数在3.45×10~7—1.05×10~9mol/L之间。AP2、AP3 McAb能完全抑制PAI-1活性,AP4、AP和AP6只能部分抑制PAI-1活性,AP1则不抑制PAI-1活性。6种McAb中只有AP1、AP4和AP5能识别PAI-1/t-PA复合物。利用AP1、AP3、和AP4 McAb制备免疫亲和柱一步纯化HepG_2细胞分泌的PAI-1,纯度大于98％,回收率92％,纯化倍数51倍。利用抗PAI-1 McAb建立了夹心法ELISA,测定了人血浆PAI-1水平,正常人血浆PAI-1平均含量(±D)为24.7±7.75ng/ml。     

麦迪霉素产生菌酮基还原酶基因的研究

将麦迪霉素产生菌基因文库中与放线紫红索酮基还原酶基因actⅢ有同源性的4·0kb DNA片段克隆到质粒载体pWHM3中,构成重组质粒pCB4。将质粒pCB4转入酮基还原酶基因缺陷菌株——加利利链霉菌ATCC3167l中,得到转化子。转化子发酵产物经TLC和HPLC分析证明是阿克拉菌酮,与加利利链霉菌原株ATCC31133的产物相同,说明麦迪霉素产生菌酮基还原酶基因互补了加利利链霉菌ATCC31671中缺陷的酮基还原酶基因,使其恢复了产生阿克拉菌酮的能力。4．Okb DNA片段插入方向相反的重组质粒pCBR4在加利利链霉菌ATCC31671中发酵产物经TLC分析证明也是阿克拉菌酮,这说明4．0kbDNA片段中麦迪霉素产生菌酮基还原酶基因具有自身的启动子。对4．0kb DNA片段进行了限制酶酶切分析,建立了其酶切图谱。以actⅢ基因为探针,经分子杂交以及亚克隆和DNA转化实验,将麦迪霉索产生菌酮基还原酶基因定位于BssH Ⅱ—BamH Ⅰ 1．3kb DNA片段上。对1．3kb DNA片段核苷酸序列分析结果表明：此1．3kbDNA片段中含有一个独立的ORF,起始密码ATG,终止密码TAG,含783bp;在起始密码上游有GGAGG5个核苷酸SD序列;此ORF编码260个氨基酸,与actⅢ基因编码的261个氨基酸相似性为77．4%,相同性为66．7％,对麦迪霉素产生苗酮基还原酶基因的可能作用进行了讨论。     

密码结构域及其功能表现

能组织成超级结构的各种序列组块,因其具有特定一级序列、或者具有某种卷曲的螺旋构象和某种非β螺旋结构,可以作为有特异功能的结构域、被特异的结合蛋白质识别和结合,因而可称为密码结构域,密码结构域作为特异的分子相互作用和过程的遗传指令,参与细胞周期的各种事件乃至发育和分化过程中基因有区别的表达.