uidA gene transfer and expression in maize microspores using the biolistic method

Summary The ability to recover male gametophyte derived plants, which is necessary to get transformed haploid plants, was verified for a hybrid of maize. Using the isolated microspore culture technique, a 9 × 10^–5 plant regeneration frequency was obtained. Maize microspores were bombarded with tungsten particles using a PDS He/1000 apparatus. GUS expression in the microspores was maximum with 1.1 m diameter tungsten microprojectiles for 1100 and 1350 psi helium pressures at a 6 cm distance between the launch point and the target cells. Increasing the amount of DNA coated on the microparticles from 1.66 to 4 g DNA/mg of particles allowed a two-fold and four-fold increase of the GUS-expressing microspore frequency for 1100 and 1350 psi helium pressure bombardment, respectively. Optimal concentration of solidifying agent in the bombardment support culture medium was found to be 1%. Cell density ranging from 25000 microspores/bombardment to 100000 microspores/bombardment did not affect the frequency of GUS-expressing microspores. Using these optimal conditions, the maximum frequency of GUS-expressing microspores was found to be about 9 × 10^–4, while maintaining an embryo formation frequency about 5 × 10^–4.Abbreviations GUS -glucuronidase - PEG polyethylene glycol     

Factors affecting the genetic engineering of plants by microprojectile bombardment

Since its development in the mid-1980s, microprojectile bombardment has been widely employed as a method for direct gene transfer into a wide range of plants, including the previously difficult-to-transform monocotyledonous species. Although the numerous instruments available for microprojectile-mediated gene delivery and their applications have been widely discussed, less attention has been paid to the critical factors which affect the efficiency of this method of gene delivery. In this review we do not wish to describe the array of devices used for microprojectile delivery or their uses which have already been definitively described, but instead wish to report on research developments investigating the factors which affect microprojectile-mediated transformation of plants.     

Production of stably transformed cassava plants via particle bombardment

 A novel protocol, based on biolistics and regeneration via organogenesis, was developed for genetic transformation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The in vitro performance of cassava cultivars CMC40, MPer183 and MCol22 was evaluated, and the regeneration protocol was modified to improve shoot production from explants for transformation experiments. Somatic cotyledons were used as a target tissue in the transformation experiments using the Particle Inflow Gun and a plasmid containing the uidA gene in transient assays. The effect of different parameters for particle bombardment efficiency, including the amount of DNA used, the flying distance of the projectiles and the pre- and post-plasmolysis time of the target tissue, was evaluated and the conditions were partially optimised. Stably transformed cassava plants of cvs. MCol22 and TMS60444 were produced using the partially optimised conditions and two different vector constructs carrying the hpt gene as the selectable marker. The selection protocol was optimised further, and a rooting test was developed for screening the regenerants for antibiotic resistance to reduce the number of escapes obtained after primary selection. The production of stably transformed cassava lines and the expression of the transgenes was verified by Southern blot analysis and RT-PCR. Received: 10 December 1999 / Revision received: 12 January 2000 / Accepted: 7 February 2000     

玉米优良自交系愈伤组织基因枪转化的研究

利用基因枪将Ｂｔ基因导入玉米Ｅ２８幼胚愈合组织中,在潮霉素浓度为５ｍｇ／Ｌ选择培养基上,经过３５天的继代和分化２次选择及４５天继代继续３次选择后分化再生成植株,ＰＣＲ及Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ分子杂交结果表明,潮霉素基因及Ｂｔ基因已导入并整合到玉米基因组中,Ｅ２８２次选择的转化频率达到７．８％,显著地高于３次选择２．９％的转化频率,选择至再生的时间缩短２５天;自交系Ｐａｌ３７２次选择的转化频率为１３．３％     

Production of herbicide-resistant sweet potato plants transformed with the <Emphasis Type="Italic">bar</Emphasis> gene

Herbicide-resistant sweet potato plants were produced through biolistics of embryogenic calli derived from shoot apical meristems. Plant materials were bombarded with the vectors containing the β-glucuronidase gene (gusA) and the herbicide-resistant gene (bar). Selection was carried out using phosphinothricin (PPT). Transformants were screened by the histochemical GUS and Chlorophenol Red assays. PCR and Southern-blot analyses indicated the presence of introduced bar gene in the genomic DNA of the transgenic plants. When sprayed with Basta, the transgenic sweet potato plants was tolerant to the herbicide. Hence, we report successful transformation of the bar gene conferring herbicide resistance to sweet potato.     

Regioselective Biolistic Targeting in Organotypic Brain Slices Using a Modified Gene Gun

Transfection of DNA has been invaluable for biological sciences and with recent advances to organotypic brain slice preparations, the effect of various heterologous genes could thus be investigated easily while maintaining many aspects of in vivo biology. There has been increasing interest to transfect terminally differentiated neurons for which conventional transfection methods have been fraught with difficulties such as low yields and significant losses in viability. Biolistic transfection can circumvent many of these difficulties yet only recently has this technique been modified so that it is amenable for use in mammalian tissues.New modifications to the accelerator chamber have enhanced the gene gun''s firing accuracy and increased its depths of penetration while also allowing the use of lower gas pressure (50 psi) without loss of transfection efficiency as well as permitting a focused regioselective spread of the particles to within 3 mm. In addition, this technique is straight forward and faster to perform than tedious microinjections. Both transient and stable expression are possible with nanoparticle bombardment where episomal expression can be detected within 24 hr and the cell survival was shown to be better than, or at least equal to, conventional methods. This technique has however one crucial advantage: it permits the transfection to be localized within a single restrained radius thus enabling the user to anatomically isolate the heterologous gene''s effects. Here we present an in-depth protocol to prepare viable adult organotypic slices and submit them to regioselective transfection using an improved gene gun.     

抗虫基因转化优良籼型保持系D297B的研究

本文报道了用基因枪法将雪花莲外源凝集素基因(gna)转移到优良籼型杂交稻保持系D297B中。通过PCR、Southern blotting和Western blotting等分子检测方法证明,外源基因已整合到受体材料的基因组中并得到表达。蛋白活性测定结果显示转基因在受体中表达的蛋白具有生物活性。潮霉素抗性分析表明外源基因多数是以单位点形式整合并以3∶1方式遗传。另外,PCR证据也说明抗虫基因与选择标记基因基本上是共整合和共遗传的     

基因枪法在水稻工程育种中的应用

至今,基因枪法以其实用性和有效性应用于水稻工程育种已有十几年,本文阐述了其在水稻工程育种的六个主要领域的应用现状,同时评价了外源基因在转基因水稻中的稳定性和对转基因水稻主要农艺性状的影响。当然,基因枪法的转化效率还有待提高,随着转不同基因的工程水稻的日益增多,进一步的安全性试验显得十分必要,它是转基因水稻商品化的前提。     

Stable genetic transformation of castor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ricinus communis</Emphasis> L.) via particle gun-mediated gene transfer using embryo axes from mature seeds

The first successful attempt to produce stably transformed castor plants through direct gene transfer using particle gun (BioRad) is described. Decotyledonated embryos from mature seeds were germinated and the embryonic axis was induced to proliferate on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) thidiazuron (TDZ) and subjected to bombardment after 5-7 days of pre-incubation. The physical parameters for transient transformation were optimized using the UidA gene encoding beta-glucuronidase (GUS) as the reporter gene and with hygromycin-phosphotransferase (hptII) gene as selectable marker. Statistical analysis revealed that helium pressure, target distance, osmoticum, microcarrier type and size, DNA quantity, explant type and number of bombardments had significant influence on transformation efficiency, while the effect of genotype was non-significant. Of the different variables evaluated, embryonic axes from mature seeds, a target distance of 6.0 cm, helium pressure of 1,100 psi, 0.6 mum gold microcarriers, single time bombardment and with both pre- and post-osmoticum were found ideal. Selection of putative transformants was done on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) BA and hygromycin (20, 40 and 60 mg l(-1)) for 3 cycles. The stable integration of the incorporated gene into castor genome was confirmed with PCR and Southern analysis of T(0) and T(1) plants. Transformation frequency in terms of plants grown to maturity and showing the presence of the introduced genes was 1.4%. The present results demonstrate the possibility of transformation of embryonic meristematic tissues of castor through particle delivery system.     

用基因枪法将抗除草剂基因导入小麦栽培品种的研究

利用基因枪法将抗除草剂bar基因导入西南地区的 3个小麦栽培品种 ,共获得 7个转基因植株 ,转化频率在 0 .45 %～ 1 .2 %之间 ,转化周期缩短至 3个月左右。对抗性植株进行PCR和PCR_Southern杂交检测 ,初步确定bar基因已导入小麦基因组。做转基因植株叶片对除草剂PPT的抗性试验 ,有 4株呈抗性 ,3株呈部分抗性 ,表明bar基因已在小麦植株中得到表达。