Multiple transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium may be responsible for the complex organization of T-DNA in crown gall and hairy root

Summary Inoculation of carrot discs and Lotus corniculatus plantlets with mixtures of different Agrobacterium rhizogenes or of A. rhizogenes and A. tumefaciens or with Agrobacterium strains harboring both an Ri and a modified Ti plasmid resulted in frequent multiple (pluribacterial) transformation of cells, as revealed by the mixed opine-type of hairy roots arising from them. Multiple transformation may account for the presence of dispersed T-DNA inserts in crown gall and hairy root lines. A plant genetic engineering strategy based on segregation of T-DNA inserts in the progeny of multiple transformants is proposed.     

Ti plasmid-encoded octopine and nopaline catabolism in Agrobacterium: specificities of the LysR-type regulators OccR and NocR, and protein-induced DNA bending

The occ and noc regions in octopine and nopaline Ti plasmids, respectively, are responsible for the catabolism of octopine and nopaline in Agrobacterium. The functions are activated in the presence of the opines by OccR and NocR, two related regulatory proteins, and the promoters contain common sequence motifs. We have investigated heterologous interactions between the regulators and the promoters. Previous experiments using all possible heterologous combinations of opines, regulators, and promoters in vivo had demonstrated that only the combination of nopalme, NocR, and the occ promoter led to limited promoter activation. We now show that OccR and NocR bind to the heterologous promoters in vitro and in vivo. The weak or non-existent promoter activation actually observed could be explained by the assumption that OccR and NocR use different activation mechanisms; we investigated protein-induced DNA bending because of reports that the two regulators differ in this respect. Analysis with a bending vector showed that both OccR and NocR induced a DNA bend that is relaxed in the presence of the respective opine. The data suggest that subtle differences in regulator/promoter interactions are responsible for the inactivity of the heterologous combinations. Investigations with a chimeric NocR/OccR protein indicated that it induced a DNA bend in both promoters. No opine-induced relaxation was detectable with the hybrid, and the inducible promoter was not activated. These findings suggest that bend relaxation may be an integral part of promoter activation.     

Studies on the use of toxic precursor analogs of opines to select transformed plant cells

Summary S-(2-aminoethyl-)L-cysteine and L-canavanine were less toxic for octopine-type crown gall tissues that contained lysopine dehydrogenase than for other crown gall or habituated tissues. These analogs are substrates for lysopine dehydrogenase in vitro and in vivo. Thus toxic analogs of amino acid precursors of opines may be useful in selecting for cells that contain an opine dehydrogenase.     

Instability of phenotype and gene expression in long-term culture of carrot hairy root clones

 Hairy root clones were established from carrot root discs inoculated with an agropine-type strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 harbouring the gus reporter gene on the TL-DNA. The clones were periodically examined for their phenotypic characteristics and for their ability to express the gus gene, to produce opines and to grow in the presence of NAM. The presence of the gus gene in the roots was confirmed by Southern blot hybridisation. The clones displayed various morphologies which were generally not correlated with the transformation events, and they were highly unstable throughout the successive subcultures, both for their phenotype and for their ability to express the transgenes. Reversible inactivation of the gus gene expression was associated with a high gus copy number. This could have some consequences for fundamental studies and practical uses of hairy roots. Received: 29 November 1996 / Revision received: 11 July 1997 / Accepted: 15 February 1999     

根癌农杆菌T-DNA在向日葵离体组织中的转移与表达

利用根癌农杆菌B6S3和T37菌株离体感染向日葵切伤的子叶、下胚轴外植体。感染处理的外植体与菌共培养三天后,在无激素条件下以60—96％的频率获得了离体转化的瘤组织。瘤组织在继代培养过程中具有激素自主性生长特性。在无激素培养基上瘤组织的生长速率显著高于正常愈伤组织。所有随机取样测定的瘤组织内均有相应冠瘿碱的存在。     

Genetic Transformation of Cucumis sativus by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

Hairy roots were obtained in vitro 10 days after inoculation of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. ) cotyledon explants with the strains of Agrobacterium rhiwgenes R1000 and R1601. The frequency of the cotyledon explants transformed by R1000 and R1601 was up to 87.5% and 88.9%, respectively. All hairy roots induced by the strains of R1000 and R1601 grew rapidly on solid hormone-free MS medium. The roots incited by A. rhizogenes R1000 could be divided into three phenotypes. The roots of phenotype Ⅰ were similar to the normal ones, but had more numerous lateral roots. Roots of phenotype m were much stouter and shorter, they elongated very slowly and were more highly branched than roots of phenotype Ⅰ . Roots of phenotype Ⅱ were of intermediate in appearance. However, the roots incited by A. rhizogenes R1601 appeared similar to phenotype Ⅰ roots incited by A. rhizogenes R1000. Transformation was confirmed by opine detection.     

Specificity of strain and genotype in the susceptibility of pea to Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Summary To determine the best combination for potential use in transformation of Pisum sativum L., 13 genotypes were inoculated with wild-type Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains A281, C58 and Ach5. A281 appeared to be the most virulent strain, as determined by size and number of tumours, followed by C58 and Ach5. Genotypes differed considerably in their response to inoculation and genotype x strain interaction was evident. Genotypes also responded differently to in vivo or in vitro inoculation. Axenic calli from tumours could be grown on hormone-free medium and the presence of the specific opines for each strain in the callus indicated successful transfer and expression of T-DNA. Southern blot analysis of DNA from callus of A281-inoculated material showed that both T_R and T_L T-DNA had been incorporated into the pea genome.NRCC No. 30265