Changes in protein spectra of transgenic plants carrying differentAgrobacterium tumefaciens C58 T-DNA genes

A series of binary vector plasmids derived from the T-DNA of theAgrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58, carrying the five plant morphoregulatory genes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6b in different combinations, was used in the transformation ofNicotiana tabacum leaf discs. Protein patterns of the transgenic tobacco analysed through SDS-PAGE have shown changes in the polypeptides with M_r: ∼120, 60, 55, 43 and 27 kDa (for tobacco with transgene 4); ∼60, 55, 43, 26–25, 21, 18 kDa (for tobacco with transgenes 1, 2 and 5); ∼70, 60, 26, 25, 18 kDa (for tobacco with transgene 5); ∼60, 55, 48, 26, 18 kDa (for tobacco with transgenes 4, 5, 6b); ∼60, 55, 22 and 18 kDa (for tobacco with transgene 6b); ∼60, 55, 43, 26 and 18 kDa (for transgenes 5, 6b); ∼60, 55, 22, 18 and 16 kDa (for transgenes 4 and 6b). All types of transgenic plants showed quantitative changes in protein content. Mendelian segregation ratio to kanamycin resistance in the progeny of transgenic tobacco clones in the R1 generation was 3∶1 except in transgenic tobacco carrying transgenes 1, 2 and 5. Communicated by T. GICHNER