Cloning and Expression of Pun1 Gene Controlling Pungency of Pepper (Capsicum spp.)

[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate cloning and expression of Pun1 gene controlling pungency of pepper. [Method] With Capsicum annuum L as a material, the cDNA sequence of Capunl gene was obtained, with a total length of 1 457 bp, coding 440 amino acids. [Result] Phylogenetic analysis showed that Capunl was closest to Pun1 of C. chinense, with a genetic distance of 0.019 3. Plant expression vector pCAM-Punl-GFP was constructed and transformed into to- bacco, and it was found that the protein coded by fusion gene Punl：：GFP was lo- cated on cell membrane. Prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed, and by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot detection, an induced protein with a molecular weight of 63 ku was obtained. It was found by real-time fluorescence quantitative expres- sion that Pun1 gene was expressed at the highest level 30 d after flowering, de- creased then, and could not be detected substantially 40 and 45 d after flowering. [Conclusion] This study provides information and reference for molecular regulation mechanism of Pun1 gene.

Cloning of Soybean 24 kDa Oleosin Gene and Its Transient Expression as a Carrier for Foreign Protein

The genomic DNA sequence encoding soybean 24 kDa oleosin and its promoter were cloned andanalyzed for investigation of the potentials of the oleosin acted as a carrier forproduction of recombinant proteins in plant. The -300 box, GA-rich, G-box, SEF-3, SEF-4, RY box, ABA box, CAn and TATA box were found in the upstream region of the soybeanoleosin gene, which shows the functional oleosin promoter available. Homology comparisonreveals that the soybean 24 kDa oleosin shares the highest identity with the soybeanoleosin isoform A (U09118, GenBank), reaching to 98.4% in nucleotide. A soybean oleosin-hirudin fusion gene driven by the oleosin promoter was constructed and inserted intoplant binary expression vector. The intact tobacco plantlets were transformed by meansof vacuum infiltration approach, with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the abovevector. The transient correct expression of oleosin-hirudin fusion gene was identifiedby SDS/PAGE, western blotting and enterokinase treatment.

Transient Expression of Exogenous Gene into Plant Cell Mediated by PEI Nanovector

This study was carried out to investigate the transfection effect of exogenous gene into plant protoplast cell mediated by polyethylenimine （PEI） nanovector, based on PEI gene delivery system in the field of medical science. PEI/DNA complexes were prepared by using PEI polymer to bind the plant expression plasmid, pCMl205-GFPn. The ability of PEI combining and protecting DNA was investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis retardation assay. The surface characteristics of PEI/DNA complexes were observed with transmission electron microscope. The transfection efficiency of Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts mediated by PEI/DNA complexes at different N/P ratios was analyzed based on observation of transient expression of green fluorescent protein with confocal laser scanning microscope. PEI could bind and condense DNA, and form stable 100-200 nm PEI/DNA complexes when the proportion of PEl and DNA is in the range of 5：1-1：4. Transfection efficiency of PEI/DNA complexes increased with N/P ratios in range of N/P〈5 and reached the highest at N/P=5, and began to decrease beyond N/P〉5 as higher toxicity to cells. The transfection efficiency of PEI/DNA complexes at N/P=5 was higher than PEG. This study confirmed that PEI nanovector could effectively mediate foreign gene entering into A. thaliana protoplast cell to obtain transient expression, which may be developed as a hopeful and novel transgenic method combined with plant protoplast regeneration.

Efficient gusA Transient Expression in Porphyra yezoensis Protoplasts Mediated by Endogenous Beta-tubulin Flanking Sequences

Endogenous tubulin promoter has been widely used for expressing foreign genes in green algae, but the efficiency and feasibility of endogenous tubulin promoter in the economically important Porphyra yezoensis (Rhodophyta) are unknown. In this study, the flanking sequences of beta-tubulin gene from P. yezoensis were amplified and two transient expression vectors were con-structed to determine their transcription promoting feasibility for foreign gene gusA. The testing vector pATubGUS was constructed by inserting 5’- and 3’-flanking regions (Tub5’ and Tub3’) up- and down-stream of β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene (gusA), respectively, into pA, a derivative of pCAT?3-enhancer vector. The control construct, pAGUSTub3, contains only gusA and Tub3’. These con-structs were electroporated into P. yezoensis protoplasts and the GUS activities were quantitatively analyzed by spectrometry. The results demonstrated that gusA gene was efficiently expressed in P. yezoensis protoplasts under the regulation of 5’-flanking sequence of the beta-tubulin gene. More interestingly, the pATubGUS produced stronger GUS activity in P. yezoensis protoplasts when com-pared to the result from pBI221, in which the gusA gene was directed by a constitutive CaMV 35 S promoter. The data suggest that the integration of P. yezoensis protoplast and its endogenous beta-tubulin flanking sequences is a potential novel system for foreign gene expression.

Transient gene expression in western white pine using agroinfiltration

A method for transient gene expression was developed for western white pine(WWP,Pinus monticola Dougl.ex D.Don)using reporter gene uidA encodingβ-glucuronidase(GUS).GUS was transiently expressed in cross sections of primary and secondary needles,cotyledons,and current and second year stems of WWP via vacuum-infiltration with Agrobacterium tumefaciens.Histochemical assays of cross sections of secondary needles showed stronger blue color indicating GUS expression at day 1 and 2 than on other days post agroinfiltration(dpa).GUS activity expressed inside WWP cells was confirmed using light microscopy.In fluorometric assays,GUS expression was high at 1 dpa and lasted until 4 dpa in detached secondary needles,while similarly high expression levels only lasted until 2 dpa in attached secondary needles then dropped significantly.Although the length of GUS-staining zones varied among different WWP organs and between growth and dormant seasons,all tested WWP tissues using the protocol had high levels of transient GUS expression.Thus,heterologous candidate genes or endogenous silencing can be expressed in various WWP tissues or organs using this agroinfiltration approach.The current protocol for efficient transient gene expression will aid functional genomics study of WWP and its pathogens and related conifer species.

Evaluation of parameters affecting Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in citrus

Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays are a convenient alternative to stable expression because they are simple,easy to perform,and achieve gene expression rapidly.This study investigated the factors affecting transient gene expression efficiency in citrus by observing the cryo-sectioning of leaf samples under a laser confocal microscope.These factors included the composition of the infiltration buffer,the Agrobacterium cell density,the leaf development stage,the incubation temperature,and plant genotype.The highest transient expression level of yellow fluorescent protein（YFP）was detected in Mexican lime（Citrus aurantifolia）on the third day after the intermediate-aged leaves were infiltrated with the improved infiltration buffer 1（15 mmol L^-1 2-（N-morpholino）ethanesulfonic acid,10 mmol L^-1 MgCl2,and 200μmol L^-1acetosyringone）,which had an optical density of 0.8 and was incubated at 22°C.Additionally,this transient expression assay was applied to other citrus genotypes.Of note,trifoliate orange（Poncirus trifoliata）and kumquat（Fortunella obovate）had higher expression efficiency than other six genotypes of the Citrus genus.Our study provides research basis for the selection of optimization strategies in transient gene expression and improves the method for available genome investigation in citrus.

Expression Analysis of HMW-GS 1Bx14 and 1By15 in Wheat Varieties and Transgenic Research of 1By15 Gene

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits （HMW-GSs）, one class of seed storage proteins in wheat, play an important role in determining bread-making quality of flour. More and more proves support that HMW-GS- 1Bx 14 and - 1Bx 15 subunits are strongly positively associated with good bread-making and excellent noodle-making quality. The two subunits are encoded by two genes, Glu-1Bx14 and Glu-1Bx15, which are tightly linked and located on the 1BL. Protein assay by SDS-PAGE indicated that the expression of Glu-1Bx14 gene was always much stronger than that of Glu-1By15 in the same variety. But, variation of expression level for Glu-1By15 gene existed among varieties, such as in Xiaoyan 54, Xiaoyan 6, Yanzhan 1 and Shanyou 225. We also investigated the transcription difference of Glu-1By14 and Glu-1By15 genes in Xiaoyan 54 and Shanyou 225 by semi-quantitative RT-PCR method. The Glu-1By14 always transcripts much more than the Glu-1By15. This was basically consistent with the translation difference between the two genes. Promoters of 1Bx14, 1By15, 1By8, 1Dx2 and 1Dy12 were cloned from Xiaoyan 54, Chinese Spring and Aegilops tauschii. Sequence analysis indicated that the HMW-GS genes had high homology at their promoter regions. However, significant difference existed between sequence of 1Bx14 promoter and those of other HMW-GS genes. The transient expression experiment showed that the promoter of 1By15 has lower activity than that of 1Bx14, which was consistent with their transcription level of the two genes in varieties. In addition, transient expression of the gus driven by the promoter （P2） of HMW-GS 1Dx2 gene was higher than by other HMW-GS promoters. Therefore, we constructed 1By15 gene expression vector driven by the 1Dx2 promoter, and transformed the 1By15 gene into wheat commercial variety, Jimai 20 by pollen tube method. Of 45 independent transgenic lines identified by PCR, 3 were confirmed to contain the HMW-GS 1By15 gene via Southern hybridization. The delivered 1By15 gene expressed the expected HMW-GS protein in the seeds of transgenic plants.

Transient Expression of Human Growth Hormone in Mice Milk after in vivo Transfer of hGH Gcne

DNA expression constructs containing hGH gene directed by bovine αsl-casein gene regulatory sequences were injected into mouse heart or mammary glands in vivo. hGH expression was readily detected by radioimmunoassay in milk of the nursing mice throughout lactation. Our results demonstrated the value of this simple and rapid approach in screening gene constructs and identifying transcription regulation sequences in vivo prior to the generation of transgenic animals. For the First time we report the successful expression in mammary gland via intracardial injection.

A Transient Expression System for the Functional Assessment of Early Response Genes on the Powdery Mildew Infected Barley or Wheat Leaves

The principle and the basic steps of the transient assay system for the functional assessment of early response genes on the powdery mildew infected barley or wheat leaves were summarized in brief. The development of this technology and its extensive application were reviewed. Future studies on this approach were recommended in this paper.

A Nucleus-encoded Topological Specificity Factor PpMinE in Physcomitrella patens has Conserved Function Similar to Its Chloroplast-encoded Ancestor

A nucleus-encoded MinE gene, designated PpMinE, from Physcomitrella patens was identified using RT-PCR. The presence of both N- and C-terminal extensions in PpMinE protein suggested its cyanobacterial origin. The transient expression of PpMinE using green fluorescent protein fusion in tobacco （Nicotiana tabacum L.） indicated that the PpMinE was a chloroplast-targeted protein. Overexpression of PpMinE in Escherichia coli caused division site misplacement and minicell formation, suggesting evolutionary functional conservation of MinE during plant phylogenesis. According to the phylogenetic tree, PpMinE protein has a close relationship with the highland plants, which suggests that the transfer events of MinE gene from plastid to nucleus might have occurred before the origin of the land plants.

OsPIN1a Gene Participates in Regulating Negative Phototropism of Rice Roots

The complete open reading frame of OsPINla was amplified through reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） based on the sequence deposited in GenBank to explore the relationship between the auxin efflux protein OsPINla and the negative phototropism of rice roots. Sequencing results showed that the GC content of OsPINla was 65.49%. The fusion expression vector pCAMBIA-1301-OsP/N1a：：GFP containing the OsPINla gene and a coding green fluorescent protein （gfp） gene was constructed. The fusion vector was transferred into onion epidermal cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. The transient expression of OsPINla-GFP was mainly located in the nucleus and cell membrane. Moreover, the transgenic plants were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Molecular detection performed by using PCR and β-glucuronidase staining showed that the target construct was integrated into the genome of rice. The negative phototropic curvatures of the transgenic rice roots were higher than those of the wild type. Similarly, the expression levels of OsPINla in the transgenic plants were considerably higher than those in the wild-type plants. These results suggest that OsPINla is crucial in the negative phototropic curvature of rice roots.

Optimization of Electroporation Parameters for Immature Embryos of indica Rice (Oryza sativa)

To obtain a suitable condition for electroporation transformation in indica rice, the 10-day-old immature embryos were selected for optimization experiments. The results showed that one pulse at 850 V/cm, 950μF capacitance, 200 μL electroporation buffer with 70 mmol/L sodium glutamate, 100 μg/mL plasmid, 50μg/mL carrier DNA, 20 embryos per cuvette, 0℃ treatment and CC medium were the best parameters, which not only improved the transformation efficiency to 30.89%, but also ameliorated the embryo survival ratio to 95.92%. To further verify the practicability of this condition, the embryos from another indica rice variety and a rice type Ⅱ metallothionein-like gene （OsMT2bL） promotec：mgfp5：：gusA construct were tested, and specific GUS expression on the embryos was visualized by histochemical staining. The results showed that the GUS expression on the embryos activated by the OsMT2bL promoter was mainly concentrated on the apical point of the plumule whereas the expression driven by CaMV35S promoter was distributed on nearly all areas of the electroporated tissues. These results indicated that the optimized embryo electroporation conditions could be used not only in genetic transformation of indica rice but also in assay of gene regulation on embryos.

Optimization of protoplast isolation,transformation and its application in sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.)

Sugarcane is a prominent source of sugar and ethanol production.Genetic analysis for trait improvement of sugarcane is greatly hindered by its complex genome,long breeding cycle,and recalcitrance to genetic transformation.The protoplast-based transient transformation system is a versatile and convenient tool for in vivo functional gene analysis;however,quick and effective transformation systems are still lacking for sugarcane.Here,we developed an efficient protoplast-based transformation system by optimizing conditions of protoplasts isolation and PEG-mediated transformation in S.spontaneum.The yield of viable protoplasts was approximately 1.26×107 per gram of leaf material,and the transformation efficiency of 80.19%could be achieved under the optimized condition.Furthermore,using this approach,the nuclear localization of an ABI5-like bZIPs transcription factor was validated,and the promoter activity of several putative DNase I hypersensitive sites(DHSs)was assessed.The results indicated this system can be conveniently applied to protein subcellular localization and promoter activity assays.A highly efficient S.spontaneum mesophyll cell protoplast isolation and transient transformation method was developed,and it shall be suitable for in vivo functional gene analysis in sugarcane.

Optimization of the uidA Gene Transfer of Rosa hybrida via Agrobacterium tumefaciens: an Assessment of Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Gene Transfer

To develop a transformation protocol of Rosa hybrida Samantha via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the authors examined the effect of different factors on T-DNA transfer by measuring transient expression levels of an intron-containing -glucuronidase gene. The results indicate that explant, light condition, salt concentration and acetosyringone (AS) concentration in co-culture medium are the most important factors, and factors like co-culture temperature, co-culture period and bacteria density have a strong effect on the growth of bacteria and then T-DNA transfer. Optimized co-cultivation was performed by inoculation of embryogenic callus with bacteria at a density of OD600= 0.50.8 for 20 min and co-culture in darkness under 23 C on medium with 1/2 MS salts and 300 mol稬1 AS for 3 d.

Assessment of Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP1) Gene in Wheat Powdery Mildew Resistance

This study is to investigate the role of lipid transfer protein （LTP1） gene of wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） in powdery mildew （Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici, Bgt） resistance. A pair of primers based on the full length cDNA of wheat LTP1 was used for amplifying the coding regions of LTP in hexaploid （AABBDD） wheat and its diploid donors T. urartu （AA）, Ae. speltoides ssp speltoide （SS） and Ae. tauchii ssp strangulate （DD）. LTP1 and LTP2 of wheat were isolated from the tested two hexaploid （ABD） materials： powdery mildew resistance near isogenic line （NIL） Mardler/7 × Bainong 3217 and its susceptible parent Bainong 3217 at the same time, while only one kind ofLTP gene was found in the tested three diploid materials respectively by using the above PCR primer pairs. Two peaks of the expression of LTP1 and LTP2 induced by powdery mildew were observed [one occurred at 3 h after inoculation （hai）; the other occurred at 10 hai] in resistant NIL Mardler/7 × Bainong3217 in comparison with a steady transcript level of LTP1 and LTP2 in susceptible Bainong3217. Transient over-expression result showed that LTP1 reduced the penetration efficiency （PE） of powdery mildew in susceptible cultivar by about 28.3%. This result indicated an obvious effectiveness of LTP1 in powdery mildew resistance. Expression analysis also showed that LTP1 and LTP2 of wheat are generally involved in salt/drought, but not in low temperature stress early responses.

TRANSIENT SOLUTION FOR QUEUE-LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF Geometry/G/1 QUEUEING MODEL

In this paper, the Geometry/G/1 queueing model with inter-arrival times generated by a geometric（parameter p） distribution according to a late arrival system with delayed access and service times independently distributed with distribution {gj }, j≥ 1 is studied. By a simple method （techniques of probability decomposition, renewal process theory） that is different from the techniques used by Hunter（1983）, the transient property of the queue with initial state i（i ≥ 0） is discussed. The recursion expression for u -transform of transient queue-length distribution at any time point n^＋ is obtained, and the recursion expression of the limiting queue length distribution is also obtained.

Measuring Ca^(2+) influxes of TRPC1-dependent Ca^(2+) channels in HL-7702 cells with Non-invasive Micro-test Technique

AIM： To explore the possibility of using the Noninvasive Micro-test Technique （NMT） to investigate the role of Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 1 （TRPC1） in regulating Ca^2＋ influxes in HL-7702 cells, a normal human liver cell line.METHODS： Net Ca^2＋ fluxes were measured with NMT, a technology that can obtain dynamic information of specific/selective ionic/molecular activities on material surfaces, non-invasively. The expression levels of TRPCl were increased by liposomal transfection, whose effectiveness was evaluated by Western-blotting and single cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS： Ca^2＋ influxes could be elicited by adding 1 mmol/L CaCl2 to the test solution of HL-7702 cells. They were enhanced by addition of 20 μmol/L noradrenalin and inhibited by 100 μmol/L LaCl3 （a non-selective Ca^2＋ channel blocker）; 5 μmol/L nifedipine did not induce any change. Overexpression of TRPCl caused increased Ca^2＋ influx. Five micromoles per liter nifedipine did not inhibit this elevation, whereas 100 μmol/L LaCI3 did.CONCLUSION： In HL-7702 cells, there is a type of TRPCl-dependent Ca^2＋ channel, which could be detected v/a NMT and inhibited by La^3＋.

Transient expression of a TaGRF4-TaGIF1 complex stimulates wheat regeneration and improves genome editing

Genome editing is an unprecedented technological breakthrough but low plant regeneration frequencies and genotype dependence hinder its implementation for crop improvement. Here, we found that transient expression of a complex of the growth regulators TaGRF4 and TaGIF1(TaGRF4-TaGIF1) increased regeneration and genome editing frequency in wheat. When we introduced synonymous mutation in the miR396 target site of TaGRF4, the resulting complex(mTaGRF4-TaGIF1) performed better than original TaGRF4-TaGIF1. Use of m TaGRF4-TaGIF1 together with a cytosine base editor targeting TaALS resulted in 2-9-fold increases in regeneration and transgene-free genome editing in 11 elite common wheat cultivars. Therefore, m TaGRF4-TaGIF1 will undoubtedly be of great value in crop improvement and especially in commercial applications, since it greatly increased the range of cultivars available for transformation.

A Highly Efficient Agrobacterium-Mediated Method for Transient Gene Expression and Functional Studies in Multiple Plant Species

Although the use of stable transformation technology has led to great insight into gene function,its application in high-throughput studies remains arduous.Agro-infiltration have been widely used in species such as Nicotiana benthamiana for the rapid detection of gene expression and protein interaction analysis,but this technique does not work efficiently in other plant species,including Arabidopsis thaliana.As an efficient high-throughput transient expression system is currently lacking in the model plant species A.thaliana,we developed a method that is characterized by high efficiency,reproducibility,and suitability for transient expression of a variety of functional proteins in A.thaliana and 7 other plant species,including Brassica oleracea,Capsella rubella,Thellungiella salsuginea,Thellungiella halophila,Solanum tuberosum,Capsicum annuum,and N.benthamiana.Efficiency of this method was independently verified in three independent research facilities,pointing to the robustness of this technique.Furthermore,in addition to demonstrating the utility of this technique in a range of species,we also present a case study employing this method to assess protein–protein interactions in the sucrose biosynthesis pathway in Arabidopsis.

Transient expression of organophosphorus hydrolase to enhance the degrading activity of tomato fruit on coumaphos

We constructed an expression cassette of the organophosphorus pesticide degrading （opal） gene under the control of the E8 promoter. Then opd was transformed into tomato fruit using an agroinfiltration transient expression system. β-Glucuronidase （GUS） staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, wavelength scanning, and fluorescent reaction were performed to examine the expression of the opd gene and the hydrolysis activity on coumaphos of organo- phosphorus hydrolase （OPH） in tomato fruit. The results show that the agroinfiltrated tomato fruit-expressed OPH had the maximum hydrolysis activity of about 11.59 Uhng total soluble protein. These results will allow us to focus on breeding transgenic plants that could not only enhance the degrading capability of fruit and but also hold no negative effects on pest control when spraying organophosphorus pesticides onto the seedlings in fields.