Aphid-resistant Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Modified gna Gene

A gene sequence coding for the precursor of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) was modified by site-directed mutagenesis to change very low usage bias codons to higher usage bias ones for improvement of the gene expression in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. Results from Western blot analysis of some of the transgenic tobacco plants showed that the expression level of GNA in plants transformed with the modified gene GNA34m reached 0.25% of total soluble proteins, while that of the GNA34 gene transgenic plants was 0.17%. Since the GNA expression level increased, the aphid resistance of GNA34m transgenic plants were also enhanced significantly as judged by a 71.0% aphid population inhibition in insect bioassay of GNA34m transformed plants and 63.7% for the plants transformed with the natural GNA34 gene.

Construction of Plant Expression Vector Carrying Two Insecticidal Genes and Obtain Insect resistant Transgenic Tobacco Plants

A plant expression vector carrying both pea lectin gene and Soybean trypsin inhibitor gene has been constructed and transferred into tobacco via Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Transgenic plants are further confirmed by ELISA, PCR and PCR Southern assays. Results of bioassays show that transgenic plants display notably inhibitory effects to larvae development and survival of Heliothis armigera Hubner.

Cloning of Promoter of Chinese Bean GRP 1.8 Gene and Characterization of Its Function in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

In order to learn the expression pattern of GRP1 8(glycine rich protein) gene promoter in transgenic plants and to explore its potential application in plant genetic engineering for vascular specific expression of interested genes, GRP 1 8 promoter was amplified by PCR from Chinese bean genomic DNA. The intermediate vector was constructed by inserting vascular specific expression promoter of GRP 1 8 gene in vector pBI 101. The regenerated tobacco plants obtained were analyzed by PCR to select the putative transgenic plants. The histochemical localization of GUS( β D glucosidase) activity indicates that as for that of GRP 1 8 promoter we can confer the vascular specific expression of GUS gene.

EXPRESSION OF TOMATO ANTISENSE ACC SYNTHASE GENE IN TRANSGENIC TOBACCO AND ITS ROLE IN SHOOT FORMATION

An ACC synthase cDNA isolated from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) fruit was constructed in antisense orientation under the transcriptional control of CaMV 35S promoter and then introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) . PCR amplification demonstrated the integration of this antisense gene in tobacco genomes. Northern hybridization and reverse transcription-PCR analyses indicated the expression of this heterologous antisense gene in the transgenic tobacco tissues, which caused a decrease in the ethylene production, particularly when shoot regeneration exhibited. The ability of shoot regeneration of the transgenic plant during the culture process was enhanced remarkably as compared with that of the control. These results indicate at the molecular level that ethylene may play a regulatory role in shoot formation.

Features,Mechanisms and Applies of Post-transcriptional Gene Silencing in Transgenic Plants

Since transgene silencing was found in transgenic plants,many scholars have studied it extensively and considered that it has three functional mechanisms:post dependent gene silencing,transcriptional gene silencing,post transcriptional gene silencing.At the moment,people have mainly focused on the study of post transcriptional gene silencing and found its features:extensivity,conduction and peculiarity,also put forward some hypothesis for its mechanisms,for example,RNA threshold model,aberrant RNA model,inter or intra molecular base pairing model and so on.Furthermore,post transcriptional gene silencing is being applied in gene engineering of plants.Recently the people have found that post transcriptional gene silencing has bearing on capacity plants resisting virus.Many researchers have studied post transcriptional gene silencing,but there are some questions which need be solved in the future.This article summarizes progresses in features,mechanisms,applies of post transcriptional gene silencing about transgenic plants.

Expression of a Tobacco Glycosyltransferase Gene Driving Promoter in Transgenic Tobacco

[Objective]The study was to analyze the expression of the deletion fragments from the promoter of a glycosyltransferase gene induced both by MeJA and SA cloned from tobacco W38（sm-Ngt） in transgenic tobacco plants.[Method]Using T1 seedlings of sm-Ngt transgenic tobacco lines containing Gus gene controlled by five 5＇ flank deletion promoter fragments different in length as experimental materials,GUS histochemical staining and fluorometric analysis of T1 seedlings treated with MeJA and SA for 16 h were conducted to analyze the effect of MeJA and SA treatment on the expression of 5＇ flank deletion promoter fragments.[Result]Of five 5＇ flank deletion promoter fragments transgenic plant lines,30 d old T1 seedlings containing 220-0 bp promoter fragment performed worst in GUS staining（showing least staining spots）,those containing-524-0 bp and-468-0 bp promoter fragment both performed best.In the plants not treated with MeJA and SA,activities of GUS driven by-524-0 bp and-468-0 bp deletion promoter fragments were enormously higher than that driven by-1 150-0,-800-0 or-220 0 bp,and which were proved to be not resulted from insert copy number by Southern blot.For GUS expression,promoter fragment-800-0 bp expression was doubly induced by both MeJA and SA,while fragment-1 150-0 was induced by MeJA.[Conclusion]There are activity enhancement elements within-524--220 bp of the sm-Ngt in promoter and activity down regulation elements within-1 150--524 bp region,as well as MeJA and SA doubly inducing activity regulation elements in this promoter.

Leafy head formation of the progenies of transgenic plants of Chinese cabbage with exogenous auxin genes

The experiment was performed to evaluate the progenies of plant lines transgenic for auxin synthesis genes derived from Ri T-DNA. Four lines of the transgenic plants were selfcrossed and the foreign auxin genes in plants of T5 generation were confirmed by Southern hybridization. Two lines, D1232 and D1653, showed earlier folding of expanding leaves than untransformed line and therefore had early initiation of leaf y head. Leaf cuttings derived from plant of transgenic line D1653 produced more adventitious roots than the control whereas the cuttings from folding leaves had much more roots than rosette leaves at folding stage, and the cuttings from head leaves had more roots than rosette leaves at heading stage. It is demonstrated that early folding of transgenic leaf may be caused by the relatively higher concentration of auxin. These plant lines with auxin transgenes can be used for the study of hormonal regulation in differentiation and development of plant organs nd for the breeding of new varietywith rapid growth trait.

Physiological and Biochemical Changes of IrlVHA-c gene Transgenic Tobacco Seedlings and Self-crossed Progeny Under NaHCO_3 Stress

In order to study the alkali resistivity of VHA-c in Iris lacteal. （IrlVHA-c）, the transgenic tobacco seedlings harboring lrlVHA-c gene from Iris lactea （To）, the self-crossed progeny （T1）, and the non-transgenic lines of tobacco seedlings were grown in Hoagland nutrient solutions supplemented with 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mmol.L^-1 NaHCO3. The MDA content, CAT, POD and SOD activity, electrical conductivity, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, proline content and polyphenol oxidase activity of the seedlings were determined. The results showed that the transgenic lines of tobacco maintained a high activity up to 200 mmol.L^-1 NaHCO3, and activity was slightly lower at 300 mmol.L^-1 NaHCOa. When the concentration of NaHCO3 was as high as 400 mmol.L^-1 the seedlings were badly hurt. In addition, the activity of To and T1 transgentic tobacoo was maintained more or less. While the non- transgenic lines of tobacco could maintain viably up to 100 mmol. L^-1 NaHCO3, and they could not survive at 400 mmol. L^-1 NaHCO3. The conclusion was drawn that the alkali resistance of the tobacoo transformed IrlVHA-c was noticeably improved.

Expression of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit in transgenic tobacco plants

Objective ： To construct plant transformation vector containing Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit （LT-B） gene and generate LT-B transgenic tobacco plants. Methods： The LT-B coding sequence was amplified from pMMB68 by PCR, subcloned into middle vector pUCmT and binary vector pBI121 to obtain plant expression vector pBI-LTB, in which LT-B expression was controlled under the Cauliflower mosaic virus （CaMV） 35S promoter. The tobacco plants （Nicotiana tobacum L. Cuttivar Xanthi） were transformed by co-cultivating leaf discs method via Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 harboring the plant expression vector. The regenerated transgenic tobacco plants were selected by kanamycin and confirmed by PCR, Southern blot, Western blot and ELISA. Resuits： LT-B gene integrated in the tobacco genomic DNA and were expressed in 9 strains of transgenic tobacco plants. The yield was varied from 3. 36-10. 56 ng/mg total soluble tobacco leaf protein. Conclusion： The plant binary expression vector pBI-LTB was constructed successfully, and transgenic LT-B tobacco plants was generated, and confirmed by Southern blot. The protein LT-B expressed by engineered plants was identified by Western blot analysis and had the expected molecular weight of LT-B pentamer protein. This result is an important step close to developing an edible vaccine and supplying a mucasal immunoajuvant, which will contribute to the preven- tion of mucosaroute evading pathogen.

Increase of Expression Levels of Reporter Gene in Transgenic Tobaccos by Matrix Attachment Regions

The matrix attachment region (MAR) located downstream of Plastocyanin gene was isolated from the genome of pea. To study the effect of MARs on foreign gene expression in transgenic plants, T DNA vector was constructed in which MARs flanked bothβ glucuronidase(GUS) gene and selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT II) gene. The plant expression vectors were transferred into leaf discs via Agrobacterium mediated transformation procedure. The result of GUS measurement showed that pea MAR could increase transgene expression level. The mean expression levels of GUS gene expression in population containing MARs could be increased twofold when compared with that of population without MARs.

Salicylic Acid Induced Self-excision of the Marker Gene npt Ⅱ Using CreloxP System from Transgenic Tobacco

Transgenic plants, despite a great deal of scientifi c evidences, have induced a number of environmental and consumer concerns for long time because various antibiotic resistance genes, according to common

Cloning of cDNA Encoding Choline Monooxygenase from Suaeda liaotungensis and Salt Tolerance of Transgenic Tobacco

Betaine is a very effective osmoprotectant found in many organisms. In high plants, betaine is synthesized by oxidation of choline in two sequential steps: choline-->betaine aldehyde-->betaine. The first step is catalyzed by choline monooxygenase (CMO). In this study, the full-length CMO cDNA (1 820 bp) was cloned from halophyte Suaeda liaotungensis Kitag by RT-PCR and RACE. It included a 123 bp 5' UTR, a 368 bp 3' UTR and a 1 329 bp open reading frame encoding a 442-amino-acid polypeptide with 77%, 72% and 74% sequence identity compared to CMOs from spinach, sugar beet and Atriplex hortensis, respectively. The CMO open reading frame (ORF) was cloned and the plant expression vector pBI121-CMO was constructed. It was transferred into tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. ev. 89) via Agrobacterium mediation. PCR and Southern blotting analysis showed that the CMO gene was integrated into tobacco genome. Transgenic tobacco plants contained higher amount of betaine than that of control plants and were able to survive on MS medium containing 250 mmol/L NaCl. Relative electronic conductivity demonstrated less membrane damage in transgenic plants as in the wild type.

Increasing Accumulation Level of Foreign Protein in Transgenic Plants Through Protein Targeting

Targeting of the synthesized polypeptide in the cells is an important research field in modern cell biology. Cowpea trypsin inhibitor (cpti) gene has been modified and a fusion protein gene (sck) was produced by fusing a signal peptide sequence at cpti 5' end and an endoplasm reticulum (ER) retention signal peptide at cpti3' end respectively. The signal peptide can direct the newly synthesized polypeptide into ER, while ER retention signal can make the protein retained in the ER and its derivative protein body. ELISA test indicated that the accumulation level of foreign CpTI protein in sck transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was two times higher than cpti transgenic tobaccos and some individuals were four times higher. At the same time, sck transgenic tobacco has a high resistance to Lepidoptera pest due to the increased accumulation level of foreign CpTI protein. The strategy of foreign protein targeting can be used to increase the accumulation level of foreign protein in transgenic plants and can be widely applied to other related research field in plant genetic engineering.

Sequence modification of merB gene and high organomercurial resistance of transgenic tobacco plants

Mercury pollution has caused severe damage to environment and great attention has been paid to its control. Phytoremediation may become one of the most efficient measures to recover the polluted soil since it is economical, highly efficient and friendly to environment. In this report, plant genetic engineering methods were employed to modify the DNA sequence of merB genes that catalyze the conversion of organomercurals into ionic mercury. The modified mer-Bhe genes were introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium, and the resultant transgenic plants were verified by Southern and Northern hybridization. High level of organomercu-rial resistance was detected on progenies of transgenic plants, some of which were resistant to PMA (phenyl mercury acetate) of 2.5μmol/L whereas 0.1μmol/L PMA killed the seedlings of wild-type tobacco in soiless culrure. With the increase of PMA concentration, the inhibition of the seedling growth became apparent. This result makes it possible to breed mercury-resistant tobacco

VIRUS RESISTANCE OF TRANSGENIC TOBACCO PLANTS EXPRESSING TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS COAT PROTEIN GENE

An intermediate expressing vector carrying the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, Chinese common strain) coat protein (CP) gene was constructed by recombinant DNA techniques. The TMV-CP gene was transferred into the tobacco genome via Ti plasmid and a large number of regenerated plants, including both systemic and local lesion hosts for TMV, were obtained. Southern blot analysis revealed that 1-5 copies of the CP gene were integrated into the tobacco genome. RNA and protein analysis demonstrated that the TMV-CP gene was correctly expressed in the transgenic plants. The abundance of TMV-CP mRNA in total leaf RNA accounted for 0.005-0.01%, while the amount of coat proteins reached 0.05-0.2% of the total leaf soluble proteins. Virus challenge experiments showed that the symptom development of virus infection was markedly delayed and the replication as well as the spread of the virus was significantly inhibited in the transgenic plants expressing the TMV-CP gene. Three of these plants were completely protected after inoculation and they went to flowering and seeding normally. The possible mechanism of this kind of virus resistance could be the inhibition of the uncoating of the invading virus particles at the early stage of infection in the presence of the viral coat protein in plant cells, thus blocking the virus replication cycle.

Expression of rabbit defensin NP-1 gene in transgenic tobacco plants and its activity against bacterial wilt

A cDNAderived 200 bp fragment encoding a rabbit defensin NP1 mature peptide was ligated into the GUSless pBI121 to yield pBIC35NP1. Tobacco leaf discs were genetically transformed with an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain harbouring pBIC35NP1. Northern blot analysis showed that the defensin NP1 expression cassette was normally transcribed in transgenic plants. Resistance tests demonstrated that expression of native defensin NP1 can confer partial resistance to the bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum.

Construction of Plant Expression Vector for Avian Influenza Virus HA Gene and Its Expression in Tobacco

Avian influenza virus is one of the main pathogens causing avian influenza.In this experiment,the avian influenza hemagglutinin(HA)gene was transferred into tobacco by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method using kanamycin as a resistance marker to produce HA type edible vaccine designed for avian influenza hemagglutinin protein.The fusion of cholera toxin B subgene(CTB)and avian influenza HA was initiated by CaMV35S promoter,and then transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana to induce callus and adventitious bud differentiation,bud elongation,and growth and root induction.The total genomic DNA of 28 transgenic tobacco plants was extracted,and the CTB sequence of the CTB-HA fusion gene was used as a template to design primers for PCR amplification.Eight of them were positive,and four of them were expressed at the RNA level after RNA extraction and RT-PCR amplification.In western blot detection of protein extraction,two strains were shown at the position of the target protein.The results provided material support for the preparation of a transgenic plant oral vaccine against HA infection,and provided a theoretical basis for accelerating the development of a transgenic plant vaccine.

Post-transcriptional Gene Silencing Induced by Short Interfering RNAs in Cultured Transgenic Plant Cells

Short interfering RNA (siRNA) is widely used for studyingpost-transcriptional gene silencing and holds great promise as a tool for both identifying functionof novel genes and validating drug targets. Two siRNA fragments (siRNA-a and -b), which weredesigned against different specific areas of coding region of the same target green fluorescentprotein (GFP) gene, were used to silence GFP expression in cultured gfp transgenic cells of rice(Oryza sativa L.; OS), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.; GH), Eraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir;AF], and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.; PV). Differential gene silencing was observed in thebombarded transgenic cells between two siRNAs, and these results were consistent with theinactivation of GFP confirmed by laser scanning microscopy, Northern blot, and siRNA analysis intested transgenic cell cultures. These data suggest that siRNA-mediated gene inactivation can be thesiRNA specific in different plant species. These results indicate that siRNA is a highly specifictool for targeted gene knockdown and for establishing siRNA-mediated gene silencing, which could bea reliable approach for large-scale screening of gene function and drug target validation.

Effect of UTRs from TMV-RNA on the expression of foreign gene in transgenic plants

To investigate the effects of 5’and 3’ untranslated region (UTR) from tobacco mosaicvirus (TMV) on expression of foreign genes, four plant-expression vectors pBG437, pBG438, pBG440 and pBG440ANOS containing expression cassettes of GUS-NOS; Ω-GUS-NOS, Ω-GUS-3’ UTR-NOS and Ω-GUS-3’ UTR downstream of CaMV 35S promoter with double enhancer sequences respectively have been constructed. Results from a large number of transgenic tobacco plants show that the GUS activity of pBG440 transformed plants is the highest, being 5-fold that of pBG437 and 1.6-fold that of pBG438. Similar results have been obtained in transient expression by injection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring these constructs into N. benthamiana leaves. These results obtained at the whole plant level confirm the conclusion drawn from the transient expression studies in protoplast system that TMV- Ω fragment can be a translation enhancer and the 3’ UTR has a coordinate effect with ft fragment to enhance foreign gene expression, but

Enhanced Stem Nematode Resistance of Transgenic Sweetpotato Plants Expressing Oryzacystatin-I Gene

Enhanced stem nematode resistance of transgenic sweetpotato （cv. Lizixiang） was achieved using Oryzacystatin-I （OCI） gene with Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbors a binary vector pCAMBIA1301 with OCI gene, gusA gene and hptII gene. Selection culture was conducted using 25 mg L-1 hygromycin. A total of 1 715 plants were produced from the inoculated 1 450 cell aggregates of Lizixiang via somatic embryogenesis. GUS assay and PCR analysis of the putative transgenic plants randomly sampled showed that 90.54% of them were transgenic plants. Transgenic plants exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to stem nematodes compared to the untransformed control plants by the field evaluation with stem nematodes. Stable integration of the OCI gene into the genome of resistant transgenic plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis, and the copy number of integrated OCI gene ranged from 1 to 4. Transgene overexpression in stem nematode-resistant plants was demonstrated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. This study provides a way for improving stem nematode resistance in sweetpotato.