Ubi1 intron-mediated enhancement of the expression of Bt cry1Ah gene in transgenic maize （Zea mays L.）

The cry1Ah gene was one of novel insecticidal genes cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis isolate BT8. Two plant expression vectors containing cry1Ah gene were constructed. The first intron of maize ubiqutinl gene was inserted between the maize Ubiquitin promoter and cry1Ah gene in one of the plant expressing vectors （pUUOAH）. The two vectors were introduced into maize immature embryonic calli by microprojectile bombardment, and the reproductively plants were acquired. PCR and Southern blot analysis showed that foreign genes had been integrated into maize genome and inherited to the next generation stably. The ELISA assay to T1 and T2 generation plants showed that the expression of CrylAh protein in the construct containing the ubil intron （pUUOAH） was 20% higher than that of the intronless construct （pUOAH）. Bioassay results showed that the transgenic maize harboring cry1Ah gene had high resistance to the Asian corn borers and the insecticidal activity of the transgenic maize containing the ubil intron was higher than that of the intronless construct. These results indicated that the maize ubil intron can enhance the expression of the Bt cry1Ah gene in transgenic maize efficiently     

Transgenic tobacco plants harboring tomato proteinase inhibitor II gene and their insect resistance

The plant expression vectors pBCT2 and pBT2 were constructed with the cDNA sequence (tin2) and genomic DNA sequence (tin2i) of tomato proteinase inhibitor II gene respectively. Then the two expression vectors were transferred into tobacco via the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404, and transgenic tobacco plants were generated. Molecular analysis and trypsin activity assay showed that both cDNA and genomic DNA were expressed properly in the transgenic plants. Insecticidal activities in these transgenic plants indicated that transgenic tobacco plants carrying tin2i sequence were more resistant to 2-instar larvae of Heliothis armigera Hubner than those carrying tin2 sequence. Therefore the intron of tin2i sequence might be a contributor to insecticidal activity of the transgenic tobacco.     

Construction of a new plant expression vector containing two insect resistant genes and its expression in transgenic tobacco plants

A new plant expression vector (pBS29K-BA) containing two insect resistant genes, a synthetic chimeric gene BtS29K encoding the activated insecticidal protein Cry1Ac and a gene API-BA encoding the arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.) proteinase inhibitor (API) A and B, is constructed. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing these two genes are obtained through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco leaf discs. The average expression levels of Cry1Ac and API-BA proteins in transgenic plants are of 3.2 μg and 4.9 μg per gram fresh leaf respectively. The results of insecticidal assay of transgenic plants indicate that the pBS29K-BA transformed plants are more resistant to insect damage than the plants expressing the Cry1Ac gene or API-BA gene alone.     

Obtaining High Pest-resistant Tobacco Plants Carrying B.t. insecticidal Gene

To increase the expression level of CryIA(c) gene in transgenic plants, a plant expression vector pBinMoBc carrying the CryIA(c) gene under control of chimeric OM promoter and Ω factor was constructed. As a control, pBinoBc carrying the CryIA(c) gene with the CaMV 35S promoter was also constructed. The vectors were transferred into tobacco plants respectively via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. ELISA assay showed that the expression level of the CryIA(c) gene in pBinMoBc transgenic tobacco plants was 2.44-times that in pBinoBc transgenic tobacco plants, and it could be up to 0.255% of total soluble proteins. Bioassay showed that pBinMoBc transgenic tobacco plants had more notable insecticidal effect than pBinoBc transgenic tobacco plants. The above results showed that the chimeric OM promoter was a stronger promoter than CaMV 35S promoter that was widely used in plant genetic engineering, and this is very useful in pest-resistant plant genetic engineering.     

Inheritance and expression of multiple disease and insect resistance genes in transgenic rice

2—3 anti-fungal disease genes are coinserted with hygromycin phosphotransferase in the same vector. Two insecticidal genes and PPT acetyl transferase genes are placed in another one. The vectors are co-delivered to rice embryonic cellus tissue at a molar ratio of 1︰1 using the particle gun method. 55 independent regenerated lines have been obtained through screening for hygromycin resistance. Of these, 70% transgenic plants harbor 6—7 foreign genes. The genes on the same vectors are always co-delivered to rice plant. Northern blot analysis has indicated that the multiple foreign genes give stable expression. In the 6 transgenic plants carrying 6—7 foreign genes, multiple foreign genes tend to integrate in 1 or 2 genetic loci. Progeny segregation is consistent with Mendel’s 3︰1 segregation law. 8 homozygous R₁ transgenic plants harboring 2—3 anti-fungal and 2 insecticidal genes are selected from large number of transgenic progeny screening for hygromycin and Basta resistance.     

单子叶植物的FLP/frt位点特异性重组系统的构建

来自于啤酒酵母2?μm质粒的FLP/frt位点特异性重组系统可用于转基因植物（细胞）筛选完成后去除选择标记基因.水稻肌动蛋白actin基因启动子和玉米泛素ubiquitin基因启动子可有效驱动单子叶植物中外源基因的转录.为培育去除选择标记基因的抗盐耐旱单子叶转基因植物，构建了适合于单子叶植物的FLP/frt位点特异性重组系统. 该系统由含有FLP重组酶基因的植物表达载体pCAMBIA3300 Ubi FLP bar和含有frt位点的植物双抗（抗除草剂、抗盐耐旱）表达载体pCAMBIA1300 Ubi TsPPase frt als frtm以及pCAMBIA1300 Actin1 AtNHX1 frt als frtm组成.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌cry1基因的PCR-RFLP鉴定分析

利用PCR—RFLP技术对含有已知cry1基因的8株标准菌株和2株遗传工程菌进行了基因分析，证实了该方法的可行性．并在此基础上鉴定了分离保藏的70株B．t菌株的cry1型基因，结合SDS—PAGE分析以及室内生物测定结果，讨论了基因型与蛋白表达及毒力之间的关系．     

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing synthetic Cry1Ac and Cry1Ie genes are more toxic to cotton bollworm than those containing one gene

Transgenic tobacco plants carrying Cry1Ac, Cry1Ie or both genes were obtained. In the leaves of transgenic plants carrying both genes, the contents of Cry1Ac and Cry1Ie proteins were 0.173% and 0.131% of the total proteins, respectively. Cry1Ac protein content was 0.182% and Cry1Ie protein con- tent was 0.124% of the total proteins in the leaves of transgenic plants containing only one Bt gene. Fresh leaves of transgenic tobacco and wild-type plants were used for the insect bioassay against wild-type and Cry1Ac-resistant cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). The bioassay results showed that transgenic plants carrying both genes were significantly more toxic to wild-type and Cry1Ac-resistant cotton bollworm than those carrying Cry1Ac or Cry1Ie alone. This study indicates that the higher toxicity of transgenic tobacco plants carrying both genes is caused by the cooperative function of both Bt proteins, thus providing a potential way to delay the development of insect resis- tance to transgenic crops.     

农杆菌介导的双价抗虫基因对番茄遗传转化的研究

采用农杆菌介导法将含有苏云金芽孢杆菌毒蛋白基因(CryIAc)与半夏凝集素抗虫基因(Pta)的高效植物表达载体pCAMBIA3300转入番茄品系Micro Tom的子叶外植体中。经过共培养、除草剂筛选和分化再生,获得了24个具有除草剂抗性的株系。再将转化后的番茄植株经过PCR检测和Southern Blot检测,确定检测后呈阳性反应的株系为8个。通过小菜蛾幼虫初步抗性试验证明,转基因株系表现出较强的抗虫性。实验结果为进一步研究番茄抗虫性和培育抗虫番茄新品种奠定了重要基础。     

Subcellular localization and functional analyses of structural domains of COP1 in transgenic tobacco

Plants have evolved an extremely exquisite light signal regulatory network to adapt to the changing ambient light conditions, in which COP1 plays a critical role of the light signal transduction. Based on the cloned pea COP1 cDNA sequence and its protein structure, four individual gene fragments encoding different structural domains of the COP1 were designed to fuse to the GFP gene. The plant expression vectors containing these fusion genes as well as the COP1GFP fusion gene were constructed and used to transform tobacco by Agribacterium as confirmed by Southern analyses. Antibodies were raised against the recombinant GFP-COP1 overproduced in Escherichia coli. Immunoblotting results demonstrated that all of the fusion genes were constitutively expressed in transgenic tobacco plants. We systematically investigated the different subcellular localization of these fusion proteins and the resulting phenotypic characteristics of these transgenic plants under light and dark conditions. Our data show that (1) the molecular mass of the tobacco endogenous COP1 protein is 76 kD. It is constitutively expressed in all of the tested tissues and the total cellular content of COP1 protein is not noticeably affected by light conditions. (2) The nuclear localization signal of COP1 plays a critical role in regulation of its nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning. The subcellular localization of the COP1 protein containing nuclear localization signal is regulated by light in the epidermal cells of leaves, but, it is located in nucleus constitutively in root cells. (3) The coiled-coil domain is very critical to the function of COP1 protein, while the zinc binding RING finger domain only plays a supportive role. (4) The WD-40 repeats domain is essential to the COP1 function, but this domain alone does not affect photomorphogenesis. (5) Overexpression of COP1 protein not only inhibits the photomorphogenesis of the stems and leaves of the transgenic tobacco, but also results in the generation of short and clustered roots. In contrast, overexpression of COP1 protein without WD-40 repeats domain promotes the photomorphogenesis process in the stems and leaves and lead to root elongation and lack of lateral roots. The COP1-COP1 interaction happens not only in the nucleus, but also in cytoplasm.     

Transgene inheritance and quality improvement by expressing novel HMW glutenin subunit （HMW-GS）genes in winter wheat

The expression vector pBPC30, which carries the high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) 1Dx5 and 1Dy10 genes, was transferred into hexaploid winter wheat cv. Jinghua No. 1, Jing411 and Jingdong No. 6 explants of immature embryos and immature inflorescence by particle bombardment. A large number of resistant transgenic plants were obtained under the selection of herbicide bialaphos or phosphinothricin (PPT). Confirmed transgenic plants of To generation showed successful integration of HMW-GS genes and bar gene into the wheat genome. T1 generation of transgenic plants can resist 20--150 mg/L PPT.Protein analysis of T2 seed by SDS-PAGE showed that HMW-GS 1Dx5 and 1DylO genes were well expressed in offspring seed of transgenic lines by co-expression with or substitution of endogenous 1Dx2 or 1DylO. In one transgenic line, TG3-74, a new protein band between endogenous protein subunits 7 and 8 (marked as 8*) of glutenin appeared,but endogenous subunit 8 (encoded by 1By8 gene) was absent. Analysis of gluten rheological quality on seed proteins of 102 T3 plants showed that the sedimentation value of 5 transgenic lines (44.2149.0 mL) was remarkably improved,59.6%---64.3% higher than that of wild type Jinghua No. 1 and Jingdong No. 6, similar to bread wheat Cheyenne (48.0 mL). Analysis of dough rheological properties of transgenic lines showed that the dough stable time of 5 transgenic lines range from 16 to 30 min, whereas the dough stable time of wild type was only between 3--7 min. Our research suggests that introducing novel HMW-GS genes into wheat is an efficient way to improve its bread-making quality.     

Expression of two insect-resistant genes crylA ( b&c )/GNA in transgenic tobacco plants results in added protection against both cotton bollworm and aphids

The synthesized Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein gene crylA(b&c) and the synthesized gene GNA, (the mannose specific lectin from snowdrop ( Galanthus nivalis)), tumefaciens have been inserted into plant expression vector pGW4BAI. Leave stripes of Nico-tiana tabacum var. K326 have been transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring the plant expression vector. 28 kanamycin resistant tobacco plants have been obtained. PCR and Southern blot analyses show that the foreign crylA and GNA genes have been inserted into the genome of transformed tobacco plants. Haemagglutination assays show that GNA has a functional activity. Leaf disc bioassays against cotton bollworm ( H. armigera) show that the transgenic tobacco plants have a high insecticidal activity. The inhibition of aphid population in leaf disc bioassays against Myzus persicae shows that the fecundity of aphid on transgenic plants is lower than that on untransformed plants; the aphid population on the transgenic tobacco plants is 25%-70% that on untransformed tobacco plants. ELISA analysis of CrylA protein in tobcco leaves provides similar data to bioassay results. Through the two bioassays against H. armigera and M. persicae, several transgenic tobacco plants showing high insect-resistant activities to both pests have been obtained.     

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.     

Disease-tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants expressing Ah-AMP gene of Amaranthus hypochondriacus

An antimicrobial peptide gene from Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Ah-AMP, was amplified by PCR and cloned. Sequence analysis results revealed that this gene is 261 bp in length encoding a precursor polypeptide of 87 amino acid residues. Ah-AMP gene was inserted in the binary vector pBin438 to construct a plant expression vector pBinAH916. Leave explants of Nicotiana tabacum var. SR1 were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 harboring the above expression vector. Results from PCR, Southern and Northern blot analyses confirmed that the Ah-AMP gene had been integrated into the tobacco genome and was transcribed at mRNA level. Two bacterial-resistant transgenic plants were selected by inoculating the plants with Pseudomonas solanacearum and statistic analysis of two T1 lines showed that the resistance increased by 2.24 and 1.62 grade and the disease index decreased by 49.6% and 37.3% respectively when compared with the non-transformed control plants SR1. The results from challenging the plants with inoculums of Phytophthora parasitica showed that the symptom development was delayed and disease index was significantly reduced. These results suggest that Ah-AMP gene may be a potentially valuable gene for genetic engineering of plant for disease-resistance.     

花生白藜芦醇合酶基因转化单子叶植物表达载体的构建

构建了花生白藜芦醇合酶基因(RS)转化单子叶植物的表达载体,该表达载体含有ubi 启动子和内含子,能启动该基因在单子叶植物中高效地表达.通过PCR反应扩增出目的片段,连接到克隆载体Pubi35s上,切下含ubi和RS约3 000 bp的片段连接到植物表达载体pCAMBIA-1 380上.经PCR和酶切检测,结果与预期相同,经测序确定插入片段读码框正确.该表达载体可用于单子叶植物高效的表达.     

布鲁菌保护性抗原基因植物表达载体的构建

根据genbank序列,参照植物偏性密码子,设计合成适合植物表达的布鲁菌rplL基因和omp31基因。将携带植物表达优化序列的rplL基因片段与pBI-121载体相连接构建重组植物表达载体pBI121-rplL;将omp31基因与相应酶切并携带植物表达特征序列的pMD19-T6载体连接获得重组质粒,之后酶切获得携带植物表达优化序列的omp31基因片段,将其克隆入pBI-121载体,从而构建出带有不同目的片段的重组植物表达载体,为下一步检测基因在植物中的表达奠定基础。     

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing synthetic Cry1Ac and Cry1Ie genes are more toxic to cotton bollworm than those containing one gene

Transgenic tobacco plants carrying CrylAc, Crylle or both genes were obtained. In the leaves of transgenic plants carrying both genes, the contents of CrylAc and Crylle proteins were 0.173% and 0.131% of the total proteins, respectively. CrylAc protein content was 0.182 % and Cry1 le protein content was 0.124% of the total proteins in the leaves of transgenic plants containing only one Bt gene. Fresh leaves of transgenic tobacco and wild-type plants were used for the insect bioassay against wild-type and Cry1Ac-resistant cotton bollworm （Helicoverpa armigera）. The bioassay results showed that transgenic plants carrying both genes were significantly more toxic to wild-type and CrylAc-resistant cotton bollworm than those carrying CrylAc or Crylle alone. This study indicates that the higher toxicity of transgenic tobacco plants carrying both genes is caused by the cooperative function of both Bt proteins, thus providing a potential way to delay the development of insect resistance to transgenic crops.     

AGO1基因对拟南芥叶边缘锯齿状发育的影响

在拟南芥和水稻中Argonaute(AGO)蛋白是RNA介导的沉默复合体(RISC)的核心组分,在植物叶极性的分化方面具有重要的调节作用。实验根据AGO1基因序列设计一对特异引物,提取野生型拟南芥RNA作为模板,采用反转录PCR方法扩增出AGO1基因,并插入到克隆载体pGEM-T中。筛选鉴定后将AGO1连接到植物表达载体pBI121上,构建起植物表达载体pBI121-AGO1。并且利用农杆菌介导的方法转化拟南芥,通过抗性筛选,获得转基因植株。然后对转基因植株进行表型分析及AGO1蛋白的RT-PCR检测。通过对转基因拟南芥表达分析发现,与野生型拟南芥相比超表达AGO1蛋白的转基因拟南芥叶片明显呈锯齿状,说明AGO1基因影响拟南芥叶片发育。     

Transformation of GbSGT1 gene into banana by an Agrobacterium-mediated approach

SGT1 is a homologue of the yeast ubiquitin ligase-associated protein. It controls some protein degradation and activates defense pathway in plants. Cotton GbSGT1 gene (Gossypium barbadense) has been isolated and characterized in previous work. In this study, the plant expression vector pBSGT1 with bar gene as a selection agent was constructed and transgenic banana was obtained via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with the assistance of particle bombardment and screened with PCR and Basta spreading on banana plant leaves. Estimating of transgenic banana plants for resistance to Panama wilt is in progress.