不同调控序列作用下GUS基因在烟草中瞬时表达活性

以pB1121为出发质粒,利用烟草泛素启动子Ubi．U4、CaMV35S启动子以及Kozak序列构建4种GUS基因表达载体,通过叶盘转化法转化烟草叶片,检测瞬时表达活性,研究不同调控序列对外源基因表达的调控作用。结果表明：CaMV35S启动子附加Kozak序列后使GUS活性比独立使用CaMV35S提高了近2倍：双CaMV35S启动子附加Kozak序列驱动GUS基因的表达活性与单CaMV35S附加Kozak序列相当;烟草泛素启动子附加Kozak序列的表达活性为CaMV35S启动子附加Kozak序列的1．5倍;Ubi．U4-CaMV35S复合启动子附加Kozak序列驱动GUS基因表达水平最高,其表达效率是双CaMV35S启动子附加Kozak序列调控下GUS表达效率的3倍,为CaMV35S独立作用时的10倍。     

不同调控序列控制下的GUS基因在水稻和毛白杨愈伤组织中的瞬时表达

用CaMV35S启动子、玉米Ubil启动子、TMVΩ增强子(Ω序列)以及拟南芥18S rRNA基因同源序列构建的6种GUS基因表达载体分别转化水稻和毛白杨愈伤组织,研究不同调控序列对外源基因表达的调控作用.结果表明:(1)在水稻中,以独立Ubil启动子驱动下的GUS基因表达水平为最高,CaMV35S启动子附加18SrRNA基因同源序列调控下的GUS基因为最低.而在毛白杨中,则呈相反趋势;(2)在水稻中,CaMV35S-Ubil复合启动子的表达活性比独立CaMV35S启动子提高了近1.5倍.而在毛白杨中,前者比后者的低;(3)Ubil启动子附加Ω序列,使GUS基因在毛白杨中的表达水平提高一倍以上.但CaMV35S-Ubil复合启动子附加Ω序列,对GUS基因在毛白杨及水稻愈伤组织中的表达活性均没有明显的增强作用.     

内含子数量改变GUS基因的瞬时表达调控

内含子是基因的重要组成部分,它与功能基因表达之间的关系越来越被重视.本研究以pCAMBIA3301为载体,利用玉米泛素启动子Ubi1和水稻肌动蛋白启动子Actin1构建两个GUS基因表达载体p33U1和p33A1,同时设置3个对照载体.通过基因枪轰击法将上述载体转入水稻胚性愈伤组织,探讨内含子对外源目的基因表达的调控作用.组织化学检测结果表明:CaMV35S启动子调控下的iGUS (带内含子)基因能够顺利表达;同样,Actin1启动子(带内含子)调控下的不带内含子的GUS基因也可以正常表达,而当Actin1启动子(带内含子)驱动iGUS基因时,则导致GUS染色反应不能发生.Ubi1启动子(带内含子)调控GUS基因的瞬时表达也得出类似结果,证明表达框中内含子的数量为1个或两个时,对GUS基因的表达起到了不同的调控作用.本研究结果对植物表达载体构建及功能基因表达都具有指导意义.     

玉米茎特异启动子克隆及其在转基因烟草中的活性分析

从玉米自交系‘综31’基因组中分离了1个茎特异表达启动子,命名为ZmSSP。用ZmSSP替换植物表达载体pCAMBIA3301的CaMV35S启动子,构建了ZmSSP驱动GUS报告基因的重组表达载体pCAMBIA3301-ZmSSP-GUS,并采用农杆菌介导法转化烟草,对转基因烟草营养器官中GUS表达模式进行了分析。结果表明:在烟草中ZmSSP活性低于CaMV35S启动子;不同转基因株系中ZmSSP活性及模式有显著差异;10个转基因株系统计结果表明,GUS表达量最高的营养器官是叶柄,平均是Actin基因表达量的2.71倍;其次是叶片和茎,在根中的GUS表达量最低,平均是Actin基因表达量的29.6%,是叶柄中活性的10.9%。研究认为,ZmSSP是较好的组织特异性启动子,适用于通过植物基因工程技术驱动目的基因进行地上营养器官的性状改良。     

橡胶树白粉菌(HO-73)启动子WY172不同长度片段的克隆及表达活性分析

旨在克隆橡胶树白粉菌启动子WY172及其上游2K序列上4个不同长度缺失片段,以分析启动子各片段的表达活性。基于实验室前期研究基础,以WY172上游2K序列作为研究对象进行渐变缺失突变,得到4个不同长度的可能具有启动子活性的片段,结合WY172,选用pBI121载体作为骨架,分别替换GUS基因前的CaMV35S启动子,并分别构建重组表达载体,通过ATMT法转化农杆菌;利用GUS染色法和酶活性检测,分析WY172启动子及不同长度片段的酶活性。分别构建了pBI121-WY172、pBI121-WY172Q、pBI121-WY172Q1、pBI121-WY172Q2、pBI121-WY172Q3共5个重组的植物表达载体,所有植物表达载体烟草瞬时表达GUS染色均有蓝色出现,且蓝色程度均强于阳性对照CaMV35S启动子,其中pBI121-WY172Q3的GUS染色相对最深;GUS酶活性测定结果显示所有缺失突变片段都具有调控基因表达的启动子活性,且启动活性均强于CaMV35S启动子,WY172Q3调控GUS基因表达的活性最高。因此我们判断WY172及其上游2K序列上4个不同长度缺失片段均具有启动子活性,其中以WY172Q3启动子片段的表达活性最强。     

烟草tga1a基因的表达对外源基因在植物中表达的影响

烟草DNA结合蛋白TGA1a可特异地作用于CaMV35S增强子的激活序列as-1(-83~-63), 并表现为转录激活功能. 为了研究tga1a基因的表达对外源基因在植物中表达的影响, 将它置于维管束特异性启动子rolC下游, 并与CaMV35S启动子控制的报道基因串联成一种反式调控系统, 构建了植物表达载体, 同时, 以CaMV35S和rolC分别控制的报道基因构建植物表达载体为阳性对照. 通过农杆菌介导方法转化烟草和分子鉴定, 证明报道基因存在于转化烟草基因组中, 分别测定了不同转基因单株的GUS活性, 结果表明: rolC控制下的tga1a的表达显著增强了CaMV35S控制下的报道基因表达, 其GUS活性明显高于CaMV35S或rolC单独调控报道基因的转化植株, 单株的最高GUS活性达到两个阳性对照的10倍以上. 组织化学定位证实该串联系统使GUS蛋白主要集中在维管束组织. 这一研究结果为提高外源基因在转基因植株中的表达水平和外源基因的组织特异性表达创立了一个新模式.     

大豆脂肪氧化酶-3基因(Lox3)启动子的克隆及其瞬时表达分析

利用PCR技术从大豆基因组DNA中分离脂肪氧化酶-3基因启动子片段Lox3p。PLACE在线启动子预测工具分析表明:序列中含有多种典型的种子及胚特异性表达元件。将克隆得到的Lox3p片段替换pCAMBIA1301中的CaMV35S启动子,构建表达载体pCAM-Lox3p。通过农杆菌介导法在大豆种子中进行瞬时表达,GUS组织化学染色及荧光测定都显示出Lox3p驱动GUS基因表达的强度高于CaMV35S启动子。结果表明,该Lox3p启动子片段具备一定的胚特异表达特性,为探明大豆脂肪氧化酶-3基因启动子胚特异表达调控序列及其调控机制的研究奠定基础。     

竹节花黄斑驳病毒启动子的缺失分析及功能

竹节花黄斑驳病毒(CoYMV)是侵染单子叶植物竹节花的一 种双链环状DNA病毒,它的启动子可介导外源基因在烟草韧皮部特异表达。为了研究其组织 特异性表达的最佳启动子区域,对CoYMV启动子进行了5′端五种不同长度的缺失分析,用不同长度的启动子片段与GUS基因及NOS3′端转录中止序列构建了全长启动子及5 个缺失启动子序列的六个嵌合GUS基因植物表达载体。利用农杆菌将上述嵌合基因转化烟草 外植体后,每种表达载体都获得了一批转基因烟草植株。转化再生烟草植株的PCR分析、GUS 酶活测定及GUS组织染色的结果表明六种类型的嵌合基因已整合到烟草染色体中,并有五种 表达出GUS活性。缺失到870bp的启动子比全长启动子(1040bp)的活性约高78%,870bp比585bp启动子介导的GUS活性略高但差别不明显,缺失到447和232时GUS活性有明显下 降,但仍具有韧皮部特异表达的特性。当缺失到TATA box附近的44bp时启动子丧失组织特 异性,GUS活性也降低到测不出来的水平。以上结果表明CoYMV启动子从转录起始位点上游 870bp～230bp及232bp下游区分别与启动子的活性和韧皮部组织特异性密切相关,870bp上游可能存在一个负调控序列,所以该启动子的活性和组织特异性的最佳调控区应在87 0bp或585bp的下游区。CoYMV启动子与35S启动子驱动GUS基因在烟草中表达的活性相比, 前者为后者的70%左右,考虑到前者仅在韧皮部细胞表达而后者为组成型表达,所以CoYMV启 动子在韧皮部的活性可能与35S启动子相当或更高。CoYMV启动子在其它转基因植物中驱动外 源基因表达的特点正在研究中。     

利用GFP/RFP双荧光指示载体鉴定特异性启动子功能

在基因表达定位或启动子调控模式的研究中, 多以gusA作为报告基因。但由于部分组织中高内源GUS背景活性或转化手段的限制, 使判断基因表达定位或调控时存在很大误差。为了解决上述问题, 本实验将报道基因绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和红色荧光蛋白(RFP)融合构建双荧光标记瞬时表达载体pBI221-RFP/GFP。该载体以CaMV35S启动子驱动GFP确定转化效率, 通过鉴定阳性个体的红色荧光活性分析目的基因或启动子的表达模式。并通过番茄E8和西瓜AGPL1果实特异启动子验证了该载体在启动子调控模式研究中的应用可行性。结果表明pBI221-RFP/GFP是一个可以在基因和启动子功能验证中应用的高效瞬时表达载体。     

棉花曲叶病毒启动子在根癌土壤杆菌中的表达活性

棉花曲叶病毒（CLCuV)是一种单链DNA病毒,属于双生病毒亚组Ⅲ,检测了双生病毒双向启动子在根癌土壤杆菌（Agrobacterium turnefaciens(Smith et Townsend) Conn()LBA4404中的活性,研究发现在根癌土壤杆菌中CLCuV双向启动子的互补链启动子活性高于病毒链启动子,其在土壤杆菌中驱动的GUS活性为CaMV 35S启动子驱动的GUS活性的2倍,同时,通过对一系列CLCuV双向启动子的互补链5′端缺失体在土壤杆菌中的活性分析表明－287bp上游可能存在一负调控元件,该元件的缺失可使启动子活性达全长启动子的4倍之多,还讨论了CLCuV互补链启动子所亿的其他顺式元件的功能。     

根癌农杆菌介导的苜蓿体胚转化

以苜蓿体细胞胚胎作为根癌农杆菌介导转化的受体,通过对GUS基因瞬时表达率的分析,研究该转化体系的最佳实验参数。实验结果显示,负压处理10min和共培养5d时表达率最高(可达17．4％)。以这一转化方法分别对带有3种不同启动于的表达载体进行比较,发现由CMV35S启动于驱动的GUS基因的瞬时表达率可达82．7％,Ubil启动于驱动的可达57．8％,而Actl启动于驱动的则未见表达。     

Functional analysis of BnMAR element in transgenic tobacco plants

Scaffold/matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) are defined as genomic DNA sequences, located at the physical boundaries of chromatin loops. Previous reports suggest that S/MARs elements may increase and stabilize the expression of transgene. In this study, DNA sequence with MAR characteristics has been isolated from B. napus . The BnMARs sequence was used to flank the CaMV35S-GUS-NOS expression cassette within the T-DNA of the plant expression vector pPZP212. These constructs were introduced into tobacco plants, respectively and the GUS reporter gene expression was investigated in stably transformed plants. When the forward BnMARs sequence was inserted into the upstream of CaMV35S promoter, the average GUS activities were much higher than those without BnMARs in transgenic tobacco. The GUS expression of M(+)35S:GUS, M(+)35S:GUSM(+) and M(+)35S:GUSM(−) constructs increased average 1.0-fold, with or without BnMARs located downstream of NOS. The GUS expression would not be affected when reverse BnMARs sequence inserted whether upstream of CaMV35S promoter or downstream of NOS. The GUS expression was affected a little when reverse BnMARs sequence was inserted the downstream of NOS and BnMARs could not act by serving as of promoter. The results showed that the presence of forward BnMARs sequence does have an obvious impact on enhancing downstream gene expression and its effect is unidirectional.     

Construction of phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) transformation vectors and evaluation of the effectiveness of vectors in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L)

Phosphomannose isomerase (pmi) gene isolated from Escherichia coli allows transgenic plants carrying it to convert mannose-6- phosphate (from mannose), a carbon source that could not be naturally utilized by plants into fructose-6-phosphate which can be utilized by plants as a carbon source. This conversion ability provides energy source to allow the transformed cells to survive on the medium containing mannose. In this study, four transformation vectors carrying the pmi gene alone or in combination with the β-glucuronidase (gusA) gene were constructed and driven by either the maize ubiquitin (Ubi1) or the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV35S) promoter. Restriction digestion, PCR amplification and sequencing were carried out to ensure sequence integrity and orientation. Tobacco was used as a model system to study the effectiveness of the constructs and selection system. PMI11G and pMI3G, which carry gusA gene, were used to study the gene transient expression in tobacco. PMI3 construct, which only carries the pmi gene driven by CaMV35S promoter, was stably transformed into tobacco using biolistics after selection on 30 g 1(-1) mannose without sucrose. Transgenic plants were verified using PCR analysis. ABBREVIATIONS: PMI/pmi - Phosphomannose isomerase, Ubi1 - Maize ubiquitin promoter, CaMV35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, gusA - β-glucuronidase GUS reporter gene.     

A Comparison of Constitutive Promoters for Expression of Transgenes in Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)

The activity of constitutive promoters was compared in transgenic alfalfa plants using two marker genes. Three promoters, the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), the cassava vein mosaic virus (CsVMV) promoter, and the sugarcane bacilliform badnavirus (ScBV) promoter were each fused to the beta-glucuronidase (gusA) gene. The highest GUS enzyme activity was obtained using the CsVMV promoter and all alfalfa cells assayed by in situ staining had high levels of enzyme activity. The 35S promoter was expressed in leaves, roots, and stems at moderate levels, but the promoter was not active in stem pith cells, root cortical cells, or in the symbiotic zones of nodules. The ScBV promoter was active primarily in vascular tissues throughout the plant. In leaves, GUS activity driven by the CsVMV promoter was approximately 24-fold greater than the activity from the 35S promoter and 38-fold greater than the activity from the ScBV promoter. Five promoters, the double 35S promoter, figwort mosaic virus (FMV) promoter, CsVMV promoter, ScBV promoter, and alfalfa small subunit Rubisco (RbcS) promoter were used to control expression of a cDNA from Trichoderma atroviride encoding an endochitinase (ech42). Highest chitinase activity in leaves, roots, and root nodules was obtained in plants containing the CsVMV:ech42 transgene. Plants expressing the endochitinase were challenged with Phoma medicaginis var. medicaginis, the causal agent of spring black stem and leaf spot of alfalfa. Although endochitinase activity in leaves of transgenic plants was 50- to 2650-fold greater than activity in control plants, none of the transgenic plants showed a consistent increase in disease resistance compared to controls. The high constitutive levels of both GUS and endochitinase activity obtained demonstrate that the CsVMV promoter is useful for high-level transgene expression in alfalfa.     

The TACPyAT repeats in the chalcone synthase promoter of Petunia hybrida act as a dominant negative cis-acting module in the control of organ-specific expression

Analysis of the expression of the GUS reporter gene driven by various regions of the Petunia hybrida chalcone synthase (chsA) promoter revealed that the developmental and organ-specific expression of the chsA gene is conferred by a TATA proximal module located between -67 and -53, previously designated as the TACPyAT repeats. Histochemical analysis of GUS reporter gene expression revealed that the organ-specific 67 bp promoter fragment directs the same cell-type specificity as a 530 bp promoter, whereas additional enhancer sequences are present within the more TATA distal region. Moreover, the region between -800 and -530 is also involved in extending the cell-type specificity to the trichomes of flower organs and of young seedlings. The mechanism by which the TACPyAT repeats modulate expression during plant development was studied by analysing the expression of the GUS gene driven by chimeric promoters consisting of the CaMV 35S enhancer (domain B, -750 to -90) fused to various chsA 5' upstream sequences. Detailed enzymatic and histochemical analysis revealed that in the presence of the TACPyAT module the CaMV 35S region only enhances GUS activity in those organs in which the chsA promoter is normally active. Furthermore, this analysis shows that enhancement in the presence of the CaMV 35S domain B is accomplished by increasing the number of cell types expressing the GUS gene within the organ, rather than enhancement of the chsA cell-type-specific expression within these organs. Deletion of the TACPyAT sequences in the chimeric promoter construct completely restores the well-documented CaMV 35S domain B cell-type specificity, showing that the TACPyAT module acts as a dominant negative cis-acting element which controls both organ and developmental regulation of the chsA promoter activity.     

Long-term expression of the uidA gene in Gladiolus plants under control of either the ubiquitin,rolD, mannopine synthase,or cauliflower mosaic virus promoters following three seasons of dormancy

UidA silencing did not occur following three seasons of dormancy for 23 independently transformed lines of Gladiolus plants carrying the bar- uidA fusion gene under control of either the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV 35S), ubiquitin ( UBQ3), mannopine synthase ( mas2), or rolD promoters. The highest levels of GUS (beta-glucuronidase) expression were observed in callus, shoots, and roots of plants carrying the bar- uidA fusion gene under control of the CaMV 35S promoter and in shoots and roots of greenhouse-grown plants that contained the rolD promoter. There was no major difference in GUS expression when plants carrying the fusion gene driven by either the CaMV 35S, mas2, or UBQ3 promoters were grown in vitro as compared to growth in the greenhouse, although plants containing the rolD promoter expressed at 4- to 11-fold higher levels in shoots and roots, respectively, when grown in the greenhouse. The levels of GUS expression in greenhouse-grown plants were higher in roots than shoots for all four promoters. Of the 21 plants analyzed, 20 contained one to three copies of the bar- uidA fusion gene. Of the 23 plants analyzed, 11 had rearrangements of the transgene, but without apparent effects on levels of GUS expression.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel plant promoter that directs strong constitutive expression of transgenes in plants

A novel, constitutively expressed gene, designated MtHP, was isolated from the model legume species Medicago truncatula. Sequence analysis indicates that MtHP most likely belongs to the PR10 multi-gene family. The MtHP promoter was fused to a -glucuronidase gene to characterize its expression in different plant species. Transient assay by microprojectile bombardment and hairy root transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes revealed GUS expression in leaf, stem, radicle and root in M. truncatula. Detailed analysis in transgenic Arabidopsis plants demonstrated that the promoter could direct transgene expression in different tissues and organs at various developmental stages; its expression pattern was similar to that of CaMV35S promoter, and the level of expression was higher than the reporter gene driven by CaMV35S promoter. Deletion analysis revealed that even a 107 bp fragment of the promoter could still lead to a moderate level of expression. The promoter was further characterized in white clover (Trifolium repens), a widely grown forage legume species. Strong constitutive expression was observed in transgenic white clover plants. Compared with CaMV35S promoter, the level of GUS activity in transgenic white clover was higher when the transgene was driven by MtHP promoter. Thus, the promoter provides a useful alternative to the CaMV35S promoter in plant transformation for high levels of constitutive expression.