• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.49-52
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• 2010

A DNA extraction method using Chelex 100 is widely used for bacteria, Chlamydomonas, and animal cell lines, but only rarely for plant materials due to the need for additional time-consuming and tedious steps. We have modified the Chelex 100 protocol and successfully developed a rapid and simple method of DNA extraction for efficient PCR-based detection of transgenes from a variety of transgenic plant and algal species. Our protocol consists of homogenizing plant tissue with a pestle, boiling the homogenized tissue in a microfuge tube with 5% Chelex 100 for 5 min, and centrifuging the boiled mixture. The supernatant, which is used for PCR analysis, was able to successfully amplify transgenes in transgenic tobacco, tomato, potato, Arabidopsis, rice, strawberry, Spirodela polyrhiza, Chlamydomonas, and Porphyra tenera. The entire DNA extraction procedure requires <15 min and is therefore comparable to that used for bacteria, Chlamydomonas, and animal cell lines.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

The plasma membrane-localized BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE1 (BAK1) are a well-known receptor pair involved in brassinosteroids (BR) signaling in Arabidposis. The formation of a receptor complex in response to BRs and the subsequent activation of cytoplasmic domain kinase activity share mechanistic characteristics with animal receptor kinases. Here, we demonstrate that BRI1 and BAK1 are BR-dependently phosphorylated, and that phosphorylated forms of the two proteins persist for different lengths of time. Mutations of either protein abolished phosphorylation of the counterpart protein, implying transphosphorylation of the receptor kinases. To investigate the specific amino acids critical for formation of the receptor complex and activation of BAK1 kinase activity, we expressed several versions of BAK1 in yeast and plants. L32E and L46E substitutions resulted in a loss of binding of BAK1 to BRI1, and threonine T455 was essential for the kinase activity of BAK1 in yeast. Transgenic bri1 mutant plants overexpressing BAK1(L46E) displayed reduced apical dominance and seed development. In addition, transgenic wild type plants overexpressing BAK1(T455A) lost the phosphorylation activity normally exhibited in response to BL, leading to semi-dwarfism. These results suggest that BAK1 is a critical component regulating the duration of BR efficacy, even though it cannot directly bind BRs in plants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.217-223
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• 2009

Development of symbiotic root nodules in legumes involves the induction and repression of numerous genes in conjunction with changes in the level of phytohormones. We have isolated several genes that exhibit differential expression patterns during the development of soybean nodules. One of such genes, which were repressed in mature nodules, was identified as a putative aldo/keto reductase and thus named Glycine max aldo/keto reductase 1 (GmAKR1). GmAKR1 appears to be a close relative of a yeast aldo/keto reductase YakC whose in vivo substrate has not been identified yet. The expression of GmAKR1 in soybean showed a root-specific expression pattern and inducibility by a synthetic auxin analogue 2,4-D, which appeared to be corroborated by presence of the root-specific element and the stress-response element in the promoter region. In addition, constitutive overexpression of GmAKR1 in transgenic soybean hairy roots inhibited nodule development, which suggests that it plays a negative role in the regulation of nodule development. One of the Arabidopsis orthologues of GmAKR1 is the ARF-GAP domain 2 protein, which is a potential negative regulator of vesicle trafficking; therefore GmAKR1 may have a similar function in the roots and nodules of legume plants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권12호
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• pp.1072-1080
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• 2018

A plant-specific B3 domain and AP2 domain-containing transcription factor, RAV1 acts as a negative regulator of growth in many plant species and its transcription was down-regulated by BR and ABA. In this study, we found that RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants showed abnormally developed ovules, resulting in reduced seed size, weight, and number in a silique. Interestingly, the endogenous expression of RAV1 fluctuated during seed development; it remained low during the early stage of seed development and sharply increased in the seed maturation stage. In plants, seed development is a complex process that requires coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and maternal integuments. Among many genes that are associated with endosperm proliferation and embryo development, three genes consisting of SHB1, MINI3, and IKU2 form a small unit positively regulating this process, and their expression was regulated by BR and ABA. Using the floral stage-specific RNAs, we found that the expression of MINI3 and IKU2, the two downstream genes of the SHB1-MINI3-IKU2 cascade in the seed development pathway, were particularly reduced in the RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants. We further determined that RAV1 directly binds to the promoter of MINI3 and IKU2, resulting in their repression. Direct treatment with brassinolide (BL) improved seed development of RAV1-overexpressing plants, but treatment with ABA severely worsened it. Overall, these results suggest that RAV1 is an additional negative player in the early stages of seed development, during which ABA and BR signaling are coordinated.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.540-545
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• 2006

T-DNA 매개 형질전환은 삽입 돌연변이를 가지는 형질전환 식물체를 만들기 위한 유용한 방법이다. 애기장대의 shoot 발달 과정에서 중요한 역할을 하는 유전자를 확인하기 위해, 프로모터 trap 식물체 라인을 제작하고 분석하였다. 이를 위해 효율적인 프로모터 trap 백터인 pFGL561을 제작하였다. pFGL561은 basta 저항성 유전자, multiple splicing donor acceptor 서열들, 그리고 프로모터가 없는 GFP 리포터 유전자를 포함하고 있다. Agrobacterium 균주인 GV3101에 pFGL561을 도입하고, 이를 매개로 하여 300개의 $T_1$ 프로모터 trap 식물체를 제작하였고, 이들 식물체에서 GFP 발현을 조사하였다. $T_1$ 식물체에서 GFP 발현 비율은 26.7%로 매우 높았고, 이러한 발현은 $T_2$ 식물체에서도 재확인되었다. 한편, 식물의 shoot 발달에 관여하는 주요 유전자를 동정하기 위해서, shoot에서 GFP발현을 보인 19개 $T_1$ 식물체에서 유래한 $T_2$ 식물체를 대상으로 표현형을 조사한 결과, 비정상적인 shoot발달을 보이는 6개 $T_1$ 라인을 확인하였다. 이들 식물체는 shoot발달의 조절 기작 분석에 매우 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.1390-1394
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• 2008

선행연구에서 Arabidopsis thaliana $Ca^{2+}/H^+$ 역수송체 유전자인 CAX 1 ($\underline{ca}tion$ $e{\underline{x}}changer$ 1)이 도입된 벼 형질전환체의 $T_3$ 종자는 대조구에 비해 $2.7{\sim}7.5$배 정도 높은 칼슘을 함유하고 있음을 확인한 바 있다. 이 $T_3$ 종자 유래 현미의 생리학적 안전성을 조사하기 위해, 일품현미를 대조구로 하여 생쥐 식이 실험을 수행하고 체중 및 말초 백혈구 수의 변화를 조사하였다. 일 개월 동안의 식이의 결과, $T_3$ 현미의 경우는 체중의 변화량 혹은 말초 백혈구의 수에 있어서 대조구인 일품현미의 경우와 거의 차이가 없었다. 체액성 면역능의 지표인 플라크-형성능, 복강 대식세포의 수, 그리고 NK 세포의 활성도 등을 비롯한 면역기능에 대한 영향에 있어서도 대조구와 유사하였다. 아울러 혈액의 생화학적 분석조사에서도 두 실험군 사이에 별다른 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 이상의 연구결과는 GMO 벼 유래의 $T_3$ 현미가 생리학적으로 안전하며 또한 칼슘함량이 강화된 동물사료 혹은 식품으로 적용될 수 있는 잠재능이 있음을 시사한다. 한편 장기적 안전성에 대한 평가를 위해서는 좀 더 연구가 진행되어야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.147-155
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• 2009

Oryza grandiglumis Chitinase IVa (OgChitIVa) cDNA encoding a class IV chitinase was cloned from wild rice (Oryza grandiglumis). OgChitIVa cDNA contains an open reading frame of 867 nucleotides encoding 288 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 30.4 kDa and isoelectric point of 8.48. Deduced amino acid sequences of OgChitIVa include the signal peptide and chitin-binding domain in the N-terminal domain and conserved catalytic domain. OgChitIVa showed significant similarity at the amino acid level with related monocotyledonous rice and maize chitinase, but low similarity with dicotyledoneous chitinase. Southern blot analysis showed that OgChitIVa genes are present as two copies in the wild rice genome. It was shown that RNA expression of OgChitIVa was induced by defense/stress signaling chemicals, such as jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethephon or cantharidin and endothall or wounding, and yeast extract. It was demonstrated that overexpression of OgChitIVa in Arabidopsis resulted in mild resistance against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, by lowering disease rate and necrosis size. RT-PCR analysis showed that PR-1 and PR-2 RNA expression was induced in the transgenic lines. Here, we suggest that a novel OgChitIVa gene may play a role in signal transduction process in defense response against B. cinerea in plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.337-343
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• 2008

We generated transgenic tomato plants with Arabidopsis thaliana $H^+$/cation exchanger gene (C4X4) by Agrobactrium-mediated transformation. We confirmed transgene copy number and transcription by Southern and Northern blot analyses. The intact CAX4-expressing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits contained 63-71% more calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) than wild-type fruits. Moreover, ectopic expression of C4X4 in tomato fruits did not show any significant increase of the four kinds of metallic cations analyzed ($Mg^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Cu^{2+})$. The C4X4-expressing tomato plants including their fruits did not show any morphological alternations during whole growth period. These results suggest the enhanced Ca-substrate specificity of CAX4 exchanger in tomato. Therefore, intact CAX4 exchanger can be a useful tool for $Ca^{2+}$ nutrient enrichment of tomato fruits with reduced accumulation of undesirable cations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.212-218
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• 2005

A full-length 1.1 kb cDNA, designated Oryza sativa Dehydrin 1 (OsDhn1), was isolated from the seed coat of rice. The deduced protein is hydrophilic and has three K-type and one S-type motifs (SK3-type), indicating that OsDhn1 belongs to the acidic dehydrin family, which includes wheat WCOR410 and Arabidopsis COR47. Expression of OsDhn1 was strongly induced by low temperature as well as by drought. Induction of OsDhn1 by cold stress was clearcut in the roots of seedlings and the epidermis of palea and lemma. OsDhn1 was also up-regulated in UBI::CBF1/DREB1b transgenic plants indicating that it is regulated by the CBF/DREB stress signaling pathway.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.424-427
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• 2004

Microsomal ${\omega}-3$ fatty acid desaturase (FAD3) is an essential enzyme in the production of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ${\alpha}-linolenic$ acid during the seed developing stage. To understand the regulatory mechanism of the gene encoding the ${\omega}-3$ fatty acid desaturase, a genomic fragment corresponding to the previously isolated perilla seed PfFAD3 cDNA was amplified from perilla (Perilla frutescens Britt) by GenomeWalker PCR. Sequence analysis of the fragment provided with identification of a 1485-bp 5'-upstream region and a 241-bp intron in the open reading frame. To determine the tissue-specificity of the PfFAD3 gene expression, the 5'-upstream region was fused to the ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ (GUS) gene and incorporated into Arabidopsis thaliana. Histochemical assay of the transgenic plants showed that GUS expression was restricted to seed and pollen, showing that PfFAD3 gene was exclusively expressed in those tissues.