• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2008

OsMADS1 is a rice MADS box gene necessary for floral development. To identify the key cis-regulatory regions for its expression, we utilized transgenic rice plants expressing GUS fusion constructs. Histochemical analysis revealed that the 5.7-kb OsMADS1 intragenic sequences, encompassing exon 1, intron 1, and a part of exon 2, together with the 1.9-kb 5' upstream promoter region, are required for the GUS expression pattern that coincides with flower-preferential expression of OsMADS1. In contrast, the 5' upstream promoter sequence lacking this intragenic region caused ectopic expression of the reporter gene in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Notably, incorporation of the intragenic region into the CaMV35S promoter directed the GUS expression pattern similar to that of the endogenous spatial expression of OsMADS1 in flowers. In addition, our transient gene expression assay revealed that the large first intron following the CaMV35S minimal promoter enhances flower-preferential expression of GUS. These results suggest that the OsMADS1 intragenic sequence, largely intron 1, contains a key regulatory region(s) essential for expression.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2005

In this study, we chronicle the establishment of a novel transformation system for the unicellular marine green alga, Dunaliella salina. We introduced the CaMV35S promoter-GUS construct into D. salina with a PDS1000/He micro-particle bombardment system. Forty eight h after transformation, via histochemical staining, we observed the transient expression of GUS in D. salina cells which had been bombarded under rupture-disc pressures of 450 psi and 900 psi. We observed no GUS activity in either the negative or the blank controls. Our findings indicated that the micro-particle bombardment method constituted a feasible approach to the genetic transformation of D. salina. We also conducted tests of the cells' sensitivity to seven antibiotics and one herbicide, and our results suggested that 20 ${\mu}g$/ ml of Basta could inhibit cell growth completely. The bar gene, which encodes for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase and confers herbicide tolerance, was introduced into the cells via the above established method. The results of PCR and PCR-Southern blot analyses indicated that the gene was successfully integrated into the genome of the transformants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.141-146
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• 2006

We previously showed that NtCDPK1, a tobacco calcium-dependent protein kinase, interacts with and phosphorylates the Rpn3 regulatory subunit of the 26S proteasome, and that both NtCDPK1 and Rpn3 are mainly expressed in rapidly proliferating tissues, including shoot and root meristem. In this study, we examined NtCDPK1 expression in roots using GUS expression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, and investigated its function in root development by generating transgenic tobacco plants carrying a sense NtCDPK1 transgene. GUS activity was first detected in roots two days after sowing. In later stages, strong GUS expression was detected in the root meristem and elongation zone, as well as the initiation sites and branch points of lateral roots. Transgenic tobacco plants in which NtCDPK1 expression was suppressed were smaller, and their root development was abnormal, with reduced lateral root formation and less elongation. These results suggest that NtCDPK1 plays a role in a signaling pathway regulating root development in tobacco.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.387-392
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• 1995

To study the regulatory expression mechanism of soybean glycinin gone, Gy2, the 5' upstream region of the gene was searched for the presence of putative regulatory elements by nucleotide sequencing. It revealed various kinds of regulatory sequence elements commonly found in plant storage protein genes. There were canonical promoter sequences, TATA box (TATAAT) and AGGA box (GAAT) which are common in the 5' upstream region of the plant genes. The embryo factor binding sequence, RY repeat, CACA sequences, ${\alpha}$-conglycinin enhancer-like sequences were also found. To delineate the function of these sequences, 5' upstream deletion mutants of Gy2 were prepared and fused to the ${\alpha}$-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Each chimeric construct was transferred into soybean protoplasts for transient assay, which led to the identification of the sequences between -281 and -223, -170 and -122, of Gy2 promoter as negative regulatory elements, and the sequences between -223 and -170, -122 and -16 as positive regulatory elements. These results are consistent in transformed tobacco plants as well. The serially deleted promoter fragments fused to the GUS were transformed into Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens using the binary vector system. GUS activity of Gy2 promoter deletion constructs was detected only in seeds but not in leaves with different levels of expression as in transient assay. These results suggest that the glycinin Gy2 promoter drives a tissue-specific expression in transgenic tobacco plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-89
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• 2007

CaCDPK4, a full-length cDNA clone encoding Capsicum annuum calcium-dependent protein kinase 4, was isolated from chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Deduced amino acid sequence of CaCDPK4 shares the highest homology with tobacco NpCDPK8 and chickpea CaCDPK2 with 79% identity. Genomic blot analyses revealed that CaCDPK4 is present as a single copy in pepper genome, but it belongs to a multigene family. CaCDPK4 was highly induced when pepper plants were inoculated with an incompatible bacterial pathogen. Induced levels of CaCDPK4 transcripts were also detected in pepper leaves by the treatment of ethephon, an ethylene-inducing agent, and high-salt stress condition. The bacterial-expressed GST-CaCDPK4 protein showed to retain the autophosphorylation activity in vitro. GUS expression driven by CaCDPK4 promoter was examined in transgenic Arabidopsis containing transcriptional fusion of CaCDPK4 promoter. GUS expression under CaCDPK4 promoter was strong in the root and veins of the seedlings. GW (-1965) and D3 (-1377) promoters conferred on GUS expression in response to inoculation of an incompatible bacterial pathogen, but D4-GUS (-913) and DS-GUS (-833) did not. Taken together, our results suggest that CaCDPK4 can be implicated on signal transduction pathway of defense response against an incompatible bacterial pathogen in pepper.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.10
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• pp.137-145
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• 1992

An efficient transformation system was established for Ailanthus altissima utilizing the binary system of A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404. Callus was initiated from small portions of cambium tissue of A. altissima in vitro. Optimum regeneration was achieved with Murashige and Skoog(MS) medium containing 0.01mg/${\ell}$ 2, 4-D, 0.5mg/${\ell}$ BAP, 3%(w/v) sucrose and 0.75% agar. The multiplication of explants remarkably showed up on medium containing 1.0mg/${\ell}$ BAP. Leaf discs or internodal stem segments were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 containing the binary vector pPMB 101, which has both ${\beta}$-glucuronidase (GUS) marker gene and neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene. Shoots had been regenerated from 24 lines out of inoculative 50 lines. Transformants were selected by their ability to grow on medium containing kanamycin sulphate (100mg/${\ell}$). Putative transformation was confirmed by GUS assays. Five GUS-positive plantlets were obtained which confirmed that this marker gene has been transferred into A. altissima.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.598-601
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• 2009

Perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt] seedlings are easy to grow and eaten as the health vegetable sprout. Two day old perilla seedlings since germination were given a mild wounding using cell wall lytic NaOH/SDS solution for infiltration with recombinant Agrobacterium cells treated with phenolic compounds. In the analysis of fluorometric GUS gene expression for the transformed perilla seedlings, GUS enzyme activity was the highest by the combined treatments of 50 mM acetosyringone and 0.5% NaOH solution containing 0.01% SDS implying a synergic effect. This result could be successfully applied for demonstrating hepatitis B virus antigen (HBsAg) protein expression.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

Barley, a monocotyledonous plant, is relatively recalcitrant to the process of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. In this study, seedlings of six barley cultivars (Keunal-1-Ho, Saessal, Ol, Saechalssal, Seodunchal and Pungsanchalssal) were injured using alkali, oxidizing or reducing agents. They were then transformed using Agrobacterium via vacuum infiltration for the analysis of comparative GUS gene expression. It was determined that chemical injuries causing a slight growth retardation could overall enhance the GUS transformation rate. Hydrogen peroxide was determined to be the most effective.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-279
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• 2005

Tah tasai chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris var. narinosa), a vegetable plant popularly consumed as several-days-old seedlings in oriental countries, can be easily cultivated using a simple appliance. We demonstrated that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation via vacuum infiltration (agroinfiltration) resulted in a successful transient GUS gene expression in tah tasai chinese cabbage seedlings. Pre-germinated seeds were found to be more susceptible to Agrobacterium infection than one-day-old or two-days-old seedlings. We also demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (HPO) treatment increased GUS expression especially for two-days-old seedlings. In ELISA using seedlings transformed with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) DNA by agroinfiltration, HBsAg protein synthesis increased more than two folds by HPO treatment to two-days-old seedlings in comparison to the mock-treated pre-germinated seeds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.673-677
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• 2006

A perfusion culture of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cell suspensions, transformed to express recombinant glucuronidase (GUS), was successfully performed in a 5-1 stirred tank bioreactor. With 0.1 $day^{-1}$ of perfusion rate, the maximum dry cell weight (DCW) reached to 29.5 g/l in 16 days, which was 2.1-fold higher than the obtained in batch culture (14.3 g/l). In terms of the production of GUS, the volumetric activity could be increased up to 12.8 U/ml by using perfusion, compared with 4.9 U/ml in batch culture. The specific GUS activities in both perfusion and batch cultures were maintained at similar levels, 200-400 U/g DCW. Consequently, a perfusion culture could be a good strategy for the enhanced production of recombinant proteins in a plant cell culture system.