Expression of active barley seed ribosome-inactivating protein in transgenic wheat

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 100; no. 5; pp. 755 - 763
• Main Authors: BIERI, S, POTRYKUS, I, FÜTTERER, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.03.2000; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Barley; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chitinase; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Genetic technics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Peptides; Pest resistance; Plant genetics; Plant pathogens; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Seeds; Transgenic animals and transgenic plants; Transgenic plants; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Wheat; Switzerland; Monocotyledones; Seeds; Targeting; Hordeum vulgare; Gene expression; Cereal crop; Protein; Antifungal agent; Phenotype; Gene; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Ribosome inactivating protein; Spermatophyta; Transgenic plant; Triticum aestivum
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s001220051349

Phenotypically normal, transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum, var. Frisal) plants expressing a barley seed ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) were produced. Expression was controlled by an intron-enhanced cauli-flower mosaic virus 35S promoter and has been completely stable over four generations so far, possibly due to matrix-associated regions (MARs) that flank the transgenes. An engineered fusion to a signal peptide derived from the barley seed β-1,3-glucanase caused the transport of RIP to the apoplast. Activity of the accumulated protein could be shown by significant inhibition of a rabbit reticulocyte transcription/translation system. Plants expressing high levels of RIP were protected only moderately or not at all against infection by the fungal pathogen Erysiphe graminis.