Differential expression of a γ-zein gene in Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus and Nicotiana tabacum
With the aim of increasing the content of sulphur amino acids (SAAs) in the aerial part of the plants, Nicotiana tabacum and two leguminous species, Medicago sativa and Lotus corniculatus, were transformed with a maize γ-zein gene (G1L), coding for a SAAs-rich protein. Gene fusions with two differen...
Saved in:
Published in | Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 127; no. 2; pp. 161 - 169 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Shannon
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
12.09.1997
Elsevier Science |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | With the aim of increasing the content of sulphur amino acids (SAAs) in the aerial part of the plants,
Nicotiana tabacum and two leguminous species,
Medicago sativa and
Lotus corniculatus, were transformed with a maize
γ-zein gene (G1L), coding for a SAAs-rich protein. Gene fusions with two different promoters were constructed; one promoter was the constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S and the other was the light-regulated ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit (rbcS) from a tobacco gene. The constructs were introduced by
Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. All the transformants produced the G1L RNA (two differently sized transcripts were detected) and no relevant differences were found between the two promoters. Despite the presence of G1L message the
γ-zein was found only in tobacco plants (up to 0.05% of the alcohol soluble proteins). Post-transcriptional mechanisms seemed to inhibit protein accumulation. The low level of G1L RNA in the transformed plants was probably the main factor that limited the production of
γ-zein protein. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0168-9452 1873-2259 |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0168-9452(97)00092-7 |