Week 4 Flashcards
What is genetic transformation?
Genetic transformation is defined as the directed desirable transfer of gene from one organism to another along with the subsequent stable integration and expression of a foreign gene in the genome
What is transgene?
The gene that is transferred
What is transgenics?
The organisms that are formed after a successful gene transfer
What is plant transformation?
It is defined as the method of insertion of DNA from another organism, usually a plant gene, into the genome of the plant of interest
What is key for sucessful transformation/gene editing?
A regenerable target tissue.
An efficient method of introducing the new gene or gene editing components
A suitable DNA construct to introduce the transgene into the host plant
A good selection system so that transgenic material can be distinguished from non-transgenic
What are visual markers for gene transfer?
GFP - protein that exhibits green fluorescence when exposed to light in the blue to ultraviolet range
Ruby - transgenic cells are distinctly red and visible to the naked eye
GUS - GUS gene produces blue coloration in plants upon integration into the plant genome
What are antibiotic resistance selectable markers?
NptII – kanamycin resistance
Hpt – hygromycin resistance
(Need appropriate promoters for selectable marker and gene of interest)
What are Herbicide resistance genes selectable markers?
Bar – resistance to the herbicides basta and bialaphos - active ingredient phosphinothricin (PPT)
(Need appropriate promoters for selectable marker and gene of interest)
What are the methods for introducing new genes or gene editing components?
Agrobacterium-Mediated
Biolistic
Protoplasts
What is an overview of Agrobacterium-mediated gene editing?
This method uses a natural bacterium’s ability to transfer DNA into plant cells, resulting in stable and inheritable genetic changes
What is an overview of biolistic?
Physically breaching the plant cell wall and membrane with gold or tungsten microprojectiles coated with biomolecules accelerated to very high velocities
What is an overview of protoplasts?
Protoplasts are treated with DNA in the presence of PEG.
Protoplasts are isolated cells produced by removing the surrounding cell wall either by mechanical means or by the use of cell wall degrading enzymes
What is needed on a wildtype Ti-Plasmid?
Virulence region
T-DNA
Opine Catabolism
Origin of replication
What is an overview of virulence region?
The virulence region codes for virulence genes that are responsible for the transfer of T-DNA to the plant cells and also recruiting various effector proteins for infecting the plant cells
What is an overview of T-DNA?
The T-DNA region is the crucial region that gets transferred to the plant cell for infection. It is approximately 15-20 kbp in length and is transferred to the plant cell via means of genetic recombination
What is an overview of opine catabolism?
The opine catabolism region is the region from where the bacteria sources its nutrients for the whole process.
Opines are derivatives of amino acid or sugar phosphates that can be catabolized to use in the form of nutrients.
The types of opines found in Ti-plasmid are nopaline and octopine types
What is an overview of origin of replication?
The origin of replication is the region where replication of the plasmid is initiated
What is an overview of binary vector system for transformation?
Vir region on disarmed Ti plasmid:
virF, virA, virG, virC, virD and virE
Binary vector contains:
LB - GOI - T-DNA - Selection marker - RB
What is an overview of antibiotic selection markers?
NptII – kanamycin resistance, Hpt – hygromycin resistance
What is an overview of herbicide selection markers?
Bar – resistance to the herbicides basta and bialaphos - active ingredient phosphinothricin (PPT)
What is biolistic method for gene transfer?
Millions of DNA-coated metal particles are shot at target cells or tissues using a biolistic device or gene gun.
What are the advatages of disadvantages of agrobacterium method?
Pros - High efficiency and stability
Cons - Limited to specific crop species
What are the disadvantages of biolostic method?
Pros - Wide range of plant species
Cons - Higher T-DNA integration and Low efficiency and random integration
What is protoplast transfection?
Protoplast-mediated transformation involves direct uptake of DNA by naked plant cells (plants without a cell wall, or protoplasts). This process provides an expression system for researchers to identify novel candidate genes
Why might protoplast transfection be used?
The protoplast technology is an excellent method for creating a rapid and effective tool for transient expression and transformation assays, particularly in plants that lack an Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation system
What are examples of other DNA delivery systems?
Gene-editing by expression of developmental regulators and de novo meristem induction in plants.
RNA viruses and mobile guide RNAs for heritable plant gene-editing.
Nanoparticles for delivering biomolecules to facilitate plant genome engineering
What are examples of tissues targeted for transformation?
Immature embryos (cereals)
Mature embryos
Suspension cultures
Protoplasts
Hypocotyl explants
Cotyledonary petioles (Brassicas)
What is an overview of the regeneration method?
Explants
Regeneration
Transgenic plants on selection medium
What is an overview of the method for tissue culture free genome editing by de novo meristem induction in tomatoes?
Remove existing meristem
Introduce reagents
Meristem formation
Growth with fixed modifications
Segregation of modification in offspring
What is an downside of the method for tissue culture free genome editing by de novo meristem induction in tomatoes?
Only really possible in tomaotes as other plants may struggle
Also ineffcient
What is an overview of using nanoparticles for delivering biomolecules to enginner plant genomes?
Single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (~1 - 1000 nm) and carbon dots (~3 nm)
Delivery using syringe through stomata
DNA-CNTs traverse the cell wall and membranes and modifies DNA
What are the two steps for plant transformation?
T-DNA integration
Regeneration (Somatic embryogenesis/ organogenesis)
What are plant growth regulators that impact regeneration of plant cells?
Type, concentration and ratio of:
Cytokines
Gibberellin
Auxin
Other
What are species/genotypes that impact regeneration of plant cells?
Type
Age
Size
Orientation
What are basal culture medium that impact regeneration of plant cells?
Mineral nutrients
Vitamins
Carbon sources
pH
What are culture conditions that impact regeneration of plant cells?
Temperature
Light
What is an overview of genetic transformation protocol in wheat?
Identify the spike with right stage of immature embryos (IEs) and isolate
Centrifuge and co-cultivate IEs with Agrobacterium for 3 days
Excise embryonic axis 5 days later and culture in resting medium and under hygromycin selection +5 weeks
Culture in regeneration and rooting media 2 weeks + further 2 weeks
Transfer to soil
Analysis
What is an overview of wheat transformation system at JIC?
Target tissue: Immature embryos
Delivery method: Agrobacterium strain AGL1
Selection system: Hygromycin resistance alternative selection G148
Genotype: Fielder (US spring wheat)
Constructs: initially pBRACT series, now superseded by pGGG
What is an overview of the transformation efficiency at JIC?
Transformation efficiencies of up to 25%
Spring wheat cv ‘Fielder’ (Calculated 1 plant from 1 embryo)
What is an overview of gene-editing by expression of developmental regulators?
Genes: PGA37/MYB118, Wus2, Bbm, Shoot Meristemless (STM) and Wox5
Meristematic and embryogenic genes
What are the downsides of gene-editing by expression of developmental regulators?
Continued expression of the genes can cause developmental defects.
Plant regeneration using these technologies requires controlled expression or removal of the expression cassettes.
So far, limited activity in dicots
What is an overview of GRF-GIF chimeric protein improvments?
GRF-GIF –> Growth regulation factor
Significantly increased the transformation efficiency
Reduced the time of transformation process (from 90 to 50 days)
Reduced constrains that limit transformation efficiency (plant condition, embryo size …).
Expands the range of transformable genotype.
The GRF4–GIF1 technology results in fertile and normal transgenic plants
What is an overview of GRF-GIF fusion in conjunction with our transformation system?
Expanded the transformable genotypes
Allowed us to transform elite commercial varieties
Varieties such as Skyfall, Reedling, Paragon and Cadenza
What’s an overview of the expression of Baby boom (Bbm)
and Wuschel2 (Wus2) generation?
Embryo from mature seed
Innoculated with agrobacterium
Generate callus
CRE excises BBM/WUS construct
Select transformed callus with BBM/WUS contruct excised
What’s an overview of the expression of Baby boom (Bbm)
and Wuschel2 (Wus2) results?
Single somatic embryos on the surface of Fast-Flowering - induced by Wus2 and Bbmexpression
What is an application of crop transformation for increased yield?
Crop transformation technologies can lead to higher crop yields, helping to meet the growing demands of a growing population
What is an application of crop transformation for enhanced nutritional value?
Genes can be inserted to increase the amount of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, in crops
What is an application of crop transformation for disease resistance?
Crops can be engineered to express proteins that combat pests, pathogens, and viruses, reducing reliance on pesticides
What is a potential application of gene transformation
Increased shelf life banana
Wheat with decreased land - single mutant +6% weight, double +11% weight and triple +21% weight
Rust resistance BCAT1
What is transgenesis and cisgenesis?
Transgenesis refers to inserted DNA originating from a sexually incompatible species
Cisgenesis refers to inserted DNA originating from the same or a related species that is sexually compatible
What is are CIS genes?
Cisgenes generally include the introns and flanking native
promoter and terminator in the same orientation
What is an overview of nitrogen abundance?
Most abundant element in the earth’s atmosphere
4th most abundant element in a plant (after C, H and O)
Usually the limiting nutrient for plant growth
Nitrogen is one of the three major macronutrients found in most fertilizers NPK
What is an overview of nitrogen use in plants?
N is in amino acids (proteins), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), chlorophyll, and countless small molecules
What are the two mechanisms for nitrogen fixation?
Biological fixation through microorganisms (120 Tg N/ yr
Industrial fixation through haber bosch process