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Yuan G, Zeng C, Shi H, Yang Y, Du J, Zou C, Ma L, Pan G, Shen Y. Engineered Expression of Vip3A in Green Tissues as a Feasible Approach for the Control of Insect Pests in Maize. INSECTS 2023; 14:803. [PMID: 37887815 PMCID: PMC10607264 DOI: 10.3390/insects14100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering technology offers opportunities to improve many important agronomic traits in crops, including insect-resistance. However, genetically modified (GM) exogenous proteins in edible tissues of transgenic crops has become an issue of intense public concern. To advance the application of GM techniques in maize, a Cre/loxP-based strategy was developed for manipulating the transgenes in green tissues while locking them in non-green tissues. In the strategy, the site-specific excision can be used to switch on or off the expression of transgenes at specific tissues. In this work, two basic transgenic maize, named KEY, carrying the Cre gene, and LOCK, containing the Vip3A gene with a blocked element, were obtained based on their separate fusion gene cassettes. The expression level and concentration of Vip3A were observed with a high specific accumulation in the green tissues (leaf and stem), and only a small amount was observed in the root and kernel tissues in the KEY × LOCK hybrids. The insect resistance of transgenic maize against two common lepidopteran pests, Ostrinia furnacalis and Spodoptera frugiperda, was assessed in the laboratory and field. The results indicate that the hybrids possessed high resistance levels against the two pests, with mortality rates above 73.6% and damage scales below 2.4 compared with the control group. Our results suggest that the Cre/loxP-mediated genetic engineering approach has a competitive advantage in GM maize. Overall, the findings from this study are significant for providing a feasible strategy for transgenes avoiding expression in edible parts and exploring novel techniques toward the biosafety of GM plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangsheng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region of Ministry of Agriculture, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yaou Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region of Ministry of Agriculture, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
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Chen H, Huang Y, Ye M, Wang Y, He X, Tu J. Achieving High Expression of Cry in Green Tissues and Negligible Expression in Endosperm Simultaneously via rbcS Gene Fusion Strategy in Rice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24109045. [PMID: 37240390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24109045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
To allay excessive public concern about the safety of transgenic foods, and to optimize insect-resistant genes expression to delay the evolution of resistance in pests, we developed a promising strategy to fuse the GOI (gene of interest) with OsrbcS (rice small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) in transgenic rice, which acted as a carrier, driven by the OsrbcS native promoter to sequester its expression in green tissues. Using eYFP as a trial, we reported a high-level accumulation of eYFP in green tissue and almost none in the seed and root of the fused construct compared to the non-fused construct. After applying this fusion strategy in insect-resistant rice breeding, recombinant OsrbcS-Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac expressed rice plants conferred high resistance to leaffolders and striped stem borers, among which two single-copy lines possessed normal agronomic performance in the field. Specifically, Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac protein levels in single-copy construct transgenic lines ranged from 1.8 to 11.5 µg g-1 in the leaf, higher than the Actin I promoter-driven control, T51-1, about 1.78 µg g-1 in the leaf, but negligible (only 0.00012-0.00117 µg g-1) in endosperm by ELISA analysis. Our study provided a novel approach to creating Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac-free endosperm rice with a high level of insect-resistant protein in green tissues through the simultaneous usage of the OsrbcS promoter and OsrbcS as a fusion partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yuqing Huang
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mengnan Ye
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiuying He
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jumin Tu
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Kushalappa AC, Hegde NG, Yogendra KN. Metabolic pathway genes for editing to enhance multiple disease resistance in plants. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2022; 135:705-722. [PMID: 36036859 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-022-01409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Diseases are one of the major constraints in commercial crop production. Genetic diversity in varieties is the best option to manage diseases. Molecular marker-assisted breeding has produced hundreds of varieties with good yields, but the resistance level is not satisfactory. With the advent of whole genome sequencing, genome editing is emerging as an excellent option to improve the inadequate traits in these varieties. Plants produce thousands of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, which as polymers and conjugates are deposited to reinforce the secondary cell walls to contain the pathogen to an initial infection area. The resistance metabolites or the structures produced from them by plants are either constitutive (CR) or induced (IR), following pathogen invasion. The production of each resistance metabolite is controlled by a network of biosynthetic R genes, which are regulated by a hierarchy of R genes. A commercial variety also has most of these R genes, as in resistant, but a few may be mutated (SNPs/InDels). A few mutated genes, in one or more metabolic pathways, depending on the host-pathogen interaction, can be edited, and stacked to increase resistance metabolites or structures produced by them, to achieve required levels of multiple pathogen resistance under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajjamada C Kushalappa
- Plant Science Department, McGill University, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Niranjan G Hegde
- Plant Science Department, McGill University, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Kalenahalli N Yogendra
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Dan J, Deng H, Xia Y, Zhan Y, Tang N, Wang Y, Cao M. Application of the FLP/LoxP-FRT recombination system to switch the eGFP expression in a model prokaryote. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:172-179. [PMID: 35350449 PMCID: PMC8919825 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In prokaryotes, few studies have applied the flippase (FLP)/P1-flippase recombination target (LoxP-FRT) recombination system to switch gene expression. This study developed a new method for switching gene expression by constructing an FLP/LoxP-FRT site-specific recombination system in Escherichia coli. To this end, we placed the Nos terminator flanked by a pair of LoxP-FRT in front of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP). The Nos terminator was used to block the expression of the eGFP. When a plasmid expressing FLP was available, deletion of the Nos terminator would allow expression of eGFP. The regulatory effect was demonstrated by eGFP expression. The efficiency of the gene switch was calculated as high as 89.67%. The results showed that the FLP/LoxP-FRT recombinase system could be used as a gene switch to regulate gene expression in prokaryotes. This new method for switching gene expression could simplify the gene function analysis in E. coli and other prokaryotes, as well as eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Dan
- Longping Branch of Graduate School, Hunan University , No. 2 Lushan South Road, Yuelu District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410082 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Huafeng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center , No. 736 Yuanda Road, Furong District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410125 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Yumei Xia
- Longping Branch of Graduate School, Hunan University , No. 2 Lushan South Road, Yuelu District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410082 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Yijie Zhan
- Longping Branch of Graduate School, Hunan University , No. 2 Lushan South Road, Yuelu District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410082 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center , No. 736 Yuanda Road, Furong District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410125 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Yao Wang
- Longping Branch of Graduate School, Hunan University , No. 2 Lushan South Road, Yuelu District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410082 , People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengliang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center , No. 736 Yuanda Road, Furong District , Changsha , Hunan Province 410125 , People’s Republic of China
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Li H, Xu X, Han K, Wang Z, Ma W, Lin Y, Hua H. Isolation and functional analysis of OsAOS1 promoter for resistance to Nilaparvata lugens Stål infestation in rice. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:1833-1844. [PMID: 34908164 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Insect pests have a great impact on the yield and quality of crops. Insecticide applications are an effective method of pest control, however, they also have adverse effects on the environment. Using insect-inducible promoters to drive insect-resistant genes in transgenic crops is a potential sustainable pest management strategy, but insect-inducible promoters have been rarely reported. In this study, we found rice allene oxide synthase gene (AOS, LOC_Os03g12500) can be highly upregulated following brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) infestation. Then, we amplified the promoter of OsAOS1 and the β- glucuronidase reporter gene was used to analyze the expression pattern of the promoter. Through a series of 5' truncated assays, three positive regulatory regions in response to BPH infestation in the promoter were identified. The transgenic plants, P1R123-min 35S and P1TR1-min 35S promoter-driven snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, GNA) gene, demonstrated the highest expression levels of GNA and lowest BPH survival. Our work identified a BPH-inducible promoter and three positive regions within it. Transgenic rice with GNA driven by OsAOS1 promoter and positive regions exhibited an expected lethal effect on BPH. This study proved the application potential of BPH-inducible promoter and provided a novel path for the selection of insect-resistant tools in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanpeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xueliang Xu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kehong Han
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengjie Wang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Weihua Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yongjun Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hongxia Hua
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Chang CW, Wang LS, Pham NN, Shen CC, Hsu MN, Nguyen NTK, Yen CY, Lin MW, Hwu JR, Chang YH, Hu YC. Synthetic biology approach to developing all-in-one baculovirus vector using mammalian introns and miRNA binding sites. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2021.104175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Zhang Z, Guo Y, Marasigan KM, Conner JA, Ozias-Akins P. Gene activation via Cre/lox-mediated excision in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:119-138. [PMID: 34591155 PMCID: PMC8803690 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02789-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Expression of Cre recombinase by AtRps5apro or AtDD45pro enabled Cre/lox-mediated recombination at an early embryonic developmental stage upon crossing, activating transgenes in the hybrid cowpea and tobacco. Genetic engineering ideally results in precise spatiotemporal control of transgene expression. To activate transgenes exclusively in a hybrid upon fertilization, we evaluated a Cre/lox-mediated gene activation system with the Cre recombinase expressed by either AtRps5a or AtDD45 promoters that showed activity in egg cells and young embryos. In crosses between Cre recombinase lines and transgenic lines harboring a lox-excision reporter cassette with ZsGreen driven by the AtUbq3 promoter after Cre/lox-mediated recombination, we observed complete excision of the lox-flanked intervening DNA sequence between the AtUbq3pro and the ZsGreen coding sequence in F1 progeny upon genotyping but no ZsGreen expression in F1 seeds or seedlings. The incapability to observe ZsGreen fluorescence was attributed to the activity of the AtUbq3pro. Strong ZsGreen expression in F1 seeds was observed after recombination when ZsGreen was driven by the AtUbq10 promoter. Using the AtDD45pro to express Cre resulted in more variation in recombination frequencies between transgenic lines and crosses. Regardless of the promoter used to regulate Cre, mosaic F1 progeny were rare, suggesting gene activation at an early embryo-developmental stage. Observation of ZsGreen-expressing tobacco embryos at the globular stage from crosses with the AtRps5aproCre lines pollinated by the AtUbq3prolox line supported the early activation mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifen Zhang
- Department of Horticulture and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, 2356 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Yinping Guo
- Department of Horticulture and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, 2356 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Kathleen Monfero Marasigan
- Department of Horticulture and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, 2356 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Joann A Conner
- Department of Horticulture and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, 2356 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Peggy Ozias-Akins
- Department of Horticulture and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, 2356 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA.
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Li H, Wang Z, Han K, Guo M, Zou Y, Zhang W, Ma W, Hua H. Cloning and functional identification of a Chilo suppressalis-inducible promoter of rice gene, OsHPL2. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:3177-3187. [PMID: 32336018 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoters play a key role in driving insect-resistant genes during breeding of transgenic plants. In current transgenic procedures for breeding rice resistance to striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis Walker, SSB), the constitutive promoter is used to drive the insect-resistant gene. To reduce the burden of constitutive promoters on plant growth, isolation and identification of insect-inducible promoters are particularly important. However, few promoters are induced specifically by insect feeding. RESULTS We found rice hydroperoxide lyase gene (OsHPL2) (LOC_Os02g12680) was upregulated after feeding by SSB. We subsequently cloned the promoter of OsHPL2 and analysed its expression pattern using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Histochemical assays and quantitative analyses of GUS activity confirmed that P HPL2 :GUS was activated by SSB, but did not respond to brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) infestation, mechanical wounding or phytohormone treatments. A series of 5' truncated assays were conducted and three positive regulatory regions (-1452 to -1213, -903 to -624, and -376 to -176) induced by SSB infestation were identified. P2R123-min 35S and P2TR2-min 35S promoters linked with cry1C of transgenic plants showed the highest levels of Cry1C protein expression and SSB larval mortality. CONCLUSION We identified an SSB-inducible promoter and three positive internal regions. Transgenic rice plants with the OsHPL2 promoter and its positive regions driving cry1C exhibited the expected larvicidal effect on SSB. Our study is the first report of an SSB-inducible promoter that could be used as a potential resource for breeding insect-resistant transgenic crops. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanpeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengjie Wang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kehong Han
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengjian Guo
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yulan Zou
- College of Life Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weihua Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongxia Hua
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Abstract
Cre-mediated recombination has become a powerful tool to confine gene deletions (conditional knockouts) or overexpression of genes (conditional knockin/overexpression). By spatiotemporal restriction of genetic manipulations, major problems of classical knockouts such as embryonic lethality or pleiotropy can be circumvented. Furthermore, Cre-mediated recombination has broad applications in the analysis of the cellular behavior of subpopulations and cell types as well as for genetic fate mapping. This chapter gives an overview about applications for the Cre/LoxP system and their execution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudius F Kratochwil
- Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
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