Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes

Transgenic plants are widely used for the investigation of functions of particular genes as well as for reconstruction of complex gene networks controlling plant morphology, biochemistry, and physiology during different development stages and in response to various external stimuli. Gene engineering...

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Main Authors: A. V. Kochetov, V. K. Shumny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders 2016-09-01
Series:Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции
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Online Access:https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/698
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author A. V. Kochetov
V. K. Shumny
author_facet A. V. Kochetov
V. K. Shumny
author_sort A. V. Kochetov
collection DOAJ
description Transgenic plants are widely used for the investigation of functions of particular genes as well as for reconstruction of complex gene networks controlling plant morphology, biochemistry, and physiology during different development stages and in response to various external stimuli. Gene engineering instruments for the design of transgenic plants with either elevated or suppressed expression of target genes are discussed. Genetic constructs for protein synthesis or antisense RNA/self-complementary double-stranded RNA transcription are described. Transgenic plants with elevated or decreased levels of expression of S-like ribonucleases and decreased expression of the proline dehydrogenase gene are considered as examples. It was believed that S-like RNase functions concern mainly phosphate remobilization from senescent organs. However, expression patterns of some genes coding for S-like RNases were similar to some pathogen-responsive genes (both local and systemic induction after wounding or pathogen inoculation). In addition, some pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-4 family) possess RNase activity and can inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi. Investigation of transgenic plants revealed that high ribonuclease activity in apoplast correlated with increased resistance against tobacco mosaic virus. Thus, S-like RNases may have a new function as a part of the plant basal antiviral defense mechanism. Another set of transgenic plants bears an antisense suppressor of the proline dehydrogenase gene (PDH) constructed with an Arabidopsis target gene segment. Tobacco, maize and sunflower plants with this heterologous suppressor were characterized with a moderate decrease in PDH activity and a mild (1.5–3-fold) increase in the proline content under normal conditions. It was also found that these plants were more tolerant to various abiotic stresses (drought, NaCl, cold, toxic heavy metals), which may result from the protective proline effect early in exposure to stress, preventing the cellular gene expression machinery from damage by stress-generated free radicals.
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publisher Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders
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spelling doaj-art-6a8ce6b0ca1445a4a583e719690defdb2025-02-01T09:58:03ZengSiberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and BreedersВавиловский журнал генетики и селекции2500-32592016-09-0120447648110.18699/VJ16.179500Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genesA. V. Kochetov0V. K. Shumny1Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS; Novosibirsk State UniversityInstitute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS; Novosibirsk State UniversityTransgenic plants are widely used for the investigation of functions of particular genes as well as for reconstruction of complex gene networks controlling plant morphology, biochemistry, and physiology during different development stages and in response to various external stimuli. Gene engineering instruments for the design of transgenic plants with either elevated or suppressed expression of target genes are discussed. Genetic constructs for protein synthesis or antisense RNA/self-complementary double-stranded RNA transcription are described. Transgenic plants with elevated or decreased levels of expression of S-like ribonucleases and decreased expression of the proline dehydrogenase gene are considered as examples. It was believed that S-like RNase functions concern mainly phosphate remobilization from senescent organs. However, expression patterns of some genes coding for S-like RNases were similar to some pathogen-responsive genes (both local and systemic induction after wounding or pathogen inoculation). In addition, some pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-4 family) possess RNase activity and can inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi. Investigation of transgenic plants revealed that high ribonuclease activity in apoplast correlated with increased resistance against tobacco mosaic virus. Thus, S-like RNases may have a new function as a part of the plant basal antiviral defense mechanism. Another set of transgenic plants bears an antisense suppressor of the proline dehydrogenase gene (PDH) constructed with an Arabidopsis target gene segment. Tobacco, maize and sunflower plants with this heterologous suppressor were characterized with a moderate decrease in PDH activity and a mild (1.5–3-fold) increase in the proline content under normal conditions. It was also found that these plants were more tolerant to various abiotic stresses (drought, NaCl, cold, toxic heavy metals), which may result from the protective proline effect early in exposure to stress, preventing the cellular gene expression machinery from damage by stress-generated free radicals.https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/698plantsgenetic engineeringpathogen resistancestress toleranceprolineribonucleases
spellingShingle A. V. Kochetov
V. K. Shumny
Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции
plants
genetic engineering
pathogen resistance
stress tolerance
proline
ribonucleases
title Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
title_full Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
title_fullStr Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
title_full_unstemmed Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
title_short Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
title_sort transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes
topic plants
genetic engineering
pathogen resistance
stress tolerance
proline
ribonucleases
url https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/698
work_keys_str_mv AT avkochetov transgenicplantsasgeneticmodelsforstudyingfunctionsofplantgenes
AT vkshumny transgenicplantsasgeneticmodelsforstudyingfunctionsofplantgenes