Doh-Hoon Kim

Increased expression of OsPT1, a high-affinity phosphate transporter, enhances phosphate acquisition in rice.

Most high-affinity phosphate transporter genes (OsPTs) in rice were highly induced in roots when phosphate was depleted. OsPT1, however, was highly expressed in primary roots and leaves regardless of external phosphate concentrations. This finding was confirmed histochemically using transgenic rice plants that express the GUS reporter gene under the control of the OsPT1 promoter, which exhibited high GUS activity even in the phosphate sufficient condition. Furthermore, transgenic rice plants overexpressing the OsPT1 gene accumulated almost twice as much phosphate in the shoots as did wild-type plants. As a result, transgenic plants had more tillers than did wild-type plants, which is a typical physiological indicator for phosphate status in rice.

Variability of chromosomal DNA contents in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred and hybrid lines

Abstract. The flow karyotypes of different maize (Zea mays L.) inbred and hybrid lines were analyzed. The accumulation and isolation of large quantities of high-quality metaphase chromosomes from root tips was achieved from many kinds of maize lines. The chromosome suspensions were prepared by a simple slicing method from synchronized maize root tips and analyzed by flow cytometry. Variations of experimental flow karyotypes were detected among inbred and hybrid lines in terms of the positions and/or the numbers of chromosome peaks. The 2C DNA amount among eight inbred lines ranged from 5.09 to 5.52xa0pg. The selection of appropriate maize lines is critical for sorting specific single chromosome types. At least five different chromosome types can be discriminated and sorted from five maize lines. The variability of DNA content in maize chromosomexa01 was 9.1%, ranging from 0.685 to 0.747xa0pg. Differences were detected in the DNA content of homologous chromosomexa01 of hybrid lines.

Genetic Modification of the Soybean to Enhance the β-Carotene Content through Seed-Specific Expression

The carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was genetically manipulated using the recombinant PAC (Phytoene synthase-2A-Carotene desaturase) gene in Korean soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Kwangan). The PAC gene was linked to either the β-conglycinin (β) or CaMV-35S (35S) promoter to generate β-PAC and 35S-PAC constructs, respectively. A total of 37 transgenic lines (19 for β-PAC and 18 for 35S-PAC) were obtained through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using the modified half-seed method. The multi-copy insertion of the transgene was determined by genomic Southern blot analysis. Four lines for β-PAC were selected by visual inspection to confirm an orange endosperm, which was not found in the seeds of the 35S-PAC lines. The strong expression of PAC gene was detected in the seeds of the β-PAC lines and in the leaves of the 35S-PAC lines by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR analyses, suggesting that these two different promoters function distinctively. HPLC analysis of the seeds and leaves of the T2 generation plants revealed that the best line among the β-PAC transgenic seeds accumulated 146 µg/g of total carotenoids (approximately 62-fold higher than non-transgenic seeds), of which 112 µg/g (77%) was β-carotene. In contrast, the level and composition of the leaf carotenoids showed little difference between transgenic and non-transgenic soybean plants. We have therefore demonstrated the production of a high β-carotene soybean through the seed-specific overexpression of two carotenoid biosynthetic genes, Capsicum phytoene synthase and Pantoea carotene desaturase. This nutritional enhancement of soybean seeds through the elevation of the provitamin A content to produce biofortified food may have practical health benefits in the future in both humans and livestock.

Genetic variation through Dissociation (Ds) insertional mutagenesis system for rice in Korea: progress and current status

A gene detection strategy using two-component Ac/Ds construct, with the mobile Ds transposon, has been developed to better understand gene functions in crops. Currently, 115,000 Ds insertion lines have been generated through the Ac/Ds gene trap system in Korea using japonica rice Dongjin as donor. Four hundred and thirty-seven mutants from 12,162 Ds-tagged lines were catalogued, including physiological and agronomic traits. Different traits were identified with distinct characteristics in terms of tillers, panicles, leaves, flowers, seed, chlorophyll content, and height. Culm and panicle length, number of panicles, and days to flowering of the Dongjin Ds population revealed high standard deviations compared with the donor cultivar. An evaluation of the Ds distribution on the chromosome revealed that 74.5% of the Ds were reinserted into gene-rich regions, making this Ac/Ds-mediated gene trap system useful in helping to gain an understanding of the function of genes and thus improve the gene-tagging system in rice.

RNAi-mediated Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) resistance of a Korean Soybean cultivar

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important crop for vegetable oil production, and is a major protein source worldwide. Because of its importance as a crop, genetic transformation has been used extensively to improve its valuable traits. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most well-known viral diseases affecting soybean. Transgenic soybean plants with improved resistance to SMV were produced by introducing HC-Pro coding sequences within RNA interference (RNAi) inducing hairpin construct via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. During an experiment to confirm the response of transgenic plants (T2) to SMV infection, no T2 plants from lines #2 (31/31), #5 (35/35) or #6 (37/37) exhibited any SMV symptoms, indicating strong viral resistance (R), whereas NT (non-transgenic wild type) plants and those from lines #1, #3 and #4 exhibited mild mosaic (mM) or mosaic (M) symptoms. The northern blot analysis showed that three resistant lines (#2, #5 and #6) did not show the detection of viral RNA accumulation while NT, EV (transformed with empty vector carrying only Bar) and lines #1, #3 and #4 plants were detected. T3 seeds from SMV-inoculated T2 plants were harvested and checked for changes in seed morphology due to viral infection. T3 seeds of lines #2, #5 and #6 were clear and seed coat mottling was not present, which is indicative of SMV resistance. RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR showed that T3 seeds from the SMV-resistant lines #2, #5 and #6 did not exhibit any detection of viral RNA accumulation (HC-Pro, CP and CI), while the viral RNA accumulation was detected in SMV-susceptible lines #1, #3 and #4 plants. During the greenhouse test for viral resistance and yield components, T3 plants from the SMV-inoculated transgenic lines #2, #5 and #6 showed viral resistance (R) and exhibited a more favorable average plant height, number of nodes per plant, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant and total seed weight with statistical significance during strong artificial SMV infection than did other plant lines. In particular, the SMV-resistant line #2 exhibited superior average plant height, pod number and total seed weight with highly significance. According to our results, RNAi induced by the hairpin construct of the SMV HC-Pro sequence effectively confers much stronger viral resistance than did the methods used during previous trials, and has the potential to increase yields significantly. Because of its efficiency, the induction of RNAi-mediated resistance will likely be used more frequently as part of the genetic engineering of plants for crop improvement.

Increase of isoflavones in soybean callus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Plant secondary metabolites have always been a focus of study due to their important roles in human medicine and nutrition. We transferred the isoflavone synthase (IFS) gene into soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method in an attempt to produce transformed soybean plants which produced increased levels of the secondary metabolite, isoflavone. Although the trial to produce transgenic plant failed due to unestablished hygromycin selection, transformed callus cell lines were obtained. The induction rate and degree of callus were similar among the three cultivars tested, but light illumination positively influenced the frequency of callus formation, resulting in a callus induction rate of 74% for Kwangan, 67% for Sojin, and 73% for Duyou. Following seven to eight subcultures on selection media, the isoflavone content of the transformed callus lines were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total amount of isoflavone in the transformed callus cell lines was three- to sixfold higher than that in control callus or seeds. Given the many positive effects of isoflavone on human health, it may be possible to adapt our transformed callus lines for industrialization through an alternative cell culture system to produce high concentrations of isoflavones.

Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Phalaenopsis by Using Protocorm-Like Body

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation procedure for the phalaenopsis orchid, established by using Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs), was aimed at the introduction of target genes into individuals with divergent genetic backgrounds. PLBs obtained from the axillary bud of a peduncle were maintained on a hyponex medium supplemented with 1 g/l of activated charcoal, 30 g/l of sucrose and 0.1 mg/l thiamine. The multiplication rate of PLBs was about 90% in case of subculture PLBs to be cut transversely into 1/3 part from top position. The PLBs were inoculated with Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring both -glucuronidase (GUS) and hygromycin-resistant genes for 20 minutes after dipping treatment. Transformation efficiency was the highest with a Agrobacterium culture medium and dipping treatment of O.D. 0.8. Newly induced PLBs were put on selection medium containing 1 mg/l hygromycin for 2 months. Hygromycin-resistant phalaenopsis plants that regenerated after the selection culture of PLBs showed histochemical blue staining due to GUS. Transgene integration of the hygromycin-resistant plants was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot using GUS specific primers and probe.

Optimization of Genetic Transformation Conditions for Korean Gerbera Lines

Gerber (Gerbera hybrida) is a valuable ornamental species grown as a potted plant and cut flowers. However, genetic variability within the gerbera genus is very limited. So it is absolutely needed to introduce and widen genetic resources into gerbera lines by genetic transformation. For the purpose, 18 Korean gerbera lines were screened to establish Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation procedure. In an experiment to select Korean gerbera lines which are amenable to Agrobacterium-inoculation, 12 lines turned out to be positive in Agrobacterium-inoculation. More callus were produced from BA 2ppm, Zeatin 2ppm, IAA 0.2ppm in pre-culture and regeneration medium (2X media) but there was no difference in the frequency of GUS expression rate. In another experiment to find out optimal condition for highly efficient Agrobacterium-inoculation, petiole and leaf explants have been treated with four different pre-culture periods, two different co-culture periods and two different Agrobacterium strains. As a result, high GUS expression has been showed from petiole and leaf explants treated no pre-culture period with LBA4404 Agrobacterium tumerfaciens, 5 day co-culture period and dipping treatment.

Analyses of Morphological Characteristics, Antibiotic Effect, and Molecular Cytogenetics in Baegseon (Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz)

The importance of wild plant resources along with the development of high biotechnology is highlighted for exploitation of new materials which can make the added value. The goal of this study is providing fundamental data bases for developing new materials through the analyses of morphological characteristics, antibiotics and molecular cytogenetics in Baegseon (Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz.). Baegseon has several characteristics; there are two types of flower color, pink and white, the seed germination starts about February 20th, the maximum flowering season is around May 17th in southern Korea, the growth period is about 60 days. The number of chromosomes are 2n=2x=36, the size of chromosomes in metaphase is 4.2~8.1 μm. The amount of 2C nuclear DNA is 1.93 pg, and there is no variation of genome size amoung varieties. The extraction juice of baegseon young roots has the excellent antibiotic activity against the mold (Botrytis cinerea).

Genes of Wild Rice (Oryza grandiglumis) Induced by Wounding and Yeast Extract

야생벼의 일종인 Oryza grandiglumis (CCDD, 2n=48)는 도열병, 잎집무늬마름병, 흰빛잎마름병, 그리고 벼멸구와 같은 병충해에 저항성을 가지는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이와 같은 곰팡이와 해충에 반응하여 차별 발현하는 유전자를 클로닝 하기 위하여 상처처리와 yeast extract를 Oryza grandiglumis에 0시간과 24시간 각각 처리하였다. 유전자의 클로닝을 위하여 희귀 발현유전자의 클로닝에 효율적인 것으로 알려진 Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) 방법이 처리 후 24 시간된 식물을 재료로 사용되었다. 그 결과, 776개의 cDNA clones이 확보되었으며, 유전자 발현의 진위여부를 빠르게 스크린하기 위하여 colony array가 수행되었다. 115개의 colony가 positive로 판명되었고, 이들의 평균 insert size는 400 bp에서 700 bp에 이르렀고, 이들에 대한 염기서열 분석이 수행되었다. 염기서열 분석 결과, 68개 clone들이 알려진 기능의 유전자와 homology를 나타냈으며, 이중에서 16개 clone이 일차대사에 관련된 것과 유사성을, 5개가 plant retrotransposon과 유사성을, 5개가 식물 방어기작 관련 metallothionein-like gene과 염기서열 유사성을 보였다. 이외에 다양한 유전자들이 아미노산 합성관련, membrane transport, signal transduction등에 관여하는 유전자들과 상동성을 나타내었다. 이들 유전자중에서 4개의 클론(ogwfi-161, ogwfi-646, ogwfi-663, ogwfi-695)들이 선발되었고 이들에 대한 Northern 분석이 수행되었다. Northern 분석결과 ogwfi-161, ogwfi-646, ogwfi-663, ogwfi-695는 wounding과 yeast extract처리에 의한 차별 발현이 확인되었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때, SSH방법은 병충해등과 같은 조건에 의해 차별 발현되는 유전자들을 빠른 시간 내에 다량으로 발굴할 수 있는 매우 효율적인 방법이라고 생각된다.