Soo Jin Wi

Generation and Analysis of End Sequence Database for T-DNA Tagging Lines in Rice

We analyzed 6,749 lines tagged by the gene trap vector pGA2707. This resulted in the isolation of 3,793 genomic sequences flanking the T-DNA. Among the insertions, 1,846 T-DNAs were integrated into genic regions, and 1,864 were located in intergenic regions. Frequencies were also higher at the beginning and end of the coding regions and upstream near the ATG start codon. The overall GC content at the insertion sites was close to that measured from the entire rice (Oryza sativa) genome. Functional classification of these 1,846 tagged genes showed a distribution similar to that observed for all the genes in the rice chromosomes. This indicates that T-DNA insertion is not biased toward a particular class of genes. There were 764, 327, and 346 T-DNA insertions in chromosomes 1, 4 and 10, respectively. Insertions were not evenly distributed; frequencies were higher at the ends of the chromosomes and lower near the centromere. At certain sites, the frequency was higher than in the surrounding regions. This sequence database will be valuable in identifying knockout mutants for elucidating gene function in rice. This resource is available to the scientific community at http://www.postech.ac.kr/life/pfg/risd.

Overexpression of carnation S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene generates a broad-spectrum tolerance to abiotic stresses in transgenic tobacco plants

Polyamines (PAs), such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are present in all living organism and implicate in a wide range of cellular physiological processes. We have used transgenic technology in an attempt to evaluate their potential for mitigating the adverse effects of several abiotic stresses in plants. Sense construct of full-length cDNA for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), a key enzyme in PA biosynthesis, from carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) flower was introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Several transgenic lines overexpressing SAMDC gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter accumulated soluble total PAs by 2.2 (S16-S-4) to 3.1 (S16-S-1) times than wild-type plants. The transgenic tobacco did not show any difference in organ phenotype compared to the wild-type. The number and weight of seeds increased, and net photosynthetic rate also increased in transgenic plants. Stress-induced damage was attenuated in these transgenic plants, in the symptom of visible yellowing and chlorophyll degradation after all experienced stresses such as salt stress, cold stress, acidic stress, and abscisic acid treatment. H2O2-induced damage was attenuated by spermidine treatment. Transcripts for antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, manganase superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase) in transgenic plants and GUS activity transformed with SAMDC promoter::GUS fusion were induced more significantly by stress treatment, compared to control. These results that the transgenic plants with sense SAMDC cDNA are more tolerant to abiotic stresses than wild-type plants suggest that PAs may play an important role in contributing stress tolerance in plants.

Inhibition of biphasic ethylene production enhances tolerance to abiotic stress by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in Nicotiana tabacum

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H2O2, are important plant cell signaling molecules involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and in developmental and physiological processes. Despite the well-known physiological functions of ethylene production and stress signaling via ROS during stresses, whether ethylene acts alone or in conjunction with ROS has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between ethylene production and ROS accumulation during the response to abiotic stress. We used three independent transgenic tobacco lines, CAS-AS-2, −3 and −4, in which an antisense transcript of the senescence-related ACC synthase (ACS) gene from carnation flower (CARACC, Gen-Bank accession No. M66619) was expressed heterologously. Biphasic ethylene biosynthesis was reduced significantly in these transgenic plants, with or without H2O2 treatment. These plants exhibited significantly reduced H2O2-induced gene-specific expression of ACS members, which were regulated in a time-dependent manner. The higher levels of NtACS1 expression in wild-type plants led to a second peak in ethylene production, which resulted in a more severe level of necrosis and cell death, as determined by trypan blue staining. In the transgenic lines, upregulated transcription of CAB, POR1 and RbcS resulted in increased photosynthetic performance following salt stress. This stress tolerance of H2O2-treated transgenic plants resulted from reduced ethylene biosynthesis, which decreased ROS accumulation via increased gene expression and activity of ROS-detoxifying enzymes, including MnSOD, CuZnSOD, and catalase. Therefore, it is suggested that ethylene plays a potentially critical role as an amplifier for ROS accumulation, implying a synergistic effect between biosynthesis of ROS and ethylene.

Synergistic biosynthesis of biphasic ethylene and reactive oxygen species in response to hemibiotrophic Phytophthora parasitica in tobacco plants

We observed the biphasic production of ethylene and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in susceptible tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum ‘Wisconsin 38’) plants after shoot inoculation with Phytophthora parasitica var nicotianae. The initial transient increase in ROS and ethylene at 1 and 3 h (phase I), respectively, was followed by a second massive increase at 48 and 72 h (phase II), respectively, after pathogen inoculation. This biphasic pattern of ROS production significantly differed from the hypersensitive response exhibited by cryptogein-treated wild-type tobacco plants. The biphasic increase in ROS production was mediated by both NADPH oxidase isoforms, respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh) D and RbohF. Conversely, different 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase members were involved in specific phases of ethylene production: NtACS4 in the first phase and NtACS1 in the second phase. Biphasic production of ROS was inhibited in transgenic antisense plant lines expressing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase/oxidase or ethylene-insensitive3 as well as in transgenic plants impaired in ROS production. All tested transgenic plants were more tolerant against P. parasitica var nicotianae infection as determined based on trypan blue staining and pathogen proliferation. Further, silencing of NtACS4 blocked the second massive increase in ROS production as well as pathogen progression. Pathogen tolerance was due to the inhibition of ROS and ethylene production, which further resulted in lower activation of ROS-detoxifying enzymes. Accordingly, the synergistic inhibition of the second phase of ROS and ethylene production had protective effects against pathogen-induced cell damage. We conclude that the levels of ethylene and ROS correlate with compatible P. parasitica proliferation in susceptible plants.

Nontargeted Metabolite Profiling in Compatible Pathogen-Inoculated Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38) Using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

A biphasic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has previously been observed in tobacco at 1 and 48 h after inoculation with the hemibiotrophic compatible pathogen, Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae (Ppn). To characterize the response of tobacco to biphasically produced ROS concerning the propagation of Ppn, ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight/ mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) based metabolic profiling combined with multivariate statistical analysis was performed. Among the nonredundant 355 mass ions in ESI+ mode and 345 mass ions in ESI- mode that were selected as significantly changed by Ppn inoculation (|p(corr)| > 0.6 on S-plot of orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), fold-change > 2, and p < 0.05 in the independent two-sample t test), 76 mass ions were identified on the basis of their accurate mass ions and MS/MS spectra. Phenolic amino acids, phenylpropanoids, hydroxycinnamic acid amides, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lysophospholipids, glycoglycerolipids, and trioxidized phospholipids were identified as having changed after Ppn inoculation. On the basis of their quantitative changes, the metabolic responses occurring at each phase of ROS production after Ppn inoculation were investigated in this study.

Lysophosphatidylcholine enhances susceptibility in signaling pathway against pathogen infection through biphasic production of reactive oxygen species and ethylene in tobacco plants.

It was previously reported that the amounts of lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs), which are naturally occurring bioactive lipid molecules, significantly increase following pathogen inoculation, as determined using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight/mass spectrometry analyses. Here, real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed for the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) genes, Nt1PLA2 and Nt2PLA2, which are responsible for LysoPCs generation. The transcription level of Nt2PLA2 in pathogen-infected tobacco plants transiently peaked at 1h and 36 h, whereas induction of Nt1PLA2 transcription peaked at 36 h. A prominent biphasic ROS accumulation in lysoPC (C18:1(9Z))-treated tobacco leaves was also observed. Transcription of NtRbohD, a gene member of NADPH oxidase, showed biphasic kinetics upon lysoPC 18:1 treatment, as evidenced by an early transient peak in phase I at 1h and a massive peak in phase II at 12h. Each increase in NtACS2 and NtACS4 transcription, gene members of the ACC synthase family, was followed by biphasic peaks of ethylene production after lysoPC 18:1 treatment. This suggested that lysoPC (C18:1)-induced ethylene production was regulated at the transcriptional level of time-dependent gene members. LysoPC 18:1 treatment also rapidly induced cell damage. LysoPC 18:1-induced cell death was almost completely abrogated in ROS generation-impaired transgenic plants (rbohD-as and rbohF-as), ethylene production-impaired transgenic plants (CAS-AS and CAO-AS), and ethylene signaling-impaired transgenic plants (Ein3-AS), respectively. Taken together, pathogen-induced lysoPCs enhance pathogen susceptibility accompanied by ROS and ethylene biosynthesis, resulting in chlorophyll degradation and cell death. Expression of PR genes (PR1-a, PR-3, and PR-4b) and LOX3 was strongly induced in lysoPC 18:1-treated leaves, indicating the involvement of lysoPC 18:1 in the defense response. However, lysoPC 18:1 treatment eventually resulted in cell death, as evidenced by metacaspase gene expression. Therefore, a hypothesis is proposed that the antipathogenic potential of lysoPC 18:1 is dependent on how quickly it is removed from cells for avoidance of lysoPC toxicity.

Metabolic survey of defense responses to a compatible hemibiotroph, Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae, in ethylene signaling-impaired tobacco.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ethylene play an important role in determining the resistance or susceptibility of plants to pathogen attack. A previous study of the response of tobacco cultivar ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38) to a compatible hemibiotroph, Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae (Ppn) showed that biphasic bursts of ROS and ethylene are positively associated with disease severity. The levels of ethylene and ROS might influence the susceptibility of plants to pathogens, with changing levels of metabolite related to disease resistance or susceptibility. In this study, to obtain more detailed information on the interaction of ROS and ethylene signaling related to resistance and/or susceptibility of plants to pathogen, Ppn-induced metabolic profiles from wild type (WT) and ethylene signaling-impaired transgenic plants that expressed Ein3 antisense (Ein3-AS) were compared using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Nonredundant mass ions (576 in ESI+ mode and 336 in ESI- mode) were selected, and 56 mass ions were identified on the basis of their accurate mass ions and MS/MS spectra. Two-way hierarchical clustering analysis of the selected mass ions revealed that nicotine and phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates, such as caffeoyl-dihydrocaffeoyl-spermidine, dicaffeoyl-spermidine, caffeoyl-feruloyl-spermidine, and two bis(dihydrocaffeoyl)-spermine isomers, and their intermediates, such as arginine and putrecine, were present at lower levels in Ein3-AS transgenic plants during Ppn interaction than in WT, whereas galactolipid and oxidized free fatty acid levels were higher in Ein3-AS transgenic plants. Taken together, these results reveal a function for ethylene signaling in tobacco defense responses during Ppn interaction.

Potential of plants to produce recombinant protein products

Plants have great potential as photosynthetic factories to produce pharmaceutically important and commercially valuable biomedicines and industrial proteins at low cost. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved the drug Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa) produced by carrot cells for treatment of type 1 Gaucher’s disease in 2012. The commercial potential of biomedicines produced by molecular farming has dramatically improved due to the success of an experimental drug called ZMapp, which has immunological activity in Ebola patients. A cocktail of three monoclonal antibodies was produced in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) plants (Chen and Davis 2016). At present, very few drugs made by this technology have been approved by worldwide authorities such as the U.S. FDA. However, plants have been proposed as a novel paradigm for commercial production of proteins over the next decade. In recent years, leading researchers on molecular farming have given more priority to the area of animal-free therapeutic proteins such as parenteral and oral vaccines. Although plant-based platforms have considerable advantages over traditional systems such as bacterial and animal systems, there are several obstacles to commercial-scale production, especially with regards to improving the quality and quantity of plant-produced biologics and industrial materials. One of the biggest barriers to commercialization of this technology is the intense scrutiny of these new plant varieties by regulatory agencies and the public as well as the high costs associated with their regulatory approval.

Effects of phenotypic and RAPD variations on ecophysiological characterization of reeds (Phragmites australis) in Suncheon Bay

Genomic DNA of young reed leaves was subjected to PCR-based random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique using random primers. Banding patterns from RAPD showed three major clusters. Group I showing vigorous growth was composed of plants from recently emerging reed patches on the coast shore and was established after the 2000s. Group II formed by reed patches was established at around the 1990s and showed non-vigorous growth along with typical symptoms of reed decline. Eutrophication could be the responsible factor for this reed decline, as the mudflat contained high concentrations of organic nitrogen and phosphorous. Group III reeds showed the most vigorous growth, demonstrating high values for shoot height, biomass, and panicle length along with moderate stem density. The state of Group III can be described as sub-optimal due to their old age on terrestrial habitat, as a minimum level of seawater is important for vigorous growth of reeds such as sufficient shoot height and photosynthetic capability. Reed height and panicle length have been shown to be recently declining in Suncheon Bay. These results indicate that old and rotting parts of reeds inhibit reed growth and that removal of these parts can have positive effects on shoot height and biomass.

Characterization of peptide:N-glycanase from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits

진핵생물의 유전자 발현 과정에서 생성된 단백질은 전사후 변형 과정을 통해 소포체와 골지체에서 당질화가 일어난다. 당질화된 당단백질은 접힘의 오류가 있는 경우를 비롯하여 식물의 분화 조절 등의 경우 당단백질이 분해되며, 이 때 PNGase에 의해 N-당사슬이 단백질의 아스파라긴산 잔기로부터 절단된다. 그러나 식물...