Gene networks and chromatin and transcriptional regulation of the phaseolin promoter in Arabidopsis.

The complete lack of seed storage protein expression in vegetative tissues and robust expression during embryogenesis makes seed development an ideal system to study tissue-specific expression of genes. The promoter for the Phaseolin (phas) gene, which encodes the major seed storage protein in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), is activated in two sequential steps: Phaseolus vulgaris ABI3-like factor (Pv-ALF)-dependent potentiation and abscisic acid-mediated activation. In this study, a heterologous in vivo Pv-ALF/phas-GUS (for β-glucuronidase) expression system in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana leaves was used in conjunction with the powerful RNA-Seq approach to capture transcriptional landscapes of phas promoter expression.

RNAi-mediated Ultra-low gossypol cottonseed trait: performance of transgenic lines under field conditions.

Cottonseed remains a low-value by-product of lint production mainly due to the presence of toxic gossypol that makes it unfit for monogastrics. Ultra-low gossypol cottonseed (ULGCS) lines were developed using RNAi knockdown of δ-cadinene synthase gene(s) in Gossypium hirsutum. The purpose of the current study was to assess the stability and specificity of the ULGCS trait and evaluate the agronomic performance of the transgenic lines.

Ultra-low gossypol cottonseed: generational stability of the seed-specific, RNAi-mediated phenotype and resumption of terpenoid profile following seed germination.

Cottonseed, containing 22.5% protein, remains an under-utilized and under-valued resource because of the presence of toxic gossypol. RNAi-knockdown of δ-cadinene synthase gene(s) was used to engineer plants that produced ultra-low gossypol cottonseed (ULGCS).

Sulfate and glutathione enhanced arsenic accumulation by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L.

This experiment examined the effects of sulfate (S) and reduced glutathione (GSH) on arsenic uptake by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata after exposing to arsenate (0, 15 or 30 mg As L(-1)) with sulfate (6.4, 12.8 or 25.

Transgenic expression of fern Pteris vittata glutaredoxin PvGrx5 in Arabidopsis thaliana increases plant tolerance to high temperature stress and reduces oxidative damage to proteins.

A glutaredoxin of the fern Pteris vittata PvGRX5 was previously implicated in arsenic tolerance. Because of possible involvements of glutaredoxins in metabolic adaptations to high temperature stress, transgenic Arabidopsis lines constitutively expressing PvGRX5 were evaluated for thermotolerance. Homozygous lines expressing PvGRX5 exhibited significantly greater tolerance to high temperature stress than the vector control and wild-type, based upon growth during stress and during recovery from stress, and this was related to leaf glutaredoxin specific activities.

Purification and characterization of thermostable monomeric chloroplastic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase from Chenopodium murale.

Superoxide dismutase is the first line of defense against oxidative stress and thus helps in maintaining the cellular integrity. Chenopodium murale, a weed species adapted to widely varying climatic conditions faces extremes of temperatures ranging from 4 °C to 45 °C (Tmax) during growth and development. From this plant, we have purified a thermostable chloroplastic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Chl Cu/Zn SOD) to homogeneity using minimal steps.

Expression of a Pteris vittata glutaredoxin PvGRX5 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana increases plant arsenic tolerance and decreases arsenic accumulation in the leaves.

Chinese brake fern Pteris vittata hyperaccumulates arsenic in its fronds. In a study to identify brake fern cDNAs in arsenic resistance, we implicated a glutaredoxin, PvGRX5, because when expressed in Escherichia coli, it improved arsenic tolerance in recombinant bacteria. Here, we asked whether PvGRX5 transgenic expression would alter plant arsenic tolerance and metabolism.

An arsenate-activated glutaredoxin from the arsenic hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata L. regulates intracellular arsenite.

To elucidate the mechanisms of arsenic resistance in the arsenic hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata L., a cDNA for a glutaredoxin (Grx) Pv5-6 was isolated from a frond expression cDNA library based on the ability of the cDNA to increase arsenic resistance in Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pv5-6 showed high homology with an Arabidopsis chloroplastic Grx and contained two CXXS putative catalytic motifs.

Arsenic resistance in Pteris vittata L.: identification of a cytosolic triosephosphate isomerase based on cDNA expression cloning in Escherichia coli.

Arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. (Chinese brake fern) grows well in arsenic-contaminated media, with an extraordinary ability to tolerate high levels of arsenic. An expression cloning strategy was employed to identify cDNAs for the genes involved in arsenic resistance in P.