Abstract
Five T -DNA transformed tobacco lines (RP3/2, RP3/7, RP3/18, pB1101 and pB1121) in suspension cultures were established and characterized. All transgenic cell lines exhibited similar growth rates; however, strikingly morphological variations were observed in the transgenic line RP3/2. Electron micrographs revealed that RP3/2 contained more thylakoids, osmiophilic plastoglobuli and electron-dense materials in the chloroplasts. The contents of carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b were remarkably higher in the cells of RP3/2 than in those of the W38 wild type control and the other transgenic lines. The mRNA of a 23 kDa polypeptide of the PS11 oxygen-evolving complex was detected exclusively in RP3/2 but not in RP3/18 by Northern blot hybridization. Based on the data, we conclude that RP3/2 reveals morphological, biochemical and molecular variations from the other transgenic cell lines in suspension cultures. Possible genetic variations resulting from the TDNA insertion and disruption of a particular gene during agroinfection or mutations occurring as a result of culture procedures are suggested.
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