Transposon Tagging Research Articles

Mutations in the pale aleurone color1 regulatory gene of the Zea mays anthocyanin pathway have distinct phenotypes relative to the functionally similar TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The pale aleurone color1 (pac1) locus, required for anthocyanin pigment in the aleurone and scutellum of the Zea mays (maize) seed, was cloned using Mutator transposon tagging. pac1 encodes a WD40 repeat protein closely related to anthocyanin regulatory proteins ANTHOCYANIN11 (AN11) (Petunia hybrida [petunia]) and TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 (TTG1) (Arabidopsis thaliana). Introduction of a 35S-Pac1 transgene into A. thaliana complemented multiple ttg1 mutant phenotypes, including ones nonexistent in Z. mays. Hybridization of Z. mays genomic BAC clones with the pac1 sequence identified an additional related gene, mp1. PAC1 and MP1 deduced protein sequences were used as queries to build a phylogenetic tree of homologous WD40 repeat proteins, revealing an ancestral gene duplication leading to two clades in plants, the PAC1 clade and the MP1 clade. Subsequent duplications within each clade have led to additional WD40 repeat proteins in particular species, with all mutants defective in anthocyanin expression contained in the PAC1 clade. Substantial differences in pac1, an11, and ttg1 mutant phenotypes suggest the evolutionary divergence of regulatory mechanisms for several traits that cannot be ascribed solely to divergence of the dicot and monocot protein sequences.

Tn5 as a molecular genetics tool: In vitro transposition and the coupling of in vitro technologies with in vivo transposition.

The development of in vitro transposition technologies have provided many powerful tools for the molecular genetics research laboratory. In this chapter we describe some of these tools with a focus on the Tn5 transposition system. Tn5 technologies are particularly useful because the Tn5 transposition system has simple requirements, is efficient, random in target recognition, and robust. In particular we will describe the use of in vitro Tn5 transposition in transposon tagging and in the generation of nested deletions. We will also describe a unique in vitro/in vivo technology in which Tn5 inserts can be generated in a wide spectrum of bacterial species through the electroporation of preformed tranposase-transposon DNA complexes.

T-DNA and transposon tagging in aspen.

We have investigated the somatic activity of the maize Activator (Ac) element in haploid and diploid aspen with the objective of developing an efficient transposon-based system for gene isolation in the model tree species Populus. It was shown that Ac is reinserted, frequently into or near coding regions in aspen, and therefore can be used for gene tagging studies. A number of phenotypic variants were also found following transformation of constructs harbouring the rolC gene. Comparative analyses of T-DNA flanking regions of variants and wild type lines indicate that T-DNA insertion has occurred in or near coding regions. However, the frequency of T-DNA insertion into genes is about one half of the frequency of Ac insertion hitting coding sequences. The results obtained give a proof-of-concept for transposon tagging in a tree system. Given the long generation cycles in tree species, gene tagging strategies are practical only to obtain dominant gain-of-function mutants that do not require selfing or test crossing. In order to obtain recessive loss-of-function mutants, we have regenerated haploid lines from immature pollen. These lines were successfully transformed with a construct containing the rolC transgene from Agrobacterium rhizogenes and Ac element from maize. The results indicate that Ac is also active in haploid aspen and hence can be used in general for gene tagging in trees.

Distribution of T-DNA carrying a Ds element on rice chromosomes

Over 3000 rice plants with T-DNA carrying a Ds element were constructed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediation. Using inverse PCR methodology, 590 unique right flanking sequences of T-DNA (Ds) were retrieved from independent transformants and classified into six main types on the basis of the origin of filler DNA between the right border of T-DNA and flanking sequence of rice genome. Type I sequences were the most common and showed canonical integration that T-DNA right border was followed by rice genome sequence with or without filler DNA of no more than 50 bp, while type II sequences displayed a vector-genome combination that T-DNA right border was followed by a vector fragment and then connected with rice genome sequence. The location and distribution of 340 type I and II flanking sequences on the rice chromosome were determined using BLAST analysis. The 340 Ds insertions at an average interval of 0.8 megabase (Mb) constructed a basic framework of Ds starter points on whole rice chromosomes. The frequency of T-DNA (Ds) inserted into the exons of predicted genes on chromosome one was 21%. Knowledge of T-DNA (Ds) locations on chromosomes will prove to be a useful resource for isolating rice genes by Ds transposon tagging as these Ds insertions can be used as starting lines for further mutagenesis.

FRIZZY PANICLE is required to prevent the formation of axillary meristems and to establish floral meristem identity in rice spikelets.

Inflorescences of grass species have a distinct morphology in which florets are grouped in compact branches called spikelets. Although many studies have shown that the molecular and genetic mechanisms that control floret organ formation are conserved between monocots and dicots, little is known about the genetic pathway leading to spikelet formation. In the frizzy panicle (fzp) mutant of rice, the formation of florets is replaced by sequential rounds of branching. Detailed analyses revealed that several rudimentary glumes are formed in each ectopic branch, indicating that meristems acquire spikelet identity. However, instead of proceeding to floret formation, axillary meristems are formed in the axils of rudimentary glumes and they either arrest or develop into branches of higher order. The fzp mutant phenotype suggests that FZP is required to prevent the formation of axillary meristems within the spikelet meristem and permit the subsequent establishment of floral meristem identity. The FZP gene was isolated by transposon tagging. FZP encodes an ERF transcription factor and is the rice ortholog of the maize BD1 gene. Consistent with observations from phenotypic analyses, FZP expression was found to be restricted to the time of rudimentary glumes differentiation in a half-ring domain at the base of which the rudimentary glume primordium emerged.

Post-integration behavior of a Mos1 mariner gene vector in Aedes aegypti

The post-integration behavior of insect gene vectors will determine the types of applications for which they can be used. Transposon mutagenesis, enhancer trapping, and the use of transposable elements as genetic drive systems in insects requires transposable elements with high rates of remobilization in the presence of transposase. We investigated the post-integration behavior of the Mos1 mariner element in transgenic Aedes aegypti by examining both germ-line and somatic transpositions of a non-autonomous element in the presence of Mos1 transposase. Somatic transpositions were occasionally detected while germ-line transposition was only rarely observed. Only a single germ-line transposition event was recovered after screening 14,000 progeny. The observed patterns of transposition suggest that Mos1 movement takes place between the S phase and anaphase. The data reported here indicate that Mos1 will be a useful vector in Ae. aegypti for applications requiring a very high degree of vector stability but will have limited use in the construction of genetic drive, enhancer trap, or transposon tagging systems in this species.

Genetic improvement of wheat via alien gene transfer, an assessment

In recent years, with advent of the development of efficient plant regeneration systems in cereal crops, the field of recombinant DNA technology has opened up new avenues for genetic transformation of crop plants. Monocots particularly cereals were initially considered difficult to genetically engineer, primarily due to their recalcitrance to in vitro regeneration and their resistance to Agrobacterium. Continuous efforts and systematic screening of cultivars and tissues for regeneration potential, development of various DNA delivery methods and optimization of gene expression cassettes have led the development of reliable transformation protocols for the major cereals including wheat. Since the production of first fertile transgenic wheat plants in 1992s, microprojectile-mediated gene transfer has proved the most successful method for genetic transformation of wheat not only for the introduction of marker genes but also agronomically important genes for improving quality of wheat flour, transposon tagging, building resistance against fungal pathogen and insects, engineering male sterility, and resistance to drought stress. Despite tremendous successes in producing fertile transgenic wheat plants using various methods and approaches, elite cultivars of wheat still remain recalcitrant to transformation. Moreover, in comparison with other major cereals like rice and maize, the development of a high throughput wheat transformation systems has been slowed and severely affected by genotype effects on plant regeneration, low transformation efficiencies and problems with transgene inheritance and stability of expression. Majority of the researcher worldwide have used genetic engineering to tailor wheat for specific end-use by using immature embryos as the primary target tissue for the delivery of desired foreign genes. Hence, we have focused our attention to the work done on stable gene expression and transformation of wheat by employing microprojectile bombardment and Agrobacterium as a source of foreign DNA delivery into immature embryos. Recent advances in wheat transformation especially successes in genetic transformation of wheat with agronomically important genes and novel and innovative approaches for wheat transformation based on different selection schemes are also discussed.

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 and Myc cooperate in lymphomagenesis.

The lymphomagenic action of myc genes in conjunction with Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) have been examined using transgenic mice in several separate tests. Synergy between Myc and EBNA-1 in lymphomagenesis was revealed in a cross breed study where co-expression of transgenic myc and EBNA-1 led to a tumor latency period reduced significantly in some crosses. In the resulting bitransgenic tumors, expression of the Emu-myc genes was not affected by EBNA-1 expression. MoMLV was utilized as a transposon tag to activate cellular oncogenes by infection of EmuEBNA-1 mice. Rearrangement at the c-myc locus in B cell tumors from these mice again suggests a cooperative action between myc and EBNA-1. Tumors arising in EmuEBNA-1 mice typically showed a trisomy of chromosome 15, upon which the c-myc locus resides. Bitransgenic tumors (EBNA-1/c-myc) did not show trisomy 15. This raises the possibility that amplification of c-myc is factorial in the selection of trisomy 15 in these tumors. These data indicate that myc and EBNA-1 act cooperatively and are not redundant in lymphomagenesis. Expression of EBNA-1 by EBV may provide a selection pressure in addition to translocation of the c-myc locus in the genesis of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL).

Assessment of utility of meiosis-associated promoters of lily for induction of germinal ds transposition in transgenic rice.

In order to suppress the somatic excision of the Ds element and increase the independent transposition events of the Ac/Ds transposon tagging system in rice, we employed promoters of two meiosis-specific genes of lily, LIM10 and LIM18. The LIM10 promoter directed GUS expression specifically in anthers, with the LIM18 promoter doing the same in the anthers and somatic tissue. Both promoters induced independent germinal transposition with the frequency of approximately 1%. The LIM10 promoter, lacking induction of somatic transposition, is considered to be useful for improving transposon-tagging efficiencies in rice.

The Arabidopsis MALE MEIOCYTE DEATH1 Gene Encodes a PHD-Finger Protein That Is Required for Male Meiosis

In plants, reproductive development requires normal meiosis, which involved several highly coordinated events. Such meiotic events are regulated in a number of ways in yeast and animal systems, including transcriptional and checkpoint control mechanisms. Although a number of mutations that affect different aspects of meiosis have been characterized in plants, very little is known about the regulation of plant meiosis at the molecular level. In particular, no meiosis-specific transcriptional regulators have been identified in plants, and checkpoint control has not been observed during plant meiosis. We report here the isolation and characterization of a new Arabidopsis male-sterile mutant that exhibits meiotic defects. Meiocytes from mutant plants appeared normal up to diakinesis, when they exhibited signs of apoptosis, including defects in chromosome behavior, cytoplasmic shrinkage, and chromatin fragmentation, followed by cell death before cytokinesis. Therefore, the mutant was named male meiocyte death1 (mmd1). The MMD1 gene was cloned using Dissociation transposon tagging and encodes a plant homeo domain domain-containing protein. MMD1 is expressed preferentially during male meiosis. Our results suggest that MMD1 may be involved in the regulation of gene expression during meiosis and that the mmd1 mutation triggers cell death in male meiocytes.

Cloning and characterization of the durable tomato mosaic virus resistance gene Tm-2(2) from Lycopersicon esculentum.

In tomato, infections by tomato mosaic virus are controlled by durable Tm-2(2) resistance. In order to gain insight into the processes underlying disease resistance and its durability, we cloned and analysed the Tm-2(2) resistance gene and the susceptible allele, tm-2. The Tm-2(20 gene was isolated by transposon tagging using a screen in which plants with a destroyed Tm-2(2) gene survive. The Tm-2(2) locus consists of a single gene that encodes an 861 amino acid polypeptide, which belongs to the CC-NBS-LRR class of resistance proteins. The putative tm-2 allele was cloned from susceptible tomato lines via PCR with primers based on the Tm-2(2) sequence. Interestingly, the tm-2 gene has an open reading frame that is comparable to the Tm-2(2) allele. Between the tm-2 and the Tm-2(2) polypeptide 38 amino acid differences are present of which 26 are located in the second half of the LRR-domain. Susceptible tomato plants, which were transformed with the Tm-2(2) gene, displayed resistance against ToMV infection. In addition, virus specificity, displayed by the Tm-2(2) resistance was conserved in these transgenic lines. To explain the durability of this resistance, it is proposed that the Tm-2(2)-encoded resistance is aimed at the Achilles' heel of the virus.

Isolation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gene Affecting Uptake of Dibenzothiophene in n-Tetradecane

The dsz desulfurization gene cluster from Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 was transferred into the chromosomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain NCIMB9571 using a transposon vector. All of the recombinant strains completely desulfurized 1 mM dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n -tetradecane ( n -TD) except one, named strain PARMI. Strain PARMI was unable to desulfurize DBT in n -TD, but was able to desulfurize it in water. The n- alkane utilization ability, the biosurfactant production and the fatty acid composition of cells in strain PARMI were the same level as those of the other recombinants. The transposon insertion area of strain PARMI was analyzed by transposon tagging. We cloned three possible open reading frames (ORFs), designated hcuA , hcuB and hcuC , from the genomic DNA of P. aeruginosa NCIMB9571 using the transposon insertion area of strain PARMI as a DNA probe. Examination of the sequence revealed the transposon was inserted into hcuA . The full length of the hcuABC genes transformed into strain PARMI achieved 87% recovery of the desulfurization activity of DBT in n -TD, but partial hcuABC genes achieved only 0–12%. These results indicate that DBT desulfurization in the oil phase by recombinant P. aeruginosa strain NCIMB9571 requires the full length of the hcuABC gene cluster. The hcuABC gene cluster relates to DBT uptake from the oil phase to inside of the cell, and the uptake ability is independent of the n -alkane utilization ability, the biosurfactant production and the fatty acid composition of cells.

Gene and enhancer trap transposable elements reveal oxygen deprivation-regulated genes and their complex patterns of expression in Arabidopsis.

Transposon tagging with modified maize Ds-GUS constructs was used to isolate genes induced by oxygen deprivation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Seedlings of 800 gene-trap (DsG) and 600 enhancer-trap (DsE) lines were grown on vertically positioned plates for 1 week, oxygen deprived for up to 24 h and stained for GUS activity. Oxygen deprivation induced intricate patterns of gene expression in seedlings of 65 lines. The insertion site and phenotypes of 15 lines were examined. Surprisingly, none of the insertions were into genes that encode known anaerobic polypeptides. Insertions were identified within or adjacent to genes encoding proteins of regulatory, enzymatic, mitochondrial protein import and unknown function, as well as adjacent to genes encoding a putative receptor-like kinase and putative sensor-histidine kinase. Four lines had significantly lower ADH activity after 24 h of oxygen deprivation and three of these showed reduced stress tolerance. Two lines with wild-type levels of ADH were low-oxygen intolerant. Paradoxically, several lines had significantly higher ADH activity after 12 h of oxygen deprivation but reduced stress tolerance. Caffeine treatment, which increased ADH specific activity in wild-type seedlings under aerobic conditions, was sufficient to increase GUS staining in seven of the 15 lines, providing evidence that these genes may be regulated by cytosolic calcium levels. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ds-GUS tagging system in the identification of genes that are regulated in response to oxygen deprivation and a calcium second messenger.

Isolation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa gene affecting uptake of dibenzothiophene in n-tetradecane

The dsz desulfurization gene cluster from Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 was transferred into the chromosomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain NCIMB9571 using a transposon vector. All of the recombinant strains completely desulfurized 1 mM dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n-tetradecane (n-TD) except one, named strain PARMI. Strain PARMI was unable to desulfurize DBT in n-TD, but was able to desulfurize it in water. The n-alkane utilization ability, the biosurfactant production and the fatty acid composition of cells in strain PARMI were the same level as those of the other recombinants. The transposon insertion area of strain PARMI was analyzed by transposon tagging. We cloned three possible open reading frames (ORFs), designated hcuA, hcuB and hcuC, from the genomic DNA of P. aeruginosa NCIMB9571 using the transposon insertion area of strain PARMI as a DNA probe. Examination of the sequence revealed the transposon was inserted into hcuA. The full length of the hcuABC genes transformed into strain PARMI achieved 87% recovery of the desulfurization activity of DBT in n-TD, but partial hcuABC genes achieved only 0–12%. These results indicate that DBT desulfurization in the oil phase by recombinant P. aeruginosa strain NCIMB9571 requires the full length of the hcuABC gene cluster. The hcuABC gene cluster relates to DBT uptake from the oil phase to inside of the cell, and the uptake ability is independent of the n-alkane utilization ability, the biosurfactant production and the fatty acid composition of cells.

Multi-functional T-DNA/Ds tomato lines designed for gene cloning and molecular and physical dissection of the tomato genome.

In order to make the tomato genome more accessible for molecular analysis and gene cloning, we have produced 405 individual tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) lines containing a characterized copy of pJasm13, a multifunctional T-DNA/modified Ds transposon element construct. Both the T-DNA and the Ds element in pJasm13 harbor a set of selectable marker genes to monitor excision and reintegration of Ds and additionally, target sequences for rare cutting restriction enzymes (I-PpoI, SfiI, NotI) and for site-specific recombinases (Cre, FLP, R). Blast analysis of flanking genomic sequences of 174 T-DNA inserts revealed homology to transcribed genes in 69 (40%), of which about half are known or putatively identified as genes and ESTs. The map position of 140 individual inserts was determined on the molecular genetic map of tomato. These inserts are distributed over the 12 chromosomes of tomato, allowing targeted and non-targeted transposon tagging, marking of closely linked genes of interest and induction of chromosomal rearrangements including translocations or creation of saturation-deletions or inversions within defined regions linked to the T-DNA insertion site. The different features of pJasm13 were successfully tested in tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana, thus providing a new tool for molecular/genetic dissection studies, including molecular and physical mapping, mutation analysis and cloning strategies in tomato and potentially, in other plants as well.

Somatic mobility of the maize element Ac and its utility for gene tagging in aspen.

We have investigated the somatic activity of the maize Activator (Ac) element in aspen with the objective of developing an efficient transposon-based system for gene isolation in a model tree species. The analysis of the new insertion sites revealed the exact reconstitution of the Ac, however, aberrant transposition events were also found. Characterization of the genomic sequences flanking the Ac insertions showed that about one third (22/75) of the sequences were significantly similar to sequences represented in public databases and might correspond to genes. The frequency of Ac landing into coding regions was about two-fold higher when compared to the frequency of T-DNA hitting the predicted genes (5/32) in the aspen genome. Thus, Ac is demonstrated to be a potentially useful heterologous transposon tag in a tree species. This is the first report on transposon-based gene tagging in a tree species describing the excision and reinsertion of transposable element into new genomic positions. We also suggest a heterologous transposon tagging strategy that can be used in aspen somatic cells to obtain dominant gain-of-function mutants and recessive loss-of-function mutants overcoming the regeneration time barrier of a long-lived tree species.

ZmDB, an integrated database for maize genome research.

Zea mays DataBase (ZmDB) seeks to provide a comprehensive view of maize (corn) genetics by linking genomic sequence data with gene expression analysis and phenotypes of mutant plants. ZmDB originated in 1999 as the Web portal for a large project of maize gene discovery, sequencing and phenotypic analysis using a transposon tagging strategy and expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing. Recently, ZmDB has broadened its scope to include all public maize ESTs, genome survey sequences (GSSs), and protein sequences. More than 170 000 ESTs are currently clustered into approximately 20 000 contigs and about an equal number of apparent singlets. These clusters are continuously updated and annotated with respect to potential encoded protein products. More than 100 000 GSSs are similarly assembled and annotated by spliced alignment with EST and protein sequences. The ZmDB interface provides quick access to analytical tools for further sequence analysis. Every sequence record is linked to several display options and similarity search tools, including services for multiple sequence alignment, protein domain determination and spliced alignment. Furthermore, ZmDB provides web-based ordering of materials generated in the project, including ESTs, ordered collections of genomic sequences tagged with the RescueMu transposon and microarrays of amplified ESTs. ZmDB can be accessed at http://zmdb.iastate.edu/.

Ds tagging of BRANCHED FLORETLESS 1 (BFL1) that mediates the transition from spikelet to floret meristem in rice (Oryza sativa L)

BackgroundThe genetics of spikelet formation, a feature unique to grasses such as rice and maize, is yet to be fully understood, although a number of meristem and organ identity mutants have been isolated and investigated in Arabidopsis and maize. Using a two-element Ac/Ds transposon tagging system we have isolated a rice mutant, designated branched floretless 1 (bfl1) which is defective in the transition from spikelet meristem to floret meristem.ResultsThe bfl1 mutant shows normal differentiation of the primary rachis-branches leading to initial spikelet meristem (bract-like structure equivalent to rudimentary glumes) formation but fails to develop empty glumes and florets. Instead, axillary meristems in the bract-like structure produce sequential alternate branching, thus resulting in a coral shaped morphology of the branches in the developing panicle. The bfl1 mutant harbours a single Ds insertion in the upstream region of the BFL1 gene on chromosome 7 corresponding to PAC clone P0625E02 (GenBank Acc No. message URL http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=nucleotide&list_uids=34395191&dopt=GenBank&term=ap004570AP004570). RT-PCR analyses revealed a drastic reduction of BFL1 transcript levels in the bfl1 mutant compared to that in the wild-type. In each of the normal panicle-bearing progeny plants, from occasional revertant seeds of the vegetatively-propagated mutant plant, Ds was shown to be excised from the bfl1 locus. BFL1 contains an EREBP/AP2 domain and is most likely an ortholog of the maize transcription factor gene BRANCHED SILKLESS1 (BD1).Conclusionsbfl1 is a Ds-tagged rice mutant defective in the transition from spikelet meristem (SM) to floret meristem (FM). BFL1 is most probably a rice ortholog of the maize ERF (EREBP/AP2) transcription factor gene BD1. Based on the similarities in mutant phenotypes bfl1 is likely to be an allele of the previously reported frizzy panicle locus.

Flavonoid 생합성:생화학과 대사공학적 응용

주요 농작물에서 건강-방어용 flavonoids 생성, phytoalexin (isoflavonoid, flavanol, proanthocyanidin)의 생성 및 소절을 통한 식물의 저항력 증대, 색소 (flavonol, anthocyanin)의 합성에 의한 자외선 방어, nod 유전자 inducer (flavones, isoflavones)의 대량 발현에 의한 혹 형성 (nodulation) 효율증대 등은 대사공학 적으로 향상 가능한 부분들이다. 파란 꽃을 개화하는 품종이 카네이션, 국화, 장미 등 중요 장식용 화훼작물들에는 결핍되어 있는데,이는 F3'5'H 유전자가 없어서 파란색 delphinidin 색소를 생산할 수 없기 때문으로 추정된다. 따라서 F3'5'H 유전자를 형질전환 하여 이러한 제한을 극복하고 delphinidin 유도체 생산이 가능하게 되면 파란색 꽃의 생산 가능성을 증대시킬 수 있게 된다. 또한 영양학적인 측면에서 이미 중요한 생리적 기능이 밝혀진 catechin을 비롯한 proanthocyanidin 과 anthocyanin은 의약품 및 식품첨가제 등 다양한 분야에서 크게 시장성을 넓히고 있어 상업적 측면에서 대사공학의 유망한 목표가 되고 있다. 최근의 대사공학 분야에서의 많은 성공에도 불구하고, flavonoid에 대한 고도의 대사공학 조절을 이용하여 원하는 flavonoid 화합물을 생성하거나, 원치 않는 flavonoid 화합물을 억제하도록 하는 데는 여전히 기술적 문제점들이 남아있다. 예를 들면 IFS와 FLS 등의 유전자 분리 그리고 조직 및 시기 특이적인 promoter 개발 등이 동시에 이루어져야 하며, co-pigmentation 및 액포 pH와 관련된 메카니즘에 대한 이해, 화훼작물들의 형질전환 기술 개발 등이 이루어져야 원하는 꽃의 착색 조절이 가능하게 될 것이다. 최근 나팔꽃에서 액포의 <TEX>$Na^{＋}$</TEX>H<TEX>$^{＋}$</TEX> exchanger를 파괴하여 화색을 변경시킨 mutants 연구를 통하여 조만간 액포 pH의 조절을 이용한 식물 대사공학이 가능할 것으로 기대되고 있다 (Yamaguchi et al. 2001). 아직 자연계에서 기본적인 골격의 변경만으로 수천 종류의 flavonoid가 생성 가능한가는 여전히 의문점으로 남아 있으나, 분명한 것은 다양한 식물 체계에서의 노력으로 농업, 원예, 그리고 영양분 증대를 위한 flavonoid 대사를 어떻게 조절할 것인가에 대한 정보를 얻을 수 있고, 또한 flavonoid 생합성 연구로부터 얻어진 정보들을 통하여 세포질 대사와 기본적인 생물학적 현상에 대한 이해를 넓힐 수 있게 될 것이다. Flavonoid biosynthesis is one of the most extensively studied areas in the secondary metabolism. Due to the study of flavonoid metabolism in diverse plant system, the pathways become the best characterized secondary metabolites and can be excellent targets for metabolic engineering. These flavonoid-derived secondary metabolites have been considerably divergent functional roles: floral pigment, anticancer, antiviral, antitoxin, and hepatoprotective. Three species have been significant for elucidating the flavonoid metabolism and isolating the genes controlling the flavonoid genes: maize (Zea mays), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and petunia (Prtunia hybrida). Recently, many genes involved in biosynthesis of flavonoid have been isolated and characterized using mutation and recombinant DNA technologies including transposon tagging and T-DNA tagging which are novel approaches for the discovery of uncharacterized genes. Metabolic engineering of flavonoid biosynthesis was approached by sense or antisense manipulation of the genes related with flavonoid pathway, or by modified expression of regulatory genes. So, the use of a variety of experimental tools and metabolic engineering facilitated the characterization of the flavonoid metabolism. Here we review recent progresses in flavonoid metabolism: confirmation of genes, metabolic engineering, and applications in the industrial use.

Rice Functional Genomics by Transposon Mutagenesis

Transposable elements are powerful mutagens. Along with genomic sequences, knock-out phenotypes and expression patterns are important information to elucidate the function of genes. In this review, I propose a strategy to develop tranposant lines on a large scale by combining genetic cross and tissue culture of Ac and Ds lines. Based on the facts that Ds tends to be inactive in F2 or later generation and Ds becomes reactivated via tissue culture, a large scale of transposants can be produced by tissue culture of seeds carrying Ac and inactive Ds. In this review, I describe limitations and considerations in operating transposon tagging systems in rice. Also, I discuss the efficiency of our gene trap system and technical procedures to clone Ds flanking DNA.