Modification of lignin biosynthesis in transgenic Nicotiana through expression of an antisense O-methyltransferase gene from Populus.
Plant Mol Biol
; 26(1): 61-71, 1994 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7948906
ABSTRACT
An aspen lignin-specific O-methyltransferase (bi-OMT; S-adenosyl-L-methionine caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid 3/5-O-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.68) antisense sequence in the form of a synthetic gene containing the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S gene sequences for enhancer elements, promoter and terminator was stably integrated into the tobacco genome and inherited in transgenic plants with a normal phenotype. Leaves and stems of the transgenes expressed the antisense RNA and the endogenous tobacco bi-OMT mRNA was suppressed in the stems. Bi-OMT activity of stems was decreased by an average of 29% in the four transgenic plants analyzed. Chemical analysis of woody tissue of stems for lignin building units indicated a reduced content of syringyl units in most of the transgenic plants, which corresponds well with the reduced activity of bi-OMT. Transgenic plants with a suppressed level of syringyl units and a level of guaiacyl units similar to control plants were presumed to have lignins of distinctly different structure than control plants. We concluded that regulation of the level of bi-OMT expression by an antisense mechanism could be a useful tool for genetically engineering plants with modified lignin without altering normal growth and development.
Buscar no Google
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Plantas Tóxicas
/
Nicotiana
/
RNA Antissenso
/
Lignina
/
Metiltransferases
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Plant Mol Biol
Ano de publicação:
1994
Tipo de documento:
Article