Expression of a synthetic antifreeze protein in potato reduces electrolyte release at freezing temperatures.
A synthetic antifreeze protein gene was expressed in plants and reduced electrolyte leakage from the leaves at freezing temperatures. The synthetic AFP was expressed as a fusion to a signal peptide, directing it to the extracytoplasmic space where ice crystallization first occurs. The gene was introduced to Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformants were identified by PCR screening and expression of the introduced protein was verified by immunoblot. Electrolyte-release analysis of transgenic plant leaves established a correlation between the level of transgenic protein expression and degree of tolerance to freezing. This is the first identification of a phenotype associated with antifreeze protein expression in plant tissue.
Wallis
J G
JG
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844, USA.
Wang
H
H
Guerra
D J
DJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021301:Antifreeze Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005615:Freezing; D005813:Genes, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D000906:Antibodies; D021301:Antifreeze Proteins; D004573:Electrolytes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins