The arcelin-5 gene of Phaseolus vulgaris directs high seed-specific expression in transgenic Phaseolus acutifolius and Arabidopsis plants.
The regulatory sequences of many genes encoding seed storage proteins have been used to drive seed-specific expression of a variety of proteins in transgenic plants. Because the levels at which these transgene-derived proteins accumulate are generally quite low, we investigated the utility of the arcelin-5 regulatory sequences in obtaining high seed-specific expression in transgenic plants. Arcelin-5 is an abundant seed protein found in some wild common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes. Seeds of Arabidopsis and Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) plants transformed with arcelin-5 gene constructs synthesized arcelin-5 to levels of 15% and 25% of the total protein content, respectively. To our knowledge, such high expression levels directed by a transgene have not been reported before. The transgenic plants also showed low plant-to-plant variation in arcelin expression. Complex transgene integration patterns, which often result in gene silencing effects, were not associated with reduced arcelin-5 expression. High transgene expression was the result of high mRNA steady-state levels and was restricted to seeds. This indicates that all requirements for high seed-specific expression are cis elements present in the cloned genomic arcelin-5 sequence and trans-acting factors that are available in Arabidopsis and Phaseolus spp., and thus probably in most dicotyledonous plants.
Goossens
A
A
Laboratorium voor Genetica, Departement Plantengenetica, Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Universiteit Gent, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
Dillen
W
W
De Clercq
J
J
Van Montagu
M
M
Angenon
G
G
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C090486:arcelin 5 protein, Phaesolus vulgaris