title: The promoter of a metallothionein-like gene from the tropical tree Casuarina glauca is active in both annual dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants.
abstract: A chimeric gene consisting of the beta-glucuronidase (gusA) reporter gene under the control of the metallothionein-like promoter cgMT1 from the tropical tree Casuarina glauca was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum via Agrobacterium tumefaciens and into Oryza sativa by particle bombardment. The strongest histochemical staining for GUS activity was observed in the root system of the transgenic plants, and especially in lateral roots. In contrast, a relatively low level of reporter gene expression was seen in the aerial tissues and GUS staining was located mainly in the plant vascular system. The average ratio of GUS activity between root and leaf was found to be 13:1 in tobacco and 1.5:1 in rice. The pattern of cgMT1 promoter activity in floral organs was found to be different in tobacco and rice. High levels of gusA gene expression were detected in the ovules, pollen grains and tapetum, whereas in rice PcgMT1 directs expression to the vascular system of the floral organs. These results suggest that PcgMT1 is potentially useful in molecular breeding to express genes of interest whose products are preferentially needed in roots.
authors.affiliation: Calim and Biotrop Programmes, CIRAD, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Nour
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dellerme
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laplaze
authors.forename: Fathia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guermache
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auguy
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duhoux
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogusz
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guiderdoni
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franche
mesh_terms: D018548:Cotyledon / Q000235:genetics*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics; D014197:Trees / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein