title: Spatial and temporal patterns of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence during leaf canopy development in transgenic oilseed rape, Brassica napus L.
abstract: The green fluorescent protein (GFP) holds promise as a field-level transgene marker. One obstacle to the use of GFP is fluorescence variability observed within leaf canopies. In growth chamber and field experiments, GFP fluorescence in transgenic oilseed rape ( Brassica napus) was shown to be variable at each leaf position over time and among different leaves on the same plant. A leaf had its highest GFP fluorescence after emergence and, subsequently, its fluorescence intensity decreased. GFP fluorescence intensity was directly correlated with the concentration of soluble protein. The concentration of the genetically linked recombinant Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1Ac endotoxin protein also was examined, and GFP fluorescence was positively correlated with Bt throughout development. The results show that GFP can be used as an accurate transgene marker but that aspects of plant developmental should be taken into account when interpreting fluorescence measurements.
authors.affiliation: Crop Science Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Halfhill
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Millwood
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rufty
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Weissinger
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins