title: Isolation of a rice regeneration quantitative trait loci gene and its application to transformation systems.
abstract: Regeneration of plant organs is often the essential step in genetic transformation; however, the regeneration ability of a plant varies depending on the genetic background. By conventional crosses of low-regeneration rice strain Koshihikari with high-regeneration rice strain Kasalath, we identified some quantitative trait loci, which control the regeneration ability in rice. Using a map-based cloning strategy, we isolated a main quantitative trait loci gene encoding ferredoxin-nitrite reductase (NiR) that determines regeneration ability in rice. Molecular analyses revealed that the poor regeneration ability of Koshihikari is caused by lower expression than in Kasalath and the specific activity of NiR. Using the NiR gene as a selection marker, we succeeded in selectively transforming a foreign gene into rice without exogenous marker genes. Our results demonstrate that nitrate assimilation is an important process in rice regeneration and also provide an additional selectable marker for rice transformation.
authors.affiliation: Honda Research Institute Japan, 2-1-4 Kazusa-Kamatari, Kisarazu-shi, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. asuka.nishimura@jp.honda-ri.com
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashikari
authors.forename: Shaoyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takashi
authors.forename: Enrique R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Angeles
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers; D050900:Ferredoxin-Nitrite Reductase; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009572:Nitrite Reductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009566:Nitrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D009572:Nitrite Reductases; D050900:Ferredoxin-Nitrite Reductase