A simplified protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cell suspension cultures of the model species Medicago truncatula A17

Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 2023;153(3):669-675. doi: 10.1007/s11240-023-02495-6. Epub 2023 Mar 23.

Abstract

This manuscript describes a unique protocol for the rapid transformation of Medicago truncatula A17 cell suspension cultures mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Medicago cells were collected on day 7 of the growth curve, which corresponded to the beginning of the exponential phase. They were then co-cultured with Agrobacterium for 3 days before being spread onto a petri dish with appropriate antibiotic selection. The Receptor Binding Domain of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 was used as a model to develop this protocol. The presence of the transgene was assessed using PCR, and the integrity of the product was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting.

Keywords: Agrobacterium; Cultured cells; Medicago; Model legume; Plant-based system; RBD; SARS-CoV-2; Stable transformation.