A new technique for activation tagging in Arabidopsis

Gene. 2008 May 15;414(1-2):67-75. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2008.02.008. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Abstract

We have created and applied to Arabidopsis thaliana a new system of two vectors. The first vector (pEnLox) is intended for activation tagging and contains a multimerized transcriptional enhancer from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S gene in T-DNA flanked by two loxP-sites and the second vector (pCre) contains the cre gene. Using pEnLox we have generated more than a hundred mutants resistant to the herbicide ammonium glufosinate, and about ten helper-lines resistant to the antibiotic hygromycin obtained with the use of pCre vector and also more than ten double mutants resistant to both selective markers. In at least 3 cases among 40 mutant lines that have been analyzed we observed constitutive ectopic expression of the genes adjacent to the T-DNA insertion that causes development of the mutant phenotype. Also, reversion of the mutants to the wild-type phenotype after removing the CaMV enhancer has been demonstrated. The system presented here provides a new and easier way to analyze A. thaliana gain-of-function mutants.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Caulimovirus / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transformation, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • T-DNA
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases