Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering
Zahra Fathi; Katayoun Zamani; Solmaz Khosravi; Mohammad Malboobi
Abstract
Breeding crops with a higher ability in using soil minerals is one of the biotechnology researchers’ goals. Genetic engineering methods provide considerable advances in crop breeding by transferring and creating desired traits for further production under normal or stress conditions. In these procedures, ...
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Breeding crops with a higher ability in using soil minerals is one of the biotechnology researchers’ goals. Genetic engineering methods provide considerable advances in crop breeding by transferring and creating desired traits for further production under normal or stress conditions. In these procedures, Design of efficient gene constructs is of particular importance and requires promoters with proper function to specifically express the gene of interest in the target tissue and at the appropriate time to develop desired traits such as tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses or other aims. Specific expression of phosphate-transporter genes in the roots and their induced levels in phosphate deficiency shows the potential of this gene-family promoters utilization in transgenic plants, particularly for the use in phosphate absorption from soil. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the 1826-bp promoter fragment of AtPHT1;1 gene carries several motifs leading to root-specific expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression of a secretory acid phosphatase gene, AtPAP17, as a reporter gene in rapeseed transgenic plants indicated that the AtPHT1;1 promoter retains its root-specific criteria in rapeseed such that it could be used as a regulatory region for the specific expression of desired genes in transgenic rapeseed plant roots.
Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering
Zahra Fathi; Katayoun Zamani; Mohammad Malboobi
Abstract
Phosphite is a reduced form of phosphate, wherein an oxygen replaces a hydrogen atom, and this substitution has a significant effect on its performance in living organisms. Phosphite is readily transfered into plant cells through phosphate transporters. However, plants do not have the ability to use ...
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Phosphite is a reduced form of phosphate, wherein an oxygen replaces a hydrogen atom, and this substitution has a significant effect on its performance in living organisms. Phosphite is readily transfered into plant cells through phosphate transporters. However, plants do not have the ability to use phosphite as a phosphorus resourc such that this property has limited the use of phosphite as fertilizer; however, phosphite has been used as a fungicide and biostimulant in agriculture. Some bacteria are able to oxidize phosphite into phosphate to cover for various cellular functions. In the last decade, the molecular mechanism of this biological oxidation has been elucidated to occure by the enzyme phosphite oxidoreductase or phosphite dehydrogenase. Phosphite is produced in large quantities in various chemical industries as a by-product or waste that is not recycled. The identification of the enzyme phosphite dehydrogenase, that catalyses the oxidation of phosphite to phosphate, has opened a new path for the recycle of this waste. Recently, there have been reports for the production of transgenic plants expressing ptxD gene. In practice, ptxD gene can be used as a marker in the selection of transgenic plants. By producing these transgenic plants, phosphite can be used as a herbicide and even as a phosphorus fertilizer.
