Abstract
Key message
We characterize GFP expression driven by a soybean glycinin promoter in transgenic soybean. We demonstrate specific amino acid-mediated induction of this promoter in develo** soybean seeds in vitro.
Abstract
In plants, gene expression is primarily regulated by promoter regions which are located upstream of gene coding sequences. Promoters allow transcription in certain tissues and respond to environmental stimuli as well as other inductive phenomena. In soybean, seed storage proteins (SSPs) accumulate during seed development and account for most of the monetary and nutritional value of this crop. To better study the regulatory functions of a SSP promoter, we developed a cotyledon culture system where media and media addenda were evaluated for their effects on cotyledon development and promoter activity. Stably transformed soybean events containing a glycinin SSP promoter regulating the green fluorescent protein (GFP) were generated. Promoter activity, as visualized by GFP expression, was only observed in develo** in planta seeds and in vitro-cultured isolated embryos and cotyledons from develo** seeds when specific media addenda were included. Asparagine, proline, and especially glutamine induced glycinin promoter activity in cultured cotyledons from develo** seeds. Other amino acids did not induce the glycinin promoter. Here, we report, for the first time, induction of a reintroduced glycinin SSP promoter by specific amino acids in cotyledon tissues during seed development.
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Funding
Salaries and research support were provided by the United Soybean Board, the Ohio Soybean Council, the Center for Soybean Research, Hatch Project Plant Promoters for Transgene Expression OHO01437, and by state and federal funds appropriated to the Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
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EAD and JJF conceived and designed the research. EAD conducted experiments. EAD analyzed data. EAD and JJF wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the manuscript. The authors thank Casey Baik for assistance with media and tissue preparation.
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Communicated by Baochun Li.
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Dean, E.A., Finer, J.J. Amino acids induce high seed-specific expression driven by a soybean (Glycine max) glycinin seed storage protein promoter. Plant Cell Rep 42, 123–136 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02940-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02940-4