Team:Valencia UPV/Project/modules/methodology

A plant life cycle spans months or even years. This makes stable genetic transformation of plants an unaffordable lengthy process for our project. Fortunately, there is a nice shortcut available: Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression. Using this technique, large gene constructs can be transferred to somatic cells in the plant and their expression tested and measured in a few days. When transiently transformed, the plant expresses the transgene during a few days or weeks, but they are not transferred to the offspring.

On this project, the transient expression of our constructs in N. benthamiana leaves was the key technique used (1) to produce pheromones on the plant, (2) to check the specificity of the the trichomes promoter, (3) to test the switch regulated activity and to (4) assess the colour production of the biosafety module.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a bacterium from the soil that infects plants causing tumor development. The disease is caused because of the transference of a T-DNA (transfer DNA) that contains genes encoding enzymes synthesizing opines and phytohormones from the Ti Agrobacterium plasmid (see Fig. 1) to the plant genome. The synthesis of plant hormones enables the cell to grow uncontrollably forming the typical crown gall tumors (Fig. 2).

Figure 1 shows the schema of the Ti plasmid being the genes encoded in the T-DNA, the ones are transferred to the plant genome. The T-DNA is defined and recognized by conserved, flanking T-DNA borders known as the Left (LB) and Right Border (RB). These polarized border sequences serve as the target for the Vir endonucleases which subsequently assist in integration of the T-DNA in the plant genome.

Genes naturally encoded in the T-DNA can be replaced with the gene or genes of interest so Agrobacterium can be used as a vector to deliver them to the plant. After cloning the genes of interest in a single plasmid [see cloning section], this plasmid is transferred to Agrobacterium.

LB medium with the appropriate antibiotics is inoculated with a single Agrobacterium colony and grown to saturation. The saturated culture is used to inoculate fresh LB medium that is grown overnight. After that, cells are pelleted and resuspended into a suitable buffer solution to an optical density of 0.2 at 600nm. This buffer contains acetosyringone, a phenolic compound that induces the expression of the vir genes responsible of the transfer of the T-DNA from the plasmid to the plant genome.

After incubation of the cultures for 2 hours, N. benthamiana leaves of 4-weeks old plants are inoculated with one of the methods described below. In order to check the constructs we used the syringe-agroinfiltration, while for the production of high amounts of pheromone we chose the vacuum method.

1. On syringe-agroinfiltration, the Agrobacterium solution is placed in a syringe (without needle) and it is injected into the airspaces inside the leaf by pressing the tip of the syringe against the underside of the leaf while simultaneously applying a counterpressure on the other side.


2. On vacuum infiltration the whole plants are submerged in the solution, and placed into a vacuum chamber. After that, vacuum is applied forcing air out of the stomata. When the vacuum is released, the pressure difference forces solution through the stomata.
   Once inside the leaf the Agrobacterium transfers the genes of interest in high copy numbers into the plant cells. After 4-7 days depending on the objective leaf samples are collected.