Age-dependent transformation frequency in elite wheat varieties.

Wheat is a major world crop and as such is a primary target for improvement of agronomic characteristics via genetic engineering. Optimization of transformation is essential in order to overcome the relatively low transformation frequencies encountered with wheat. Transformation of elite wheat varieties is not always successful due to variability in regeneration and transformation frequencies between varieties. In this work, two elite wheat varieties with a relatively high embryogenic capacity were transformed by particle bombardment. A strong correlation between transformation frequency and the age of wheat donor plants was observed in both varieties. The mean transformation frequency rose from 0.7% to 5% when using immature embryos from old and young donor plants, respectively. This was observed in both varieties, the best bombardments achieving up to 7.3% frequency. Using explants at an optimal developmental stage from donor plants grown under environmentally-controlled conditions has improved the reproducibility of transformation efficiency of elite wheat varieties and leads to the production of apparently phenotypically normal, fertile, transgenic plants.

Tris Is a Competitive Inhibitor of K+ Activation of the Vacuolar H+-Pumping Pyrophosphatase.

The effects of a range of commonly used pH buffers on the hydrolytic activity of the plant vacuolar H+-transporting inorganic pyrophosphatase (V-PPase) from mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls were tested. All of the buffers inhibited K+ stimulation of the V-PPase, and the degree of inhibition was dependent on the concentrations of both the buffer and K+. The effects were dependent on the organic cation used in the buffers, and those tested inhibited in the order: Tris > Bis-Tris-propane > Bicine = Tricine > imidazole. Detailed studies revealed that a model in which Tris affects both the Km and Vmax for K+ stimulation provided an accurate description of the observed kinetics. The ability of different cations to stimulate the V-PPase was measured with a noncompeting buffer (5 mM imidazole-HCl) and the order of effectiveness was K+ = Rb+ > NH4+ >> Cs+ > Na+ > Li+, with the Km for K+ stimulation being about 1 to 2 mM. Published experiments performed in the presence of Tris were re-evaluated and all could be fitted to mixed inhibition kinetics, with kinetic parameters similar to those measured for the mung bean V-PPase. It is concluded that the variations in the published Km for K+ stimulation of the V-PPase are probably due to the effects of pH buffer cations and that the real value for this parameter is in the low millimolar range. The implications of this for regulation of the V-PPase by K+ in vivo and for the role of the enzyme in K+ transport into the vacuole are discussed.

The Role of Magnesium, Pyrophosphate, and Their Complexes as Substrates and Activators of the Vacuolar H+-Pumping Inorganic Pyrophosphatase (Studies Using Ligand Protection from Covalent Inhibitors).

Inhibitors preferentially and covalently reactive with cysteine, arginine, histidine, and carboxyl-containing residues were inhibitory to the plant vacuolar H+-transporting inorganic pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase) from Vigna radiata (mung bean) and Beta vulgaris (red beet), but hydrophobic compounds and those reactive with tyrosine and lysine were less effective. Inhibition by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, phenylglyoxal, and N-ethylmaleimide was decreased in the presence of Mg2+ or mixtures of Mg2+ and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) but not by PPi alone. None of these ligands affected inhibition by reagents reactive with histidine. The Mg2+ dependence of protection from 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide inhibition followed first-order kinetics and yielded a Km for free Mg2+ of 20 to 23 [mu]M. Protection from inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide and phenylglyoxal varied as a function of Mg2PPi concentration, suggesting that this is the substrate for the H+-PPase. Protection by Mg2PPi followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of approximately 2 [mu]M. These results are consistent with the predictions of a kinetic model for the H+-PPase (R.A. Leigh, A.J. Pope, I.R. Jennings, D. Sanders [1992] Plant Physiol 100: 1698-1750), which identified free Mg2+ as an allosteric activator (Km = 25 [mu]M) and Mg2PPi as the substrate (Km = 2.5-5 [mu]M).

The H(+)-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatase of the vacuolar membrane of higher plants.

The vacuolar H(+)-translocating pyrophosphatase (H(+)-PPase) of plants is a member of a new class of energized ion translocases. The development of our understanding of this enzyme is briefly reviewed, including the evidence for its physiological role in H(+)-pumping and K+ transport into the vacuole, the identity of the polypeptides components, the cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the catalytic subunit, and the partitioning of function between cytosolic and membrane domains of the protein. Lack of information about the identity of the substrate, activators and inhibitors of the H(+)-PPase has been a major barrier to the latter work. The various analyses that have been done of the kinetics of the enzyme predict different sets of activators and inhibitors, but work with residue-specific covalent inhibitors is now being done to resolve this. The results suggest that Mg2PPi is the substrate and that Mg2+ is an activator, but whether other PPi complexes inhibit the enzyme is still to be established.

Field assessment of dihaploid Solatium tuberosum and S. brevidens somatic hybrids.

Following both chemical and electrical fusion of protoplasts of a dihaploid line of potato (Solanum tuberosum), (PDH40), with those of the wild species, Solanum brevidens, 11 and 40 somatic hybrid plants, respectively were obtained. Fifteen of these somatic hybrid genotypes and the two parents were studied further in a small field trial to assess field performance and phenotypic variability. In the UK, somatic hybrid plants are classified as genetically engineered organisms, and the UK Advisory Committee on Genetic Manipulation have imposed various restrictions on field experiments. Examination of the somatic hybrids in the field showed extensive phenotypic variability, and no two genotypes were identical. Some of the variation reflected changes in chromosome numbers, but other factors were also involved. Half the somatic hybrid genotypes produced tubers in the field, although the tubers were smaller and differed morphologically from those of PDH40. The results of the study suggest that the extent of somaclonal variation manifested in somatic hybrids is greater than that found in protoplast-derived plants of potato. The implications of this observation and the current regulations concerning field experiments of somatic hybrid plants in the UK are discussed.

Chromosome variation in dividing protoplasts and cell suspensions of wheat.

The cytology of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) suspension lines, recycled lines (selected for high division frequency) and their dividing protoplasts, have been examined. Extensive numerical and structural chromosome variation was present in all the lines. The most frequently observed chromosome numbers were around 2n=32, indicating that considerable chromosome loss from the normal wheat complement (2n=6x=42) had occurred during selection of the lines. Chromosome aberrations also indicated loss of chromosome arms and chromosome segments. The implications of this variation for studies on transformation and for the potential regeneration of whole plants from protoplasts of bread wheat are discussed.

Relationship between respiratory cancer and wetlands residency in Louisiana.

Cancer mortality is high among white men residing in southern Louisiana parishes (counties). In an effort to elucidate this phenomenon, we studied three environmental correlates of cancer-namely, smoking, residence in urban communities, and residence in the wetlands. Multiple regression analysis was applied to cancer mortalities adjusted for age and urban residency, and specific for race, sex, amount of standing water area in the parish, and cancer site. Cancer sites were grouped according to their correlation with smoking: strong, moderate, and no correlation. For men, the smoking-related cancer mortality not only showed an association with residence in wetlands but also was higher in the Louisiana wetlands than in the remainder of the United States.