Identification of phosphorylase kinase as a novel therapeutic target through high-throughput screening for anti-angiogenesis compounds in zebrafish.

Angiogenesis is essential for development and tumor progression. With the aim of identifying new compound inhibitors of the angiogenesis process, we used an established enhanced green fluorescent protein-transgenic zebrafish line to develop an automated assay that enables high-throughput screening of compound libraries in a whole-organism setting. Using this system, we have identified novel kinase inhibitor compounds that show anti-angiogenic properties in both zebrafish in-vivo system and in human endothelial cell in-vitro angiogenesis models. Furthermore, we have determined the kinase target of these compounds and have identified and validated a previously uncharacterized involvement of phosphorylase kinase subunit G1 (PhKG1) in angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, we have found that PhKG1 is upregulated in human tumor samples and that aberrations in gene copy number of PhK subunits are a common feature of human tumors. Our results provide a novel insight into the angiogenesis process, as well as identify new potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapies.

Highly efficient production and characterization of T-DNA plants for rice ( Oryza sativa L.) functional genomics.

We investigated the potential of an improved Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation procedure of japonica rice ( Oryza sativa L.) for generating large numbers of T-DNA plants that are required for functional analysis of this model genome. Using a T-DNA construct bearing the hygromycin resistance ( hpt), green fluorescent protein ( gfp) and beta-glucuronidase ( gusA) genes, each individually driven by a CaMV 35S promoter, we established a highly efficient seed-embryo callus transformation procedure that results both in a high frequency (75-95%) of co-cultured calli yielding resistant cell lines and the generation of multiple (10 to more than 20) resistant cell lines per co-cultured callus. Efficiencies ranged from four to ten independent transformants per co-cultivated callus in various japonica cultivars. We further analysed the T-DNA integration patterns within a population of more than 200 transgenic plants. In the three cultivars studied, 30-40% of the T(0) plants were found to have integrated a single T-DNA copy. Analyses of segregation for hygromycin resistance in T(1) progenies showed that 30-50% of the lines harbouring multiple T-DNA insertions exhibited hpt gene silencing, whereas only 10% of lines harbouring a single T-DNA insertion was prone to silencing. Most of the lines silenced for hpt also exhibited apparent silencing of the gus and gfp genes borne by the T-DNA. The genomic regions flanking the left border of T-DNA insertion points were recovered in 477 plants and sequenced. Adapter-ligation Polymerase chain reaction analysis proved to be an efficient and reliable method to identify these sequences. By homology search, 77 T-DNA insertion sites were localized on BAC/PAC rice Nipponbare sequences. The influence of the organization of T-DNA integration on subsequent identification of T-DNA insertion sites and gene expression detection systems is discussed.

A role for the rice homeobox gene Oshox1 in provascular cell fate commitment.

The vascular tissues of plants form a network of interconnected cell files throughout the plant body. The transition from a genetically totipotent meristematic precursor to different stages of a committed procambial cell, and its subsequent differentiation into a mature vascular element, involves developmental events whose molecular nature is still mostly unknown. The rice protein Oshox1 is a member of the homeodomain leucine zipper family of transcription factors. Here we show that the strikingly precise onset of Oshox1 gene expression marks critical, early stages of provascular ontogenesis in which the developmental fate of procambial cells is specified but not yet stably determined. This suggests that the Oshox1 gene may be involved in the establishment of the conditions required to restrict the developmental potential of procambial cells. In support of this hypothesis, ectopic expression of Oshox1 in provascular cells that normally do not yet express this gene results in anticipation of procambial cell fate commitment, eventually culminating in premature vascular differentiation. Oshox1 represents the first example of a transcription factor whose function can be linked to specification events mediating provascular cell fate commitment.

Transcriptional repression by Oshox1, a novel homeodomain leucine zipper protein from rice.

This paper describes the characterization of Oshox1, a cDNA clone from rice encoding a member of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) class of putative transcription factors. Oshox1 maps to chromosome 10 and belongs to a family of related rice genes. Two-hybrid assays showed that Oshox1 protein can homodimerize, but can also form heterodimers with an Arabidopsis HD-Zip protein. This suggests that protein-protein interactions may also occur between different HD-Zip proteins in rice, which would provide enormous versatility for generating specific gene-control mechanisms. Oshox1 mRNA could be detected in various rice tissues at different developmental stages, with highest levels in embryos, shoots of seedlings, and leaves of mature plants. Transgenic expression of Oshox1 in Arabidopsis retarded growth and affected leaf size and shape, indicative of a role as developmental regulator. In vitro and in vivo DNA-binding studies revealed that Oshox1 interacts with the pseudopalindromic sequence CAAT(C/G)ATTG, confirming that the protein represents a transcription factor. Oshox1 was found to repress reporter gene activity in rice suspension cells, most likely by a mechanism of active transcriptional repression. Repression was strictly dependent on the presence of upstream Oshox1 binding sites in the reporter gene constructs and a function of the N-terminal region of Oshox1, preceding the homeodomain.

A promoter region that controls basal and elicitor-inducible expression levels of the NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase gene (Cpr) from Catharanthus roseus binds nuclear factor GT-1.

NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is essential for the activation of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in a wide variety of metabolic pathways in plants, including those related to defence responses. In the subtropical plant Catharanthus roseus several cytochrome P450 enzymes operate in the biosynthesis of defence-related terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). In agreement with the importance of CPR in defence, Cpr mRNA levels in C. roseus were found to be enhanced by fungal elicitor preparations that also induce TIA biosynthesis and P450 gene expression. Here we describe the isolation of a C. roseus genomic DNA clone covering the 5' part of the Cpr gene and 1.6-kb of upstream sequences. Mapping of the transcription start site showed the untranslated leader sequence is approximately 280 bp long. To study the control of gene expression by the Cpr promoter, transcriptional fusions between Cpr promoter fragments and the gusA reporter gene were generated and their expression was analyzed in stably transformed tobacco plants. The Cpr promoter fragment extending from -1510 to -8, with respect to the ATG start codon, conferred basal and elicitor-inducible expression on the gusA reporter gene, strongly indicating that the Cpr gene of C. roseus is indeed controlled by this promoter region. Progressive deletion from the 5' end of the promoter to position -632 had little effect on gusA expression. However, deletion to position -366 resulted in a complete loss of basal activity and largely eliminated elicitor-induced expression, indicating that the region from -632 to -366 contains the main transcription-enhancing cis-regulatory sequences. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with tobacco nuclear extracts showed that binding sites for nuclear factor GT-1 are redundant in the Cpr promoter, but absent from the downstream part of the leader sequence. The presence of strong GT-1 binding sites in the main enhancer region (-632 to -366), is suggestive of a functional role for this factor in basal expression and elicitor responsiveness of the Cpr promoter.

Stable transformation and long-term expression of the gusA reporter gene in callus lines of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).

Stable transformation of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was achieved by biolistic bombardment of a non embryogenic cell suspension culture, using the hpt and gusA gene. The transformation yielded on the average 5 callus lines per bombardment (1.4 x 10(6) cells). Stable integration of the genes into the plant genome was demonstrated by Southern analysis of DNA, isolated from hygromycin-resistant callus lines. The gusA reporter gene, which was regulated by the constitutive promoter of the rice gene GOS2, was expressed in both transient and stable transformation assays, indicating that this promoter is suitable for expression of a transferred gene in perennial ryegrass. Long-term GUS expression was observed in ca. 40% of the callus lines, whereas the other callus lines showed instability after 6 months and 1 year of culture.

Transient and stable expression of gusA fusions with rice genes in rice, barley and perennial ryegrass.

Transcriptional and translational fusions were made between the reading frame coding for beta-D-glucuronidase and sequences of either a constitutively expressed rice gene (GOS2) involved in initiation of translation or a light-inducible rice gene (GOS5). The transient expression of the fusions was studied via particle bombardment of seedling tissues of rice, perennial ryegrass and barley. Furthermore, the results of transient and stable expression were compared for cell suspensions of four rice varieties, one barley variety and one perennial ryegrass variety. The GOS2-gusA fusions were active in all three monocots studied. Best results were obtained for a construct having both a transcriptional and a translational fusion as well as intron and exon sequences (PORCEHyg). The level of GUS activity was in the range of activities as obtained by the 35S CaMV promoter transcriptionally fused to gusA. The gusA fusion with the light-inducible gene (GOS5) was active in green seedling tissues of all monocots studied. Also a weak expression compared to the GOS2 constructs was found in stably transformed rice callus. The gusA fusions with the mannopine synthase promoters 1' and 2' of the TR-DNA were transiently expressed at lower levels in cell suspensions than PORCEHyg. For stably transformed rice callus the expression of the GOS2-gusA fusion often decreased during prolonged subculture. This decrease in GUS activity and the various GUS-staining phenotypes of transgenic calli are explained by the presence of different cell types in the suspensions used and in the calli. It is presumed that the nature of the cells and their relative contribution in the calli change drastically upon further subculture.

Transient and stable expression of gusA fusions with rice genes in rice, barley and perennial ryegrass.

Transcriptional and translational fusions were made between the reading frame coding for beta-D-glucuronidase and sequences of either a constitutively expressed rice gene (GOS2) involved in initiation of translation or a light-inducible rice gene (GOS5). The transient expression of the fusions was studied via particle bombardment of seedling tissues of rice, perennial ryegrass and barley. Furthermore, the results of transient and stable expression were compared for cell suspensions of four rice varieties, one barley variety and one perennial ryegrass variety. The GOS2-gusA fusions were active in all three monocots studied. Best results were obtained for a construct having both a transcriptional and a translational fusion as well as intron and exon sequences (PORCEHyg). The level of GUS activity was in the range of activities as obtained by the 35S CaMV promoter transcriptionally fused to gusA. The gusA fusion with the light-inducible gene (GOS5) was active in green seedling tissues of all monocots studied. Also a weak expression compared to the GOS2 constructs was found in stably transformed rice callus. The gusA fusions with the mannopine synthase promoters 1' and 2' of the TR-DNA were transiently expressed at lower levels in cell suspensions than PORCEHyg. For stably transformed rice callus the expression of the GOS2-gusA fusion often decreased during prolonged subculture. This decrease in GUS activity and the various GUS-staining phenotypes of transgenic calli are explained by the presence of different cell types in the suspensions used and in the calli. It is presumed that the nature of the cells and their relative contribution in the calli change drastically upon further subculture.

Translation controls the expression level of a chimaeric reporter gene.

Transcriptional and translational fusions between the reading frame of the beta-D-glucuronidase gene (gusA) and the 2' as well as the 1' promoter of mannopine synthase (mas), a TR locus of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, were made. The expression of these constructs was studied in the transgenic F1 offspring of independent tobacco transformants at the protein level by assaying for GUS activity and western blot analysis of the GUS protein and at the steady-state mRNA level. In leaves, stems and roots no correlation was found between steady-state levels of GUS mRNA and enzyme activity. In older tissues significantly higher GUS activities were found. This is explained by the stable character of the GUS protein together with an accumulation of protein upon ageing. Three to ten times higher GUS activities were found for in vitro grown plants than for greenhouse-grown plants of the same offspring, despite similar levels of GUS mRNA. Roots from in vitro grown plants display three to ten times higher GUS activities than stems and leaves. In transgenic plants grown in vitro, containing a translational fusion with two AUGs in phase, the initiation of translation in leaf material occurred at both AUGs. Initiation of translation at the first AUG, however, was ten times more frequent. In contrast, initiation in roots from in vitro grown plants occurred exclusively at the second AUG.

The promoter of the rice gene GOS2 is active in various different monocot tissues and binds rice nuclear factor ASF-1.

A single copy gene has been isolated, termed GOS2, from rice. Sequence comparison revealed highly similar genes in mammals and yeast, indicating that GOS2 encodes an evolutionary conserved protein. GOS2 mRNA was detected in all tissues examined. When the upstream region was translationally fused to the reporter gene gusA it was found to drive expression in a variety of rice tissues and in cell suspensions of other monocot species following introduction by particle bombardment. Therefore, the GOS2 promoter is potentially useful for genetic engineering of monocots. A DNA-binding activity from rice, termed rice ASF-1, with similar binding specificity as the cloned tobacco transcription factor TGA-1a, was found to bind to a TGACG sequence motif in the GOS2 promoter. Possible roles for rice ASF-1 in the transcriptional activation of the GOS2 promoter are discussed.

Transgenic rice cell lines and plants: expression of transferred chimeric genes.

Cell suspension-derived rice (Oryza sativa L.) protoplasts were transformed by direct gene uptake. PEG-mediated transformation was more efficient than electroporation. Plasmid DNA containing a hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene (which confers hygromycin resistance) driven by the CaMV 35S promoter and a beta-D-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under control of the 1', 2' double promoter of the mannopine synthase (mas) locus of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was introduced into rice protoplasts. Southern analysis of DNA from transformed cell lines showed that the HPT and GUS genes were present intact. Both genes were expressed in transgenic cell suspensions. GUS activity was detected by histochemical staining of the cells and by enzyme assays. During a 12-day culture period the proportion of stained cells rose to a maximum and then decreased again. Considerably higher numbers of blue-stained cells were obtained when the transgenic cell lines were grown in the presence of 5-azacytidine. Transcripts of the GUS gene could not be detected, in contrast with the HPT gene. Plantlets were regenerated from one transgenic cell line. GUS activity was found in both leaf and root tissues of these plants, particularly, but not exclusively, in vascular bundles. A mouse dihydrofolate reductase coding sequence (DHFR), conferring methotrexate resistance, fused to the CaMV 35S promotor and the wild-type nopaline synthase (NOS) gene of A. tumefaciens were also introduced into rice protoplasts. Stable integration of both genes was confirmed by Southern analysis. Expression of the DHFR gene was demonstrated by high levels of resistance to methotrexate of the transgenic cell suspensions and by the presence of DHFR transcripts. Expression of the NOS gene at enzyme or RNA level was not detected. Southern analysis suggests that this gene was probably either methylated or scrambled in these lines.