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A soybean (Glycine max) polyubiquitin promoter gives strong constitutive expression in transgenic soybean

  • Genetics and Genomics
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Abstract

The success of plant genetic transformation relies greatly on the strength and specificity of the promoters used to drive genes of interest. In this study, we analyzed gfp gene expression mediated by a polyubiquitin promoter (Gmubi) from soybean (Glycine max) in stably transformed soybean tissues. Strong GFP expression was observed in stably transformed proliferative embryogenic tissues. In whole transgenic plants, GFP expression was observed in root tips, main and lateral roots, cotyledons and plumules in young plants as well as in leaf veins, petioles, flower petals, pollen, pods and developing seeds in mature plants. GFP expression was localized mainly in epidermal cells, leaf mesophyll, procambium and vascular tissues. Introduction of an intron-less version of the Gmubi promoter (Gmupri) displayed almost the same GFP expression pattern albeit at lower intensities. The Gmubi promoter showed high levels of constitutive expression and represents an alternative to viral promoters for driving gene expression in soybean.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ms. Cheri Nemes for generation of the transgenic events and plants and Dr. Tea Meulia (MCIC/OARDC/OSU) for the technical assistance during the confocal microscopy analysis. Salaries and research support were provided by the United Soybean Board, and by State and Federal funds appropriated to The Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. This research was partially supported through fellowships from CAPES, Brazil, to APM and from CONACYT, Mexico, to CMHG. Mention of trademark or proprietary products does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by OSU/OARDC and also does not imply approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable. Journal Article No HCS 08–22.

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  1. Adriana P. Martinelli

    Present address: CENA, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13400-970, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, OARDC/The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    Carlos M. Hernandez-Garcia, Adriana P. Martinelli, Robert A. Bouchard & John J. Finer

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  1. Carlos M. Hernandez-Garcia
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  2. Adriana P. Martinelli
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  3. Robert A. Bouchard
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Correspondence to John J. Finer.

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Communicated by M. Jordan.

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Hernandez-Garcia, C.M., Martinelli, A.P., Bouchard, R.A. et al. A soybean (Glycine max) polyubiquitin promoter gives strong constitutive expression in transgenic soybean. Plant Cell Rep 28, 837–849 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-009-0681-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-009-0681-7

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