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Expression of a synthetic antifreeze protein in potato reduces electrolyte release at freezing temperatures

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Abstract

A synthetic antifreeze protein gene was expressed in plants and reduced electrolyte leakage from the leaves at freezing temperatures. The synthetic AFP was expressed as a fusion to a signal peptide, directing it to the extracytoplasmic space where ice crystallization first occurs. The gene was introduced to Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformants were identified by PCR screening and expression of the introduced protein was verified by immunoblot. Electrolyte-release analysis of transgenic plant leaves established a correlation between the level of transgenic protein expression and degree of tolerance to freezing. This is the first identification of a phenotype associated with antifreeze protein expression in plant tissue.

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Author notes

  1. James G. Wallis

    Present address: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

  2. Hongyu Wang

    Present address: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA

    Daniel J. Guerra*

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  1. James G. Wallis
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  2. Hongyu Wang
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  3. Daniel J. Guerra*
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Wallis, J.G., Wang, H. & Guerra*, D.J. Expression of a synthetic antifreeze protein in potato reduces electrolyte release at freezing temperatures. Plant Mol Biol 35, 323–330 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005886210159

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