Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modification of lignin biosynthesis in transgenic Nicotiana through expression of an antisense O-methyltransferase gene from Populus

  • Mini-reviews
  • Published:
Plant Molecular Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An aspen lignin-specific O-methyltransferase (bi-OMT; S-adenosyl-l-methionine: caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid 3/5-O-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.68) antisense sequence in the form of a synthetic gene containing the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S gene sequences for enhancer elements, promoter and terminator was stably integrated into the tobacco genome and inherited in transgenic plants with a normal phenotype. Leaves and stems of the transgenes expressed the antisense RNA and the endogenous tobacco bi-OMT mRNA was suppressed in the stems. Bi-OMT activity of stems was decreased by an average of 29% in the four transgenic plants analyzed. Chemical analysis of woody tissue of stems for lignin building units indicated a reduced content of syringyl units in most of the transgenic plants, which corresponds well with the reduced activity of bi-OMT. Transgenic plants with a suppressed level of syringyl units and a level of guaiacyl units similar to control plants were presumed to have lignins of distinctly different structure than control plants. We concluded that regulation of the level of bi-OMT expression by an antisense mechanism could be a useful tool for genetically engineering plants with modified lignin without altering normal growth and development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

OMT:

O-methyltransferase

bi-OMT:

bispecific O-methyltransferase

CAD:

cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase

Ptomt1:

Populus tremuloides bi-OMT cDNA clone

References

  1. Blake NK, Ditterline RL, Stout RG: Polymerase chain reaction used for monitoring multiple gene integration in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Crop Sci 31: 1686–1688 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bucholtz DL, Cantrell RP, Axtell JD, Lechtenberg VL: Lignin biochemistry of normal and brown midrib mutant sorghum. J Agric Food Chem 28: 1239–1241 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bugos RC, Chiang VL, Campbell WH: cDNA cloning, sequence analysis and seasonal expression of lignin bispecific caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid O-methyltransferase of aspen. Plant Mol Biol 17: 1203–1215 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bugos RC, Chiang VL, Campbell WH: Characterization of bispecific caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid O-methyltransferase from aspen. Phytochemistry 31: 1495–1498 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chiang VL, Funaoka M: The dissolution and condensation reaction of guaiacyl and syringyl units in residual lignin during kraft delignification of sweetgum. Holzforschung 44: 147–155 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chomcyzinski P, Sacchi N: Single-step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. Anal Biochem 162: 156–159 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Collazo P, Montoliu L, Puigdomenech P, Rigau J: Structure and expression of the lignin O-methyltransferase gene from Zea mays L. Plant Mol Biol 20: 857–867 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dence CW: The determination of lignin. In: Lin SY, Dence CW (eds) Methods in Lignin Chemistry, pp. 33–61. Springer-Verlag, New York (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dumas B, Doorsselaere JV, Gielen J, Legrand M, Fritig B, Van Montagu M, Inze D: Nucleotide sequence of a complementary DNA encoding O-methyltransferase from poplar. Plant Physiol 98: 796–797 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Edwards K, Johnstone C, Thomson C: A simple and rapid method for the preparation of plant genomic DNA for PCR analysis. Nucl Acids Res 19: 1349 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Elkind Y, Edwards R, Mavandad M, Hedrick SA, Ribak O, Dixon RA, Lamb CJ: Abnormal plant development and down-regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in transgenic tobacco containing a heterologous phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 9057–9061 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Feinberg AP, Vogelstein B: A technique for radio-labeling DNA restriction endonuclease fragments to high-specific activity. Anal Biochem 137: 266–267 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gowri G, Bugos RC, Campbell WH, Maxwell CA, Dixon RA: Stress response in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) X. Molecular cloning and expression of S-adenosyl-L-methionine: caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, a key enzyme of lignin biosynthesis. Plant Physiol 97: 7–14 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Grand C, Parmentier P, Boudet A, Boudet AM: Comparison of lignins and enzymes involved in lignification in normal and brown midrib (bm3) mutant corn seedlings. Physiol Vég 23: 905–911 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Halbrock K, Scheel D: Physiology and molecular biology of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Mol Biol 40: 347–414 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Higuchi T: Lignin biochemistry: Biosynthesis and degradation. Wood Sci Technol 24: 23–63 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Horsch RB, Fry JE, Hoffman NL, Eicholtz D, Rogers SG, Fraley RT: A simple and general method of transferring genes into plants. Science 227: 1229–1231 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jaeck E, Dumas B, Geoffroy P, Favet N, Inze D, Van Montagu M, Fritig B, Legrand M: Regulation of enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis: Induction of O-methyltransferase mRNAs during hypersensitive reaction of tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus. Mol Plant-Microbe Interact 5: 294–300 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jefferson RA, Kavanagh TA, Bevan M: GUS fusion: β-glucuronidase as a sensitive and versatile gene fusion marker in higher plants. EMBO J 6: 3901–3907 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pellegrini L, Geoffroy P, Fritig B, Legrand M: Molecular cloning and expression of a new class of Ortho-diphenol-O-methyltransferases induced in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by infection or elicitor treatment. Plant Physiol 103: 509–517 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pillonel C, Mulder MM, Boon JJ, Forster B, Binder A: Involvement of cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase in the control of lignin formation in Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. Planta 185: 538–544 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sarkanen KV: Precursors and their polymerization. In: Sarkanen KV, Ludwig CH (eds) Lignins: Occurrence, Formation, Structure and Reactions, pp. 95–163. Wiley-Interscience, New York (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schmitt D, Pakusch AE, Matern U: Molecular cloning, induction, and taxonomic distribution of caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase, an enzyme involved in disease resistance. J Biol Chem 266: 17416–17423 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Timmermann MCP, Maliga P, Viera J, Messing JJ: The pFF plasmids: Cassettes utilizing CaMV sequences for expression of foreign genes in plants. Biotechnology 14: 333–344 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Waston JM: Genetic engineering of low-lignin pasture plants. In: Akin DE, Ljungdahl LG, Wilson JR, Harris PJ (eds) Microbial and Plant Opportunities to Improve Lignocellulose Utilization by Ruminants, pp. 215–227. Elsevier, New York (1990).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Upendra N. Dwivedi

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Lucknow University, 226007, Lucknon, India

  2. Robert C. Bugos

    Present address: Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, 96701, Aiea, HI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Phytotechnology Research Center, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, 49931-1295, Houghton, MI, USA

    Upendra N. Dwivedi, Wilbur H. Campbell & Robert C. Bugos

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, 49931-1295, Houghton, MI, USA

    Upendra N. Dwivedi, Wilbur H. Campbell & Gopi K. Podila

  3. School of Forestry, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, 49931-1295, Houghton, MI, USA

    Jun Yu, Robert C. Bugos & Vincent L. Chiang

  4. Plant Biotechnology Institute, S7N 0W9, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada

    Raju S. S. Datla

Authors
  1. Upendra N. Dwivedi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wilbur H. Campbell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jun Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raju S. S. Datla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert C. Bugos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Vincent L. Chiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gopi K. Podila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dwivedi, U.N., Campbell, W.H., Yu, J. et al. Modification of lignin biosynthesis in transgenic Nicotiana through expression of an antisense O-methyltransferase gene from Populus . Plant Mol Biol 26, 61–71 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00039520

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00039520

Key words

Search

Navigation