A Brief Introduction to Plant Genetic Transformation

Plant genetic transformation and gene editing technology are key in studying gene function in the post-genome era. Plant genetic transformation has advanced from its initial dependence on tissue culture to direct transformation methods that do not require tissue culture. Gene editing technology has progressed through various stages of development, starting from the initial stage which involves cutting specific gene fragments and repairing them, to the third stage, which includes advanced editing techniques such as precise base replacement at particular sites, accurate insertion, deletion, and large fragment modification without the need for cutting.

KMD Bioscience offers various plant genetic transformation services, such as knockout cell lines and point mutation cell lines. These services encompass well-known genes in various plant species. Each transgenic plant undergoes validation and quality testing to guarantee that all gene-edited cell lines possess the accurate genotype, are free of contamination, and exhibit high vitality.

The Classification of Plant Genetic Transformation Technology

Technology development has revolutionized basic and applied plant transgenic science. Plant genetic engineering has enabled the modification of crops and offered solutions to specific needs. Advances in cell biology procedures for plant regeneration and gene transfer techniques have paved the way for genetic engineering in crop enhancement. Plant transformation technology is now a versatile tool for crop improvement and gene function studies. This progress is the result of years of work in tissue culture, transformation techniques, and genetic engineering. Enhancements in plant transformation vectors and methodologies have increased transformation efficiency and stable gene expression. This review discusses key issues in plant transformation and recent advancements in transformation techniques over three decades.

The introduction of exogenous genetic material into host cells is an indispensable step in genetic engineering. Considering the potential application in the field of gene transfer systems in crop improvement, specific traits are particularly important in engineering all kinds of plants.

The methods of plant genetic transformation encompass gene overexpression, gene knockout, and gene complementation. Presently, the CRISPR/Cas system stands as the most extensively utilized gene editing tool. System.

Gene overexpression involves cloning the coding sequence of a target gene into a specific plasmid or viral vector. Regulatory elements are then incorporated into the vector to facilitate high levels of transcription and translation under controlled conditions, resulting in the overexpression of the target gene.

Knockout is a method used to disrupt specific gene activity or function in an organism, typically achieved by introducing mutations into the target gene.

Gene complementation: Researchers frequently utilize gene complementation as an experimental control to restore the normal function of the plant by introducing genes into the mutant plant.

Considerations in Plant Genetic Transformation

People can create new species and varieties through sexual hybridization, physicochemical mutagenesis, or natural variation. However, reproductive isolation is often caused by cross incompatibility or hybrid sterility, as well as non-directed mutagenesis. By utilizing genetic transformation technology, foreign target genes are introduced into recipient plants. Through the identification and selection of the transformed plants, new varieties or species required by humans are created. The process of plant genetic transformation and the identification of transgenic plants are crucial steps in plant genetic engineering.

The conversion efficiency is low.

Low efficiency is a common issue in plant genetic transformation. It is essential to develop more efficient transformation vectors, optimize their structure and function, and enhance the efficiency of introducing exogenous genes. Adjusting transformation conditions such as temperature and pH can optimize conversion efficiency. Utilizing biological technologies like genetic editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, to directly edit target genes in plant cells can bypass the process of importing exogenous DNA, thereby improving conversion efficiency.

The genetic stability is low.

Genetically modified plants may experience destabilization of their phenotype through processes such as gene expression, gene knockout, gene silencing, and gene inactivation. Additionally, alterations in the external environment can impact the expression levels and genetic stability of transgenic plants, consequently influencing their overall efficacy.

Safety Hazards

Transgenic plants may have unpredictable impacts on the surrounding ecosystem, leading to ecological security issues. Genetically modified plants may introduce substances that are harmful to human health, posing a potential threat to food safety.

Validation Results of Plant Genetic Transformation Delivery

Genetically modified successful experiments involve testing 5-10 strains or seeds in 1-2 tubes.

In the glue picture, the background color is black, the strip is a single shape without any messy bands. The positive bacteria appear bright and consistent with the bands of the positive bacteria, and the number of buds detected is correct.

Figure 1. The plants showing positive results

Figure 2. The plants with positive attributes undergo rubber testing.

After years of scientific research efforts, KMD Bioscience provides high-quality overexpression vectors, RNAi vectors, and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout vector construction technology, as well as plant genetic transformation services. Our goal is to support the genetic transformation of various plants, such as sweet potato, cassava, potato, and poplar.

References

[1] Komor AC, Kim YB, Packer MS, Zuris JA, Liu DR. Programmable editing of a target base in genomic DNA without double-stranded DNA cleavage. Nature. 2024;533(7603):420-424.

[2] Nishida K, Arazoe T, Yachie N, et al. Targeted nucleotide editing using hybrid prokaryotic and vertebrate adaptive immune systems. Science. 2022;353(6305): aaf8729.

[3] Gaudelli NM, Komor AC, Rees HA, et al. Publisher Correction: Programmable base editing of A•T to G•C in genomic DNA without DNA cleavage. Nature. 2023;559(7714): E8.