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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antibodies / chemistry
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Antibodies / genetics
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Antifreeze Proteins
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Base Sequence
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Electrolytes / metabolism*
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Freezing*
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Genes, Synthetic / immunology
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Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
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Glycoproteins / chemical synthesis*
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Glycoproteins / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phytohemagglutinins / genetics
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Plant Leaves / physiology
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Plant Lectins
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Plant Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Plant Proteins / chemical synthesis*
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Plant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemical synthesis
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Solanum tuberosum / chemistry
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Solanum tuberosum / genetics*
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Transformation, Genetic
Substances
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Antibodies
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Antifreeze Proteins
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Electrolytes
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Glycoproteins
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Phytohemagglutinins
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Plant Lectins
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Plant Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins