| HOME | Project Leaders | Topics | Links | |||||
| Extensive analysis of gene function using transgenic plants and development of novel gene manipulation techniques |
| Outline of Project | Research Subjects and Participants |
Publications | ||||
1. Goals
(1) Extensive characterization of useful genes utilizing transgenic technology
To evaluate the important transcriptional control regions (promoters) utilizing information of the full-length cDNA and the genome DNA sequences and characterize their functions extensive scale.
To characterize new promoters of about 50 in fiscal 2002, 100 in fiscal 2003 and 200 in fiscal 2004
To perform the studies designed to find the functions of genes, which have not been possible with other methods, we conduct the complementation analysis utilizing 6000 yeast mutants, and characterize the gene functions using overexpression or repression of cDNA transformation extensively.
(2) Development of new technology related to the production of transformants
To carry out extensive characterization of useful genes efficiently, we consider "techno-innovation of genetic modification," that is following bellow:
1. Development of high accuracy gene transformation technology
2. Development of technology for efficient selection of transformed plants
3. Development of technology for controlled gene
2. Research plans
1) Analysis of promoters and gene products function of useful rice genes using transgenic technology
a) Collection of information on useful promoters and genes
To investigate preceding patents and widely known information regarding plant genes and select rice gene promoters to be analyzed based such information.
b) Extensive characterization of promoters using transgenic technology
To amplify the promoter regions of genes selected according to the results of the information surrey.
To connect promoters, which is expressed constitutively or tissue-specifically, with the reporter genes, insert them into binary vectors, introduce the constructed gene vectors into rice using the Ultra-fast transformation technique for monocotyledons via Agrobacterium and analyze the expression of the transformants obtained
To include various inductive prompters as a research of analysis from fiscal 2003 onward
c) Analysis of gene functions using transgenic technology
To build a binary vector with the sequences of various cDNAs, whose functions are unknown, connected to the downstream of a constitutive promoter in the negative and positive directions
To introduce genes into rice using the Ultra-fast transformation technique for monocotyledons described in section a) above.
To analyze each transformant for its phenotype.
To evaluate the practicability and usefulness of each gene from the changes in the phenotype caused by the expression of transgenic genes (cDNA)
2) Development of technology related to the production of transgenic rice
a) Development of technology for high accuracy gene transformation
This is aimed at modifying genes by homologous DNA recombination. When this technology is established, it will become possible to analyze the functions of the target genes by destroying or replacing the genes and to produce transgenic plants inserted in a specific site of a genome modified to the minimum necessary extent. This will pave the way for the practical use of safe transgenic plants. Furthermore, efforts will be made to develop a technology for chloroplast transformation that allows the transmission of gene information on maternal inheritance by modifying genes through homologous recombination of chloroplast DNA.
b) Development of technology to select transformants efficiently
To develop a system to select transformants efficiently using plant-derived selection marker genes derived with various promoters
To develop a rice transformation system different from one based on plant tissue culture, i.e., to establish a novel gene transfer system such as an in planta transformation method that does not require culture.
c) Development of technology for control of gene expression
To try to develop new expression control system in plant, that is like the RNAi method that has recently developed and come under the spotlight in plant biology
To develop an induced expression system, and utilizing that system we will analyze the genes that constitute a gene family.
To develop a method to isolate tissue-specific genes, to cut out specific cells using a laser beam under the microscope and specifically amplify genes developing
Some of the proposed technologies are almost established in rice, however others have not yet to be fully established in rice or utilized effectively. Therefore, two projects groups are being performed - one is a almost established project that could be applied to rice and the other is a challenging project that is highly original and novel. It is likely that the latter projects will not proceed as planned. In that case, such projects will be modified according to the progress.