Application of Cre-lox gene switch to limit the Cry expression in rice green tissues. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Hao; Luo, Ju; Zheng, Peng; Zhang, Xiaobo; Zhang, Cuicui; Li, Xinyuan; Wang, Mugui; Huang, Yuqing; Liu, Xuejiao; Jan, Mehmood; Liu, Yujun; Hu, Peisong; Tu, Jumin
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14679-0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract The presence of genetically modified (GM) protein in the endosperm is important information for the public when considering the biological safety of transgenic rice. To limit the expression of GM proteins to rice green tissues, we developed a modified Cre-lox gene switch using two cassettes named KEY and LOCK. KEY contains a nuclear-localized Cre recombinase driven by the green-tissue-specific promoterrbcS . LOCK contains aNos terminator (NosT ), which is used to block the expression of the gene of interest (GOI), bounded by twoloxP sites. When KEY and LOCK are pyramided into hybrid rice, a complete gene switch system is formed. The Cre recombinase from KEY excisesloxP -NosT in LOCK and unlocks the GOI in green tissues but keeps it locked in the endosperm. This regulatory effect was demonstrated byeYFP andBt expression assays. The presence ofeYFP andCre were confirmed in the leaf, sheath, stem, and glume but not in the root, anther or seed of the gene-switch-controlledeYFP hybrids. Meanwhile, gene switch-controlled Bt hybrid rice not only confined the expression of Bt protein to the green tissues but also showed high resistance to striped stem borers and leaffolders.