The bZIP transcription factors are involved in various aspects of plant development. Studies of bZIP group I genes in several species have indicated that they may play a role in vascular development. In order to elucidate the functions of Arabidopsis bZIP group I genes in vascular development, the expression pattern of seven AtbZIP group I genes, AtbZIP18, 29, 30, 51, 52, 59, and 69, were exami...

With the purpose of enhancing environmental stress tolerance of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, cv. Kokei 14), we transformed this plant with spermidine synthase genes derived from Cucurbita ficifolia (FSPD1). The FSPD1-transgenic plants showed twice as high spermidine content as the wild type (WT) counterpart in both leaves and storage roots. One of the most characteristic features of the trans...

The 4 -O-glucosides of 2 ,4,4 ,6 -tetrahydroxychalcone (THC) and 2 ,3,4,4 ,6 -pentahydroxychalcone (PHC) are present in the yellow snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) flowers and serve as direct precursors for the synthesis of aurones, the yellow pigments of the flowers. Despite the metabolic significance of these chalcones in aurone biosynthesis, the biochemical properties of chalcone synthase (CHS...

On the biotransformation of phenol and monofluorophenols by the cultured cells of Eucalyptus perriniana, phenyl and fluorophenyl b-D-glucosides were isolated after a 1-h incubation. Especially, the yield of 2-fluorophenol is higher than those of the other substrates, i.e., phenol, 3and 4-fluorophenols. These results indicated that E. perriniana cells selectively glycosylate the hydroxyl group o...

An extra copy of a rice pistil chitinase gene, termed chip, which is expressed predominantly in floral organs just before anthesis, was introduced into an economically important cultivar of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari) together with the hygromycin-resistance gene (hph) as a marker gene by co-transformation. Over 100 regenerated rice plants (R0) and their self-pollinated first and seco...

Bisphenol A and benzophenone, diphenyl compounds, were regioselectively hydroxylated, reduced, and glycosylated by the cultured plant cells of Eucalyptus perriniana. Three known biotransformation products and two new products, 2-(3-b-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-b-D-glucopyranosyloxyphenyl)propane and 2-(3b-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-b-D-glucopyranosyloxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propa...

Storage proteins in cotyledons of legume plants are degraded by proteinases after germination. We examined whether abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA) and brassinosteroid (BR) are involved in the expression of cysteine proteinases in cotyledons of common bean seeds with RNA blotting using cDNAs for five papain-like proteinases, EP-C1, CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4 and two legumain-like proteinases, LLP1...

Advances in plant biotechnology provide new options for collection, multiplication and shortto long-term conservation of plant biodiversity, using in vitro culture techniques. Significant progress has been made for conserving endangered, rare, crop ornamental, medicinal and forest species, especially for non-orthodox seed and vegetatively propagated plants of temperate and tropical origin. Cell...

Five cDNA clones encoding 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase (ACO) were isolated from tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) by differential screening of the petal cDNA library and were designated as TgACO1, TgACO2, TgACO3, TgACO4 and TgACO5. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited similarity to ACO proteins from other plant species. Among these proteins, TgACO1-4 have high similarity...

Biotechnology in its broadest sense refers to the use of living organisms or their components to provide useful products. This definition can include activities as diverse as making wine, beer, or bread; composting organic materials; releasing parasitic wasps to control insect pests; breeding plants or animals; and producing crops and livestock. In fact, agriculture itself can be considered to ...