Open AccessGateway‐compatible vectors for high‐throughput gene functional analysis in switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) and other monocot species
Author(s) -
Mann David G.J.,
LaFayette Peter R.,
Abercrombie Laura L.,
King Zachary R.,
Mazarei Mitra,
Halter Mathew C.,
Poovaiah Charleson R.,
Baxter Holly,
Shen Hui,
Dixon Richard A.,
Parrott Wayne A.,
Neal Stewart Jr C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2011.00658.x
Subject(s) - panicum virgatum , biology , cellulosic ethanol , genetically modified crops , bioenergy , transformation (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , transgene , biofuel , gene , genetics , cellulose , biochemistry
Summary Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) is a C4 perennial grass and has been identified as a potential bioenergy crop for cellulosic ethanol because of its rapid growth rate, nutrient use efficiency and widespread distribution throughout North America. The improvement of bioenergy feedstocks is needed to make cellulosic ethanol economically feasible, and genetic engineering of switchgrass is a promising approach towards this goal. A crucial component of creating transgenic switchgrass is having the capability of transforming the explants with DNA sequences of interest using vector constructs. However, there are limited options with the monocot plant vectors currently available. With this in mind, a versatile set of Gateway‐compatible destination vectors (termed pANIC) was constructed to be used in monocot plants for transgenic crop improvement. The pANIC vectors can be used for transgene overexpression or RNAi‐mediated gene suppression. The pANIC vector set includes vectors that can be utilized for particle bombardment or Agrobacterium ‐mediated transformation. All the vectors contain (i) a Gateway cassette for overexpression or silencing of the target sequence, (ii) a plant selection cassette and (iii) a visual reporter cassette. The pANIC vector set was functionally validated in switchgrass and rice and allows for high‐throughput screening of sequences of interest in other monocot species as well.