Transformation of the Soybean Plastid Genome

Introduction

Soybeans are one of the most important sources of protein and are widely used for animal feed and human consumption. Soybeans contain oil and high nutritional quality protein. Soybean is also the most planted GM crop, and there is a growing need to optimize yield and further enhance the nutritional value of this crop. Nuclear and plastid genetic modification of soybean has been working towards this goal. Tissue culture can regenerate whole plants, so researchers often select soybean embryogenic tissue for particle bombardment when performing nuclear transformation. However, as with other grain legumes, soybean transformation remains difficult. Plastid transformation of chloroplasts in undifferentiated cells of soybean embryogenesis is also an ongoing challenge.

Fig. 1. Transformation of soybean plastid genome. (Daniell H, et al., 2005)

Our Services

The biotechnology of plastid genetic engineering has shown great potential in the gene transformation of various crops. Meanwhile, most economically important crops are regenerated by somatic embryogenesis when grown in vitro. Lifeasible is committed to the stable and reproducible plastid transformation of soybean from embryogenic undifferentiated cells. Our selection of appropriate regulatory sequences and selectable markers that function in non-green and green plastids and the generation of regenerated chloroplasts in recalcitrant crops through somatic embryo technology can easily assist you in achieving soybean plastid transformation.

Here, our engineers used the aadA antibiotic resistance gene as a selectable marker to deliver the transformation vector directly into embryo culture for high-level expression by a particle gun approach. We have developed a protocol that allows for the efficient generation of stable and fertile transgenic soybean plants, providing you with professional soybean plastid genome transformation services.

(1) We established an efficient soybean plastid selection system. We used the bacterial aadA gene to confer macromycin and streptomycin resistance in soybean.
(2) The pCLT312 plastid transformation vector was constructed, and the transgene was integrated into the plastid by double homologous recombination.
(3) The soybean embryogenic callus was bombarded with gold particles for chloroplast transformation.
(4) Detection of plastid genome integration and evaluation of homology by PCR and Southern blotting.
(5) Transfer the confirmed transgenic plants to a growth chamber for regeneration.

Advantages of Cotton Plastid Transformation Using Somatic Embryogenesis

• A reproducible method.
• No further selection or regeneration cycles are required.
• Unlike other transformed species, plastid transformation attempted in soybean and rice used non-leaf tissue.
• Achieving zero pollution of food crops through chloroplast gene transformation and meet the requirements of various regulatory agencies.
• Improving soybean gene transformation efficiency and resistance gene expression.

Lifeasible has successfully used somatic embryogenesis technology to transform chloroplasts through plastid genomes in a variety of crops. With our team's extensive experience in somatic embryogenic chloroplast transformation, we are able to provide soybean plastid genome transformation services to customers around the world. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

References

1. Daniell H, Kumar S, Dufourmantel N. (2005) Breakthrough in chloroplast genetic engineering of agronomically important crops[J]. TRENDS in Biotechnology. 23(5): 238-245.
2. Dubald M, Tissot G, Pelissier B. (2014) Plastid transformation in soybean[M]//Chloroplast Biotechnology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. 345-354.