Abstract:

【Objective】 To make a cloning and functional analysis of OsBTF3p, a rice gene promoter directing GUS expression. The functional analysis of OsBTF3p is helpful to understand the mechanisms of gene expression and to utilize in generation of transgenic plants. 【Method】 A 1378bp promoter of an inducible rice gene OsBTF3 upon infection by Xanthomoas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) was amplified by PCR and named as OsBTF3p. OsBTF3p fused in frame with the gus reporter gene and the resulting construct (OsBTF3p::GUS) was transformed into the rice calli through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Thirty-nine transgenic plants of rice （T0 generation） were successfully obtained. The promoter activity, tissue specificity and pathogen inductivity were analyzed as well. 【Result】 The cloned DNA sequence of OsBTF3p is same as that present in the GenBank database. GUS activity can be detected in the OsBTF3p::GUS -transformed but non-transgenic calli (control). GUS expression was also observed in the OsBTF3p::GUS-transformed vascular tissues of leaves and roots. The transgene OsBTF3p::GUS in rice is up-regulated upon Xoo infection. 【Conclusion】 OsBTF3p might function effectively in promoting GUS expression in transgenic rice plants in tissue-specific and pathogen-inducible fashions.

Key words: OsBTF3p, GUS activity, tissue specificity, pathogen-inductivity, rice