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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132245
Title: NEW USES FOR ALFALFA: THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSGENIC ALFALFA TO DIRECT RECOMBINANT PROTEINS INTO THE RHIZOSPHERE

Author
item Gebeyaw, Mesfin
item DENTON, M - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item Samac, Deborah - Debby
item Vance, Carroll

Submitted to: Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2002
Publication Date: 8/5/2002
Citation: Gebeyaw, M.T., Denton, M.T., Samac, D.A., Vance, C.P. 2002. New uses for alfalfa: the potential for transgenic alfalfa to direct recombinant proteins into the rhizosphere. American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Meeting. Available: http://Z16.133.76.127/pb2002/public/P72/0642.html.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Attempts to utilize plants in the production of recombinant proteins are constrained by difficulties in extraction and purification steps. In an effort to improve the utility of plants to produce foreign proteins, we generated several transgenic alfalfa plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Preliminary results from in vivo activity staining, activity gel assays, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate that a white lupin acid phosphatase signal peptide sequence shows potential in directing cloned proteins into the rhizosphere. The results show that a signal peptide from a heterologous species can direct the exudation of foreign or endogenous proteins from alfalfa. The strategy may be useful for: 1) modifying rhizosphere ecology; 2) manipulating plant-microbe interactions; and 3) developing bioremediation approaches.