JOURNAL

Contents

Original Papers

Occurrence of Guaiacyl/p-Hydroxyphenyl Lignin in Arabidopsis thaliana T87 Cells

Masaomi Yamamura, Shohei Wada, Norikazu Sakakibara, Tomoyuki Nakatsubo, Shiro Suzuki, Takefumi Hattori, Migiwa Takeda, Nozomu Sakurai, Hideyuki Suzuki, Daisuke Shibata, Toshiaki Umezawa. . . . . . . 1 [PDF]

To date, nothing is known about the lignins of Arabidopsis thaliana T87 cells. In this study, we characterized lignins of T87 cells using various analytical methods. These analyses clearly showed that lignins of T87 cells are composed of guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl units.

The Arabidopsis NSL2 negatively controls systemic acquired resistance via hypersensitive response

Yutaka Asada, Masako Yamamoto, Tomokazu Tsutsui, Junji Yamaguchi. . . . . . . 9 [PDF] [Supplement1] [Supplement2]

Arabidopsis nsl2 (necrotic spotted lesion 2) mutant shows a phenotype that mimics hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death. The NSL2 protein is suggested to negatively control the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated pathway of HR-like cell death in plant immunity. In dexamethasone-induced RNAi, localized knockdown resulted in induction of PR1 gene expression and restriction of bacterial growth in both DEX-treated and systemic leaves, indicating that the NSL2 negatively controls systemic acquired resistance via HR.

An improved method for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation from cotyledon explants of Brassica juncea

Mohammed Shafi Ullah Bhuiyan, Sung Ran Min, Won Joong Jeong, Sayeda Sultana, Kwan Sam Choi, Yong Pyo Lim, Won Yong Song, Youngsook Lee, Jang R. Liu. . . . . . . 17 [PDF]

YCF1-transgenic plants were developed by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation from cotyledon explants of Brassica juncea with the high transformation efficiency.

Alteration of fruit characteristics in transgenic tomatoes with modified expression of a xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene

Toshiharu Ohba, Shuichi Takahashi, Kiyozo Asada. . . . . . . 25 [PDF]

Fruit size was positively correlated with the level of SlXTH1 transcript in transgenic tomato plants obtained by overexpression and downregulation of SlXTH1 gene. This is the first in vivo demonstration that SlXTH1 can control the morphological character of plants.

Overexpression of apple spermidine synthase 1 (MdSPDS1) leads to significant salt tolerance in tomato plants

Mohamed Hichem Neily, Pierre Baldet, Issam Arfaoui, Takeshi Saito, Qiu-li Li, Erika Asamizu, Chiaki Matsukura, Takaya Moriguchi, Hiroshi Ezura. . . . . . . 33 [PDF]

Transgenic tomato plants overexpressing the apple spermidine synthase 1 gene (MdSPDS1) accumulate polyamines and show significant salt tolerance. Elevated APX activity in the transgenic plants might contribute largely to the protection against oxidative stress generated by salt treatments.

A practical protocol for particle bombardment-mediated transformation of Phyllostachys bamboo suspension cells

Shinjiro Ogita, Nanaka Kikuchi, Taiji Nomura, Yasuo Kato. . . . . . . 43 [PDF]

A high generation of transgenic Phyllostachys bamboo cells was achieved with constructs expressing hygromycin phosphotransferase gene and enhanced fluorescent protein genes namely AcGFP1 and mCherry.

Production of phytochemicals using habituated and long-term cultured cells

Satoshi Asano, Kazunori Otobe. . . . . . . 51 [PDF]

Cultured plant cell lines that grew and produced phytochemicals (anthocyanins, carotenoids, betacyanins and isoflavones) in the absence of exogenous plant hormones were established and then examined for their culture characteristics and the features of their produced phytochemicals.

In vitro flowering and viable seed setting of transgenic lettuce cultures

Franklin G., Oliveira A. L., Dias, A. C. P.. . . . . . . 63 [PDF]

Transgenic lettuce seeds were produced via in vitro flowering and fruit setting. A Mendelian pattern of transgene segregation was observed in the seeds.

Differential Localizations and Functions of Rice Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase Isozymes 1 and 3

Kentaro Kaneko, Chie Yamada, Ai Yanagida, Tsutomu Koshu, Yukiho Umezawa, Kimiko Itoh, Hidetaka Hori, Toshiaki Mitsui. . . . . . . 69 [PDF]

Rice NPP isozymes 1 and 3 exhibited differential proteolytic cleavage, subcellular localization and enzymatic characteristics. The ADP-glucose hydrolytic NPP1 enzyme had a physical structure signal for the delivery of protein to the plastids of rice cells.

Short Communication

Arabidopsis thaliana: a novel useful biocatalyst for asymmetric reductions

Satomi Takeda, Yuka Ogata, Hideo Kojima, Akiko Okada, Yosuke Uranishi, Kaoru Nakamura. . . . . . . 77 [PDF]

The Arabidopsis seedlings were used as biocatalysts for asymmetric reduction of artificial ketones. The novel biocatalyst reduced various kinds of ketones to the corresponding optically active alcohols in high enantioselectivities. The highest chemical yields were observed in seedlings pre-incubated under light conditions and in leaves.

Gene Notes

Characteristics of soybean 1-Cys peroxiredoxin and its behavior in seedlings under flooding stress

Keito Nishizawa, Setsuko Komatsu. . . . . . . 83 [PDF]

We have characterized soybean 1-Cys peroxiredoxin that was previously detected in submerged seedlings. This protein has a peroxidase activity, and is synthesized in developing seeds and degraded after sowing. It remains in submerged seedlings due to growth retardation by flooding stress.

An acyltransferase-like gene obtained by differential gene expression profiles of quinolizidine alkaloid-producing and nonproducing cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius

Somnuk Bunsupa, Taketo Okada, Kazuki Saito, Mami Yamazaki. . . . . . . 89 [PDF]

A gene showing homology with BAHD acyltransferases involved in polyamines metabolism was isolated from a bitter cultivar of Lupinus angustifolius producing quinolizidine alkaloids.

Technical Notes

A bright green-colored bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay in living plant cells

Yutaka Kodama. . . . . . . 95 [PDF]

In this report, an improved green-colored bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay with a high brightness was developed in living plant cells.

Wide applicability of cryopreservation with vitrification method for seeds of some Cymbidium species

Tomonari Hirano, Tomohisa Yukawa, Kazumitsu Miyoshi, Masahiro Mii. . . . . . . 99 [PDF]

In the present study, mature seeds of seven Cymbidium species were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification. Since those species were including various life-forms from temperate to tropical regions, cryopreservation by vitrification may be applicable for several more orchid species.

In Vitro Culture of Various Genotypes of Male Sterile Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don)

Katsuaki Ishii, Yoshihisa Hosoi, Toru Taniguchi, Miyoko Tsubomura, Teiji Kondo, Hiroo Yamada, Maki Saito, Tomohisa Suda, Tokihiro Fujisawa, Koji Tanaka. . . . . . . 103 [PDF]

Micropropagation technique using in vitro culture of male sterile Japanese cedar genotypes was developed for the solution of pollinosis. There was a genotypic difference in tissue culture response.

Highly efficient visual selection of transgenic rice plants using green fluorescent protein or anthocyanin synthetic genes

Hiroaki Saika, Wataru Sakamoto, Masahiko Maekawa, Seiichi Toki. . . . . . . 107 [PDF] [Supplement1] [Supplement2] [Supplement3] [Supplement4]

The efficiency of visual selection of transgenic colonies in rice was significantly improved using the variety that showed high competency for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.