Join Dr. Rita Laude (Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños) on Wednesday, May 2 at 2pm in FNH 40 for a seminar entitled Coconut Biotechnology: Gene Discovery of Fatty Acid/Triglyceride Biosynthesis, Cocosin Promoter and Tissue Culture-Transformation in Corn as a Model System.

Abstract:

To prepare for the development of a genetically modified coconut with increased oil content and lauric acid, gene and promoter discoveries and the development of a tissue culture-based transformation system in corn as a model system were successfully done.         

Gene discovery studies led to the RT-PCR-based cloning, molecular characterization, ontogenic expression and isoform occurrences of  acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase), acyl carrier protein (ACP), β-ketoacyl synthase 3 (KAS3) ,  acyl-ACP thioesterase (TE), lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) and  phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP).

Callus induction, somatic embryogenesis, shoot differentiation and plantlet regeneration were optimized for white corn inbred lines Var 4 and P53 as a model system for transformation.    Transient expression of the reporter GUS gene was detected in both particle inflow gun (biolistic method) and Agrobacterium mediated transformed tissues of corn.

An endosperm-specific promoter of the cocosin gene was cloned, characterized and tested for gene transcription in corn and papaya. The 300-bp cloned cocosin promoter was transcriptionally active and activity is similar or even stronger than the constitutive promoter 35S CaMV.