Virus-Induced Gene Silencing to Investigate Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Opium Poppy

Author(s):  
Rongji Chen ◽  
Xue Chen ◽  
Jillian M. Hagel ◽  
Peter J. Facchini
Plant Methods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Mancinotti ◽  
Maria Cecilia Rodriguez ◽  
Karen Michiko Frick ◽  
Bjørn Dueholm ◽  
Ditte Goldschmidt Jepsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lupins are promising protein crops with an increasing amount of genomic and transcriptomic resources. The new resources facilitate the in silico identification of candidate genes controlling important agronomic traits. However, a major bottleneck for lupin research and crop improvement is the in planta characterization of gene function. Here, we present an efficient protocol for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to down-regulate endogenous genes in narrow-leafed lupin (NLL) using the apple latent spherical virus (ALSV). Results We identified ALSV as an appropriate VIGS vector able to infect NLL without causing a discernible phenotype. We created improved ALSV vectors to allow for efficient cloning of gene fragments into the viral genome and for easier viral propagation via agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana. Using this system, we silenced the visual marker gene phytoene desaturase (PDS), which resulted in systemic, homogenous silencing as indicated by bleaching of newly produced tissues. Furthermore, by silencing lysine decarboxylase (LaLDC)—a gene likely to be involved in toxic alkaloid biosynthesis—we demonstrate the applicability of our VIGS method to silence a target gene alone or alongside PDS in a ‘PDS co-silencing’ approach. The co-silencing approach allows the visual identification of tissues where silencing is actively occurring, which eases tissue harvesting and downstream analysis, and is useful where the trait under study is not affected by PDS silencing. Silencing LaLDC resulted in a ~ 61% or ~ 67% decrease in transcript level, depending on whether LaLDC was silenced alone or alongside PDS. Overall, the silencing of LaLDC resulted in reduced alkaloid levels, providing direct evidence of its involvement in alkaloid biosynthesis in NLL. Conclusions We provide a rapid and efficient VIGS method for validating gene function in NLL. This will accelerate the research and improvement of this underutilized crop.


BIO-PROTOCOL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokanadha Gunupuru ◽  
Shahin Ali ◽  
Fiona Doohan ◽  
Steven Scofield

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuh Tzean ◽  
Ming-Chi Lee ◽  
Hsiao-Hsuan Jan ◽  
Yi-Shu Chiu ◽  
Tsui-Chin Tu ◽  
...  

Plant Methods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Decai Tuo ◽  
Peng Zhou ◽  
Pu Yan ◽  
Hongguang Cui ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cassava is an important crop for food security and industry in the least-developed and developing countries. The completion of the cassava genome sequence and identification of large numbers of candidate genes by next-generation sequencing provide extensive resources for cassava molecular breeding and increase the need for rapid and efficient gene function analysis systems in cassava. Several plant virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) systems have been developed as reverse genetic tools for rapid gene function analysis in cassava. However, these VIGS vectors could cause severe viral symptoms or inefficient gene silencing. Results In this study, we constructed agroinfection-compatible infectious cDNA clones of cassava common mosaic virus isolate CM (CsCMV-CM, genus Potexvirus, family Alphaflexiviridae) that causes systemic infection with mild symptoms in cassava. CsCMV-CM was then modified to a viral vector carrying the Nimble cloning frame, which facilitates the rapid and high-throughput cloning of silencing fragments into the viral genome. The CsCMV-based vector successfully silenced phytoene desaturase (PDS) and magnesium chelatase subunit I (ChlI) in different cassava varieties and Nicotiana benthamiana. The silencing of the ChlI gene could persist for more than two months. Conclusions This CsCMV-based VIGS system provides a new tool for rapid and efficient gene function studies in cassava.


Uirusu ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriko YAMAGISHI ◽  
Nobuyuki YOSHIKAWA

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