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Antifungal activity of a virally encoded gene in transgenic wheat

Nature Biotechnology volume 18, pages 446–449 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The cDNA encoding the antifungal protein KP4 from Ustilago maydis-infecting virus was inserted behind the ubiquitin promoter of maize and genetically transferred to wheat varieties particularly susceptible to stinking smut (Tilletia tritici) disease. The transgene was integrated and inherited over several generations. Of seven transgenic lines, three showed antifungal activity against U. maydis. The antifungal activity correlated with the presence of the KP4 transgene. KP4-transgenic, soil-grown wheat plants exhibit increased endogenous resistance against stinking smut.

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Figure 1: The constructs (A) pUbi:KP4 and (B) pAct:bar.
Figure 2: Southern blot analysis of the KP4 transgene in T0 Greina.
Figure 3: Antifungal activity assay of secreted proteins from Greina seeds.
Figure 4: Genomic Southern blot analysis of selected T2 progeny.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. R. Bilang (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland) for the pAct:bar, and Dr. G. Spangenberg (University La Trobe at Bundoora Victoria, Australia) for the pUbi:uidA constructs. The KP4 was kindly provided by Dr. J. Bruenn (State University of New York at Buffalo, USA). Furthermore, we thank S. Klarer, K. Konja, E. Fenner, and E. Calame-Doz for greenhouse and technical assistance, and Dr. P. King (Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, Switzerland) for correcting the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland

    Monika Clausen, Regina Kräuter, Ingo Potrykus & Christof Sautter

  2. Federal Research Station for Agrarecology and Agriculture, Reckenholz 191-201, Zürich, 8046, Switzerland

    Gabriele Schachermayr

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  1. Monika Clausen
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Correspondence to Christof Sautter.

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Clausen, M., Kräuter, R., Schachermayr, G. et al. Antifungal activity of a virally encoded gene in transgenic wheat. Nat Biotechnol 18, 446–449 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74521

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