Background The genus Utricularia belongs to Lentibulariaceae, the largest family of carnivorous plants, which includes terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic species. The development of specialized structures that evolved for carnivory is a feature of this genus that has been of great interest to biologists since Darwin's early studies. Utricularia gibba is itself an aquatic plant with sophisticated bladder traps having one of the most complex suction mechanisms for trapping prey. However, the molecular characterization of the mechanisms that regulate trap development and the biophysical processes involved in prey trapping are still largely unknown due to the lack of a simple and reproducible gene transfer system. Results Here, we report the establishment of a simple, fast and reproducible protocol for genetic transformation of U. gibba based on the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. An in vitro selection system using Phosphinotricin as a selective agent was established for U. gibba. Plant transformation was confirmed by histochemical GUS assays and PCR and qRT-PCR analyses. We report on the expression pattern of the 35S promoter and of the promoter of a trap-specific ribonuclease gene in transgenic U. gibba plants. Conclusions The genetic transformation protocol reported here is an effective method for studying developmental biology and functional genomics of this genus of carnivorous plants and advances the utility of U. gibba as a model system to study developmental processes involved in trap formation.

中文翻译：

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根癌农杆菌介导水生食肉植物银狸藻的转化。


背景 狸藻属属于豆科植物，是最大的食肉植物科，包括陆生、附生和水生物种。为肉食动物进化的特殊结构的发展是该属的一个特征，自达尔文的早期研究以来，生物学家一直对此非常感兴趣。银狸藻本身是一种水生植物，具有复杂的膀胱陷阱，具有用于捕获猎物的最复杂的抽吸机制之一。然而，由于缺乏简单且可重复的基因转移系统，调节陷阱发育的机制和涉及猎物诱捕的生物物理过程的分子特征仍然很大程度上未知。结果在此，我们报告了基于根癌农杆菌T-DNA 的简单、快速和可重复的银杏遗传转化方案的建立。建立了以 Phosphinotricin 作为选择剂的银杏体外选择系统。通过组织化学 GUS 测定以及 PCR 和 qRT-PCR 分析证实植物转化。我们报告了转基因银杏植物中 35S 启动子和陷阱特异性核糖核酸酶基因启动子的表达模式。结论 这里报道的遗传转化方案是研究该属食肉植物的发育生物学和功能基因组学的有效方法，并促进了银杏作为模型系统研究陷阱形成所涉及的发育过程的实用性。