X.L. Bai, D. Wang, L.J. Wei and Y. Wang
Genet. Mol. Res. 10 (3): 1356-1363 (2011)
Published July 6, 2011
DOI: 10.4238/vol10-3gmr1262

Cite this Article:
X.L. Bai, D. Wang, L.J. Wei and Y. Wang (2011). Plasmid construction for genetic modification of photorespiration in dicotyledonous plants. Genet. Mol. Res. 10(3): 1356-1363. 10.4238/vol10-3gmr1262

About the Authors:
X.L. Bai, D. Wang, L.J. Wei and Y. Wang
Corresponding author: Y. Wang
E-mail: ywanglab222@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
There are many kinds of dicotyledonous C3 plants, which often release CO2 fixed by photosynthesis and consume energy in photorespiration. In Escherichia coli, glycolate can be metabolized by an oxidation pathway that has some of the same compounds as dicotyledonous photorespiration. With the bacterial glycolate metabolism pathway, photorespiration of dicotyledonous plants is genetically modified for less CO2 release and more biomass. In this study, two plasmids involved in this modification were constructed for targeting two enzymes of the glycolate oxidizing pathway, glyoxylate carboligase and tartronic semialdehyde reductase, and glycolate dehydrogenase in Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondria in this pathway. All three enzymes are located in chloroplast by transit peptide derived from Pisum sativum small unit of Rubisco. So far, some crops have been transformed by the two plasmids. Through transformation of the two plasmids, photosynthesis of dicotyledonous plants may be promoted more easily and release less CO2 into the atmosphere.

Key words: Plasmid construction; Dicotyledonous plants; Genetic modification; Glycolate oxidizing pathway.