Regulated Expression of Yeast FLP Recombinase in Plant Cells

Research activities in both our laboratories were directed toward development of control of the FLP/frt recombination system for plants. As described in the text of the research proposal, the US lab has been engaged in developing regulatory strategies such as tissue-specific promoters and the steroid-inducible activation of the FLP enzyme while the main research activities in Israel have been directed toward the development and testing of a copper-regulated expression of flp recombinase in tobacco (this is an example of a promoter activation by metal ions). The Israeli lab hat additionally completed experiments of previous studies regarding factors affecting the efficiency of recombinase activity using both a gain-of-function assay (excisional-activation of a gusA marker) and loss of function assay (excision of a rolC marker) in tobacco. Site-specific recombinase systems, in particular the FLP/frt and R/RS systems of yeast and the Cre/lox system of bacteriophage P1, have become an essential component of targeted genetic transformation procedures both in animal and plant organisms. To provide more flexibility in transgene excisions by the recombinase systems as well as gene targeting, and to widen possible applications, the development of controlled or regulated recombination systems is highly desirable and was therefore the subject of this research proposal. There are a few possible mechanisms to regulate expression of a recombinase system. They include: 1) control of the recombination system by having the target sites (e.g. frt) in one plant and the flp recombinase gene in another, and bringing the two together by cross fertilization. 2) regulation of promoter activities by external stimuli such as temperature, chemicals, metal ions, etc. 3) regulation of promoter activities by internal signals, i.e. cell- or tissue-specific, or developmental regulation. 4) regulation of enzyme activity by providing cofactors essential for biochemical reactions to take place such as steroid molecules in conjunction with a steroid ligand-binding protein (domains). During the course of this research our major emphasis have been focused toward studying the feasibility of hybrid seed production in Arabidopsis, using FLP/frt. Male-sterility was induced using the antisence of a pollen- and tapetum-specific gene, bcp1, isolated from Arabidopsis. The sterility inducing gene was flanked by frt sites. Upon cross pollination of flowers of male-sterile plants with pollen from FLP-containing plants, viable seeds were produced, and the progeny hybrid plants developed normally. The major achievement from this work is the first demonstration of using a site-specific recombinase to restore fertility in male-sterile plants (see attached paper, Luo et al., Plant J 2000; 23:423-430). The implication from this finding is that site-specific recombination systems can be applied in crop plants as a useful alternative method for hybrid seed production.