Molecular Biology and Genetics
  

Plant Biotechnology
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 11 No. 3, Issue of July 15, 2008
© 2008 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received August 20, 2007 / Accepted January 23, 2008
DOI: 10.2225/vol11-issue3-fulltext-7
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development of transformation vectors for the production of potentially high oleate transgenic oil palm

Abdul Masani Mat Yunus*
 Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre
Biological Research Division
Malaysian Palm Oil Board
P.O. Box 10620
50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 603 89255846
Fax: 603 89259446
E-mail: masani@mpob.gov.my

Ghulam Kadir Ahmad Parveez
 Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre
Biological Research Division
Malaysian Palm Oil Board
P.O. Box 10620
50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 603 89255846
Fax: 603 89259446
E-mail: parveez@mpob.gov.my

Website: http://www.mpob.gov.my

*Corresponding author

Financial support: In Vitro Transtormation of Oil Palm Programme, Malaysia Palm Oil Board.

Keywords: oleate, transformation vectors, transgenic oil palm.

Abbreviations:

bar: gene for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase
GOI: genes of interest
KASII: β-ketoacyl-ACP-synthase II
LB: Left-Border
MAR: Matrix attachment regions
MSP1: mesocarp-specific promoter
MPOB: Malaysian Palm Oil Board
Nos: nopaline synthase
PAT: palmitoyl-ACP-thioesterase
PCR: polymerase chain reaction
RB: Right Border
SAD: Δ9-stearoyl-ACP-desaturase
TP: Transit peptide
UbiPro: maize ubiquitin promoter
Abstract   Full Text

The main target of Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) genetic engineering programme is to produce high oleate transgenic palms. The availability of effective transformation vector is one of the pre-requisites for genetic manipulation of oil palm through recombinant DNA technology. Here, we describe the construction of a series of transformation vectors that have a maize ubiquitin promoter (UbiPro)-driven bar gene for selection of transformants on herbicide (Basta or Bialaphos), and mesocarp-specific promoter (MSP1) for expression of the transgenes [antisense palmitoyl-ACP-thioesterase (PAT) and sense β-ketoacyl-ACP-synthase II (KASII) and sense D9-stearoyl-ACP-desaturase (SAD)] potentially responsible for high oleate content in oil palm mesocarp. The transformation vectors constructed in this study are suitable for use in both particle bombardment (biolistic) and Agrobacterium-based transformation protocols.
Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network