Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing a Bacterial Detoxifying Enzyme are Resistant to 2,4-D

Abstract

We have used a gene from the soil bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134 to introduce a herbicide degrading mechanism into plants. The gene, tfdA, which encodes a 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate monooxygenase (DPAM) catalyzing the first step in the bacterial 2,4-D degradative pathway, has recently been cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence, fused with plant expression sequences was introduced into plants via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. The chimeric gene was expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) under the control of either a constitutive or a light-inducible promoter. Transgenic tobacco lines tolerated elevated levels of 2,4-D in tissue culture, and regenerated plants showed resistance when sprayed with the herbicide.

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Streber, W., Willmitzer, L. Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing a Bacterial Detoxifying Enzyme are Resistant to 2,4-D. Nat Biotechnol 7, 811–816 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0889-811

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