Expression of Bacterial Pesticidal Genes in Plants, U.S.- Pakistan Cooperative Research

技术说明：西雅图华盛顿大学Gordon博士的实验室和巴基斯坦拉合尔高级分子生物学中心Riazuddin博士的实验室提出了一个合作研究项目。他们的研究将评估转基因植物技术在管理和控制重要作物害虫方面的潜力。这些研究将涉及三个主要目标。首先，在当地分离的细菌中鉴定出杀虫基因，并在特定启动子的控制下克隆到植物表达载体上。其次，引入细菌杀虫基因并在烟草中表达，作为模式植物系统。最后，将检测转基因植株的杀虫基因表达水平及其抗虫性。这些研究的结果将成为将转基因植物技术推广到巴基斯坦其他重要农业作物的基础，包括水稻、棉花和鹰嘴豆。建议在巴基斯坦进行分离、克隆和向植物中引入杀虫基因的工作，因为Riazuddin博士的实验室具有所需的经验，而且具备必要的基础设施。但是，必须确保提供巴基斯坦无法获得的消耗性生物制品。Riazuddin博士和他的同事将在美国花大约三个月的时间，接受各种启动子的使用和纯化杀虫蛋白的氨基酸测序方面的专门培训。在华盛顿大学（University of Washington）戈登博士的实验室里，使用这种测序方法是常规工作。范围：利用转基因植物保护作物免受虫害侵害不仅在巴基斯坦，而且在整个发展中国家都具有实现有效、低成本和环境可接受的虫害防治的巨大潜力。与使用化学杀虫剂的传统战略不同，生物防治避免了对农业基础设施造成下游负担。这项拟议的研究是巴基斯坦高级分子生物学中心的实验室目前正在进行的一个关于转基因植物技术的重大项目的一部分。在适度的美元支持下，有许多互惠利益，包括提供巴基斯坦无法获得的关键实验室材料，培训复杂的方法，为美国科学家提供从事研究，教学，就共同感兴趣的主题交换信息的机会，以及促进机构之间的科学关系。在当地，这个项目得到了旁遮普大学和巴基斯坦农业规划者的大力支持。

Technical Narrative: A collaborative research project is proposed between Dr. Gordon's laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle and Dr. Riazuddin's laboratory, Centre for Advanced Molecular Biology, Lahore, Pakistan. Their research will evaluate the potential of transgenic plant technology to manage and control important crop pests. These studies will address three main objectives. First, pesticidal genes will be identified in the local bacterial isolates and cloned in plant expression vectors under the control of specific promoters. Secondly, bacterial pesticidal genes will be introduced and expressed in Nicotiana tabaccum which will be used as a model plant system. Finally, resultant transgenic plants will be examined for the level of expression of the pesticidal genes and their insect resistance. The findings of these studies will be a basis for extending transgenic plant technology to other agriculturally important crops in Pakistan including rice, cotton and chick peas. It is proposed that isolation, cloning and introduction of pesticidal genes into plants will be done in Pakistan where Dr. Riazuddin's laboratory has the required level of experience and where the necessary infrastructure exists. However, the provision of expendable biologicals unavailable in Pakistan must be ensured. Dr. Riazuddin or his associates will spend about three months in the U.S. to obtain specialized training in the use of various promoters and amino acid sequencing of purified pesticidal proteins. Work with such sequencing methodologies is routine at Dr. Gordon's laboratory at the University of Washington. Scope: The use of engineered plants to protect crops from insect attack has great potential not only in Pakistan but throughout the developing world for achieving effective, low cost, and environmentally acceptable pest control. Unlike traditional strategies which use chemical insecticides, biological control avoids the induction of downstream burdens on the agricultural infra-structure. The proposed research is part of a major program on transgenic plant technology currently being pursued at laboratories of the Centre for Advanced Molecular Biology in Pakistan. With moderate dollar support, there are many mutual benefits including provision of critical laboratory materials that are not available in Pakistan, training in sophisticated methodologies, the opportunity for U.S. scientists to engage in research, teaching, the exchange of information on a topic of common interest, and the promotion of the scientific relationship between the institutions. Locally, this project has strong backing from Punjab University and from Pakistan's agricultural planners.