Endosperm-specific expression of green fluorescent protein driven by the hordein promoter is stably inherited in transgenic barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants

The expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its inheritance were studied in transgenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants transformed with a synthetic green fluorescent protein gene [sgfp(S65T)] driven by either a rice actin promoter or a barley endosperm-specific D-hordein promoter. The gene encoding phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar), driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter and intron, was used as a selectable marker to identify transgenic tissues. Strong GFP expression driven by the rice actin promoter was observed in callus cells and in a variety of tissues of T-0 plants transformed with the sgfp(S65T)-containing construct. GFP expression, driven by the rice actin promoter, was observed in 14 out of 17 independent regenerable transgenic callus lines; however, expression was gradually lost in T-0 and later generation progeny of diploid lines. Stable GFP expression was observed in T-2 progeny from only 6 out of the 14 (43%) independent GFP-expressing callus lines. Four of the 8 lines not expressing GFP in T-2 progeny, lost GFP expression during T-0 plant regeneration from calli; one lost GFP expression in the transition from the T-0 to T-1 generations and three lines were sterile. Similarly, expression of bar driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter was lost in T-1 progeny; only 21 out of 26 (81%) independent lines were Basta-resistant. In contrast to actin-driven expression, GFP expression driven by the D-hordein promoter exhibited endosperm-specificity. All seven lines transformed with D-hordein-driven GFP (100%) expressed GFP in the T-1 and T-2 generations, regardless of ploidy levels, and expression segregated in a Mendelian fashion. We conclude that the sgfp(S65T) gene was successfully transformed into barley and that GFP expression driven by the D-hordein promoter was more stable in its inheritance pattern in T-1 and T-2 progeny than that driven by the rice actin promoter or the bar gene driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter.