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NPTII Assays for Measuring Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity in Transgenic Plants

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Plant Gene Transfer and Expression Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 49))

Abstract

The stable introduction of genes into plants through genetic engineering normally necessitates the use of a selectable marker, especially when the transformation frequency is low (e.g., 1.0 × 10−3 to 10−6). Marker genes enable quantification of both the transformation efficiency and gene expression (1). The most commonly used selectable marker is the gene from Transposon 5 (Tn5) of Escherichia coli K12 (aphA2) (2), which encodes aminoglycoside 3-phosphotransferase II (APH [3] II, Chemical Abstracts Registry number 58943-39-8) activity. This enzyme, also known as neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII), inactivates by phosphorylation the sugar-containing antibiotics, neomycin, kanamycin, geneticin (G418), and paromomycin. To date, the gene has been introduced into over 30 plant species. (For a detailed description of the nptII gene, see Chapter 1.)

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© 1995 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Curtis, I.S., Power, J.B., Davey, M.R. (1995). NPTII Assays for Measuring Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity in Transgenic Plants. In: Jones, H. (eds) Plant Gene Transfer and Expression Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 49. Springer, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-321-X:149

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-321-X:149

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-321-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-536-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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