Gene rescue in plants: A model system for “shotgun” cloning by retransformation

Cloning of genes by transformation with genomic banks and rescue of a phenotype has been extensively used in bacterial systems. This approach has not been possible in plant systems because of the large genome sizes and poor transformation frequencies of most plant species. Recent advances in plant transformation permit the generation of large numbers of transformants in petunia. We have used this system to rescue a model gene encoding resistance to kanamycin by “shotgun” cloning. The gene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) was introduced into the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A genomic bank of DNA from this tissue was constructed in a cosmid vector containing features which would allow its use in plant transformation. The unselected genomic bank was mobilized from Escherichia coli to A. tumefaciens and used to retransform petunia leaf discs. The rescued gene was identified by its ability to confer a kanamycin-resistant phenotype in petunia tissue. The presence of the NPTII gene was confirmed by nopaline assay and Southern blot analysis. This experiment demonstrates the feasibility of gene rescue, in certain circumstances, in plants.