Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Fig. 1.
Diagrams of three DNA constructs used to express the PhaC1 synthase and FatB3 thioesterase genes in transgenic plants. Only the portion of the constructs containing the genes and regulatory elements (CaMV 35S and napin promoters, octopine synthase 3′-untranslated region [OCS]) are shown. A, C-PHA; B, N-PHA; C, N-FatB3. PTS, Peroxisomal targeting sequence derived from the last 34 amino acids of the isocitrate lyase fromB. napus; N, NotI; E,EcoRI; H, HindIII; X,XbaI; K, KpnI.
- Fig. 2.
Western-blot analysis of PhaC1 synthase expression in siliques and leaves of transgenic plants. Twenty micrograms of total proteins from a rosette leaf (L) or 10- to 14-d-old siliques (S) from wild-type Columbia and transgenic lines C-PHA-3.3 and N-PHA-4.1 were loaded in each lanes.
- Fig. 3.
Monomer composition of PHA accumulating in mature seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis. Transgenic lines C-PHA-3.3 and N-PHA-4.1 express the PHA synthase under the control of the CaMV 35S or napin promoters, respectively. The transgenic line TP9 expresses both the PHA synthase and the FatB3 thioesterase gene under the control of the napin promoter. Lines N-PHA/SK353 and N-PHA/SK54-3 are homozygous plants derived from a cross between transgenic line N-PHA-4.1 and the mutants SK353 and SK54-3, respectively. 3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA monomers are denoted by the prefix H. The monomer H10:1, present in trace amounts, is not shown. Values are ±sd. Black bars, C-PHA-3.3; shaded bars, N-PHA-4.1; white bars, TP9; striped bars, N-PHA/SK353; stippled bars, N-PHA/SK54–3.
- Fig. 4.
Quantity of PHA accumulating in mature seeds of transgenic plants. Values are ±sd.
- Fig. 5.
Fatty acid composition of total lipids in mature seeds of wild-type Columbia (black bars) and of transgenic plants expressing the FatB3 thioesterase gene under the napin promoter (N-FatB3-4) (white bars). Values are ±sd.
- Fig. 6.
Fatty acid composition of total lipids in mature seeds of wild-type Columbia (black bars) and RLD (shaded bars) seeds, as well as in the AS11 (white bars), SK54-3 (striped bars), and SK353 (stippled bars) mutants. Values are ±sd.
- Fig. 7.
Spectrum of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoAs generated by the degradation of the four major groups of plant fatty acids through the β-oxidation cycle. All the potential 3-hydroxyacid moieties ranging from six to 14 carbons are incorporated into plant peroxisomal PHAs, except for H10:2 (undetectable) and H10:1 (trace amount) (indicated in small italic letters). It is hypothesized that the PhaC1 synthase cannot use 3-hydroxyacyl-CoAs having a double bond at the Δ4 position.
