STUDIES OF THE MECHANISM OF TRANSGENE INTEGRATION INTO PLANT-PROTOPLASTS - IMPROVEMENT OF THE TRANSFORMATION RATE

The production of transgenic plants by means of direct gene transfer to protoplasts is now a widely-used technique. The biological mechanisms underlying the transformation are still poorly understood, but many investigations have attempted to shed light on some components of this process. Varying the experimental conditions has in some cases led to better transformation rates, but further improvements of the protocols are possible. Such improvements will require a better understanding of how the alien DNA enters the cells, becomes integrated into the chromosomes and is treated as a part of the plant genome. Irradiation with sublethal doses of X-rays or UV-light has been shown to increase the transformation frequency, while certain drugs have been shown to act in a similar manner. The effects of these and other factors are discussed.