Effects of down regulation of lignin content in maize (Zea mays L.) plants expressing C4H3 gene in the antisense orientation

ABSTRACT

Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer, an integral cell wall constituent in all vascular plants including the herbaceous varies. Genetic engineering using an antisense system offers the way to modulate enzymes in the lignin pathway and leads to reduced lignin content. The Hi II, a highly embryogenic genotype of maize, has been extensively used in transformation protocols. The plasmid pZMAS-C4H3 10,907bp has C4H3 antisense (AS) to down regulate O-methyltransferase and reduce lignin level in the maize and bar gene as selectable marker that confers glufosinate herbicide resistance under 35s promoter. Eleven transgenic lines exhibited detectable levels of bar gene activity. Three lines of AS plants, C4H3-AS, displayed a significant reduction in lignin content (14–17%). The results of this study pointed to possible use of the genetic transformation approach to minimize lignin content and consequently enhancing biofuel production from stover.

KEYWORDS:

• Transgenic maize
• lignin down-regulation
• biofuels
• antisense gene
• C4H3

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Professor Jack Widhol (Illinois University at Urban-Champaign, USA) for providing Plasmid ZMAS-C4H3.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by STDF, Egypt [grant number 2741], [grant number 4786].