Selection of transgenic Solanum nigrum L. used environmental remediation expressing organomercurial lyase = Organomercurial lyase 유전자를 도입한 환경정화용 형질전화 까마중(Solanum nigrum) 선발

Abstract

Methylmercury, an organic derivative, is the principal form of mercury that biomagnifies and causes neurodegenerative symptoms in animals. In recent years, living modified organism (LMO) resulting from biotechnology has played a highly visible and controversial role. Despite the potential benefits of this technology, public concerns have been raised about the environmental risk of LMO. The concern on the risk from LMO release has urged efforts to evaluate and manage the risks of the LMO. To build up the capacity building of risk assessment method for LMO used environmental remediation, we engineered Solanum nigrum L, expressing the modified bacterial gene, merB, encoding organomercurial lyase. Two independently isolated transgenic lines produced merB RNA. Transgenic Solanum nigrum leaf discs expressing merB gene showed organic mercury resistance, forming shoots well on growth medium containing methylmercury (II) chloride and phenylmercuric acetate while control plants breached. Transgenic merB seeds germinated and grew on growth medium containing methylmercury (II) chloride and phenylmercuric acetate. The merB transgenic plants will be used for risk assessment of natural environment.