Modulation of redoxin gene expression by DNA interference in wheat

Abstract

Genetic modifications are an important innovation in the study of genes and proteins. The involvement of peroredoxins (Prxs) and thioredoxins (Trxs h) has been studied in planta by transgenic route in certain studies which have confirmed their roles in protection against stress, in the modulation of reserve proteins, the improvement of the viscosity of the paste and the reduction of negative effects such as allergenicity. In cereals, studies dealing with the implications of these proteins are still rare and mainly in the improvement of germination quality. The available techniques offer us two possibilities to modulate the expression of a gene, imbibition and overexpression. Antisense RNA technology has been used as a means for the regulation of gene expression in a large number of organisms. Since the advent of RNA interference (RNAi), this technique has gradually imposed itself by its simplicity and efficiency. It has become a powerful tool for determining gene function. For our part, we will follow the path opened by authors who have brought new flexibility to the interference technique by using DNA fragments instead of double-stranded RNA fragments. To obtain the DNA fragment, a couple of primers is enough. In this study, based on data from the literature, we have developed a simple to implement and effective method to inhibit the expression of targeted genes (Trx h1, h2, h3 and Grx) by DNA interference. This is done after injection either of the whole gene or of small double-stranded DNA fragments of about twenty base pairs on the siRNA model. Inhibition of gene expression has an effect on seedling development.

Keywords: Wheat, DNA inference, redoxins