PMI (manA) as a nonantibiotic selectable marker gene in plant biotechnology

Abstract

Due to the rising public concern over the use of genes conferring antibiotic and herbicide resistance, alternative systems for selection after plant transformation are being developed. A positive selection system consists of a physiologically inert metabolite as the selection agent and a respective gene which determines a metabolic advantage via selection agent utilization. The transformed cells are able to overcome the suppressive effects of the selection, while the untransformed ones starve but are not killed. The enzyme phosphomannose isomerase (PMI, E.C. 5.3.1.8) catalyzes the reversible interconversion of mannose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The PMI selection system is called positive due to the effect of ''starvation'' caused to the nontransformed plant tissue because of its incapability to utilize mannose as a carbon source. In this mini-review we researched the literature to obtain a more detailed view of the characteristics, specifics, problems, and advantages of applying the PMI/mannose selection system.

Cassava Genetic Transformation and its Application in BreedingF

“…Transgenic cells further convert M‐6‐P into F‐6‐P, which provides energy to the cells and prevents the accumulation of the selection agent. Recently, the pmi gene has been widely used for rice‐, corn‐, wheat‐, and sugar beet‐transformation systems (Stoykova and Stoeva‐Popova 2010). The pmi ‐mannose system has also been applied in cassava (Zhang et al 2000b; Zhang and Puonti‐Kaerlas, 2000).…”

Engineering Strategies to Decode and Enhance the Genomes of Coral Symbionts

“…The precise functions of these alternative marker genes (e.g., phosphomannose isomerase) are well defined and shown to be applicable to many photosynthetic species (Stoykova and Stoeva-Popova, 2011), though their compatibilities with dinoflagellates are unknown. Discovery of endogenous selectable markers should therefore also be pursued.…”

Alternatives to Antibiotic Resistance Marker Genes forIn VitroSelection of Genetically Modified Plants – Scientific Developments, Current Use, Operational Access and Biosafety Considerations

“…The expression of this gene allows transformed plants to grow on medium supplied with mannose as a carbon source, whereas growth of the non-transformed cells is arrested or limited due to the toxic effect associated with the accumulation of mannose-6-phosphate in the plant tissues. manA has been used as SMG in Arabidopsis, potato, sugar beet, maize, wheat, onion, pearl millet, barley, papaya, sorghum, sugarcane, cucumber, watermelon, oilseed rape, pepper, sweet orange, bentgrass, cabbage, flax, sunflower, apple, citrus, potato, pea, cassava, oil palm, cowpea or tomato (see references cited in Miki and McHugh, 2004;Sonntag et al, 2004;Darbani et al, 2007;Ballester et al, 2008;Sundar and Sakthivel, 2008;Wallbraun et al, 2009;Kraus, 2010;Penna and Ganapathi, 2010;Song et al, 2010;Manimaran et al, 2011;Stoykova and Stoeva-Popova, 2011). It was also used in rice to develop the most recent generation of Golden Rice cultivars with expression of high-carotenoid levels (Paine et al, 2005;Datta et al, 2007).…”

“…PMI is the only positive selection system for which key parameters affecting transformation and selection efficiency have been studied and optimized in many plant species. In some species, the pmi gene was more efficient for the production of transformed plants compared to the nptII gene (Stoykova and Stoeva-Popova, 2011). The PMI system has been used to develop several GM maize events approved for commercialization (see Section IV.A).…”