An improved method for rapid analysis of promoters using modified sonication-assisted transient assay

Chetan Chauhan, Gauri Joshi, Darshna Chaudhary, Sandip Das

We present here a modified, sonication-assisted transient transformation assay for rapid analysis of cis-regulatory elements. We tested promoter elements fromMIR159Blocus ofBrassica junceaby generating stable transgenic lines and compared the transcriptional activity of GUS reporter with that of the transient assay method. To obtain reliable and repeatable results, and to omit false-positive data, we optimized several parameters including sonication duration and cycle and concentration ofAgrobacterium tumefaciensmeasured as optical density (O.D.) at 600 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of promoter characterization of MIR159B fromBrassica juncea, and comparative analysis of stable and transient lines. Our analysis shows that the protocol described herein allows understanding promoter activity/transcriptional control in tissues other than leaf or protoplast which have remained the mainstay for transient analysis thus far. We tested reporter gene GUS under the control of constitutive promoter, CaMV 35S, andMIR159bfromBrassica juncea. We optimized the duration of sonication (5-, 10- and 15-min cycle), bacterial density (measured as O.D at 600 nm = 0.6/0.8/1.0) andAgro-infection time (5, 10, 15 min), and co-cultivation (12-, and 24-h). Sonication cycle of 10-min, followed by Agro-infection and co-cultivation withAgrobacterium tumefacienswith O.D. 600 nm = 0.8 and for 12 h was found to be optimum. We could successfully express reporter genes in deep-seated tissues such as floral organs and pollen grains where it was previously not possible to perform transient assay. Constitutive GUS activity was observed when reporter was placed under control of the constitutive promoter of CaMV 35S. Reporter GUS when placed under transcriptional control of MIR159b promoter fromBrassica junceashowed reporter activity in floral tissues, in mature pollen grains. Comparative analysis of reporter activity from stable transgenic lines at T2 generation with that of transient assay system reveals identical to near-identical reporter activity. Transient assay could be successfully performed in tissues collected not only fromArabidopsis thaliana, but also fromBrassica junceaandBrassica nigrato demonstrate its wide applicability. Our modified method thus has the potential of quick and rapid analysis of promoter activity and allows us to record the developmental dynamics and spatio-temporal expression pattern driven by specific promoters. Suitable modification and controls should also allow analysis of hormonal regulation and identification oftrans-factors via DNA-protein interactions. Furthermore, this method can also be extended to study promoters under various environmental conditions that otherwise do not allow growth and complete life cycle of healthy plants and can be modified to test reporter activity in other non-model plants or plants with long life cycle.