EP1053336A1 - Promoter inductible in plants, sequence incorporating same and resulting product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a set of plant promoters inductible by biotic or abiotic stresses, in particular by pathogens, their use, expression vectors comprising said promoters and a gene of interest, cells and/or plants transformed by said vectors. The invention also concerns methods for obtaining said cells and plants, said transformed plants with improved resistance to said pathogens.

Description

INDUCTIBLE PROMOTER IN PLANTS, SEQUENCE INCORPORATING THIS PROMOTER AND PRODUCT OBTAINED.

The present invention relates to a set of plant promoters inducible by biotic or abiotic stresses, in particular by pathogens, their use, expression vectors comprising said promoters and a gene of interest, cells and / or plants transformed by said said vectors. The invention also relates to methods for obtaining said cells or plants, said transformed plants having improved resistance to said pathogens.

Diseases, whether of fungal, bacterial or viral origin, are the major problem in viticulture, both in terms of the quality of the musts and wines produced (for example Botrytiβ cinera, gray rot agent that attacks berries at harvest and leads to bad tastes in wines), reduced production (for example leaf diseases such as Downy mildew and Oidium, attacks of Botrytis on flowers or Knotwort disease linked to the presence of the virus GFLV, Grape Fan Leaf Virus), or even that of vineyard survival (for example wood diseases such as eutypiosis or esca syndrome). The classic arsenal of control goes from simple prophylaxis to phytosanitary treatments, biological control has so far been of very limited application.

Chemical control is of course the most used method, even if treatments are more and more tempered (models for forecasting the risk of diseases for Downy mildew for example). With regard to fungicides, for example, the French vineyard, which represents around 10% of cultivated land in France, uses nearly 40% of the fungicides consumed in this country each year. At European level, on nearly 4 million hectares of the vineyard, the 9 to 10 treatments carried out each year to combat these diseases result in the application of 120,000 tonnes of fungicide products. To cite only the problem of gray mold, it is estimated that over the years 1992-1993, it concerned 25 to 30% of the 3.7 million hectares of the European vineyard, for a cost of phytosanitary products of respectively 97 and 69 million German Marks (DM).

The application of these products is not without consequences for the environment (this is the case, for example, for soil fumigants used to destroy nematodes, vectors of the Knotworm virus). It also sometimes poses technological problems with the difficulties that can arise during fermentation

(the use of sterol biosynthesis inhibitors can block the growth of yeasts at the end of fermentation) and commercial (procymidone, anti-Botrytis product, sometimes found in wines, hence the American litigation of the years 1990-1991 ).

In addition, the use of these products has already led to the appearance of resistant strains. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Champagne and in some years it was recommended by the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wines (CIVC) not to treat against Botrytis.

To overcome these drawbacks, it is imperative to balance the use of phytosanitary products by developing new control methods in order to significantly reduce the quantities of products applied to the vineyard.

Two approaches are currently being considered:

* Reinforce prophylaxis and reduce the quantity of products applied (cultivation methods and preventive control, models for forecasting disease risks, new spreading materials, new more degradable molecules, etc.).

* Improve the resistance of grape varieties to disease.

For this second approach, classical genetic improvement by the sexual route (hybridization with tolerant varieties) is impossible under French legislation on Designation of Origin (AOC) which requires the grape varieties to be used for a given appellation. In addition, technically, the vine, a woody plant, would require several decades to integrate one or more resistance traits while retaining the biochemical and aromatic characteristics of the grape varieties, factors of the organoleptic quality of the wines produced. The mastery of the regeneration and genetic transformation of the vine, carried out by the research team of the laboratories of the Applicant company since 1989-1990, made it possible to consider using modern techniques of cell and molecular biology to increase the tolerance of grape varieties to fungal diseases.

It is now possible on the one hand to integrate into the vine genome one or more homologous or heterologous genes allowing the overexpression or expression of a molecule of interest of protein or other nature, and / or the opening a new biosynthetic pathway, and secondly to regenerate a plant more tolerant of one or more diseases, that is to say having reinforced defense mechanisms vis-à-vis the pathogen or pathogens involved. In plants, these mechanisms are of several orders. Some can be considered passive and are linked to the physicochemical characteristics of cells, epidermal tissues and / or organs of the plant (for example the cuticle or morphological characteristics of the cluster). The rest belong to the dynamics of gene to gene interactions (plant resistance and pathogen avirulence genes, mechanisms of host-parasite interactions). These interactions can lead to the development of the hypersensitivity reaction (rapid death of plant cells around the point of infection to block colonization of the plant by the fungus, bacteria or virus), but also to the synthesis and accumulation of a whole series of compounds. Among these, some may be wall constituents, involved in the formation of a "physical" barrier around the point of infection (callose, lignin, protein rich in hydroxyproline, etc.), others molecules with functions more or less well defined antimicrobials (phytoalexins, proteins associated with pathogens: PR proteins (Pathogenesis Related protein), etc.). The overexpression of these molecules with antimicrobial functions or involved in the formation of a physical barrier around the point of infection can make it possible to obtain a "natural" resistance of plants in response to stresses, in particular stresses of the microbial type.

However, a constitutive overexpression of this type of protein cannot be envisaged without disadvantage for the plant (energy cost, slowing of growth, etc.), this is why it is necessary to provide for the use of inducible promoters and in particular promoters that are inducible by stress itself. This is precisely the object of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence chosen from the group comprising: a) the IND SI sequence, b) any sequence corresponding to a fragment of the IND SI sequence and having promoter sequence effect in plants. The invention also relates to the promoters in plants, chosen from the group comprising: a) the PMs PR10-1 promoter corresponding to the IND SI sequence, b) a PMs PR10-1 type promoter corresponding to a sequence according to the invention .

Preferred are said promoters of the PMs PR10-1 type, which have at least 80% homology with the IND SI sequence. Particularly preferred are those which have at least 90% or 95% homology with said sequence. The promoter sequences in plants characterized in that they comprise at least one sequence identical to those of the promoters mentioned above, are also included in the present invention.

The object of the invention relates very particularly to the use of promoters according to the invention, for the expression, specific or not tissues, of a gene in an inducible manner in plants, by biotic or abiotic stress.

Among said biotic stresses according to the invention, biotic stresses caused by the attack of a parasite such as a virus, bacteria, yeast or fungus are particularly preferred.

Among said abiotic stresses according to the invention, particular preference is given to abiotic stresses caused by a mechanical injury, such as that caused in particular by an insect or by a physical phenomenon such as wind or frost.

The promoters or promoter sequences according to the invention can be used for the production of expression systems in plants, systems which may be inducible and / or constitutive depending on the transformed tissues or organs of the plant (cf. Examples 2, 3 and 4).

These promoters were obtained from the regulatory sequences of PR protein genes in alfalfa. The incompatible response (HR hypersensitivity reaction) obtained in the host-parasite relationship between alfalfa (Medicago sa tiva) and Pseudomonas syringae pv pîβi was used to study the promoter responsible for this reaction.

During the attack by Pseudomonas of alfalfa, the appearance of a reaction of the plant is observed in the area of infection.

The plant material was therefore removed after the bacterial attack in order to constitute a bank of cDNA from the messenger RNAs produced in the infected areas and in the vicinity of the necrosis. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using synthetic polynucleotides corresponding to conserved motifs of PR genes from legume proteins, made it possible to obtain a radioactive probe which was then used to select transcripts from the library. cDNA. Among these, one of them was chosen because, after sequencing, it presented a good homology with equivalent genes coding for PR proteins known for other plants (cf. Figures 1 and Ibis representing the diagram general of the promoter's isolation method).

Analysis has shown that it corresponds to a gene coding for a PR protein class 10 according to the classification of van Loon (1994). This is why this gene was named Ms PR10-1 (Medicago sa tiva PR protein class

10, clone 1).

The present invention also relates to systems for expression of a gene in plants and characterized in that they comprise at least the sequence of said gene under the control of a promoter or of a sequence according to the invention. Among the expression systems according to the invention, the expression vectors and in particular the expression vectors of plasmid type are preferred. Advantageously, said expression vectors are characterized in that they can be transferred into strains of Agrobacterium.

The subject of the invention is also a system or vector for expression of a gene in plants according to the invention, characterized in that it is inducible in plants by biotic or abiotic stress, preferably biotic stress or abiotics such as those described above. The invention further relates to the systems or vectors according to the invention, characterized in that said gene is a gene of interest. A gene is considered a gene of interest if its modulation can be desired or used in any kind of industry, including agriculture. In addition to the agriculture already mentioned, we will think of industries such as for example the food industry, the cosmetic industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the chemical industry, etc. This list of examples is of course not limiting.

The gene could therefore be for example a gene of agronomic interest or a gene allowing the plant to produce substances of interest for nutrition or human or animal health. Among the genes of agronomic interest, one understands, for example, any gene whose expression makes it possible to modulate the physiology of the plant, such as in particular the inhibition, the slowing down, the acceleration or the triggering of stages or phenomena occurring at a given period in the life of the plant, or any gene whose expression makes it possible to improve or decrease the resistance of the plant to physical, chemical or biological aggressions. Among the genes of interest allowing the plant to produce substances of interest for nutrition or human or animal health, we mean for example the genes coding for pharmaceutical, enzymatic compounds (which can be used for biosynthesis or biodegradation of organic compounds) or with nutritional value, or genes making it possible to modulate or inhibit the expression of pharmaceutical, nutritive, toxic or flavoring compounds.

The invention comprises in particular the systems or vectors according to the invention, characterized in that said gene of interest is a gene involved in the response to biotic or abiotic stress, preferably in the response to inducing biotic or abiotic stress.

Preferably, the invention relates to the systems or vectors according to the invention, characterized in that the biotic stress is the attack on a parasite and the gene of interest a gene for resistance to said parasite. O 99/41391

Even more preferably, the invention comprises the systems or vectors according to the invention, characterized in that the parasite is a virus, a bacteria, a yeast or a fungus, and the gene of interest is a gene involved in the synthesis of anti-pathogenic molecule, preferably a gene involved in the synthesis of phytoalexins or PR.

The constructs allowing the expression of these genes may of course comprise, in addition to the gene of interest, sequences in particular of polyadenylation at the 3 ′ end of the coding strand, as well as “enhancer” sequences of said gene or of a gene. different.

Of course, the constructions will have to be adapted in order to ensure that the gene will be read in the correct reading phase with the promoter and it will obviously be possible to plan to use, if necessary, several promoters of the same type as well as several sequences. "enhancer".

It is also possible to express, using the promoters according to the present invention, several genes, either placed in cascade or carried by different expression systems.

Among the genes of interest which can be expressed by the constructs according to the present invention, mention should be made of the genes which can be placed under the control of the promoter PMs PR10-1 in order to trigger mechanisms of resistance to plant pathogens such as viroids , viruses, phytoplasmas, bacteria, fungi, or even resistance to insects or pests (the promoter is also inducible, in tobacco in particular, by injury).

Among the possible strategies, one can refer to the reviews of LAMB et al., 1992; VAN LOON et al., 1994; BROOGLIE and BROOGLIE, 1993; CHET, 1993 and that of PAPPINEN et al., 1994. By way of example, mention may be made of whether they are homologous or heterologous, genes coding for:

- hydrolytic enzymes such as chitinases

(BROOGLE et al., 1991), β 1-3 glucanases (KAUFFMAN et al., 1987) or combinations of genes coding for these two enzymes,

- PR proteins (VAN LOON et al., 1994) such as osmotine (LIU et al., 1994; ZHU et al., 1995), "thau atines like PR-proteins" (VIGERS et al., 1992) , PR proteins of class 1 (CUTT et al., 1989; HAHN K. and STRITTMATTER G., 1994),

- RIP proteins (Ribosome Inactivating Protein) from plants (LOGEMANN J. et al., 1992) or other organisms or micro-organisms, - proteins having an inhibitory role against fungal attack enzymes: protease inhibitor

(MASOUD et al., 1993), polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins (TOUBART et al., 1992), or other inhibiting proteins, - lectins or chitin binding proteins (BROEKAERT et al ., 1989 LERNER and RAIKHEL, 1992),

- proteins of the phage (T4) or mammalian lysozyme type (DURING et al., 1992), - proteins involved in the phytoalexin biosynthesis pathway (HAIN et al., 1993),

- defensin-type antimicrobial peptides (BROEKAERT et al., 1995; VIGERS et al., 1991; TERRAS et al., 1995), - proteins resistant to pathogens (DE WIT, 1992) involved in or triggering reactions hypersensitivity (STRITTMATTER et al., 1995) or enzymes leading to the production of oxygenated water (U et al., 1995), - proteins leading to the production of antifungal, antibacterial or anti-insect toxins (KINAL and al., 1995), 10

- proteins with a peroxidase function which can intervene in the polymerization of lignins (LAGRIMINI et al., 1987) or in other oxidative reactions (BRADLEY et al., 1992), - proteins of viral origin such as proteins of the shell of viruses in sense or antisense position (see BEJARANO and LICHTENSTEIN, 1992),

- proteins involved in the synthesis of molecules triggering the signal transduction chain of stress mechanisms (jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, etc.) or proteins involved themselves as stress signals or intermediates in the transduction chain (systemin , "GTP binding proteins") see for this SCHEEL et al., 1991; VERMA et al., 1994; VERA-ESTRELLA et al., 1994),

- proteins toxic to insects (VAECK et al., 1987).

This list is not exhaustive.

The present invention also relates to plant cells transformed by a system or a vector according to the present invention. Advantageously, said plant cells are vine cells and the gene of interest is a gene conferring resistance to a parasite. The present invention also relates to processes for obtaining cells, characterized in that plant cells are transformed using a microbiological process including a system or an expression vector according to the invention. Among the most widely used transformation methods, mention should be made in particular of the methods using Agrobacterium, whether they are Agro acterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes.

These methods are known and will not be described again in detail.

This technology, starting from plasmid systems, allows a first trans- 11

formation of a strain of competent bacteria, in general E. col i, which makes it possible to control the structure of the plasmids, then the strain is used to transfer the recombinant plasmids into strains of agrobacteria which will then be used to transform the cells vegetable.

The present invention also relates to the transformed plant cells obtained by this process.

The invention further comprises a process for obtaining a plant expressing a gene of interest, characterized in that plant cells of said plant are transformed using a system or a vector according to the invention , the cells expressing the gene of interest are selected and a plant is regenerated from said selected cells.

The invention also includes plants comprising a system or a vector according to the invention, and / or cells according to the invention, preferably plants obtained by the implementation of a method according to the invention.

It should be noted in particular that the constructions according to the present invention and using the inducible promoters have made it possible to transform various plants, in particular tobacco (Nicotiana bentha iana), alfalfa (Lotus cornicula tus) and also vine (Vitis sp.) .

During the regeneration of plants from cells, it has also been possible to demonstrate the advantage of the promoter according to the present invention. Indeed, the promoters of equivalent constructs using strong constitutive promoters have never made it possible to obtain regenerated plants, and the production of defense proteins could very quickly lead to necrosis of the cells, thus preventing the regeneration. This is an additional advantage of constructions according to 12

the present invention in certain plant transformation and regeneration systems.

Other characteristics and advantages of the constructions and methods according to the present invention can be demonstrated in the examples which follow.

Legends of Figures

Figures 1 and Ibis: general diagram representing the different stages of the method of isolation of the inducible promoter PMs PR10-1 corresponding to the sequence IND SI.

Figure 2: presentation of the various clones isolated and corresponding to a Southern blot, hybridized with the 5 'and 3' parts of DNA-PR7, delimited by a Bam site

Internal HI (B), detected in this cDNA.

Restriction sites: E = Eco RI, B = Bam HI.

The values indicated in the Figure are expressed in kb (kilo bases). Figure 3: DNA sequence corresponding to the IND SI sequence, genomic sequence isolated from the inducible alfalfa promoter PMs PR10-1.

Example 1 Obtaining Genomic Clones Comprising Regulatory Sequences of Genes PR Alfalfa Protein

Obtaining a probe for the search for promoters (cf. Figures 1 and Ibis) The incompatible response (hypersensitivity reaction: HR), obtained in the host-parasite alfalfa relationship (Medicago sativa) and Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi made it possible to build a cDNA bank. It was carried out using messenger RNAs extracted and purified from the area near the necrosis caused by the bacterial infection. Plant material samples were taken 13

6 hours after infiltration with the bacterial suspension.

In legumes, the PR proteins are known to have conserved motifs, this has allowed the synthesis of oligonucleotides corresponding to these motifs, defined from the sequencing already carried out on PR pea and soy proteins. PCR amplification made it possible to obtain a radioactive probe, which was then used to select transcripts from the cDNA library. Among these, one of the clones: ADNC-PR7 was selected because after sequencing it presented 87% homology with the genes coding for the PR proteins of peas and soybeans. Analysis has shown that it actually corresponds to a gene coding for a PR protein class 10 according to the classification of Van LOON et al. (1994). It was named Ms PR10-1 (Medicago sativa PR protein class 10, clone 1).

A control, carried out in alfalfa by

Northern blot, showed that the corresponding transcript accumulates as early as 3 hours after infection in the case of the incompatible response, goes through a maximum between 24 and

48 hours and slowly decreased from 72 hours.

This fragment is characterized by the existence of an internal Bam-BI site (denoted B in FIG. 1) which delimits two parts: - one called 5 ′, of about 340 bases, includes the upstream region of the ATG (transcribed but not translated) and a downstream sequence corresponding to 306 bases, the other called 3 ′, corresponds to the end of the coding part, ie 165 bases, and to the 3 ′ region, not translated, ie 186 nucleotides from the stop codon to at the beginning of poly A.

Isolation of genomic clones comprising PR protein promoters

* Isolation of genomic clones A genomic library of alfalfa, prepared in

EMBL4 (title: 7.10 ⁸ pfu (plates forming unit) .ml ^"1 ), a 14

was used on this occasion and 6.10 ⁵ pfu spread. To screen this library, the 5 'fragment of Ms PR10-1 (cDNA-PR7) served as a probe and 45 clones gave an intense signal on 13 of them. The restriction maps and the hybridizations, carried out with the 5 'and 3' fragments of Ms PR10-1, made it possible to conclude that 7 distinct clones exist (cf. FIG. 2). The comparison of the sizes of the 7 clones (9.3; 6.5; 6.1; 5.8; 4.8; 4.2; 2.2 kb) obtained from the screening of the bank, to that of the bands detected on Southern blot of alfalfa genomic DNA showed a good agreement between these two types of experimental data (cf. Figure 2). It was therefore possible to deduce that the genes coding for the PR7 protein corresponded to a small multigenic family. The fragments (Eco-RI / Eco-RI sites) of these clones

(apart from the clone C12) were then subcloned in whole or in part and the sequencing started. * Sequencing performed

A clone was chosen to be sequenced first, the clone C15 (cf. Figure Ibis).

The first sequencing work revealed the presence of an intron of around 315 nucleotides in the open reading frame of the gene coding for the protein PR. The clone studied was then analyzed after digestion with Bam HI (see Figure Ibis).

Clone C15: 6, 1 kb

Analysis of the clone by Eco RI and Bam HI made it possible to obtain two fragments E-B (approximately 2.4 kb) and B-E (approximately 3.7 kb). After sequencing and comparison of the coding sequence (interrupted by an intron of 600 nucleotides) with that of Ms PR10-1 (cDNA-PR7), it appeared that this genomic clone was absolutely identical to this reference cDNA.

* Analysis of the expression of the clones isolated in the alfalfa-Pseudomonas system 15

The experiments focused on the clone C15, using the 5 'extension technique, to determine the messengers actually transcribed during the induction of the defense reactions. This technique also has the advantage of making it possible to locate the site of initiation of transcription. The results showed that the clone C15 was effectively expressed during the induction of defense reactions in the leaves, during the interaction between alfalfa and Pseudomonas.

Example 2

Genetic transformations carried out to verify the promoter activity of the isolated clone

Promoter regions used For these control transformations, two promoters were chosen: a control promoter and the PR promoter isolated from the alfalfa genome, derived from C15 (corresponding to the PMs promoter PR10-1).

* Ca MV-35S promoter This promoter, said to be constitutive, is conventionally used. It corresponds to the regulatory sequence for the transcription of the gene for the 35S RNA subunit of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV). The promoter region which was used to carry out the construction with the reporter gene gus, in fact corresponds to a fraction of this promoter, isolated again in the form of an Eco RI / Bam HI fragment from the plasmid pDH51 (PIETRZAK et al. .,

1986).

* PR promoter The promoter region of the genomic clone C15 was studied. This promoter was subsequently called PMs PR10-1. PMs PR 10-1:

It comes from the Eco RI / Bam HI (E / B) fragment of

2.4 kb from clone C15 Figure Ibis). Integration of this fragment into the binary plasmid, upstream of the gene 16

reporter (see below), was made delicate because no restriction site existed on the clone C15 between the TATA box (initiation of transcription) and ATG (initiation of translation). Deletion experiments were therefore carried out until a fragment of approximately 1.5 kb was obtained (sequence IND SI). Then, by free end ligation, another Bam HI site was added to the fragment thus obtained to allow its insertion upstream of the different coding sequences used subsequently. This fragment therefore includes, with reference to the cDNA which served to clone it and in addition to the upstream promoter region: 39 terminal nucleotides of the 5'UTR (UnTranslated Region) of the Ms PR10-1 gene, located 10 bp from the ATG codon initiator, the ATG of the Ms PR10-1 gene and a short fragment of its coding region (10 bp), just upstream from the integrated Bam HI site.

Taking into account the cloning sites, the promoter thus constructed presents a potential ATG which could lead to the presence of two ATG codons, at a short distance from each other, during the construction of chimeric genes. A risk of modification of the coding phase of the gene used (reporter gene or gene of agronomic interest) could then exist.

For the transformation experiments with the reporter gene, PMs PR10-1 (PRI) was used as it is after cloning into the plasmid pSK +/- Bluescript of STRATAGENE. It could be isolated again in the form of an Eco RI / Bam HI fragment of approximately 1.5 kb.

* Plasmids used a) p35S - gus intron (VANCANNEYT et al., 1990) This plasmid is a derivative of pBin19 (BEVAN, 1984) and has as such the right and left borders of binary plasmids allowing the insertion of the part between these borders in plants via agrobacteria. Development of the reporter gene gus intron

(intron derived from the LSI gene of the potato) allowed 17

to eliminate false positives (especially in transient expression) due to contaminating agrobacteria. They are unable to splice the introns.

Conventionally, this gene coding for a β glucuronidase makes it possible, using a particular substrate

(5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β glucuronide), to obtain a blue coloring. This then indicates the transformed nature of the plant analyzed and, consequently, the transcription of the coding sequence of the gene corresponding to the enzyme, therefore the induction of the promoter which controls it. b) pPR97

This plasmid was constructed by one of the laboratories participating in the project to test the effectiveness of promoters (P. RATET, ISV, cited in SZABADOS et al., 1995). It has the particular advantage of having a multiple cloning site, allowing a transcriptional fusion with the coding phase of the gus gene (E. coli uid A) containing the LSI intron. It also has some of the characteristics of the previous plasmid p35S - gus intron

(borders of integration into the genome of plants, selection gene allowing resistance to neo-ycine type antibiotics: npt II gene).

The promoter activity can be revealed and measured by histochemical and enzymatic tests of the GUS type.

* PPR97 derivatives

Two main constructions were made and subsequently used for the transformation of model plants. a) pPR97 - 35S

The 35S promoter, cloned in the plasmid pDH51 (cf. paragraph below concerning the agrobacterial strains), was extracted and inserted into the multiple cloning site of pPR97, upstream of the reporter gene, in the form 18

of an Eco RI / Bam HI fragment. This plasmid is both a positive control, to demonstrate that the construction is functional and, a reference because the 35S promoter was placed in the same environment as the promoter isolated from the PR protein clones. b) pPR97 - PMs PR10-1

The 1.5 kb were inserted into the same cloning site as that defined above, again in the form of an Eco RI / Bam HI fragment. c) pG3-3

It made it possible to achieve a strong positive control by a histochemical test and an enzymatic test by cloning two promoters 35S in reverse tandem. The promoter activating sequences then act in synergy. The coding phase of the intrus gus gene was then placed under the control of one of the two 35S promoters.

* The strains of agrobacteria produced

The different plasmids were used to transform competent bacteria E. coli strain DH5α by thermal shock in calcium chloride medium. After selection of the bacteria transformed on antibiotic medium (Kanamycin) and control by miniprep of their recombinant nature, they were used to transfer the recombinant plasmids into strains of agrobacteria by triparental conjugation, using the strain of JE .. coli

HB101 containing the autotransferable plasmid pRK2013 (DITITA et al., 1985).

Two strains of agrobacteria were retained: EHA 105, AgroJbacteriuin tumefaciens disarmed, allowing the regeneration of transformed plants (stable transformations) and, A4TC24 Agrobacterium rhizogèneβ used to obtain the reaction of the root scalp type (Hairy root) and composite plants, possessing transformed roots but the rest of the plant has a phenotype identical to that of origin. 19

* Genetic transformations on model plants

Two types of transformations (transient and stable) were carried out using three model plants Nicotiana benthamiana, Medicago trunca tula and Lotus cornicula tuβ.

We will mainly present the results obtained with N. benthamiana.

* Transient transformations

This first series of experiments was carried out in order to allow rapid verification of the functionality of the constructs produced with the gus gene in eukaryotic cells.

Leaves of N. benthamiana were therefore excised and cocultured on agar medium with the different derivatives of the EHA 105 strain. Histochemical tests were then performed 48 h after transformation and then examined after overnight incubation.

(12 noon).

The control plasmids p35S-gus intron and pPR97-35S gave a positive GUS staining although weak with the second plasmid.

This low reactivity undoubtedly comes from a construction problem because, near the site of initiation of transcription and the ATG of the gus gene, part of the polylinker had to be kept. This comprising a repeated sequence can hinder the transcription of the gene.

The construction pPR97 - PMs PR10-1 showed an activity of the gus gene similar to that of the positive control 35S gus intron. This promoter, which was expected to be inducible, therefore presented an effect comparable to a constitutive promoter in this case.

This result can be explained as the consequence of either bacterial infection or injuries to the leaves during sampling. 20

or cultivation. The first hypothesis could not be verified, the experimental protocol was modified to reduce the stress caused to the explants (elevation of the osmolarity of the coculture medium using sucrose concentrations of 10 to 30 gl ^"1 , realization of a range more or less high vacuum: from 10 to 80 mm of relative vacuum mercury and creation of more or less strong lesions on the leaves with significant or medium crushing of the epidermis). The results showed that the more the pressure was important, the higher the number of cells transformed. However, a compromise must be found in order to obtain stable transformations since the numerous transient transformations obtained in this case often prove to be often lethal for the cells. calluses and therefore regenerate buds and then plants.

Furthermore, the inducible nature of the promoter is partly confirmed because if the coloration due to the 35S gus intron construct is detectable up to 5 days after coculture, that obtained with pPR97 - PMs PR10-1- gus intron appears more rapidly at 48 hours but then decreases very quickly.

* Stable transformations a) Tobacco: N. benthamiana

A series of transformations was carried out with pPR97-35S, pPR97-PMs PR10-1 and pG3-3. A significant number of seedlings was obtained with this series of transformations. For each of the plasmids used, we sought to obtain at least 7 acclimatized plants. However, this was not possible for p35S - gus intron where only 5 plants were regenerated and acclimatized. The results obtained are collated in Table 1. 21

Table 1:

Stable transformations obtained on N. ben thamiana by transformation with the EHA 105 strain of Agrobacter um tumefaciens and its derivatives.

Calluses / explants Plantlets constructs in Culture buds obtained In vivo Accl

p35S-gus intron 10 (45) 6 (1) 5 5

pPr97-35S 115/122 23 13 12 gus intron

pPR97-PMs PR10-1 135/139 27 20 7 gus intron

pG3-3-35S in reverse tandem not evaluated 37 28 20 (strong promoter)

Legend Table 1:

The results are expressed in quantity obtained.

Accl. : acclimatized seedlings. Number of buds per explants: the number in brackets corresponds to the number of buds obtained at one month, for the first series. For this one

(comprising the constructions 35S gus intron), the calluses were left longer on the culture medium in order to obtain a maximum of buds and therefore of plants to be acclimated. For the second series, after one month, a sufficient number of buds were obtained and the experiment was then stopped.

Genetic transformations: they are done classically on pieces of leaf blade 22

of 1 cm, immersed for 30 seconds in the suspension of Agrobacterium, then cocultivated 48 hours before subculturing on agar medium of cell division and caulogenesis: MS (MURASHIGE and SKOOG, 1992), ANA (naphthalene acetic acid) 0, 1 mg.l ^"1 , BAP (benzyl amino purine)

1 mg.l ^"1 , cefotaxime 400 mg.l ^{" 1} (elimination of agrobacteria) and kanamycin 70 mg.l ^"1 (agent for selection of transformed cells). As soon as the first buds appear (approximately one month after coculture) , they are placed on rooting medium identical to the first but not comprising plant hormones.

Analysis of the results, as a function of the expression of the gus intron gene, according to the nature of the promoter located upstream of the coding phase of the gene, shows that the PMs PR10-1 promoter gives the best results of all the promoters tested. A more detailed analysis is presented below.

* Characteristics of the promoter PMs PR10-1 Plasmid pPR97 - PMs PR10-1 - gus intron This promoter gave the best results with differences in constitutive expression of the gus gene according to the organs tested. a) Call center activity

A strong constitutive expression was found. A few minutes of incubation were sufficient to obtain a positive histochemical test. The promoter is therefore strongly induced in this type of material, which is in agreement with the results obtained by VAN LOON (1985). The calluses in in vitro culture are under stress and under these conditions the PR proteins are expressed. b) Activity on whole plants acclimatized Roots

The promoter is induced and the histochemical test is positive after 2 hours of incubation (against 5 hours with the 35S promoter). The activity of the gus gene is not 23

uniform in tobacco roots, only the epidemic of the old parts and the apical meristem gave the characteristic blue color of the test. According to the literature, an activity of defense genes in the roots is also conventionally observed. Flowers

In all tobaccos transformed by this construction, a strong constitutive activity was found in the flowers and more particularly in the anthers and pollen. Activity of the gus gene has also been detected in the trichomes of the sepals and more weakly in the petals. These results are also in agreement with those of VAN LOON (1985) who indicate an expression of the defense genes in the floral pieces. Leaves

Weak constitutive activity was observed in the trichomes of young leaves of adult plants. In tobacco, the broad-leaved rosette stage corresponds to the juvenile stage and the aging stage to that of seed formation. This low activity has been observed mainly in multicellular trichomes. The expression of a PR protein in such structures has never been described to our knowledge.

A constitutive inducing activity of the isolated promoter PMs PR10-1 is therefore possible in the trichomes of tobacco leaves (3 plants out of 7) but it seems to be under the influence of the development stages.

In the absence of induction by a pathogen, the activity of the promoter in tobacco is therefore limited to the root, to the floral parts (anthers and pollen) and to some cells of the aerial part (mainly trichomes).

Example 3 Other Processed Plant Species 24

* Medicago trunca tula

For this species, attempts have been made to produce composite plants, that is to say plants having both an aerial part of the wild type (not genetically transformed) and transformed roots.

Young sprouts were used. After development of the main root, the hypocotyls, excised, were soaked in a suspension of Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA 105 having either the plasmid p35S-gus intron or the plasmid pPR97-PMs PR10-1- gus intron, so as to obtain by following the newly formed transformed roots. After a week, roots were obtained and a GUS histochemical test was performed. For this experiment, the control was constituted by young germinations treated in an identical manner to the preceding batches (hypocotyls excised, but not soaked in the suspension of agrobacteria).

All the explants in the control group had new roots in one week; on the other hand, only 50% reacted for the batches treated with agrobacteria. Whatever the treatment, no root gave a positive response to the GUS test. On the other hand, the base of the hypocotyls of the treated batches, although necrotic, often reacted to give a blue coloration (presence of transformed cells). The necrotic part of the explants was then excised and they were put back into rooting. 50% then developed newly formed roots, some of which proved positive in the test in a few areas.

It is therefore chimeric roots (transformed and non-transformed cells) which have been obtained, the transformed parts corresponding to cell lines having integrated the construction into a basic stem cell.

The two constructs tested, p35S-gus intron and pPR97-PMs PR10-l-gus intron, gave these transformed cell lines in respectively 3 25

and 2 explants out of the 6 tested for each batch.

Although the experimental model is not suitable for the study being pursued (study of the expression of PR proteins during the phenomenon of nodulation by

Rhizobium), it nonetheless demonstrated that the promoter

PMs PR10-1 is just as functional in this plant as in the original plant (Medicago sa tiva).

Lotus corniculatus The purpose of the experiment was again to study the induction of the promoter during nodulation by the symbiont bacteria Rhizobium meliloti NZP 2037 (PETIT et al., 1987). Composite plants were therefore produced by transforming hypocotyl cells from young Lotier germinations with Agrobacterium rhizogeneβ strain A4TC24, to obtain the phenomenon of root scalp (hairy root phenotype). Once this developed, the main roots were excised and the seedlings were placed in a liquid medium to increase the development of the phenomenon. Once the plants have been acclimatized, the study of the induction of the promoter (s) has been carried out by placing the seedlings in nodulation condition (BLONDON, 1964). The two study promoters selected were the same as those used during the experiment conducted with M. trunculata: 35S and PMs

PR10-1. For these two constructions, less than 10% of the roots with the hairy root phenotype showed positive roots in the GUS test. Generally speaking, roots with this phenotype produced fewer nodules than control roots.

For those obtained with the construct comprising the 35S promoter, only the nodules presented a positive response to the GUS test, while for the other

(promoter PMs PR10-1), the coloring developed on the entire root, except at the point of initiation of the secondary roots. Furthermore, this last construction has 26

not allowed to obtain nodules on the roots from root hair in interaction with Rhi zobium meliloti.

Example 4 Study of the Hypersensitivity Reaction of Processed Tobacco with Constructions Using the Promoter of the Alfalfa PR Gene and the Raw Intron Gene

Hypersensitivity reaction on N. benthamiana transformed with the constructions associating the promoter of the PR gene of alfalfa and the gus intron gene.

* Hypersensitivity reaction test (HR)

The hypersensitivity reaction (HR), developed in the interaction N. benthamiana - Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, was used in this study. Transformed tobacco plants, having incorporated into their genome the various inserts of the plasmids p35S-gus intron and pPR97 -

PMs PR10-1-gus intron, were acclimated and then infiltrated with a suspension of P. syringae (ESΝAULT et al., 1993) at a concentration of 10 ⁹ bacteria per ml. The solution was injected into the limbus using a hypodermic syringe. With such a model, in 48 hours, the HR type reaction is considered to be well developed. The leaves, infiltrated with the suspensions of bacteria, were removed 24, 48 and 96 hours after inoculation to evaluate, by GUS histochemical test, the induction of the various promoters studied. Analysis of a possible systemic response was also evaluated, using the same histochemical test, on leaves located below the infiltrated leaf.

* Study of the induction of promoters under HR-type reaction conditions a) 35S constitutive promoter

In the case of the constituent promoter 35S 27

(plasmid pG3-3 for example), inoculation with P. syringae did not change the response to the test and this within a few minutes of incubation. Infiltration by bacteria therefore does not alter the constitutive type glucuronidase activity obtained with the 35S promoter. b) PR protein gene promoter: PMs PR10-1 promoter

As shown in Table 2, this promoter is very inducible by attack by a pathogen. At 24 hours, the HR type reaction is not yet fully developed (48 hours for full exposure), however, the GUS test is already positive. With the young transformed tobacco plants obtained, the coloration is weak and is localized mainly in the limb of the infiltrated leaf.

In systemic response, response at the lower leaf level than the infected leaf, the coloring is only in the limbus. Adult tobacco plants

(stems developed but not yet flowering) and juveniles (rosette) have the same type of response with a weak activity of the gus gene, determined by the histochemical test.

For older tobacco, in flower or bearing seeds, the coloration obtained during the test is more intense, especially in the veins and trichomes of the infected leaf and only in these tissues for the systemic response.

Differences in expression of the reporter gene are therefore demonstrated according to the age of the plant. This development-dependent response has been found in most studies of plant PR proteins. The induction of the PMs PR10-1 promoter is a transient phenomenon since the expression of the reporter gene is no longer visible 96 hours after inoculation by bacteria.

The induction is also not limited to the HR type reaction obtained during the interaction 28

plant / bacteria. The same type of response was obtained with the PMs PR10-l-gus intron construct during infection of one of the explants by a fungus. A homogeneous expression of the gus gene was then visible on the entire infected leaf, except for the area of contamination which itself became necrotic.

Table 2

Induction of the various promoters studied during the HR type reaction between N. benthamiana and P. syringae.

24h after inoculation 96h after inoculation

Construction Sheet Sheet Sheet infiltrated infiltrated inferior reaction type HR

PMs PR10-1 6/7 6/7 0/3

pG3-3 (35S) 3/3 3/3 0/3

Caption Table 2:

The results are presented in number of plants responding positively to the GUS histochemical test compared to the number of plants analyzed.

Quantitative expression of the raw intron gene under the control of the various promoters. The method is based on an enzymatic test.

It uses: a) a crude extract of the enzyme encoded by the gus gene obtained from transformed tobacco plants, and b) a substrate, p nitro-phenyl-glucuronide. The rate of hydrolysis of the substrate is followed by a spectrophotometer and is related to the total amount of protein in the extract. However, the method requires the presence of a strong promoter, upstream of the gus gene, because it is not very sensitive. 29

Consequently, it was not applied to tests for which 12 hours or more of incubation with the substrate used for the histochemical test (X gluc:

5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β glucuronide) were required.

Under these experimental conditions, the promoter 35S, placed in the plasmid pG3-3, gave a rate of hydrolysis of the substrate (expressed in arbitrary unit) 5 times higher than the promoter PMs PR10-1, meanwhile placed in the plasmid pPR97. In contrast, the PMs PR10-1 promoter gave a stronger expression of the gus gene than the 35S promoter, if the latter is placed in the plasmid p35S-gus intron. Indeed, in the latter case no detection of hydrolysis of the substrate was obtained. Similarly, the other constructions did not make it possible to give detectable values to the spectrophotometer.

Conclusions The promoter PMs PR10-1, isolated from M. sa tiva

(alfalfa), responds well to the characteristics required to use it as a regulatory sequence for a gene of agronomic interest that can act in the defense of plants against an attack by a pathogen. It is inducible by a pathogen (bacteria and fungus), including in a heterologous system, tobacco. It also has a weak constitutive activity, mainly in the roots, including in other heterologous systems (Λf. Truncatula and L. Corniculata). Another constitutive activity, not yet explained, has also been observed in embryogenic alfalfa calluses. 30

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Claims

 36

1) Nucleic acid sequence chosen from the group comprising: a) the IND SI sequence, b) any sequence corresponding to a fragment of the IND SI sequence and having the effect of a promoter sequence in plants.

2) Promoter in plants, chosen from the group comprising: a) the PMs PR10-1 promoter corresponding to the IND SI sequence, b) a PMs PR10-1 type promoter corresponding to a sequence according to claim 1b).

3) Promoter according to claim 2, characterized in that the promoter of PMs PR10-1 type has at least 80% homology with the sequence IND SI.

4) Promoter according to claim 2, characterized in that the PMs PR10-1 type promoter has at least 90% homology with the IND SI sequence.

5) Promoter according to claim 2, characterized in that the promoter of PMs PR10-1 type has at least 95% homology with the sequence IND SI.

6) Promoter sequence in plants, characterized in that it comprises a sequence identical to that of the promoters according to one of claims 2 to 5.

7) Use of a promoter according to one of claims 2 to 5, for the expression, specific tissue or not, of a gene inducibly in plants by biotic or abiotic stress. 37

8) Use of a promoter according to claim

7, characterized in that biotic stress is the attack of a parasite.

9) Use of a promoter according to claim

8, characterized in that the parasite is a virus, a bacterium, a yeast or a fungus.

10) Use of a promoter according to claim 7, characterized in that the abiotic stress is a mechanical injury.

11) Use of a promoter according to claim 10, characterized in that the mechanical injury is caused by an insect.

12) Use of a promoter according to claim 10, characterized in that the mechanical injury is caused by a physical phenomenon such as wind or frost.

13) A gene expression system in plants, characterized in that it comprises at least the sequence of said gene under the control of a promoter or of a sequence according to one of claims 1 to 6.

14) Vector for expression of a gene, characterized in that it comprises at least the sequence of said gene under the control of a promoter or of a sequence according to one of claims 1 to 6.

15) Expression vector according to claim 14, characterized in that it is a plasmid.

16) Expression vector according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that it can be transferred into strains of Agrobacterium. 38

17) System or vector according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that it is inducible in plants by biotic or abiotic stress.

18) System or vector according to claim 17, characterized in that said gene is a gene of interest.

19) System or vector according to claim 18, characterized in that said gene of interest is a gene involved in the response to biotic or abiotic stress.

20) System or vector according to claim 19, characterized in that said gene of interest is a gene involved in the response to inducing biotic or abiotic stress.

21) System or vector according to claim 20, characterized in that the biotic stress is the attack of a parasite and the gene of interest a gene of resistance to said parasite.

22) System or vector according to claim 21, characterized in that the parasite is a virus, a bacterium, a yeast or a fungus, and the gene of interest is a gene involved in the synthesis of molecule with anti-pathogenic action.

23) System or vector according to claim 22, characterized in that the molecule with anti-pathogenic action is chosen from phytoalexins or PR proteins.

24) Plant cell transformed by a system or a vector according to one of claims 13 to 23.

25) Cell according to claim 24, characterized in that it is a vine cell. 39

26) Cell according to one of claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the gene of interest is a gene for resistance to a parasite.

27) Process for obtaining a plant cell, characterized in that a plant cell is transformed using a microbiological process including a system or vector according to one of claims 13 to 23.

28) Process for obtaining a plant expressing a gene of interest, characterized in that plant cells of said plants are transformed using a system or a vector according to one of claims 13 to 23, the cells expressing the gene of interest are selected and a plant is regenerated from said selected cells.

29) Plant comprising a system or a vector according to one of claims 13 to 23.

30) Plant comprising cells according to one of claims 24 to 26.

31) Plant obtained by the implementation of a method according to claim 28.