Affiliated Scientists:
Director, Plant Transformation Core Facility
Email: zhangzh@missouri.edu
Phone: (573) 882-6922
Fax: (573) 882-1469
RESEARCH INTEREST
Plant Genetic Engineering; Soybean transformation
The primary research goal in my laboratory is to develop cutting-edge transgene technologies for soybean (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays). My research focus is on developing high-throughput transformation processes for soybean and maize and efficient gene regulation in complex genome such as soybean. I am also interested in soybean functional genomics employing reverse genetics tools.
RESEARCH
My current research falls into three major areas:
Improvement of Transformation System
Improvement of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays) is our continuous endower. This research area includes the improvement of T-DNA integration efficiency and quality. The success in this area will make it possible to produce a large number of transgenic soybean lines through transformation-based mutagenesis or RNAi for the discovery of huge number of soybean genes and accelerate soybean engineering efforts. Transformation of maize inbred lines is highly desirable but has been very inefficient worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to develop efficient maize inbred transformation systems using simple binary vector system.
Efficient RNAi for Gene Regulation
Efficient gene regulation in complex genome background such as soybean represents a new challenge in transgene technology. RNAi technology has been shown to be a powerful tool to accomplish this goal. Our current focus is on design and implement of efficient RNAi in soybean. We are now exploring several strategies in improving the efficacy of RNAi in this crop. The experience and lessons we learn from down-regulation of several important soybean genes should be applicable for regulation of other genes in soybean. In addition, transgenic soybean lines developed in these studies can be used as breeding materials for soybean trait improvement.
Functional Genomics
Transposon mutagenesis has been demonstrated to have a great utility in tagging genes in the plant genome. We are now actively collaborating on this project with several other institutions. Our goal is to tag a large number of soybean genes with special interest in seed traits. Tagged genes will be mapped to the soybean physical map. Mutant soybean lines and genes whose functions are identified in this study will be a good resource for the soybean research community.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Lee BK, Yu SH, Kim YH, Hur HS, Choi SH, Lee SC, Zhang Z, Lee JY. 2005. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Perilla (Perilla frutescens Britt). Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture (accepted).
Zeng P, Vadnais D, Zhang Z, Polacco J. 2004. Refined glufosinate selection in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Plant Cell Reports. 22:478-482.
Paz M, Shou H, Guo Z, Zhang Z, Banerjee A, Wang K. 2004. Assessment of conditions affecting Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation using the cotyledonary node explant. Euphytica 136:167-179.
Frame B, Shou H, Chikwamba R, Zhang Z, Xiang C, Fonger T, Pegg SE, Li B, Nettleton D, Pei D, Wang K. 2002. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize embryos using a standard binary vector system. Plant Physiology. 129:13-22.
Staswick PE, Zhang Z, Clemente TE, E. Specht JE. 2001. Efficient down regulation of the major vegetative storage protein genes in transgenic soybean does not compromise plant productivity. Plant Physiology. 127:1819-1826.
Zhang Z, Guo Z, Shou H, Pegg SE, Clemente TE, Staswick PE, Wang K. 2000. Assessment of conditions affecting Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation and routine recovery of transgenic soybean. In: Plant Genetic Engineering: Toward the Third Millennium, A.D. Arenciba (ed), Elsevier Science B.V. (Amsterdam), pp88-94.
Xing A, Zhang Z, Sato S, Staswick PE, Clemente TE. 2000. The use of the two T-DNA binary system to derive marker-free transgenic soybeans. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant 36:456-463.
Zhang Z, Xing A, Staswick PE, Clemente TE. 1999. The use of glufosinate as a selective agent in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean. Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture 56:37-46.
Zhang Z, Coyne DP, Vidaver AK, Mitra A. 1998. Expression of human lactoferrin cDNA confers resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in transgenic tobacco plants. Phytopathology 88:730-734.
Mitra A, Zhang Z. 1994. Expression of human lactoferrin cDNA in tobacco cells produces antibacterial protein(s). Plant Physiology 106:977-981.
Selected Presentations
Moore L, Kennon A, Zhang Z. 2004. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize inbred lines using simple binary vectors. LSUROP and Monsanto Internship Program, University of Missouri-Columbia (Poster).
Cawly J, Palanichelvam K, Zhang Z, Schoelz J. 2004. Development of an RNAi assay for the analysis of resistance gene homologs in plants. Missouri Life Science Week, University of Missouri-Columbia. (Poster).
Zhang Z. 2002. Current status of soybean transformation technologies and its implications to soybean research. 18th North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and 20th Annual Missouri Plant Biology Symposium. University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO. (Invited talk).
Frame B, Zhang Z, Shou H, Chikwamba R, Xiang CB, Li B, Fonger T, Pegg SE, Wang K. 2001. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize Hi-II immature zygotic embryos using a simple binary vector system. 2001 Congress on In Vitro Biology. St. Louis, MO.
Zhang Z. Xing A, Clemente TE, Staswick PE. 2000. Faithful expression from an integrated soybean VSP promoter in transgenic soybean [Glycine max (L.)]. Plant Biology 2000, San Diego, CA.
Zhang Z, Xing A, Clemente TE, Staswick PE. 1998. Down regulation of soybean vegetative storage protein genes in transgenic soybean. 8th Gatlinburg Sy
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