Selectable marker for transgenic plants

Abstract

Methods of generating transgenic plants containing a gene of interest and a selectable marker encoding an enzyme that catalyzes oxidation of phosphite to phosphate.

1 . A method of generating a transgenic plant, the method comprising:
 selecting for transformation of a plant or plant part with a gene of interest based on co-transformation of the plant or plant part with a selectable marker encoding an enzyme that catalyzes oxidation of phosphite to phosphate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant or plant part includes a tissue explant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is a bacterial enzyme. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is a phosphite dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the phosphite dehydrogenase is PtxD of  Pseudomonas stutzeri  (SEQ ID NO:1), an analog or derivative of PtxD of SEQ ID NO:1, or a PtxD-like homolog. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting includes a step of contacting the plant or plant part with a medium containing phosphite. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the medium contains phosphite as a primary or exclusive source of phosphorus. 
     
     
         8 . A method of generating a transgenic plant, the method comprising:
 contacting plant cells with a composition including a gene of interest and a selectable marker such that both the gene of interest and the selectable maker are introduced into each of one or more of the plant cells, the selectable marker encoding an enzyme that catalyzes oxidation of phosphite to phosphate; and   selecting for introduction of the selectable marker into the plant cells based on an ability to grow in a medium containing phosphite.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of contacting includes a step of contacting the plant cells with  Agrobacterium  cells each containing the gene of interest and the selectable marker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme is a bacterial enzyme. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme is a phosphite dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the phosphite dehydrogenase is PtxD of  Pseudomonas stutzeri  (SEQ ID NO:1), an analog or derivative of PtxD of SEQ ID NO:1, or a PtxD-like homolog. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plant cells are provided by a tissue explant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of regenerating the tissue explant into a transgenic plant carrying the gene of interest. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plant cells are provided by a whole plant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the medium contains phosphite as a primary or exclusive source of phosphorus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of contacting includes a step of firing projectiles at the plant cells, and wherein the projectiles carry the gene of interest and the selectable marker. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the gene of interest and the selectable marker are attached to each other before the step of contacting.