Monica
Britton, Eric Brothwell
The
ability of plants to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated
soils could be enhanced through the introduction
of specific genes. In this study, an alkane monooxygenase
(CYP52A3) of the yeast Candida maltosa
was identified as such a suitable gene. A plasmid
was obtained which expresses this monooxygenase
and its corresponding reductase at high levels in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A new plasmid,
suitable for use in transforming plants, is being
constructed and will incorporate these genes driven
by a CaMV 35S promoter, along with a GUS reporter
gene, and kanamycin resistance gene nptII
as a selectable marker. Because of tis ease of transformation,
tobacco will be used to test the plasmid construct.
Subsequently, the construct will be tested in plants
currently used for bioremediation, such as poplars.
