Plant selectable markers and reporter genes

In recent years, considerable progress has been made in genetic engineering of various plant species, both agronomically important crops as well as mo del plants. The bases of this progress were, in addition to efficient trans formation methods, the design of appropriate signals regulating transgene e xpression and the use of selection marker or reporter genes. In most cases, a gene of interest is introduced into plants in association with a selecta ble marker gene (nptII, hpt, acc3, aadA, bar, pat). Recovery of a transgeni c plant is, therefore, facilitated by selection of putative transformants o n a medium containing a selection agent, such as antibiotic (nptII, hpt, ac c3, aadA), antimetabolite (Afr), herbicide (bar, pat), etc. On the other ha nd, use of reporter genes (cat, lacZ, uidA, luc, gfp) allows not only to di stinguish transformed and non-transformed plants, but first of all to study regulation of different cellular processes. In particular, by employing vi tal markers (Luc, GFP) gene expression, protein localization and intracellu lar protein traffic can be now observed in situ, without the need of destro ying plant.