Transgenic tobacco plants expressing bacterial genes for thermostable glucanases

It is shown that bacterial genes for thermostable beta -glucanases are expr essed retaining their activity and substrate specificity. The leader peptid e of the carrot extensin exerts effective secretion of the bacterial enzyme s into the intercellular space of the plant tissue. Expression of the bacte rial gene for beta -1,3-glucanase in plant tissues alters their morphogenet ic potential. Regeneration of shoots from the calli of these plant lines re quires a six- to eightfold increase in cytokinin (6-BAP) concentration in c omparison with the control lines and the transgenic lines expressing beta - 1,3-1,4-glucanase. Rooting of transgenic plants expressing the bacterial ge ne for beta -1,3-glucanase occurs much faster. The transgenic plants obtain ed in the study are proposed as model objects for investigating the role of glucanases in plants.