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<strong>EMBO</strong> Plant DNA Repair and Recombination Workshop, Presqu'île de Giens, France 2007<br />

different beta-glucuronidase reporter fusions. We found that the fusion protein resides<br />

primarily in the nuclei of the meristems. Also other DNA repair genes in plants are<br />

primarily expressed in meristematic tissue. This is compatible with the model that repair<br />

genes play a crucial role in assuring fertility and fitness of the progeny. Currently, we are<br />

investigating the effect of different types of stress on the AtMBD4 promotor activity. For<br />

further characterization of AtMBD4, we generated silencing and overexpression lines,<br />

which do not show a phenotype under normal conditions. To determine the impact of<br />

AtMBD4 on mutation frequency, we analyzed plants with different AtMBD4 levels, via a<br />

detection system, developed in our lab. This allows to determine the mutation frequency<br />

of cytosine to thymine via the reactivation of a deactivated GUS gene. Finally, we<br />

investigated whether AtMBD4 plays a role in the signalization of DNA damage caused by<br />

mutagenic agents, as human and mouse MBD4 not only have a function in the recognition<br />

of G:T mismatches, but also play a role in the signalization of DNA damage caused by<br />

different mutagenic agents. The results will be discussed.<br />

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P - 7. Gene targeting in plants via engineered zinc finger proteins<br />

Charles Cai, Vipula Shukla, Fyodor Urnov, Jeffery Miller, Nicole Arnold, Lisa Baker, Teresa<br />

Bauer, Ryan Blue, Dave McCaskill, Jon Mitchell, Matt Simpson, Andrew Worden. Plant<br />

Genetics and Biotechnology, Dow AgroSciences, 46268 Indianapolis, IN, United States<br />

Gene targeting via homologous recombination occurs at a very low frequency in plant<br />

cells compared to random integration making targeted gene modifications impractical.<br />

Most recently, substantial increases in the frequency of homologous recombination have<br />

been observed following the induction of double stranded breaks in host cell DNA<br />

followed by the apparent stimulation of cellular repair mechanisms. Strategies to achieve<br />

targeted DNA double stranded breaks have been developed by fusing sequence-specific<br />

zinc finger DNA binding proteins with sequence-independent nuclease domains derived<br />

from Type IIS restriction endonucleases. Using this strategy, both site-specific transgene<br />

integration and targeted modification of native genes have been demonstrated in plants.<br />

Implications for novel trait development and crop improvement will be discussed.<br />

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P - 8. SITE-DIRECTED HOMOLOGOUS RECOMBINATION IN TOBACCO CELL<br />

CULTURES VIA ZINC FINGER NUCLEASES<br />

Charles Cai, Michael Ainley, Trevor Collingwoo, Robbi Garrison, Lisa Schulenberg, Philip<br />

Gregory, Beth Rubin-Wilson, Joseph Petolino. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dow<br />

AgroSciences, LLC., 46268 Indianapolis, United States<br />

Targeted transgene integration via homologous recombination occurs at a very low<br />

frequency in plant cells compared to random integration, even when the incoming DNA<br />

comprises large stretches of sequence homologous to host DNA. As such, gene targeting<br />

in plants via homologous recombination has not been practical. Most recently, substantial<br />

increases in the frequency of homologous recombination have been observed following<br />

the induction of DNA double stranded breaks in host cells and apparent stimulation of<br />

cellular repair mechanisms. Restriction enzymes whose recognition sites are rare in the<br />

plant genome have been shown to stimulate homologous recombination following the<br />

formation and repair of DNA double stranded breaks in the host DNA. Strategies to<br />

achieve targeted DNA double stranded breaks have been developed by fusing zinc finger<br />

DNA binding proteins with sequence-independent nuclease domains derived from Type II<br />

restriction endonucleases. In the present study, engineered zinc finger proteins fused to<br />

nuclease domains, so-called ‘zinc finger nucleases’, were used to facilitate site-specific<br />

transgene integration via homologous recombination in tobacco cell cultures. A target<br />

DNA sequence was first stably integrated into tobacco cell cultures using Agrobacterium.<br />

This target sequence contained specific zinc finger protein recognition/binding sites,<br />

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