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A negative selection scheme based on the expression of cytosine deaminase in plastids
1Waksman Institute, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855-0759, USA.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|November 14, 1997
Abstract:
The enzyme cytosine deaminase (CD) encoded by codA catalyzes deamination of cytosine to uracil. CD is present in prokaryotes and in many eukaryotic micro-organisms, but is absent in higher plants. 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) is metabolized in CD-expressing cells, causing cellular death. A chimeric codA has been introduced into the tobacco plastid genome and 5FC was used to select against tissue culture cells and seedlings expressing CD. This negative selection scheme will be useful in identifying nuclear genes which control plastid gene expression in higher plants.