Protocols & Tools
A key role of the Center and its participants has been to develop robust and efficient systems for genetic engineering and regeneration of soybean from tissue culture. Here are the protocols we have developed:
- Regeneration via somatic embryogenesis
- Microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation of embryogenic cultures
- Transformation of embryogenic cultures on solid D20 medium
- SAAT – Sonication Assisted Agrobacterium Transformation
- KYRT1, an Agrobacterium strain for soybean transformation
- Freezing soybean seed for long-term storage
Promoter Discovery
Promoters are necessary to control the expression of engineered genes. Accordingly, center members have tested various promoters to determine their eventual usefulness to develop improved soybean varieties. Lately, microarray expression data from soybean somatic embryos has been used to isolate new promoters which will be useful to engineer improved seed composition traits in soybean.
Transgenics
Finally, Center members have evaluated several different genes to determine their potential for use in development of better soybean varieties. Here are some examples:
