20 Years of Legislation - How Australia Has Responded to the Challenge of Regulating Genetically Modified Organisms in the Clinic

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In contrast to the prior voluntary system, since 2001, gene technology in Australia has been regulated under a legislated national Gene Technology Regulatory Scheme which is administered by the Gene Technology Regulator.

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The Scheme provides science-based assessment of the potential risks of gene technology to the health and safety of people and the environment.

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It complements the role of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration which regulates all therapeutic products in Australia to ensure they are safe and effective.

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Recent reforms to the Scheme contribute to, and anticipate, the continued safe development and delivery of gene-based human therapeutics in Australia as a successful model for other jurisdictions.

Regulation of GM Organisms for Invasive Species Control

Invasive species can cause significant harm to the environment, agriculture, and human health, but there are often very limited tools available to control their populations. Gene drives (GD) have been proposed as a new tool which could be used to control or eliminate such species. Here, GD describes a variety of molecular biology applications which all enable the introduction of genetic elements at a higher than expected frequency. These elements can change the genotypes in target populations rapidly with consequences either for (intrinsic) fitness or host-parasite interaction, or both. Beneficial applications are foreseen for human and animal health, agriculture, or nature conservation. This rapidly developing technology is likely to have major impacts in the fight against various diseases, pests, and invasive species. The majority of GD applications involve genetic engineering and novel traits. Therefore, applicants and GMO regulators need to interact to achieve the benefits in innovation while cautiously avoiding unacceptable risks. The release into the environment may include transboundary movement and replacement of target populations, with potential impact on human/animal health and the environment. This article summarizes knowledge-based discussions to identify information gaps and analyzes scenarios for responsible introduction of GD organisms into the environment. It aims to connect the latest scientific developments with regulatory approaches and decision-making.

Alpha-Phenyl-n-tert-butyl-nitrone attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuronal injury in the neonatal rat brain

Although white matter damage is a fundamental neuropathological feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), the motor and cognitive deficits observed later in infants with PVL indicate the possible involvement of cerebral neuronal dysfunction. Using a previously developed rat model of white matter injury induced by cerebral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, we investigated whether LPS exposure also results in neuronal injury in the neonatal brain and whether alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN), an antioxidant, offers protection against LPS-induced neuronal injury. A stereotactic intracerebral injection of LPS (1 mg/kg) was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal day 5) and control rats were injected with sterile saline. LPS exposure resulted in axonal and neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex as indicated by elevated expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein, altered axonal length and width, and increased size of cortical neuronal nuclei. LPS exposure also caused loss of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental areas of the rat brain. Treatments with PBN (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced LPS-induced neuronal and axonal damage. The protection of PBN was associated with an attenuation of oxidative stress induced by LPS as indicated by the reduced number of 4-hydroxynonenal, malondialdehyde or nitrotyrosine positive cells in the cortical area following LPS exposure, and with the reduction in microglial activation stimulated by LPS. The finding that an inflammatory environment may cause both white matter and neuronal injury in the neonatal brain supports the possible anatomical correlate for the intellectual deficits and the other cortical and deep gray neuronal dysfunctions associated with PVL. The protection of PBN may indicate the potential usefulness of antioxidants for treatment of these neuronal dysfunctions.

A rust-inducible gene from flax (fis1) is involved in proline catabolism

A gene fis1 from flax (Linum usitatissimum), which is induced in mesophyll cells at the site of rust (Melampsora lini) infection, is also expressed in vascular tissue, particularly in floral structures of healthy plants. This paper reports that the promoter controlling this expression is contained within 282 bp 5' to the coding region and that fis1 gene induction is specifically by the rust pathogen and not by other fungal pathogens or by wounding. The fis1 gene has 73% homology with an Arabidopsis gene which encodes delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH) which is a part of the proline degradation pathway. Transgenic flax plants that either over-express fis1 or show reduced fis1 expression due to RNA-mediated gene silencing have an unaltered morphology. However, plants with reduced fis1 expression have markedly increased sensitivity to exogenous proline and show alteration in epidermal cell morphology, callose deposition and the production of hydrogen peroxide during proline-induced death. These lines, which show a biologically significant level of fis1 suppression, have an unaltered reaction to either virulent or avirulent rust infections, as do fis1 over-expression lines. These data indicate that the fis1 gene plays a role in proline metabolism and most likely encodes for a P5CDH enzyme. However, the precise role of fis1 and P5C catabolism in the development of rust disease remains unclear.

Characterisation of manganese superoxide dismutase from Phytophthora nicotianae

Three polypeptides with manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity were found in mycelium, zoospores and germinated cysts of Phytophthora nicotianae. Their relative molecular weights in non-denaturing gels were approximately 34.5, 36 and 50 kDa. No evidence for the presence of either iron or copper/zinc SODs was detected at any of the developmental stages examined. The level of activity of the MnSOD polypeptides was similar in mycelia and spores. Degenerate PCR was used to amplify partial genes of two different MnSODs, designated PnMnSODI and PnMnSOD2, from P. nicotianae. Southern blot analysis indicated that there are two PnMnSOD1 genes in the P. nicotianae genome. Full length sequence was obtained for one of these genes, PnMnSOD1a, from a P. nicotianae bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library. RNA blots probed with PnMnSOD1 showed similar levels of expression in vegetative and sporulating hyphae, lower levels in germinated cysts and no detectable expression in zoospores. PnMnSOD1a had 96%, 97 % and 99 % amino acid identity with homologous genes from P. ramorum, P. infestans and P. sojae, respectively. The second gene cloned from P. nicotianae, PnMnSOD2, had only 38 % amino acid identity with PnMnSOD1a and was homologous to MnSODs that possessed an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence in Phytophthora species and other eukaryotes. Southern blots indicated that there is one copy of PnMnSOD2 in the P. nicotianae genome. PnMnSOD2 was expressed at similar levels in mycelia and germinated cysts but PnMnSOD2 transcripts were not detectable in zoospores.

Comparative analysis in cereals of a key proline catabolism gene

Proline accumulation and catabolism play significant roles in adaptation to a variety of plant stresses including osmotic stress, drought, temperature, freezing, UV irradiation, heavy metals and pathogen infection. In this study, the gene Delta1 -pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), which catalyzes the second step in the conversion of proline to glutamate, is characterized in a number of cereal species. P5CDH genes from hexaploid wheat, Triticum turgidum (durum wheat), Aegilops tauschii, Triticum monococcum, barley, maize and rice were shown to be conserved in terms of gene structure and sequence, present as a single copy per haploid, non-polyploid genome and located in evolutionarily conserved linkage groups. A wheat cDNA sequence was shown by yeast complementation to encode a functional P5CDH activity. A divergently-transcribed rab7 gene was identified immediately 5' of P5CDH in all grasses examined, except rice. The rab7/P5CDH intergenic region in these species, which presumably encompasses 5' regulatory elements of both genes, showed a distinct pattern of sequence evolution with sequences in juxtaposition to each ORF conserved between barley, wheat, A. tauschii and T. monococcum. More distal 5' sequence in this intergenic region showed a higher rate of divergence, with no homology observed between these regions in the wheat and barley genomes. Maize and rice showed no similarity in regions 5' of P5CDH when compared with wheat, barley, and each other, apart from a 22 bp region of conserved non-coding sequence (CNS) that is similar to a proline response element identified in the promoter of the Arabidopsis proline dehydrogenase gene. A palindromic motif similar to this cereal CNS was also identified 5' of the Arabidopsis AtP5CDH gene showing conservation of this sequence in monocot and dicot lineages.

Gene transfer to plants by diverse species of bacteria

Agrobacterium is widely considered to be the only bacterial genus capable of transferring genes to plants. When suitably modified, Agrobacterium has become the most effective vector for gene transfer in plant biotechnology. However, the complexity of the patent landscape has created both real and perceived obstacles to the effective use of this technology for agricultural improvements by many public and private organizations worldwide. Here we show that several species of bacteria outside the Agrobacterium genus can be modified to mediate gene transfer to a number of diverse plants. These plant-associated symbiotic bacteria were made competent for gene transfer by acquisition of both a disarmed Ti plasmid and a suitable binary vector. This alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated technology for crop improvement, in addition to affording a versatile 'open source' platform for plant biotechnology, may lead to new uses of natural bacteria-plant interactions to achieve plant transformation.

A plant gene up-regulated at rust infection sites

Expression of the fis1 gene from flax (Linum usitatissimum) is induced by a compatible rust (Melampsora lini) infection. Infection of transgenic plants containing a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene under the control of the fis1 promoter showed that induction is highly localized to those leaf mesophyll cells within and immediately surrounding rust infection sites. The level of induction reflects the extent of fungal growth. In a strong resistance reaction, such as the hypersensitive fleck mediated by the L6 resistance gene, there is very little fungal growth and a microscopic level of GUS expression. Partially resistant flax leaves show levels of GUS expression that were intermediate to the level observed in the fully susceptible infection. Sequence and deletion analysis using both transient Agrobacterium tumefaciens expression and stable transformation assays have shown that the rust-inducible fis1 promoter is contained within a 580-bp fragment. Homologs of fis1 were identified in expressed sequence tag databases of a range of plant species including dicots, monocots, and a gymnosperm. Homologous genes isolated from maize (Zea mays; mis1), barley (Hordeum vulgare; bis1), wheat (Triticum aestivum; wis1), and Arabidopsis encode proteins that are highly similar (76%-82%) to the FIS1 protein. The Arabidopsis homologue has been reported to encode a delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase that is involved in the catabolism of proline to glutamate. RNA-blot analysis showed that mis1 in maize and the bis1 homolog in barley are both up-regulated by a compatible infection with the corresponding species-specific rust. The rust-induced genes homologous to fis1 are present in many plants. The promoters of these genes have potential roles for the engineering of synthetic rust resistance genes by targeting transgene expression to the sites of rust infection.

Total synthesis of everninomicin 13,384-1--Part 4: explorations of methodology; stereocontrolled synthesis of 1,1'-disaccharides, 1,2-seleno migrations in carbohydrates, and solution- and solid-phase synthesis of 2-deoxy glycosides and orthoesters

Methods for the stereocontrolled construction of 1,1'-disaccharides, 2-deoxy glycosides, and orthoesters are reported. Specifically, a tin-acetal moiety was utilized to fix the anomeric stereochemistry of a carbohydrate acceptor leading to an efficient and stereoselective synthesis of 1,1'-disaccharides, while a newly discovered 1,2-phenylseleno migration reaction in carbohydrates opened entries to 2-deoxy glycosides and orthoesters. Thus, reaction of 2-hydroxy phenylselenoglycosides with DAST led to 2-phenylselenoglycosyl fluorides which reacted with carbohydrate acceptors to afford, stereoselectively, 2-phenylselenoglycosides. The latter compounds could be reductively deselenated to 2-deoxy glycosides or oxidatively converted to orthoesters via the corresponding ketene acetals.

Total synthesis of everninomicin 13,384-1--Part 1: retrosynthetic analysis and synthesis of the A1B(A)C fragment

In this first of a series of four articles we introduce everninomicin 13,384-1 (1), a powerful antibiotic effective against drug resistant bacteria, as a target for total synthesis and discuss its retrosynthetic analysis. From the three defined fragments required for the synthesis (2: A1B(A)C fragment; 4: DE fragment; 5: FGHA2 fragment), we describe herein two approaches to the A1B(A)C block. The first strategy relied on an olefin metathesis reaction to construct a common intermediate for rings B and C, but was faced with final protecting group problems. The second, and successful approach, involved a 1,2-phenylsulfeno migration and a sulfur directed glycosidation procedure to link rings B and C, as well as an acyl fluoride intermediate to install the sterically hindered aryl ester moiety (ring A1). The final stages of the synthesis of the required 2-phenylseleno glycosyl fluoride 2 required introduction of a phenylseleno group at C-1 of ring C followed by a novel, DAST-promoted 1,2-migration to produce the desired 2-beta-phenylseleno glycosyl fluoride moiety.

Total synthesis of everninomicin 13,384-1--Part 3: synthesis of the DE fragment and completion of the total synthesis

The stereoselective construction of the DE fragment (2) of everninomicin 13,384-1 (1) is reported. From the two possible ways of inserting the DE fragment between the A1B(A)C and FGHA2 domains of the natural product, the sequence involving the DEFGHA2 segment was found to be the most viable. This coupling was followed by attachment of a suitably protected and activated A1B(A)C fragment which led, after orthoester construction and final deprotection to the targeted everninomicin 13,384-1 (1), completing the total synthesis of this complex naturally occurring substance.

Total synthesis of everninomicin 13,384-1--Part 2: synthesis of the FGHA2 fragment

The stereoselective synthesis of everninomicin's 13,384-1 (1) FGHA2 fragment (2) in a suitable form for incorporation into the final target (1) is described. The construction of the FG 1,1'-disaccharide linkage relied on a new method based on tin-acetal chemistry, while for the GH orthoester bridge, a number of approaches were explored. Final success for the latter construction came when a novel 1,2-phenylseleno migration reaction was applied to couple rings G and H, followed by ketene acetal and orthoester formation.

Use of molecular cytology to study the structure and biology of phytopathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi

Molecular cytology, that is, the in situ localization of selected molecules by labeling with lectins, enzymes, and antibodies, has made a major contribution to our understanding of the structure and biology of fungi and is increasingly becoming an integral part of molecular, genetic, and biochemical studies. The review presented in this article concentrates on recent advances in the application of molecular cytology in investigations of the structure and biology of phytopathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi and of the molecular basis of their infection of host plants. The review examines details of the structure and molecular composition of fungal cell walls revealed by lectin, enzyme, and antibody labeling. Molecular composition is shown to vary according to taxonomic relationships and as a reflection of differences in cell type, location within the cell, and within thickness of the wall. Sites of synthesis and secretion of wall components are also detected through the labeling of selected molecules. In situ labeling of cytoskeletal elements, microtubules and actin microfilaments, has provided much information on the role of these elements in tip growth, organelle distribution, and spore development. Molecular cytology, particularly through the generation of monoclonal antibodies, has also revealed new and exciting information on specialized infection structures formed by fungi in order to infect host plants. The sites of storage and secretion of adhesives and degradative enzymes have been documented, as have surface specializations that may be associated with avoidance of detection by the host. In addition, in situ labeling with enzymes and antibodies has aided studies of the host defense response, including mechanisms of detection of fungal elicitor molecules, changes in wall composition, and the secretion of antifungal compounds. With the increasing production of monoclonal antibodies to fungal molecules, molecular cytology promises to continue to make an important contribution to our understanding of fungal cell structure and function in the future.