Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
et al.
2011
). Tissue culture is growing at a mature level in the area of gene transfer
and development of transgenics (Murashige
1974
; Kishinami and Widholm
1987
;
Datta et al.
1992
; Jiang and Berg
1995
; Husaini and Abdin
2008
; Vieira and Camilo
2011
; Cha et al.
2011
). There are
physical methods
(electroporation, particle
bombardment, microinjection, etc.), direct gene transfer techniques (protoplast
fusion, transfection), gene transfer using plasma membrane destabilizing/precipi-
tating agents (chemicals that facilitate the gene transfer through the cell membrane,
e.g., polyethylene glycol 6000, polyvinyl alcohol, NaNO
3
, DEAE, dextran, and
DMSO) (Ito et al.
1983
; Ruzin and McCarthy
1986
; Hayashimoto et al.
1990
;
Potrykus
1991
;O
'
Neill et al.
1993
; Hoffmann-Tsay et al.
1994
; De Rosa and La
Rotonda
2009
; Akhter et al.
2011
), and natural means of gene transfer such as the
use of
Agrobacterium
species (Jun et al.
2008
). Although these conventional
methods are effective in gene transfer, their efficiency is compromised over the
speed in physical methods, whereas excessive use of chemicals in chemical
methods damages the DNA and cells (Husaini and Abdin
2008
).
The effective utilization of any crop species in plant biotechnology research
depends on the development of effective and reproducible methods for regenera-
tion. The success of gene transfer methods depends on the possibility to transform a
cell or tissue, which can be regenerated into a complete plant. While for some
species regeneration protocols have not been optimized, for others the regeneration
protocols are optimized, but gene transfer methods have not been established or, if
available, they are just suited for some genotypes. There is a need to overcome
these genotype dependence concerning methods for regeneration and/or transfor-
mation in many species.
The main aim of this review is to highlight the investigation of successive
transformation of genes by using nanoparticles.
A new era of novel nanotechnology was successfully adopted as main or
adjuvant technologies in genetic transformation. Numerous recent reports are
indicative of significant contributions of these novel technologies in gene transfer
to the plant tissues and their culture techniques. In this chapter, we have discussed
in detail about the nanoparticles as novel nanotechnology-based biotransformation
systems for gene delivery in plants. Moreover, we will also describe in brief about
commonly used gene transfer approaches and their limitations. Additionally, we
will try to postulate innovative ideas on the footprints of established nanotechnol-
ogy- and chemical-based strategy for improved efficiency, reproducibility, and
accuracy of biotransformation.
10.2 Bioconjugation of Nanoparticles with Nucleic Acid
Bioconjugation is the chemical strategy to conjugate two biomolecules together.
Understanding of bioconjugation process has enabled applications of biomolecules
to numerous fields like medicine, agriculture, and materials. Functional groups on
cross-linking reagents aid the reactive groups of biomolecules
to couple
(Hermanson
2008
). Several modification and functionalization strategies provide
