Transient Expression in Protoplasts
This protocol was adapted from “How to Study Gene Function,” Chapter 8, in Arabidopsis: A Laboratory Manual (eds. Weigel and Glazebrook). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2002.INTRODUCTION
The study of transient gene expression provides a useful complement to the study of stably transformed plants. Transient assays offer a quick method of testing the effects of genes, using either phenotypic, molecular, or biochemical readouts. Transient assays based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of leaf explants have been described for other plant species, but it is not known how well these assays work in Arabidopsis. Alternatives include transient expression in protoplasts or in regenerating roots. The latter is especially suitable for investigating root-specific gene function.
