Transgenic plants expressing bacterial genes as a model system for plant functional genomics

The functional analysis of plant genes employs various comprehensive approaches that include transcriptome analysis using microchips, gene knockout, RNA interference, and various experimental models. We have proposed a novel experimental model approach for plant functional genomics. It is based on creating and studying transgenic plants that express bacterial genes which are functionally similar to plant genes. The validity of this approach owes to the similarity of basic pro- and eukaryotic metabolic pathways and gene networks controlling the functioning of these organisms under normal conditions and in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Our studies using molecular biology, physiology and biochemistry methods have demonstrated adequateness of the proposed strategy. It allows the modeling of processes taking place in the plant cell and differential assessment of contribution of individual enzymes. Our results indicate that the proposed approach is highly effective for functional genomics, namely, for determining the function of a gene product in vivo. The experimental data can be further used as a basis for elaboration of gene networks controlling particular physiological processes and stress responses of plants to biotic and abiotic environmental factors.