Recombinase technology: applications and possibilities

The use of recombinases for genomic engineering is no longer a new technology. In fact, this technology has entered its third decade since the initial discovery that recombinases function in heterologous systems (Sauer in Mol Cell Biol 7(6):2087–2096, 1987). The random insertion of a transgene into a plant genome by traditional methods generates unpredictable expression patterns. This feature of transgenesis makes screening for functional lines with predictable expression labor intensive and time consuming. Furthermore, an antibiotic resistance gene is often left in the final product and the potential escape of such resistance markers into the environment and their potential consumption raises consumer concern. The use of site-specific recombination technology in plant genome manipulation has been demonstrated to effectively resolve complex transgene insertions to single copy, remove unwanted DNA, and precisely insert DNA into known genomic target sites. Recombinases have also been demonstrated capable of site-specific recombination within non-nuclear targets, such as the plastid genome of tobacco. Here, we review multiple uses of site-specific recombination and their application toward plant genomic engineering. We also provide alternative strategies for the combined use of multiple site-specific recombinase systems for genome engineering to precisely insert transgenes into a pre-determined locus, and removal of unwanted selectable marker genes

Magnetic fields and differential rotation on the pre-main sequence - III. The early-G star HD 106506

We present the photometry and spectropolarimetry of the pre-main-sequence star HD 106506. A photometric rotational period of ∾1.416 ± 0.133 d has been derived using observations at Mount Kent Observatory (MKO). Spectropolarimetric data obtained with the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) were used to derive spot occupancy and magnetic maps of the star through the technique of Zeeman Doppler imaging (ZDI). The resulting brightness maps indicate that HD 106506 displays photospheric spots at all latitudes including a predominant polar spot. Azimuthal and radial magnetic images of this star have been derived, and a significant azimuthal magnetic field is indicated, in line with other active young stars. A solar-like differential rotation law was incorporated into the imaging process. Using Stokes I information the equatorial rotation rate, Ωeq, was found to be 4.54 ± 0.01 rad d-1, with a photospheric shear δΩ of 0.21+0.02-0.03 rad d-1. This equates to an equatorial rotation period of ˜1.39 ± 0.01 d, with the equatorial region lapping the poles every ˜ 30+5-3 d. Using the magnetic features, the equatorial rotation rate, Ωeq, was found to be 4.51 ± 0.01 rad d-1, with a photospheric shear δΩ of 0.24 ± 0.03 rad d-1. This differential rotation is approximately four times that observed on the Sun