标记基因在植物基因工程中具有重要的作用。它在遗传转化中的关键作用是区分转化和非转化的细胞, 以筛选并鉴定出转化的细胞、组织和转基因植株。目前, 已报道的标记基因种类很多, 划分标准也各不相同。出于对生态环境和转基因食品的生物安全性考虑, 从传统的选择标记基因、与激素代谢相关的基因、与氨基酸代谢相关的基因、与糖类代谢相关的基因、能解除化合物毒性(或胁迫)的基因、编码能产生特定荧光物质的蛋白酶类的基因、利用颜色差异性筛选转化体的相关基因及抗性标记基因的敲除技术八个不同的方面, 综述了标记基因的种类、作用原理、应用价值及存在的问题。在标记基因的综合应用方面, 详细总结了标记基因与组织(或器官)特异性启动子和MAT载体系统的结合应用, 以及b-葡萄糖苷酸酶作为多功能标记基因的综合应用。最后, 对标记基因的发展前景进行了探讨分析。

Marker genes are widely studied and used in plant genetic engineering. To distinguish transformed and untransformed cells and tissues, this review provides a summary of marker genes in terms of classification, working principles, application and problems. Based on biosafety considerations, eight different aspects of marker genes are discussed, including traditional selective marker genes; marker genes related to hormone metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and saccharide metabolism; proteins with detoxifying activity, as well as specific fluorescence proteins, and the knock-out technique of antibiotic marker genes. Marker genes connected with tissue- or organ-specific promoters, the multi-auto- transformation (MAT) vector system and b-glucuronidase as a multifunctional marker gene, as well as the prospects of marker genes are also discussed.