sion, Agracetus molecular biologists Maliyakal E. John and Greg Keller cloned the genes for the enzymes along with the gene for a marker protein. To localize PHB synthesis, they included a cotton promoter that turns on the reductase gene only in the fiBy introducing into cotton seed bacterial bers. They then coated the chimeric clones genes that code for enzymes involved in onto gold microparticles and "shot" them the synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate into germinating cotton seeds, using a tech(PHB), scientists at Agracetus, a unit of nique called particle bombardment. Monsanto in Middletown, Wis., have en"We used a device called a gene gun gineered cotton fibers that express this that fires the microparticles at high venatural thermoplastic polymer. locity toward the target tissue," says The hybrid fibers have improved ther- John. "When a particle lodges in a cell, mal properties, including slower rates of the cell takes up the DNA by some unheat uptake and dissipation and higher known mechanism, leaving the gold parheat capacity [Proc. Natl. Acad. Set., 93, ticle alone," he explains. 12768(1996)]. In practice, 5,000 to 10,000 germinating Bacteria synthesize PHB from acetyl co- seeds are bombarded to produce 10 to 20 enzyme A in a multistep process that re- transgenic plants. "The numbers appear quires three enzymes—p-ketothiolase, ace- small, but that's what you normally get with toacetyl coenzyme A reductase, and poly- this procedure," John says. Plantlets that exhydroxyalkanoate synthase. Cotton plants press the marker protein are grown to macontain the starting material and the thio- turity. Transformed plants pass along recombinant genes to their progeny. lase, but lack the other two enzymes. The cotton experiment netted eight To endow the plants with the missing pair of enzymes and to track their expres- transgenic plants carrying all the recombi-
Cotton fibers engineered to make thermoplastic polymer
nant genes. Because PHB is synthesized in the hollow of the fibers, it doesn't interfere with the architecture of their cellulosic cell walls, which retain their structural integrity as the growing fibers elongate. Confining synthesis of PHB to the fiber avoids the stunting effects on growth and seed production observed in a weedlike transgenic plant crossbred to synthesize PHB, the researchers note. Thus far, the team has produced only minute amounts of engineered fibers, with just small improvements in thermal properties. But the recombinant feat represents an important step toward producing new-generation fibers for the textile industry, by showing that it's feasible to imbue cotton fibers with new traits. The work also validates the utility of particle bombardment in genetic engineering, John notes. In a few years, researchers will want to clone and express several genes simultaneously, he explains, because they will seek to engineer pathways that involve multiple genes. "And now we have the capability to do that in plants." Mairin Brennan
'Cold fusion' device hits the market
and help us understand the novel fundamental nuclear reactions that don't proLadies and gentlemen: Now you can nuclear engineering at the University of duce any harmful nuclear by-products." Reding tells C&EN that the company create metals in your very own labora- Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Their detory! Change nickel into iron, silver, cop- scription of the device's nuclear transmu- launched the kits on Nov. 10 and had orper, magnesium, chromium, and other tations was just published in Infinite En- ders for 60 within three days. But some elements—without messy radioactive ergy, a magazine devoted to promoting skeptical scientists say they don't need any cold fusion. equipment to reach a conclusion on the by-products! "We don't understand the mechanism," validity of CETI's claims. Watch for yourself as the amazing "They have simply misread the obvielectrolytic cell transmutes elements and says CETI President and Chief Executive produces heat! Be the first to figure out Officer James W. Reding. "We're selling the ous evidence that extended electrolysis how the low-temperature nuclear reac- kits to get the technology out into other results in a significant level of contaminapeople's labs so they can prove it is real tion of the microspheres," nuclear phystion works! icist Richard A. Blue tells That's right, for only $3,750 anyone can | C&EN. Retired from the Naown the Patterson Power Cell research kit, « tional Superconducting Cyproduced by Clean Energy Technologies | clotron Laboratory at MichiInc. (CETI) based in Dallas. The system was t gan State University, East discussed last month in Hokkaido, Japan, at 2 Lansing, Blue has followed the 6th International Conference on Cold £ the cold fusion controversy Fusion and was on display last week at the for years. American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Technology Expo in Washington, D.C. "Any knowledgeable person can confirm that the CETI was founded in 1995 to exploit data presented by Miley and the patented technology developed by inPatterson demonstrate the dustrial chemist James A. Patterson, the presence of silicon, calcium, firm's chairman of the board and chief scititanium, and chromium in entist. His cell electrolyzes a lithium sulfate the proper natural abunsolution as it flows past tiny polymer dance ratios," Blue continbeads coated with nickel or palladium or ues. "Once you accept that both. The device produces excess heat fact, their argument in favor and transmutes the metal coating the miof transmutations goes out crospheres, CETI claims. the window." Recently, Patterson has been collaborating with George H. Miley, professor of Patterson with a new version of his power cell. Pamela Zurer NOVEMBER 18, 1996 C&EN 9
