The pat gene,originally isolated from Streptomyces Viridochromogenes Tu494 (11),encodes the phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) which catalyzes
the acetylation of herbicide phosphinothricin and confers tolerance to this herbicide (used as a selectable marker). Transcription of the pat gene was controlled with a regulatory element consisting of the maize ubiquitin 1 promoter plus exon1 and intron1 (ZmUbi1) (12). As with the Cry1F(synpro) encoding sequences, polyadenylation sequences were derived from the bidirectional ORF25 terminator from pTil5955.
Mediates a tolerance to the herbicide phosphinotricin (glufosinate).
A number of soil bacteria naturally posess the pat gene. It enables them to degrade phosphinotricin (glufosinate) in the soil.
In 1988, the pat gene was successfully isolated from bacteria and transferred to plants by means of genetic engineering. Transgenic plants expressing the pat gene are able to degrade the herbicide agent phospinotricin (glufosinate).
Scientific name of the pat gene: phosphinotricin acetyltransferase gene