Abstract: A method for the production of transgenic plants is provided in which a vector carrying a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein is introduced into cells, the cells are screened for the protein and transformed cells are selected and regenerated. The cellular toxicity of the green fluorescent protein is circumvented by regulating expression of the gene encoding the protein or directing the protein to a subcellular compartment where it is not toxic to the cell. DNA constructs are provided for cell transformation in which the expression of a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein is placed under the control of an inducible promoter. In addition, DNA constructs are provided in which a nucleotide sequence encoding the green fluorescent protein is operably linked to a signal sequence which directs the expressed protein to a subcellular compartment where the protein is not toxic to the cell.

Abstract: An improvement in the process of transporting biological materials into living cells by bombarding the cells with microprojectile particles coated with biological material. In the improved process prior to coating of the particles such as tungsten beads for example, with biological material such as DNA, the particles are first pretreated with a strong inorganic acid such as nitric acid.