VirB/D4-Dependent Protein Translocation from Agrobacterium into Plant Cells

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2000-11, Vol.290 (5493), p.979-982
• Main Authors: Vergunst, Annette C., Schrammeijer, Barbara, den Dulk-Ras, Amke, Clementine M. T. de Vlaam, Tonny J. G. Regensburg-Tuïnk, Paul J. J. Hooykaas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AD4 protein; Agrobacterium; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Agrobacterium tumefaciens - genetics; Agrobacterium tumefaciens - metabolism; Agrobacterium tumefaciens - pathogenicity; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis - microbiology; Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Causes of; Cells; Coculture techniques; Cre protein; Crown gall disease; Dams; Delivery Systems; Diseases and pests; DNA; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Drug Resistance; FirF protein; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering; Genetic engineering applications; Genetic technics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Integrases - genetics; Integrases - metabolism; Ion Channels; Kanamycin - pharmacology; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plant cells; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants; Plants (Organisms); Plants, Genetically Modified; Plasmids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Promoter regions; Protein Transport; Proteins; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism; recombinase; Salmon; TATA box; Transgenic animals and transgenic plants; Transgenic plants; Viral Proteins; VirB protein; VirE2 protein; Virulence; Virulence (Microbiology); Virulence Factors
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.290.5493.979

The Agrobacterium VirB/D4 transport system mediates the transfer of a nucleoprotein T complex into plant cells, leading to crown gall disease. In addition, several Virulence proteins must somehow be transported to fulfill a function in planta. Here, we used fusions between Cre recombinase and VirE2 or VirF to directly demonstrate protein translocation into plant cells. Transport of the proteins was monitored by a Cre-mediated in planta recombination event resulting in a selectable phenotype and depended on the VirB/D4 transport system but did not require transferred DNA.