Using vectors derived from tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and TBSV defective interfering RNAs (DIs)

This unit describes principles and protocols for expressing a gene of interest in plant cells using gene vectors that are derived from an infectious full-length cDNA plasmid of the tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) genomic RNA, and from defective interfering RNAs (DIs). The TBSV gene vector system permits convenient cloning, allows modification and abundant expression of the gene of interest, and facilitates biosecure containment of the gene vectors. These vectors can be employed for functional genomics studies and for analyzing the biochemical properties and subcellular distribution of expressed RNAs and/or their cognate proteins. As with other plant virus gene vectors, recombination and deletion of the gene of interest during virus multiplication limits the application of the TBSV gene vectors to the inoculated cells or leaves.