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Pilus assembly by Agrobacterium T-DNA transfer genes

K J Fullner1, J C Lara, E W Nester

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7242, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 23, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Agrobacterium tumefaciens uses pili for transferring DNA to plant cells. Pilus formation requires specific virulence genes and low temperatures, essential for genetic transformation.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Microbiology
  • Plant pathology

Background:

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen that genetically transforms eukaryotic cells.
  • Bacterial pili are known to mediate interbacterial DNA transfer.
  • Pilus formation in Agrobacterium is linked to the expression of virulence genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pili in Agrobacterium tumefaciens DNA transfer to plant cells.
  • To identify the specific genes involved in pilus assembly and function.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of DNA transfer mediated by Agrobacterium pili.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic analysis of Agrobacterium tumefaciens mutants.
  • Assaying pilus formation under various growth conditions.
  • Correlating pilus presence/absence with DNA transfer efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Pilus formation requires induction of tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid virulence genes and low-temperature growth.
  • Virulence genes virA, virG, virB1-virB11, and virD4 are essential for pilus assembly.
  • Loss of pili correlated with loss of transferred DNA (T-DNA) transfer, and vice versa.

Conclusions:

  • Agrobacterium pili are essential for the transfer of T-DNA to plant cells.
  • The process of DNA transfer mediated by pili resembles bacterial conjugation.
  • Understanding pilus function is key to harnessing Agrobacterium for genetic transformation.

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