Expression in transgenic plants of a viral gene product that mediates insect transmission of potyviruses. |
| |
| Authors: | P H Berger A G Hunt L L Domier G M Hellmann Y Stram D W Thornbury T P Pirone |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546-0091. |
| |
| Abstract: | Helper component (HC) is a virus-encoded nonstructural protein that is required for transmission of potyviruses by their aphid vectors. As a prelude to studies on the molecular basis of HC activity, a cDNA clone (pPB-3) was constructed that contained the first three cistrons (34 kDa-HC-42 kDa) of the RNA genome of the potyvirus tobacco vein mottling virus, the first six nucleotides of the adjacent cylindrical inclusion body protein cistron, and a synthetic translation termination codon. This construction was introduced into tobacco cells via a Ti plasmid-based vector. Northern blot analysis of transgenic plants demonstrated the presence of an RNA of the size expected from the construction of pPB-3, and Western blot analysis revealed the presence of a protein that comigrated with authentic HC, indicating that the proteolytic activity necessary to produce mature-sized HC was encoded by pPB-3. The HC produced in the transgenic plants was demonstrated to be active in a virus transmission bioassay with aphids. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
