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. 1986 Jan;83(2):379–383. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.2.379

A plant cell factor induces Agrobacterium tumefaciens vir gene expression

Scott E Stachel *,†, Eugene W Nester *, Patricia C Zambryski †
PMCID: PMC322862  PMID: 16593648

Abstract

The virulence genes of Agrobacterium are required for this organism to genetically transform plant cells. We show that vir gene expression is specifically induced by a small (<1000 Da) diffusible plant cell metabolite present in limiting quantities in the exudates of a variety of plant cell cultures. Active plant cell metabolism is required for the synthesis of the vir-inducing factor, and the presence of bacteria does not stimulate this production. vir-inducing factor is (i) heat and cold stable; (ii) pH stable, although vir induction with the factor is sensitive above pH 6.0; and (iii) partially hydrophobic. Induction of vir gene expression was assayed by monitoring β-galactosidase activity in Agrobacterium strains that carry gene fusions between each of the vir loci and the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli. vir-inducing factor (partially purified on a C-18 column) induces both the expression in Agrobacterium of six distinct loci and the production of T-DNA circular molecules, which are thought to be involved in the transformation process. vir-inducing factor potentially represents the signal that Agrobacterium recognizes in nature as a plant cell susceptible to transformation.

Keywords: virulence gene expression, vir gene induction, plant-synthesized vir-inducing factor, bacterial-plant cell recognition

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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