植物DNA断裂修复基因对农杆菌T-DNA整合的作用

转基因植物在作物新品种培育和生物制药中已发挥了巨大作用。农杆菌介导的遗传转化是广泛用于基因组分析的强大工具,也是获得转基因植物的主导技术。农杆菌介导的基因转移是极其复杂的生物学过程,需要许多农杆菌和植物的遗传因子协同参与完成。经过20多年的研究,人们对T-DNA产生和转运的分子机制以及农杆菌与寄主植物的互作已有所了解。T-DNA整合是农杆菌介导转化过程中最为关键的一步,但对于其整合机制所知仍有限。越来越多的证据表明,寄主植物细胞的DNA断裂修复基因对农杆菌T-DNA整合具有重要作用。该文首先介绍T-DNA转移的大致过程,重点讨论DNA断裂损伤修复相关基因对T-DNA整合的作用,为通过DNA损伤修复基因的遗传操纵来提高农杆菌介导植物遗传转化的效率提供参考。     

T-DNA转移研究进展

植物遗传转化技术近年在农作物性状改良、植物生物反应器利用以及基因功能鉴定等方面得到了广泛的应用.T-DNA转移是植物细胞农杆菌介导遗传转化整合和表达外源基因的基础.农杆菌Ti质粒vir基因编码蛋白、农杆菌一些染色体基因编码蛋白及植物细胞一些基因编码蛋白或因子均参与T-DNA转移.转移过程包括农杆菌对植物细胞的识别、附着,细菌对植物信号物质的感受,细菌vir基因的诱导表达,T复合体的形成,跨膜运输,进核运输和整合等一序列过程.植物细胞因子与农杆菌T-DNA转移相关蛋白的相互作用最近被认为在T-DNA转移过程中起重要作用.     

农杆菌介导转基因植物T-DNA的整合方式

农杆菌介导的遗传转化已被广泛应用于植物转基因研究。作为外源基因的载体,农杆菌T-DNA片段在植物基因组中的整合方式,不仅影响外源基因的整合效率及稳定性,还会影响外源基因的表达特性。文章就农杆菌介导的T-DNA整合的两种主要模式、规律及相关研究手段进行综述,为农杆菌介导的转基因及T-DNA插入突变等相关研究提供借鉴。     

影响农杆菌介导遗传转化的植物因子研究进展

农杆菌介导法是植物遗传转化中最常用的一种方法.越来越多的研究表明,植物遗传因子是决定农杆菌遗传转化效率的重要因素,它们至少影响了转化过程的如下5个方面:1)受伤植物释放的酚类物质和糖分子等介导农杆菌的趋化运动和毒性基因vir的诱导表达;2)农杆菌吸附到植物表面;3)T-DNA和毒性蛋白通过由VirB和virD4蛋白组成的Ⅳ型分泌系统从细菌转移到植物细胞质;4)T-复合体利用细胞质ACTIN骨架和输入蛋白进行核定位和核输入;5)T-DNA利用植物的修复装置整合进宿主基因组.就以上5个方面涉及的植物因子研究进展予以综述.     

T-DNA整合的研究进展

根癌农杆菌介导的基因转化过程中,T-DNA的整合是关系到外源基因能否稳定遗传的关键步骤。影响T-DNA整合的因素很多,包括毒性蛋白、寄主因子等等,本文对此加以综述,同时阐述了T-DNA在植物基因组中的整合及染色体水平上的分布及其整合模型。     

农杆菌介导的斑玉蕈遗传转化

【目的】将农杆菌介导的转化应用于重要的工厂化栽培食用菌斑玉蕈中,建立稳定的农杆菌介导的斑玉蕈遗传转化技术。【方法】将构建的双元载体pYN6982转入农杆菌LBA4404菌株中,以斑玉蕈SIEF3133菌株打碎的双核菌丝为受体材料,利用根癌农杆菌介导的转化方法进行斑玉蕈转化试验。【结果】经潮霉素抗性筛选、PCR鉴定以及有丝分裂稳定性试验验证,表明潮霉素磷酸转移酶基因(hph)已经整合到斑玉蕈的基因组中;转基因斑玉蕈菌丝在荧光显微镜下可以观测到绿色荧光,表明增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(egfp)已经在转基因斑玉蕈菌株中获得了表达;通过PCR检测,随机挑选的8个转基因斑玉蕈菌株中有2个可以扩增出载体转移DNA(T-DNA)边界重复序列外的卡那霉素基因(kan)序列。【结论】获得了稳定遗传和表达的斑玉蕈转基因菌株,建立了农杆菌介导的斑玉蕈遗传转化方法。农杆菌介导的斑玉蕈遗传转化中,存在载体T-DNA边界重复序列之外的DNA序列转移到转基因斑玉蕈中的现象,有待进一步研究。     

农杆菌介导的病毒侵染(Agroinfection)方法在植物和病毒分子生物学基础研究中的应用

农杆菌-病毒侵染即为农杆菌Ti质粒介导的病毒基因组向植物细胞中的转移,并使其发生系统感染。它具有高敏、高效和易于检测等特点,已被用来研究农杆菌T-DNA转移机制、农杆菌宿主范围、基因重组、外源基因瞬间表达及病毒分子生物学等方面的基础理论问题。本文综述了该方法用于植物和病毒分子生物学基础研究的进展情况,并讨论了其应用前景。     

农杆菌介导的植物转化及其将来在植物生物学中的应用

本综述意在于对农杆菌介导的植物转化及除此外的农杆菌系统在其它许多方面的应用情况作一概述。由于最近已有几篇综述就转化载体及T-DNA转移的机制进行了详细的论述,故我们对这些问题不作详细的讨论。我们对农杆菌转化的某些基本性质进行讨论,目的是为了更合理地设计植物转化系统。     

农杆菌-植物间基因转移的分子基础

植物病原细菌多以Ⅲ型分泌系统运送毒性因子或无毒基因产物到植物细胞,但根癌农杆菌利用Ⅳ型分泌系统转移致瘤基因片断T-DNA到植物细胞核,并整合到植物基因组,使植物产生肿瘤,作者将介绍vir基因的诱导、T-DNA的加工、T-DNA的转移,以及T-复合体运输的装备等方面的最新研究进展,以探讨农杆菌-植物间基因转移的分子基础,研究该系统转移基因的分子基础将有利于开发和改良植物遗传工程的载体工具;另外,农杆菌-植物作为一种模式植物病害系统,其研究也为植物-病原菌的基础理论研究提供参考。由于有些人体病原细菌也采用Ⅳ型分泌系统运送毒性因子到人体细胞,研究农杆菌-植物间的基因转移系统也有利于医学研究。     

Ti质粒T区基因转移与整合分子机制的研究进展

由根癌农杆菌Ti质粒介导的转化系统现已发展成为向许多植物转移外源基因的有效途径。然而,长期以来,人们对Ti质粒T区基因（即T-DNA）转移、特别是整合的具体细节一直不甚了解。随着对Ti质粒分子生物学及其介导转化过程研究的广泛展开与不断深入,这一天更多然的基因转移与整合过程近几年来逐步被人们所揭示和认识。     

VirD4-independent transformation by CloDF13 evidences an unknown factor required for the genetic colonization of plants via Agrobacterium

Agrobacterium uses a mechanism similar to conjugation for trans-kingdom transfer of its oncogenic T-DNA. A defined VirB/VirD4 Type IV secretion system is responsible for such a genetic transfer. In addition, certain virulence proteins as VirE2 can be mobilized into host cells by the same apparatus. VirE2 is essential to achieve plant but not yeast transformation. We found that the limited host range plasmid CloDF13 can be recruited by the virulence apparatus of Agrobacterium for transfer to eukaryotic hosts. As expected the VirB transport complex was required for such trans-kingdom DNA transfer. However, unexpectedly, the coupling factor VirD4 turned out to be necessary for transfer to plants but not for transport into yeast. The CloDF13 encoded coupling factor (Mob) was essential for transfer to both plants and yeast though. This is interpreted by the different specificities of Mob and VirD4. Hence, Mob being required for the transport of the CloDF13 transferred DNA (to both plants and yeast) and VirD4 being required for transport of virulence proteins such as VirE2. Nevertheless, the presence of the VirE2 protein in the host plant was not sufficient to restore the deficiency for VirD4 in the transforming bacteria. We propose that Mob functions encoded by the plasmid CloDF13 are sufficient for DNA mobilization to eukaryotic cells but that the VirD4-mediated pathway is essential to achieve DNA nuclear establishment specifically in plants. This suggests that other Agrobacterium virulence proteins besides VirE2 are translocated and essential for plant transformation.     

The Conjugal Intermediate of Plasmid RSF1010 Inhibits Agrobacterium tumefaciens Virulence and VirB-Dependent Export of VirE2

Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes crown gall disease by transferring oncogenic, single-stranded DNA (T strand), covalently attached to the VirD2 protein, across the bacterial envelope into plant cells where its expression results in tumor formation. The single-stranded DNA binding protein VirE2 is also transferred into the plant cell, though the location at which VirE2 interacts with the T strand is still under investigation. The movement of the transferred DNA and VirE2 from A. tumefaciens to the plant cell depends on the membrane-localized VirB and VirD4 proteins. Further, the movement of the IncQ broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010 between Agrobacterium strains or from Agrobacterium to plants also requires the virB-encoded transfer system. Our earlier studies showed that the presence of the RSF1010 plasmid in wild-type strains of Agrobacterium inhibits both their virulence and their capacity to transport VirE2, as assayed by coinfection with virE mutants. Here we demonstrate that the capacity to form a conjugal intermediate of RSF1010 is necessary for this inhibition, suggesting that the transferred form of the plasmid competes with the VirD2-T strand and/or VirE2 for a common export site.     

VIP1, an Arabidopsis protein that interacts with Agrobacterium VirE2, is involved in VirE2 nuclear import and Agrobacterium infectivity.

T-DNA nuclear import is a central event in genetic transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium. This event is thought to be mediated by two bacterial proteins, VirD2 and VirE2, which are associated with the transported T-DNA molecule. While VirD2 is imported into the nuclei of plant, animal and yeast cells, nuclear uptake of VirE2 occurs most efficiently in plant cells. To understand better the mechanism of VirE2 action, a cellular interactor of VirE2 was identified and its encoding gene cloned from Arabidopsis. The identified plant protein, designated VIP1, specifically bound VirE2 and allowed its nuclear import in non-plant systems. In plants, VIP1 was required for VirE2 nuclear import and Agrobacterium tumorigenicity, participating in early stages of T-DNA expression.     

Inhibition of VirB-mediated transfer of diverse substrates from Agrobacterium tumefaciens by the IncQ plasmid RSF1010.

The transfer of DNA from Agrobacterium tumefaciens into a plant cell requires the activities of several virulence (vir) genes that reside on the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. The putative transferred intermediate is a single-stranded DNA (T strand), covalently attached to the VirD2 protein and coated with the single-stranded DNA-binding protein, VirE2. The movement of this intermediate out of Agrobacterium cells and into plant cells requires the expression of the virB operon, which encodes 11 proteins that localize to the membrane system. Our earlier studies showed that the IncQ broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010, which can be transferred from Agrobacterium cells to plant cells, inhibits the transfer of T-DNA from pTiA6 in a fashion that is reversed by overexpression of virB9, virB10, and virB11. Here, we examined the specificity of this inhibition by following the transfer of other T-DNA molecules. By using extracellular complementation assays, the effects of RSF1010 on movement of either VirE2 or an uncoated T strand from A. tumefaciens were also monitored. The RSF1010 derivative plasmid pJW323 drastically inhibited the capacity of strains to serve as VirE2 donors but only partially inhibited T-strand transfer from virE2 mutants. Further, we show that all the virB genes tested are required for the movement of VirE2 and the uncoated T strand as assayed by extracellular complementation. Our results are consistent with a model in which the RSF1010 plasmid, or intermediates from it, compete with the T strand and VirE2 for a common transport site.     

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes GALLS gene encodes two secreted proteins required for genetic transformation of plants

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes are related pathogens that cause crown gall and hairy root diseases, which result from integration and expression of bacterial genes in the plant genome. Single-stranded DNA (T strands) and virulence proteins are translocated into plant cells by a type IV secretion system. VirD2 nicks a specific DNA sequence, attaches to the 5′ end, and pilots the DNA into plant cells. A. tumefaciens translocates single-stranded DNA-binding protein VirE2 into plant cells where it likely binds T strands and may aid in targeting them into the nucleus. Although some A. rhizogenes strains lack VirE2, they transfer T strands efficiently due to the GALLS gene, which complements an A. tumefaciens virE2 mutant for tumor formation. Unlike VirE2, full-length GALLS (GALLS-FL) contains ATP-binding and helicase motifs similar to those in TraA, a strand transferase involved in conjugation. GALLS-FL and VirE2 contain nuclear localization signals (NLS) and secretion signals. Mutations in any of these domains abolish the ability of the GALLS gene to substitute for virE2. Here, we show that the GALLS gene encodes two proteins from one open reading frame: GALLS-FL and a protein comprised of the C-terminal domain, which initiates at an internal in-frame start codon. On some hosts, both GALLS proteins were required to substitute for VirE2. GALLS-FL tagged with yellow fluorescent protein localized to the nucleus of tobacco cells in an NLS-dependent manner. In plant cells, the GALLS proteins interacted with themselves, VirD2, and each other. VirD2 interacted with GALLS-FL and localized inside the nucleus, where its predicted helicase activity may pull T strands into the nucleus.     

Agrobacterium proteins VirD2 and VirE2 mediate precise integration of synthetic T-DNA complexes in mammalian cells

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated plant transformation, a unique example of interkingdom gene transfer, has been widely adopted for the generation of transgenic plants. In vitro synthesized transferred DNA (T-DNA) complexes comprising single-stranded DNA and Agrobacterium virulence proteins VirD2 and VirE2, essential for plant transformation, were used to stably transfect HeLa cells. Both proteins positively influenced efficiency and precision of transgene integration by increasing overall transformation rates and by promoting full-length single-copy integration events. These findings demonstrate that the virulence proteins are sufficient for the integration of a T-DNA into a eukaryotic genome in the absence of other bacterial or plant factors. Synthetic T-DNA complexes are therefore unique protein:DNA delivery vectors with potential applications in the field of mammalian transgenesis.     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes GALLS protein substitutes for Agrobacterium tumefaciens single-stranded DNA-binding protein VirE2

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes transfer plasmid-encoded genes and virulence (Vir) proteins into plant cells. The transferred DNA (T-DNA) is stably inherited and expressed in plant cells, causing crown gall or hairy root disease. DNA transfer from A. tumefaciens into plant cells resembles plasmid conjugation; single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is exported from the bacteria via a type IV secretion system comprised of VirB1 through VirB11 and VirD4. Bacteria also secrete certain Vir proteins into plant cells via this pore. One of these, VirE2, is an ssDNA-binding protein crucial for efficient T-DNA transfer and integration. VirE2 binds incoming ssT-DNA and helps target it into the nucleus. Some strains of A. rhizogenes lack VirE2, but they still transfer T-DNA efficiently. We isolated a novel gene from A. rhizogenes that restored pathogenicity to virE2 mutant A. tumefaciens. The GALLS gene was essential for pathogenicity of A. rhizogenes. Unlike VirE2, GALLS contains a nucleoside triphosphate binding motif similar to one in TraA, a strand transferase conjugation protein. Despite their lack of similarity, GALLS substituted for VirE2.     

Functional domains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens single-stranded DNA-binding protein VirE2.

The transferred DNA (T-DNA) portion of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid enters infected plant cells and integrates into plant nuclear DNA. Direct repeats define the T-DNA ends; transfer begins when the VirD2 endonuclease produces a site-specific nick in the right-hand border repeat and attaches to the 5' end of the nicked strand. Subsequent events liberate the lower strand of the T-DNA from the Ti plasmid, producing single-stranded DNA molecules (T strands) that are covalently linked to VirD2 at their 5' ends. A. tumefaciens appears to transfer T-DNA into plant cells as a T-strand-VirD2 complex. The bacterium also transports VirE2, a cooperative single-stranded DNA-binding protein, into plant cells during infection. Both VirD2 and VirE2 contain nuclear localization signals that may direct these proteins, and bound T strands, into plant nuclei. Here we report the locations of functional regions of VirE2 identified by eight insertions of XhoI linker oligonucleotides, and one deletion mutation, throughout virE2. We examined the effects of these mutations on virulence, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding, and accumulation of VirE2 in A. tumefaciens. Two of the mutations in the C-terminal half of VirE2 eliminated ssDNA binding, whereas two insertions in the N-terminal half altered cooperativity. Four of the mutations, distributed throughout virE2, decreased the stability of VirE2 in A. tumefaciens. In addition, we isolated a mutation in the central region of VirE2 that decreased tumorigenicity but did not affect ssDNA binding or VirE2 accumulation. This mutation may affect export of VirE2 into plant cells or nuclear localization of VirE2, or it may affect an uncharacterized activity of VirE2.     

The carboxy-terminus of VirE2 from Agrobacterium tumefaciens is required for its transport to host cells by the virB-encoded type IV transport system

Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers DNA from the resident 'tumour-inducing' (Ti) plasmid into plant cells, where it can be stably integrated into the plant genome, ultimately resulting in crown gall tumour formation. The mobilized DNA molecule is a single-stranded intermediate with VirD2 covalently bound to its 5' end. Successful transport of the transferred DNA (T-DNA) and integration of the DNA into the genome requires that additional proteins be transported to the plant as well, including the single-stranded (ss)DNA-binding protein, VirE2. The transport of these two different substrates occurs as a result of the activities of a type IV secretion system encoded by the virB operon. Although the substrates have been identified, the mechanism of their transport remains unknown. In the experiments described here, a region in one of these substrates, VirE2, necessary for transport is identified. The addition of a C-terminal FLAG epitope tag to VirE2, or the deletion of its C-terminal 18 amino acids, renders it non-functional in A. tumefaciens. However, transgenic plants expressing either of these virE2 genes respond to virE2 mutants of A. tumefaciens by forming wild-type tumours. These results indicate that this region of VirE2 is necessary for the protein to be transported into the plant cells, but is not necessary for its function within the plant. Additionally, these studies demonstrate that mutant forms of VirE2 lacking this region do not disrupt the activities of the VirB transporter and support the hypothesis that VirE2 and the VirD2 T-strand are transported independently, even when they co-exist in the same cell.     

Transport of DNA into the nuclei of xenopus oocytes by a modified VirE2 protein of Agrobacterium.

We used Agrobacterium T-DNA nuclear transport to examine the specificity of nuclear targeting between plants and animals and the nuclear import of DNA by a specialized transport protein. Two karyophilic Agrobacterium virulence (Vir) proteins, VirD2 and VirE2, which presumably associate with the transported T-DNA and function in many plant species, were microinjected into Drosophila embryos and Xenopus oocytes. In both animal systems, VirD2 localized to the cell nuclei and VirE2 remained exclusively cytoplasmic, suggesting that VirE2 nuclear localization signals may be plant specific. Repositioning one amino acid residue within VirE2 nuclear localization signals enabled them to function in animal cells. The modified VirE2 protein bound DNA and actively transported it into the nuclei of Xenopus oocytes. These observations suggest a functional difference in nuclear import between animals and plants and show that DNA can be transported into the cell nucleus via a protein-specific pathway.