Membrane location of the Ti plasmid VirB proteins involved in the biosynthesis of a pilin-like conjugative structure on Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Abstract The virB operon of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid encodes 11 proteins. Specific antisera to VirB2, VirB3 and VirB9 were used to locate these virulence proteins in the A. tumefaciens cell. Immunoblot analysis located VirB2 protein to the inner and outer membranes; VirB3 and VirB9 were likewise associated with both membranes, but mainly in the outer membrane. VirB2 is processed from a 12.3-kDa protein into a 7.2-kDa polypeptide. Such sized protein results from cleavage at residue Ala⁴⁷, upstream of which two additional alanine residues Ala⁴⁵-Ala⁴⁶ are contained and bearing resemblance to a signal peptide peptidase-I cleavage sequence. VirB2 and VirB3 sequences are strikingly similar to the pilin biosynthetic proteins TraA and TraL encoded by the tra operon of F and R1-19 plasmids. Since traA encodes a propilin that is cleaved into a 7.2-kDa conjugative pilin product and since this cleavage site is present in both TraA and VirB2, we propose that virB2 encodes a pilin-like protein which together with VirB3 and VirB9 as well as other VirB proteins may be used for interkingdom T-DNA transfer between bacteria and plants.     

根癌农杆菌介导Bt基因转化水稻的研究

为了培育出无筛选标记基因的转基因水稻,试验将loxp-hpt-loxp基因与成基因连锁在-起转化水稻方法,得到loxp-hpt—loxp—Bt转基因水稻植株,再与同质的带有ere基因的水稻杂交,以定向删除潮霉素抗性筛选标记。试验表明以水稻品种“皖粳97”为供试材料,将成熟胚来源的愈伤组织用根癌农杆菌EHA105／pCAMBIA1305．1感染后,筛选出抗性愈伤组织并获得再生植株。经PCR验证,得到20棵转基因水稻植株。     

High-efficiency gene transfer to recalcitrant plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

 Agrobacterium tumefaciens efficiently transforms most plants. A few dicotyledonous plants and most monocotyledonous plants are, however, recalcitrant to A. tumefaciens infection. We investigated whether the constitutive synthesis of a high level of the T-strand DNA intermediate can improve the transformation efficiency of plants. We previously described a mutation in the vir gene regulator virG, virGN54D, that allows constitutive expression of the vir genes. We also described the isolation of a mutant plasmid that is present at a significantly high level in A. tumefaciens. The two mutations were combined to produce an A. tumefaciens strain that synthesizes a high level of T-strand DNA in an inducer-independent manner. DNA transfer efficiency of the mutant was measured by monitoring β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in a transient transfer assay. A significant increase in the efficiency of DNA transfer to both rice and soybean was observed with the double mutant. The presence of virGN54D had a major positive effect on transformation efficiency. Received: 4 August 2000 / Revision received: 9 October 2000 / Accepted: 12 October 2000     

高效、快速地将外源DNA导入根癌土壤杆菌

室温下用50mmol/LCaCl_2处理根癌土壤杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)以制备感受态细胞,然后经0℃冰浴及28℃热击处理,成功地将Ti质粒中间载体(>10kb)导入了根癌土壤农杆菌中。转化效率每个活细胞可达10~(-4)～10~(-5)转化子或10~6转化子/μgDNA。探讨了该菌细胞生长状态、CaCl_2滚滚浓度、温度、液氮、热击、复苏时间以及感受态细胞于4℃或—20℃(加15％甘油)下保存时间对根癌土壤杆菌转化的影响。     

大豆基因型对根癌农杆菌菌株敏感性的研究

以栽培大豆［Glycine max (L.) Mer］吉林30、吉林43、绥农8、黑农35和东农42等的下胚轴为外植体,用EHA105和LBA4404 2个根癌农杆菌菌株（分别含有pGBI121S4ABC和pGBI4A2B质粒）研究大豆基因型对根癌农杆菌的敏感性,以及根癌农杆菌对大豆的侵染能力。结果表明,大豆基因型对根癌农杆菌的敏感性存在显著差异,以吉林43最敏感。根癌农杆菌菌株对大豆下胚轴侵染能力不同,含有pGBI121S4ABC质粒的LBA4404侵染能力较强,但差异未达显著水平。 Abstract:The sensitivity of genotypes in soybean to lines of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the ability of A.tumefaciens infecting to soybean were investigated with hypocotyls of soybean (Jilin30,Jilin43,Suinong8,Heinong35 and Dongnong42) and lines of A.tumefaciens LBA4404 and EHA105 which including plasmid pGBI121S4ABC and pGBI4A2B respectively.The results showed that the sensitivity of genotypes in soybean to A.tumefaciens was significantly different.Jilin43 was the most sensitive materials to A.tumefaciens.The ability of A.tumefaciens infecting hypocotyls in soybean was different.LBA4404 including plasmid pGBI121S4ABC was easier to infect hypocotyls of soybean.     

The role of a bifunctional catalase-peroxidase KatA in protection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens from menadione toxicity

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is an aerobic plant pathogenic bacterium that is exposed to reactive oxygen species produced either as by-products of aerobic metabolism or by the defense systems of host plants. The physiological function of the bifunctional catalase-peroxidase (KatA) in the protection of A. tumefaciens from reactive oxygen species other than H(2)O(2) was evaluated in the katA mutant (PB102). Unexpectedly, PB102 was highly sensitive to the superoxide generator menadione. The expression of katA from a plasmid vector complemented the menadione-hypersensitive phenotype. A. tumefaciens possesses an additional catalase gene, a monofunctional catalase encoded by catE. Neither inactivation nor high-level expression of the catE gene altered the menadione resistance level. Moreover, heterologous expression of the catalase-peroxidase-encoding gene katG from Burkholderia pseudomallei, but not the monofunctional catalase gene katE from Xanthomonas campestris could restore normal levels of menadione resistance to PB102. A recent observation suggests that the menadione resistance phenotype involves increased activities of organic peroxide-metabolizing enzymes. Heterologous expression of X. campestris alkyl hydroperoxide reductase from a plasmid vector failed to complement the menadione-sensitive phenotype of PB102. The level of menadione resistance shows a direct correlation with the level of peroxidase activity of KatA. This is a novel role for KatA and suggests that resistance to menadione toxicity is mediated by a new, and as yet unknown, mechanism in A. tumefaciens.     

Biochemical and genetic characterisation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens the causal agent of walnut crown gall disease in Iran

In 2009–2010, crown tumours were collected from walnut (Juglans regia L.) trees in northern Iran. Gram-negative, rod shaped and aerobic bacteria with circular, convex and white-coloured colonies on potato dextrose agar plus CaCO3 medium were isolated from galls. In pathogenicity tests, tomato seedlings were inoculated with all strains and tumours started to appear three weeks after inoculation. Strains yielded a 224?bp amplicon from the virD2 gene in PCR. When the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains was compared by BLASTn with nucleotide sequences from GenBank, it showed 99.6% identity with the 16S rRNA sequence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens ATCC 33970. Based on phenotypic and genotypic properties, the bacterium that causes crown gall of walnut trees was identified as A. tumefaciens.     

一种农杆菌介导的赤霉菌CCRC3.572的转化方法

目的:建立农杆菌Ti质粒介导的转化赤霉菌的新方法。方法:以农杆菌Ti质粒pCAMBIA0390为基础,构建带有潮霉素抗性基因表达盒的双元载体,并用农杆菌介导的方法转化赤霉菌。结果:构建了双元载体pCAMBIA0390-hph(PgpdA),并获得了具有潮霉素抗性的赤霉菌转化子。结论:农杆菌介导的方法适于赤霉菌的转化,为赤霉菌的遗传研究提供了一种新的手段。     

农杆菌介导生防棘孢木霉菌转化体系的优化

目的:实现棘孢木霉菌T4的遗传转化并优化其转化体系.方法:以潮霉素抗性为选择标记,利用农杆菌转化法介导转化棘孢木霉菌.结果:潮霉素基因成功整合到受体菌基因组中,转化子抗性基因可稳定遗传.结论:最优的转化体系和条件为:IM和CM培养基中AS浓度为200 μg/mL,棘孢木霉T4孢子浓度为106/mL,农杆菌浓度为200 μL( OD600约0.8),共培养时间为48 h,转化效率约为50个转化子/106个孢子.     

农杆菌介导法向玉米茎尖导入抗草甘膦EPSPS基因的研究

以玉米自交系郑58的茎尖为受体,通过农杆菌介导法将抗草甘膦EPSPS基因转入玉米中,研究以茎尖为受体的农杆菌转化体系的可行性。98株转化苗,经过300 ppm的除草剂(农达)筛选,共获得13株转基因植株,经PCR检测,其中7株表现阳性,转化率达7.14%。初步证明外源基因已经整合到玉米基因组中,以玉米茎尖作为受体的转化系统用于基因转化是可行、高效的。     

根癌农杆菌介导灭蚊卵菌贵阳腐霉的遗传转化

Pythium guiyangense is a mosquito pathogen, and has been proved to be a promising agent for biological control of mosquitoes. In order to develop the strains adaptable to different ecological environment having stable virulence to mosquito larvae, and being able to prolong the shelf life, an effort was made on transforming the fungus by using homologous or heterologous virulence genes. In this paper, a genetic transformation experiment of P. guiyangense mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is reported. As a result, an A. tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation system was established successfully.     

农杆菌介导Bt基因遗传转化高粱

高粱是全球仅次于小麦、水稻、玉米、大豆和马铃薯等的重要作物之一。以高粱幼穗愈伤组织为转化受体,通过农杆菌介导法和含有抗潮霉素和gus基因的双元载体将杀虫晶体蛋白基因cry1Ab导入高粱品种115、ICS21B和5-27,经Hyg筛选共获得21个独立的转基因株系,52株转基因植株,平均转化率为1.9%。经PCR、Southern杂交和RT-PCR分析表明cry1Ab基因已整合入高粱基因组中并得到正确转录。Bt蛋白Westernblotting分析和ELISA定量测定显示,cry1Ab基因在转基因高粱植株中表达,但不同转基因植株表达量有差异。饲虫试验表明,转基因高粱对大螟(Sesamiainferens)具有一定抗性。     

根癌农杆菌介导D32基因

以烟草品种'中烟99'的无菌苗叶片为转化受体材料,通过根癌农杆菌C58C1介导对大豆中克隆的抗逆性基因D32进行转化,获得了抗卡那霉素的再生植株,并对转化植株进行了PCR检测.结果表明,烟草叶片分化和再生的卡那霉素选择压力为150 mg/L;外植体预培养对转化率有影响;优化的烟草转化方法是:经预培养2 d的外植体用OD600值为0.7的菌液侵染5 min, 共培养2 d后用无菌水冲洗5～6次,羧苄青霉素(Cb)和头孢霉素(Cef)浓度为400 mg/L的脱菌液浸泡120 min,超净工作台上吹风60 min,于筛选分化培养基生长50 d,可获得26.7%卡那抗性苗.对抗性植株经PCR检测证明,外源D32基因已初步整合到烟草基因组中.     

根癌农杆菌介导马铃薯试管薯转化体系的优化及AtNHX1基因的导入

以马铃薯栽培品种甘农薯2号的试管薯薄片为转化受体材料,通过根癌农杆菌LBA4404介导拟南芥液泡膜Na /H 逆向转运蛋白基因(AtNHX1)进行转化,获得了抗卡那霉素的再生植株,并对转化植株进行了PCR-Southern检测.结果表明,薯片分化和根再生的卡那霉素选择压为50mg/L;乙酰丁香酮对薯片转化率无影响;优化的试管薯片转化方法是:不经预培养的薯片用OD600值为0.5的菌液侵染8～10min,然后经过2d共培养,在抗性芽分化培养基上生长40d,可获得30%卡那抗性绿苗.对抗性植株的PCR和PCR-Southern检测证明,外源At-NHX1基因已整合到马铃薯基因组中.     

石油生物脱硫菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens UP-3的固定化研究

对能降解二苯并噻吩(DBT)的根癌土壤杆菌AgrobacteriumtumefaciensUP3菌株进行了固定化研究,以聚乙烯醇(PVA)和海藻酸钠(SA)混合物为包埋法固定化载体,固定化最佳操作条件为4℃交联,PVA和SA混合物总浓度7%,两者最佳浓度比为6,细胞浓度为0.05g/mL。当DBT加入量为2.7mmol/L时,UP-3的静息细胞最高脱硫率为13%,而固定化细胞的脱硫效率超过了60%;固定化细胞的最佳使用条件为降解5d,温度28℃～32℃。     

Attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to leaf tissue in response to infiltration conditions

Transient expression of recombinant proteins in plant tissues following Agrobacterium‐mediated gene transfer is a promising technique for rapid protein production. However, transformation rates and transient expression levels can be sub‐optimal depending on process conditions. Attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to plant cells is an early, critical step in the gene transfer pathway. Bacterial attachment levels and patterns may influence transformation and, by extension, transient expression. In this study, attachment of A. tumefaciens to lettuce leaf tissue was investigated in response to varying infiltration conditions, including bacterial density, surfactant concentration, and applied vacuum level. Bacterial density was found to most influence attachment levels for the levels tested (10⁸, 10⁹, and 10¹⁰ CFU/mL), with the relationship between bacterial density and attachment levels following a saturation trend. Surfactant levels tested (Break‐Thru S240: 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 µL/L) also had a significant positive effect on bacterial attachment while vacuum level (5, 25, and 45 kPa) did not significantly affect attachment in areas exposed to bacteria. In planta transgene transient expression levels were measured following infiltration with 10⁸, 10⁹, and 10¹⁰ CFU/mL bacterial suspension. Notably, the highest attachment level tested led to a decrease in transient expression, suggesting a potential link between bacterial attachment levels and downstream phenomena that may induce gene silencing. These results illustrate that attachment can be controlled by adjusting infiltration conditions and that attachment levels can impact transgene transient expression in leaf tissue. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1137–1144, 2014     

Cryo-EM structure of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens T4SS-associated T-pilus reveals stoichiometric protein-phospholipid assembly

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Rapid,in situ detection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens attachment to leaf tissue

Attachment of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens to host plant cells is an early and necessary step in plant transformation and agroinfiltration processes. However, bacterial attachment behavior is not well understood in complex plant tissues. Here we developed an imaging‐based method to observe and quantify A. tumefaciens attached to leaf tissue in situ. Fluorescent labeling of bacteria with nucleic acid, protein, and vital dyes was investigated as a rapid alternative to generating recombinant strains expressing fluorescent proteins. Syto 16 green fluorescent nucleic acid stain was found to yield the greatest signal intensity in stained bacteria without affecting viability or infectivity. Stained bacteria retained the stain and were detectable over 72 h. To demonstrate in situ detection of attached bacteria, confocal fluorescent microscopy was used to image A. tumefaciens in sections of lettuce leaf tissue following vacuum‐infiltration with labeled bacteria. Bacterial signals were associated with plant cell surfaces, suggesting detection of bacteria attached to plant cells. Bacterial attachment to specific leaf tissues was in agreement with known leaf tissue competencies for transformation with Agrobacterium. Levels of bacteria attached to leaf cells were quantified over time post‐infiltration. Signals from stained bacteria were stable over the first 24 h following infiltration but decreased in intensity as bacteria multiplied in planta. Nucleic acid staining of A. tumefaciens followed by confocal microscopy of infected leaf tissue offers a rapid, in situ method for evaluating attachment of A. tumefaciens' to plant expression hosts and a tool to facilitate management of transient expression processes via agroinfiltration. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012     

根癌农杆菌介导合欢转TaNHX2基因体系的优化

通过对农杆菌菌液浓度、侵染时间、预培养时间和共培养时间等影响转化效率的因素进行优化,建立了合欢农杆菌转化体系。在此基础上,利用农杆菌介导法将TaNHX2基因导入合欢基因组内,获得大量Kan抗性再生植株。常规PCR和实时荧光PCR检测结果表明,外源基因已整合到合欢基因组中,并正常转录。