Over-expression of potato virus X TGBp1 movement protein in transgenic tobacco plants causes developmental and metabolic alterations. |
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| Authors: | Ken Kobayashi Catherine Sarrobert Ximena Ares María M Rivero Sara Maldonado Christophe Robaglia Alejandro Mentaberry |
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| Institution: | Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
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| Abstract: | Transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants expressing the TGBp1 movement protein of potato virus X (PVX) were studied to investigate the effects caused by this protein on plant physiology and development. TGBp1 caused consistent reductions of size and weight in different organs of these plants; however shoot-to-root ratios were similar to those of control plants. Transgenic seedlings showed smaller root meristems and calli derived from TGBp1 leaves grew at a slower rate through successive subcultures. Microscopic observations of TGBp1 plants revealed flattened chloroplasts containing plastoglobuli-like bodies. Further analyses showed a considerable reduction in photosynthetic rate, lower starch levels in leaves and roots, higher nitrate accumulation in leaves and induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein genes. Since these changes were not observed when other PVX sequences were expressed in tobacco, we postulate that TGBp1 is an important symptom contributor in PVX infections. |
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