title: Plants rendered herbicide-susceptible by cauliflower mosaic virus-elicited suppression of a 35S promoter-regulated transgene.
abstract: Crop plants genetically modified for herbicide tolerance were some of the first to be released into the environment. Frequently, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter is used to drive expression of the herbicide tolerance transgene. We analyzed the response to CaMV infection of a transgenic oilseed rape line containing the bialaphos tolerance gene (BAR) from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, regulated by the 35S promoter. Oilseed rape is susceptible to CaMV, but plants recover from infection. CaMV infection altered the expression of the herbicide tolerance gene such that plants became susceptible to the herbicide. The effect on transgene expression differed in infections with viral pathogenic variants typical of those found in natural situations worldwide. Susceptibility to the herbicide was most likely a result of transcriptional gene silencing of the transgene. Our results show that transgene phenotypes can be modified by pathogen invasion.
authors.affiliation: John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. alkaff@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Al-Kaff
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kreike
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Covey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dale
mesh_terms: D001937:Brassica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology*; D017796:Caulimovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C003122:bialaphos; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA