Expression of a begomoviral DNAbeta gene in transgenic Nicotiana plants induced abnormal cell division.
An increasing number of monopartite begomoviruses are being identified that a satellite molecule (DNAbeta) is required to induce typical symptoms in host plants. DNAbeta encodes a single gene (termed betaC1) encoded in the complementary-sense. We have produced transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and N. tabacum plants expressing the betaC1 gene of a DNAbeta associated with Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV), under the control of the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Transgenic plants expressing betaC1 showed severe developmental abnormalities in both species. Microscopic analysis of sections of both transgenic and non-transgenic N. tabacum leaves showed abnormal outgrowths of transgenic N. tabacum to be due to disorganized cell division (hyperplasia) of spongy and palisade parenchyma. Immuno-gold labeling of sections with a polyclonal antibody against the betaC1 protein showed that the betaC1 protein accumulated in the nuclei of cells. The possible biological function of the betaC1 protein was discussed.
Cui
Xiao-feng
XF
Li
Yun-qin
YQ
Hu
Dong-wei
DW
Zhou
Xue-ping
XP
D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D017791:Geminiviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins