Agrobacterium is not alone: gene transfer to plants by viruses and other bacteria.
Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is the most widely used technology for obtaining the overexpression of recombinant proteins in plants. However, complex patent issues related to the use of Agrobacterium as a tool for plant genetic engineering and the general requirement of establishing transgenic plants can create obstacles in using this technology for speedy research and development and for agricultural improvements in many plant species. Recent studies addressing these issues have shown that virus-based vectors can be efficiently used for high transient expression of foreign proteins in transfected plants and that non-Agrobacterium bacterial species can be used for the production of transgenic plants, laying the foundation for alternative tools for future plant biotechnology.
Chung
Sang-Min
SM
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
Vaidya
Manjusha
M
Tzfira
Tzvi
T
D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000235:genetics*