title: Agrobacterium tumefaciens and plant cell interactions and activities required for interkingdom macromolecular transfer.
abstract: Host recognition and macromolecular transfer of virulence-mediating effectors represent critical steps in the successful transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This review focuses on bacterial and plant-encoded components that interact to mediate these two processes. First, we examine the means by which Agrobacterium recognizes the host, via both diffusible plant-derived chemicals and cell-cell contact, with emphasis on the mechanisms by which multiple host signals are recognized and activate the virulence process. Second, we characterize the recognition and transfer of protein and protein-DNA complexes through the bacterial and plant cell membrane and wall barriers, emphasizing the central role of a type IV secretion system-the VirB complex-in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Plant Sciences Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6018, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McCullen
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Binns
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D059828:Plant Cells; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances