Gene silencing and virus resistance based on defective interfering constructs in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana is not linked to accumulation of siRNA.
RNA interference (RNAi) was established in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by introducing constructs containing a defective interfering (DI) sequence from Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) in combination with a conserved sense-sequence from the target Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV). Silencing in plants was confirmed by Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration of a GFP-sensor containing the GFLV-derived target sequence. The transgene-induced RNAi led to silencing of the GFP-sensor and GFP fluorescence was absent post-infiltration. In plants without GFP fluorescence after infiltration with the GFP-sensor, siRNA specific to GFP and the target virus sequence could not be detected. In contrast, infiltrated leaves of wild type and transgenic plants showing GFP fluorescence after infiltration revealed accumulation of siRNA specific to the sequence of the sensor. Silencing could be inhibited by co-infiltration using a p19 silencing suppressor construct together with the GFP-sensor, which always resulted in bright GFP fluorescence. In parallel, virus resistance of transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana was investigated via challenge inoculation with GFLV. Our results indicate that efficient RNAi in transgenic plants does not necessarily lead to a detectable accumulation of siRNA.
Winterhagen
Patrick
P
RLP AgroScience GmbH, AlPlanta - Institute for Plant Research, 67435 Neustadt, Germany. p.winterhagen@uni-hohenheim.de
Dubois
Cornelia
C
Sinn
Melanie
M
Wetzel
Thierry
T
Reustle
Götz M
GM
D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D017864:Tombusvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
C493885:P19 protein, tomato bushy stunt virus; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins