Genetic factors governing bacterial virulence and host plant susceptibility during < em > Agrobacterium < /em > infection

Adv Genet. 2022;110:1-29. doi: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2022.08.001. Epub 2022 Sep 13.ABSTRACTSeveral species of the Agrobacterium genus represent unique bacterial pathogens able to genetically transform plants, by transferring and integrating a segment of their own DNA (T-DNA, transferred DNA) in their host genome. Whereas in nature this process results in uncontrolled growth of the infected plant cells (tumors), this capability of Agrobacterium has been widely used as a crucial tool to generate transgenic plants, for research and biotechnology. The virulence of Agrobacterium relies on a series of virulence genes, mostly encoded on a large plasmid (Ti-plasmid, tumor inducing plasmid), involved in the different steps of the DNA transfer to the host cell genome: activation of bacterial virulence, synthesis and export of the T-DNA and its associated proteins, intracellular trafficking of the T-DNA and effector proteins in the host cell, and integration of the T-DNA in the host genomic DNA. Multiple interactions between these bacterial encoded proteins and host factors occur during the infection process, which determine the outcome of the infection. Here, we review our current knowledge of the mechanisms by which bacterial and plant factors control Agrobacterium virulence and host plant susceptibility.PMID:37283660 | PMC:PMC10241481 | DOI:10.1016/bs.adgen.2022.08.001

Source: Advances in Genetics - June 7, 2023 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Benoit Lacroix Vitaly Citovsky Source Type: research