Open AccessMechanism of phenolic activation of Agrobacterium virulence genes: development of a specific inhibitor of bacterial sensor/response systems.
Author(s) -
Kathleen M. Hess,
Matthew W. Dudley,
David G. Lynn,
Rolf D. Joerger,
Andrew N. Binns
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.88.17.7854
Subject(s) - regulon , agrobacterium tumefaciens , virulence , agrobacterium , biology , gene expression , plasmid , transformation (genetics) , gene , inducer , biochemistry
The aglycone of the dihydrodiconiferyl alcohol glycosides, a series of phenolic growth factors able to substitute for some of the hormone requirements of tobacco cell division, are also potent inducers of virulence gene expression in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. However, these factors do not conform to the previously established structural requirements necessary for vir expression. Systematic evaluation of the structural requirements of these inducers has led to a model detailing the role of the phenolics in induction. With this model, a specific inhibitor of vir induction has been developed. This inhibitor does not affect the induction of other genes on the Ti plasmid but irreversibly blocks vir expression. The inhibitor has been used to show that the inducing phenolics must be constantly present to maintain expression of the vir regulon.