Open AccessThe tobacco mosaic virus resistance gene, N
Author(s) -
Marathe Rajendra,
Anandalakshmi Radhamani,
Liu Yule,
DineshKumar S. P.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1046/j.1364-3703.2002.00110.x
Subject(s) - tobacco mosaic virus , biology , virology , gene , resistance (ecology) , virus , genetics , agronomy
Summary In this mini review we discuss recent advances in the understanding of the N gene‐mediated resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The tobacco N gene belongs to toll‐interleukin‐1 receptor homology/nucleotide binding/leucine rich repeat (TIR‐NB‐LRR) class of resistance genes. It encodes two transcripts, N S and N L , by alternative splicing, both of which are required to confer resistance to TMV. The structure–function analysis of the N gene indicates that the TIR, NB and LRR domains are indispensable for its function. The N gene response is elicited by the C‐terminal helicase domain of the 126 kDa TMV replicase protein. Tobacco N gene can also confer resistance to TMV in heterologous plants like tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana . Recent studies on N ‐mediated signalling suggest that EDS1 , Rar1 and NPR1 genes play an important role in TMV resistance. Finally, we discuss current status of the N ‐mediated signal transduction and speculate directions for future work to understand N –TMV interaction.