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Specificity of signal molecules in the activation of Agrobacterium virulence gene expression
Author(s) -
Melchers L. S.,
RegensburgTuïnk A. J. G.,
Schilperoort R. A.,
Hooykaas P. J. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1989.tb00246.x
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , agrobacterium , gene , gene expression , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , transformation (genetics)
Summary The activation of the Agrobacterium virulence system is known to be induced by certain phenolic compounds. We have tested the vir‐inducing ability of fifty compounds, by using a virB‐lacZ gene fusion, and analysed the relationship between structure and activity of these compounds. In this way we have identified several new vir ‐inducers: coniferylalcohol, 3,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐hydroxybenzene, homovanillic acid, ferulic acid, 3‐ethoxy‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and guaiacol, all of which are compounds with strong or moderate activity and four compounds with weak vir ‐inducing activity. In view of the specificity of vir ‐inducers, our data extended observations of others and enabled us to define the specific structural features of a vir ‐inducer molecule. In addition we show here that induction of the octopine Ti vir ‐genes is (i) optimal at 29° C and totally abolished at 37° C., and (ii) strongly inhibited at low concentrations of sodium chloride. The implications for plant transformation are discussed.