Cell-cell communication in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
; 362(1483): 1135-48, 2007 Jul 29.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17360279
ABSTRACT
The plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens induces the formation of crown gall tumours at wound sites on host plants by directly transforming plant cells. This disease strategy benefits the bacteria as the infected plant tissue produces novel nutrients, called opines, that the colonizing bacteria can use as nutrients. Almost all of the genes that are required for virulence, and all of the opine uptake and utilization genes, are carried on large tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmids. The observation more than 25 years ago that specific opines are required for Ti plasmid conjugal transfer led to the discovery of a cell-cell signalling system on these plasmids that is similar to the LuxR-LuxI system first described in Vibrio fischeri. All Ti plasmids that have been described to date carry a functional LuxI-type N-acylhomoserine lactone synthase (TraI), and a LuxR-type signal receptor and transcriptional regulator called TraR. The traR genes are expressed only in the presence of specific opines called conjugal opines. The TraR-TraI system provides an important model for LuxR-LuxI-type systems, especially those found in the agriculturally important Rhizobiaceae family. In this review, we discuss current advances in the biochemistry and structural biology of the TraR-TraI system.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tumores de Planta
/
Plantas
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Agrobacterium tumefaciens
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Percepção de Quorum
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article