Agrobacterium tumefaciens: from crown gall tumors to genetic transformation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Agrobacterium tumefaciens

T2 - from crown gall tumors to genetic transformation

AU - Pacurar, Daniel I.

AU - Thordal-Christensen, Hans

AU - Pacurar, Monica L.

AU - Pamfil, Doru

AU - Botez, Constantin

AU - Bellini, Catherine

PY - 2011/8

Y1 - 2011/8

N2 - The phytopathogenic bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the causative agent of crown gall disease on a broad range of plant species. For more than a century this pathogen has fascinated biologists for various reasons. It has been believed that disclosing the mystery of the crown gall tumour disease in plants might help to understand the mechanisms of oncogenesis in general, and eventually use this knowledge to cure cancer in animals and humans. However, as the performer of the only known case of trans-kingdom DNA transfer, this natural genetic engineer is recognised by nowadays biologists particularly for this feature, and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation has become the preferred method to generate transgenic plants. This review briefly highlights the key steps in DNA transfer during natural A. tumefaciens infection and the subsequent development of crown gall disease. It will focus on the adaptation and use of this proof of principle for the purpose of genetic transformation.

AB - The phytopathogenic bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the causative agent of crown gall disease on a broad range of plant species. For more than a century this pathogen has fascinated biologists for various reasons. It has been believed that disclosing the mystery of the crown gall tumour disease in plants might help to understand the mechanisms of oncogenesis in general, and eventually use this knowledge to cure cancer in animals and humans. However, as the performer of the only known case of trans-kingdom DNA transfer, this natural genetic engineer is recognised by nowadays biologists particularly for this feature, and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation has become the preferred method to generate transgenic plants. This review briefly highlights the key steps in DNA transfer during natural A. tumefaciens infection and the subsequent development of crown gall disease. It will focus on the adaptation and use of this proof of principle for the purpose of genetic transformation.

U2 - 10.1016/j.pmpp.2011.06.004

DO - 10.1016/j.pmpp.2011.06.004

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0885-5765

VL - 76

SP - 76

EP - 81

JO - Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology

JF - Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology

IS - 2

ER -