Abstract
The soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen that causes crown-gall tumours after infection of wounded dicotyledonous plants. Large plasmids (Ti-plasmids) are responsible for the oncogenicity of the bacterium1–3. Crown-gall tumours contain a DNA segment, called the T-DNA, which is homologous with a defined part of the Ti-plasmid present in the tumour-inducing bacterium, and is stably integrated into the plant genome4–7. Apart from the T-DNA another region of the Ti-plasmid-called the vir-region, is essential for tumour induction8–11. We report here the interaction of two compatible plasmids, one containing the vir-region, the other carrying the T-DNA on a wide host-range replicon. An A. tumefaciens strain harbouring both plasmids has a normal tumour-inducing capacity, although neither plasmid is functional alone. With this approach, the T-DNA on one plasmid can, because of its size, be easily genetically manipulated using Escherichia coli as a host. Transfer of this plasmid into an A. tumefaciens strain harbouring the plasmid with the vir-region allows introduction of the manipulated T-DNA into plant cells. In this way, sophisticated binary vector systems for plant genetic engineering can be developed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Van Larebeke, N. et al. Nature 252, 169–170 (1974).
Zaenen, I., Van Larebeke, N., Teuchy, H., Van Montagu, M. & Schell, J. J. molec. Biol. 86, 109–127 (1974).
Watson, B., Currier, T. C., Gordon, M. P., Chilton, M. D. & Nester, E. W. J. Bact. 123, 255–264 (1975).
Chilton, M. D. et al. Cell 11, 263–271 (1977).
Thomashow, M. F., Nutter, R., Montoya, A. L., Gordon, M. P. & Nester, E. W. Cell 19, 729–739 (1980).
De Beuckeleer, M. et al. Molec. gen. Genet. 183, 283–288 (1981).
Ooms, G. et al. Cell 30, 589–597 (1982).
Ooms, G., Poulis, J. A. & Schilperoort, R. A. J. Bact. 144, 82–91 (1980).
Garfinkel, D. J. & Nester, E. W. J. Bact. 144, 732–743 (1980).
De Greve, H. et al. Plasmid 6, 235–248 (1981).
Hille, J., Klasen, I. & Schilperoort, R. A. Plasmid 7, 107–118 (1982).
Beggs, J. D. Alfred Benson Symp. 16, 383–389 (1981).
Twigg, A. J. & Sheratt, D. Nature 283, 216–218 (1980).
Beggs, J. D. Nature 275, 104–109 (1978).
Southern, E. J. J. molec. Biol. 98, 503–518 (1975).
Ooms, G., Hooykaas, P.J.J., Moolenaar, G. & Schilperoort, R. A. Gene 14, 33–50 (1981).
Lippincott, B. B. & Lippincott, J. A. J. Bact. 97, 620–628 (1969).
Hille, J., Van Kan, J., Klasen, I. & Schilperoort, R. A. J. Bact. (in the press).
De Picker, A., De Block, M., Inzé, D., Van Montagu, M. & Schell, J. Gene 10, 329–338 (1980).
Hooykaas, P. J. J., Den Dulk-Ras, H. & Schilperoort, R. A. Plasmid 4, 64–75 (1980).
Chilton, M. D. et al. Plasmid 1, 254–259 (1978).
De Vos, G., De Beuckeleer, M., Van Montagu, M. & Schell, J. Plasmid 6, 249–253 (1981).
Otten, L. A. B. M. & Schilperoort, R. A. Biochim. biophys. Acta 527, 497–500 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoekema, A., Hirsch, P., Hooykaas, P. et al. A binary plant vector strategy based on separation of vir- and T-region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti-plasmid. Nature 303, 179–180 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303179a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/303179a0
