Expression of plant protein phosphatase 2C interferes with nuclear import of the Agrobacterium T-complex protein VirD2

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 6;101(14):5164-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0300084101. Epub 2004 Mar 26.

Abstract

Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers DNA to plant cells as a single-stranded DNA molecule (the T-strand) covalently linked to VirD2 protein. VirD2 contains nuclear localization signal sequences that presumably help direct the T-strand to the plant nucleus. We identified a tomato cDNA clone, DIG3, that encodes a protein that interacts with the C-terminal region of VirD2. DIG3 encodes an enzymatically active type 2C serine/threonine protein phosphatase. Overexpression of DIG3 in tobacco BY-2 protoplasts inhibited nuclear import of a beta-glucuronidase-VirD2 nuclear localization signal fusion protein. Thus, DIG3 may be involved in nuclear import of the VirD2 protein and, consequently, the VirD2/transferred DNA complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / genetics
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Plants / enzymology*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY534757