A geminivirus induces expression of a host DNA synthesis protein in terminally differentiated plant cells.

Geminiviruses are plant DNA viruses that replicate through DNA intermediates in plant nuclei. The viral components required for replication are known, but no host factors have yet been identified. We used immunolocalization to show that the replication proteins of the geminivirus tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) are located in nuclei of terminally differentiated cells that have left the cell cycle. In addition, TGMV infection resulted in a significant accumulation of the host DNA synthesis protein proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA, an accessory factor for DNA polymerase delta, was not present at detectable levels in healthy differentiated cells. The TGMV replication protein AL1 was sufficient to induce accumulation of PCNA in terminally differentiated cells of transgenic plants. Analysis of the mechanism(s) whereby AL1 induces the accumulation of host replication machinery in quiescent plant cells will provide a unique opportunity to study plant DNA synthesis.

Molecular characterization of the AL3 protein encoded by a bipartite geminivirus.

The genome of tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) is composed of two circular, single-stranded DNA molecules that together contain 6 open reading frames (ORFs). Three of these ORFs (designated AL1, AL2, and AL3) overlap and are specified by multiple polycistronic mRNAs. No RNA specifying the AL3 ORF alone has been detected, suggesting that the AL3 gene product is translated from an internal ORF. A recombinant histidine-tagged-AL3 fusion protein was purified from Escherichia coli and used to raise a polyclonal antiserum. Analysis of protein extracts from healthy plants and plants infected with TGMV by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting showed that a protein corresponding to the predicted AL3 gene product is produced only in infected plants. This protein comprises approximately 0.05% of the cellular proteins and is present in the soluble and organelle fractions. These results are discussed with respect to the expression and role of the AL3 protein in the viral life cycle.

High mobility group chromosomal proteins bind to AT-rich tracts flanking plant genes.

AT-rich sequences in the 5' flanking regions of several plant genes have been shown to bind nuclear proteins, but the nature of these proteins has remained largely unknown. We report here that certain plant high mobility group (HMG) chromosomal proteins can interact specifically (in the presence of excess non-specific competitor) with AT-rich sequences located upstream of the pea ferredoxin 1 gene (Fed-1) and a member of the wheat Em gene family. Binding was observed with highly purified preparations of HMGa or HMGb, but not with HMGc or HMGd. HMG-DNA complexes were similar to one of the two types of Fed-1 complexes we observed previously using pea nuclear extracts [7]. HMG binding to the Fed-1 DNA was localized to a region containing AT-rich sequences; very similar sequences are present 5' to Em and several other plants genes. Such sequences have been shown to bind unidentified nuclear proteins in a number of these systems. Binding experiments with a synthetic oligo (dA).oligo (dT) probe and competition experiments with synthetic DNA polymers suggest that HMG binding may depend upon structural features of AT-rich DNA rather than being sequence-specific. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest a role for HMG binding which is consistent with previous evidence linking HMGs with transcriptionally competent chromatin.

Characterization of a single copy gene encoding ferredoxin I from pea.

We have isolated, mapped, and sequenced a genomic clone containing the ferredoxin I (Fed-1) gene from Pisum sativum. The gene is present as a single copy per haploid genome. It has no introns, and it specifies a 753-nucleotide transcript encoding a 149-amino acid protein including a 52-residue transit peptide. Upstream sequences from Fed-1 contain several elements with similarity to transcriptional regulatory elements from RbcS and Cab genes, and gel mobility shift assays show that nuclear extracts from light-grown pea leaves contain one or more DNA binding activities specific for Fed-1 5'-flanking sequences. RbcS and Cab regulatory sequences are only weak competitors for this binding, however, and the RbcS and Cab similarities mostly lie outside of the region essential for binding. These data are discussed in terms of previously observed physiological differences between the light responses of Fed-1 and other genes.