Possible role of the Nt-4/1 protein in macromolecular transport in vascular tissue

Abstract

The Arabidopsis thaliana 4/1 (at-4/1) protein has a highly α-helical structure with potential to interact both with itself and other protein ligands, including the movement proteins of some plant viruses; the Nicotiana tabacum ortholog (nt- 4/1) has similar structure. here we describe localization of GUS expression in transgenic N. tabacum seedlings under control of the nt-4/1 promoter, which indicates that transcription is associated with the veins at certain developmental stages, and especially in the hypocotyl. Viroid accumulation and movement was altered in plants in which 4/1 expression was reduced by virus-induced gene silencing. These localization studies support a role of 4/1 in signaling in the vasculature, including mobility of pathogen-related and cellular RNAs. © 2013 Landes Bioscience.