An oncoprotein from the plant pathogen Agrobacterium has histone chaperone-like activity

35Citations
Citations of this article
49Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Protein 6b, encoded by T-DNA from the pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens, stimulates the plant hormone-independent division of cells in culture in vitro and induces aberrant cell growth and the ectopic expression of various genes, including genes related to cell division and meristem-related class 1 KNOX homeobox genes, in 6b-expressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum plants. Protein 6b is found in nuclei and binds to several plant nuclear proteins. Here, we report that 6b binds specifically to histone H3 in vitro but not to other core histones. Analysis by bimolecular fluorescence complementation revealed an interaction in vivo between 6b and histone H3. We recovered 6b from a chromatin fraction from 6b-expressing plant cells. A supercoiling assay and digestion with micrococcal nuclease indicated that 6b acts as a histone chaperone with the ability to mediate formation of nucleosomes in vitro. Mutant 6b, lacking the C-terminal region that is required for cell division-stimulating activity and interaction with histone H3, was deficient in histone chaperone activity. Our results suggest a relationship between alterations in nucleosome structure and the expression of growth-regulating genes on the one hand and the induction of aberrant cell proliferation on the other. © 2007 American Society of Plant Biologists.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Terakura, S., Ueno, Y., Tagami, H., Kitakura, S., Machida, C., Wabiko, H., … Machida, Y. (2007). An oncoprotein from the plant pathogen Agrobacterium has histone chaperone-like activity. Plant Cell, 19(9), 2855–2865. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.106.049551

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free