DNA transfer by Agrobacterium: a cooperative interaction of ssDNA, virulence proteins, and plant host factors
Authors: Tzfira Tzvi , Elbaum Michael , Wolf Sharon 
Published: March 2022

Agrobacteriumtumefaciensmediates genetic transformation of plants. The possibility of exchanging the natural genes for other DNA has led to Agrobacterium’s emergence as the primary vector for genetic modification of plants. The similarity among eukaryotic mechanisms of nuclear import also suggests use of its active elements as media for non-viral genetic therapy in animals. These considerations motivate the present study of the process that carries DNA of bacterial origin into the host nucleus. The infective pathway of Agrobacterium involves excision of a single-stranded DNA molecule (T-strand) from the bacterial tumor-inducing plasmid. This transferred DNA (T-DNA) travels to the host cell cytoplasm along with two virulence proteins, VirD2 and VirE2, through a specific bacteriumplant channel(s). Little is known about the precise structure and composition of the resulting complex within the host cell and even less is known about the mechanism of its nuclear import and integration into the host cell genome. In the present proposal we combined the expertise of the US and Israeli labs and revealed many of the biophysical and biological properties of the genetic transformation process, thus enhancing our understanding of the processes leading to nuclear import and integration of the Agrobacterium T-DNA. Specifically, we sought to: I. Elucidate the interaction of the T-strand with its chaperones. II. Analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the T-complex and its chaperones in vitro. III. Analyze kinetics of T-complex formation and T-complex nuclear import. During the past three years we accomplished our goals and made the following major discoveries: (1) Resolved the VirE2-ssDNA three-dimensional structure. (2) Characterized VirE2-ssDNA assembly and aggregation, along with regulation by VirE1. (3) Studied VirE2-ssDNA nuclear import by electron tomography. (4) Showed that T-DNA integrates via double-stranded (ds) intermediates. (5) Identified that Arabidopsis Ku80 interacts with dsT-DNA intermediates and is essential for T-DNA integration. (6) Found a role of targeted proteolysis in T-DNA uncoating. Our research provide significant physical, molecular, and structural insights into the Tcomplex structure and composition, the effect of host receptors on its nuclear import, the mechanism of T-DNA nuclear import, proteolysis and integration in host cells. Understanding the mechanical and molecular basis for T-DNA nuclear import and integration is an essential key for the development of new strategies for genetic transformation of recalcitrant plant species. Thus, the knowledge gained in this study can potentially be applied to enhance the transformation process by interfering with key steps of the transformation process (i.e. nuclear import, proteolysis and integration). Finally, in addition to the study of Agrobacterium-host interaction, our research also revealed some fundamental insights into basic cellular mechanisms of nuclear import, targeted proteolysis, protein-DNA interactions and DNA repair.