To study plant nuclear transport, we utilize import of Agrobacterium T-DNA into the host cell nucleus. Using this experimental system, we have identified two Agrobacterium proteins, VirD2 and VirE2, which form a complex with the transported T-DNA and target it to and through the nuclear pore. Our results indicate that nuclear import of VirD2 and VirE2 occurs by a specific pathway which is developmentally controlled. We are using VirD2 and VirE2 as molecular probes to characterize plant cell nuclear import, identify and purify its protein machinery, and distinguish its regulatory mechanisms. Plant Intercellular Communication Communication between plant cells largely occurs via intercellular connections, the plasmodesmata.
Movement proteins interact with plasmodesmata to increase their size exclusion limit.
We are using plant virus movement proteins as tools to identify cellular proteins involved in plasmodesmal transport. Ultimately, we plan to elucidate the molecular pathways for intercellular communication through plasmodesmata. Single-stranded DNA binding protein encoded by the virE locus of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The P30 movement protein of tobacco mosaic virus is a single strand nucleic acid binding protein. Gene I, a potential movement locus of CaMV, encodes an RNA binding protein.