Recent advances in the understanding of Agrobacterium rhizogenes rol genes and their application in biotechnology

DOI: 10.5176/2251-2489_BioTech13.86

Authors: Victor P. Bulgakov, Tatiana Y. Gorpenchenko, Yuliya V. Vereshchagina, Olga G. Koren, Galina N. Veremeichik ,Yuri N. Shkry

Abstract:

The rolA, rolB and rolC genes are plant oncogenes that are carried in plasmids of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Following agrobacterial infection, these genes are transferred into the plant genome and cause tumor formation and hairy root disease. We summarized recent data on the A. rhizogenes rolC and rolB genes with respect to their effects on the physiology of transformed cells. The newly discovered functions of the rol genes include the modulation of secondary metabolism, the modulation of levels of intracellular ROS and stress resistance of transformed cells and the inhibition of programmed cell death. The most-studied proteins of the RolB family are RolB, RolC and 6b. In this work, we discuss recent findings regarding these intriguing proteins, which possess a complex biological activity and have a great potential in biotechnology.

Keywords: Agrobacterium; plant defense reactions; plant oncogenes; rol genes; secondary metabolism