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The Ti-Plasmid of Agrobacterium Tumefaciens as a Tool for Genetic Engineering in Plants

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Techniques in Molecular Biology

Abstract

As discussed in the preceding chapter, it is at present far easier to carry out genetic engineering in prokaryotes than in eukaryotes. This is due to many factors, but in particular it is due to our much greater knowledge of the genetics of bacteria (especially Escherichia coli) and the fact that there are naturally occurring plasmids in bacteria which have led to relatively simple methods for transforming bacterial cells. By comparison there are no naturally occurring plasmids in plant and mammalian cells, nor is there an effective transformation system for plant cells. Plant cells are surrounded by a cellulose-containing cell wall which prohibits direct transformation. This cell wall can, however, be removed by enzymatic treatment which gives rise to protoplasts. DNA can then be introduced into protoplasts by methods such as protoplast fusion, polyethylene glycol-mediated uptake using liposomes or microinjection (see Chapter 11). Intact plants can then be obtained by regeneration of transformed protoplasts. Regeneration of protoplasts has however so far only been successful with a few plant species such as tobacco, carrots and petunia.1

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Further Reading

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  • Hooykaas, P.J.J, and Schilperoort, R.A. (1985) The Ti-plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens: A Natural Genetic Engineer, Trends Biochem. Sci., 307–309

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  • Schell, J. and van Montagu, M. (1983) The Ti-plasmids as Natural and as Practical Gene Vectors for Plants, Biotechnology, 1, 175–180

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Authors
  1. Wim Gaastra
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  2. Kirsten Hansen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The Hatfield Polytechnic, PO Box 109, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, England

    John M. Walker (Principal Lecturer in Biochemistry) (Principal Lecturer in Biochemistry)

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Section of Bacteriology, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80.171, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Wim Gaastra (Associate Professor of Microbiology) (Associate Professor of Microbiology)

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© 1987 John M. Walker and Wim Gaastra

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Gaastra, W., Hansen, K. (1987). The Ti-Plasmid of Agrobacterium Tumefaciens as a Tool for Genetic Engineering in Plants. In: Walker, J.M., Gaastra, W. (eds) Techniques in Molecular Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9799-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9799-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7099-3673-2

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