Systemic acquired silencing: transgene-specific post-transcriptional silencing is transmitted by grafting from silenced stocks to non-silenced scions

EMBO J. 1997 Aug 1;16(15):4738-45. doi: 10.1093/emboj/16.15.4738.

Abstract

Using grafting procedures, we investigated the transmission of co-suppression of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase host genes and transgenes and of post-transcriptional silencing of a uidA transgene encoding glucuronidase in tobacco. We demonstrate that silencing is transmitted with 100% efficiency from silenced stocks to non-silenced scions expressing the corresponding transgene. Transmission is unidirectional from stock to scion, transgene specific, locus independent and requires the presence of a transcriptionally active transgene in the target scion. The transmission of co-suppression occurs when silenced stocks and non-silenced target scions are physically separated by up to 30 cm of stem of a non-target wild-type plant. Taken together, these results suggest that a non-metabolic, transgene-specific, diffusable messenger mediates the propagation of de novo post-transcriptional silencing through the plant.

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Glucuronidase / genetics
  • Nicotiana / enzymology
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Nitrate Reductase
  • Nitrate Reductases / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Plants, Toxic
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism
  • Suppression, Genetic*

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA, Plant
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Plant
  • Nitrate Reductases
  • Nitrate Reductase
  • Glucuronidase