Cell
Volume 95, Issue 2, 16 October 1998, Pages 177-187
Journal home page for Cell

Article
Systemic Spread of Sequence-Specific Transgene RNA Degradation in Plants Is Initiated by Localized Introduction of Ectopic Promoterless DNA

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81749-3Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Systemic, posttranscriptional silencing of transgenes in Nicotiana benthamiana was initiated in localized regions of the plant by introduction of transgene-homologous DNA fragments, including those without a promoter. Following this initiation step, a sequence-specific signal of gene silencing spread from cells that had received the ectopic DNA via a relay mechanism that employs plasmodesmatal and phloem channels. The nature of this mechanism, the mode of its initiation, and the ability of the signal to move long distances indicate the existence of a sequence-specific signaling mechanism in plants that may have roles in developmental control as well as in protection against transposons and viruses.

Cited by (0)