VIRE1 PROTEIN MEDIATES EXPORT OF THE SINGLE-STRANDED DNA-BINDING PROTEIN VIRE2 FROM AGROBACTERIUM-TUMEFACIENS INTO PLANT

Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers single-stranded DNAs (T strands) i nto plant cells. VirE1 and VirE2, which is a single-stranded DNA bindi ng protein, are important for tumorigenesis. We show that T strands an d VirE2 can enter plant cells independently and that export of VirE2, but not of T strands, depends on VirE1.