An Agrobacterium VirE2 channel for transferred-DNA transport into plant cells

Transferred DNA (T-DNA) transfer from Agrobacterium tumefaciens into eukary otic cells is the only known example of interkingdom DNA transfer. T-DNA is a single-stranded segment of Agrobacterium's tumor-inducing plasmid that e nters the plant cell as a complex with the bacterial virulence proteins Vir D2 and VirE2, The VirE2 protein is highly induced on contact of A. tumefaci ens with a plant host and has been reported to act in late steps of transfe r. One of its previously demonstrated functions is binding to the single-st randed (ss) T-DNA and protecting it from degradation. Recent experiments su ggest other functions of the protein. A combination of planar lipid bilayer experiments, Vesicle swelling assays, and DNA transport experiments demons trated that VirE2 can insert itself into artificial membranes and form chan nels. These channels are Voltage gated, anion selective, and single-strande d DNA-specific and can facilitate the efficient transport of single-strande d DNA through membranes, These experiments demonstrate a VirE2 function as a transmembrane DNA transporter, which could have applications in gene deli very systems.