Odyssey of Agrobacterium T-DNA

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a plant pathogen, is characterized by the unique feature of interkingdom DNA transfer. This soil bacterium is able to trans fer a fragment of its DNA, called T-DNA (transferred DNA), to the plant cel l where T-DNA is integrated into the plant genome leading to "genetic colon ization" of the host. The fate of T-DNA, its processing, transfer and integ ration, resembles the journey of Odysseus, although our hero returns from i ts long trip in a slightly modified form.