Virus-induced gene silencing offers a functional genomics platform for studying plant cell wall formation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Abstract
Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful genetic tool for rapid assessment of plant gene functions in the post-genomic era. Here, we successfully implemented a Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)-based VIGS system to study functions of genes involved in either primary or secondary cell wall formation in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. A 3-week post-VIGS time frame is sufficient to observe phenotypic alterations in the anatomical structure of stems and chemical composition of the primary and secondary cell walls. We used cell wall glycan-directed monoclonal antibodies to demonstrate that alteration of cell wall polymer synthesis during the secondary growth phase of VIGS plants has profound effects on the extractability of components from woody stem cell walls. Therefore, TRV-based VIGS together with cell wall component profiling methods provide a high-throughput gene discovery platform for studying plant cell wall formation from a bioenergy perspective. © 2010 The Author.
Publication Title
Molecular Plant
Recommended Citation
Zhu, X.,
Pattathil, S.,
Mazumder, K.,
Brehm, A.,
Hahn, M.,
Dinesh-Kumar, S.,
&
Joshi, C.
(2010).
Virus-induced gene silencing offers a functional genomics platform for studying plant cell wall formation.
Molecular Plant,
3(5), 818-833.
http://doi.org/10.1093/mp/ssq023
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/9816