The transfer of T-DNA into a plant cell by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a highly regulated process.This process only occurs if a plant becomes wounded and excretes various compounds that are detected by A.tumefaciens for expression of its virulence genes.Regulation of virulence gene expression is under the control of which type of system?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The regulation of virulence gene expression in Agrobacterium tumefaciens is controlled by a two-component system. This system involves a sensor kinase protein, VirA, and a response regulator protein, VirG. When the plant excretes certain compounds that are recognized by VirA, it autophosphorylates and transfers the phosphate group to VirG, which then activates the transcription of virulence genes. This system allows the bacterium to only express its virulence genes in the presence of the specific signals from the wounded plant, ensuring that energy is not wasted on producing unnecessary virulence factors.

The Transfer of T-DNA into a Plant Cell by Agrobacterium