System for expression of genes in plants

摘要

The present invention provides trans-complementation systems for expressing gene products in plants. In general, the invention provides systems including a carrier vector and a producer vector, both based on plant viruses. The producer vector is defective for at least one function needed for successful systemic infection of a plant, e.g., replication, cell-to-cell movement, or long distance movement. The carrier vector supplies the missing function in trans. Certain producer vectors lack a functional coat protein coding sequence, in which case the corresponding producer vector supplies coat protein in trans. The invention also provides novel plant viral vectors and methods of use, e.g., to produce polypeptides or active RNAs in plants.

主权项

1. A producer vector comprising:
(a) a polynucleotide of interest, wherein the polynucleotide encodes an active RNA species or encodes an enzyme that synthesizes or modifies a biologically active agent; and (b) one or more components of a first plant RNA virus, wherein the vector is defective for systemic movement; and wherein the vector encodes a replicase protein of a plant RNA virus and comprises sufficient non-coding portions to allow self-replication.