MODIFIED VIRD2 PROTEIN AND ITS USE IN IMPROVED GENE TRANSFER

摘要

There is provided a method for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation of a host cell. The method uses an Agrobacterium which expresses a VirD2 pr otein resistant to cleavage by a caspase. The VirD2 protein is modified by r eplacement of an aspartic acid residue with an alternative amino acid at one or more of the caspase cleavage sites within the protein amino acid sequenc e. This method improves the low efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated gene tr ansfer in certain plant cells and in animal cells caused by caspase cleavage of the VirD2 protein. The modified VirD2 protein, a gene for its expression and a method of producing a protein of interest by Agrobacterium-mediated t ransformation of a host cell are also described.