GENE SILENCING SUPPRESSOR

摘要

A plant virus protein, displaying PTGS suppressor activity, and the use thereof as a suppressor of the gene silencing mechanism in a non-plant host cell (i.e. an animal cell) is provided. Examples of the plant virus protein include cysteine-rich proteins, such as the 16K CRP of tobacco rattle virus or the 12K CRP of pea early browning virus. Also described is a method of suppressing or inhibiting a gene silencing mechanism in a non-plant orgnism or cell through the use of a plant virus protein, exhibiting post transcriptional gene silencing suppressing functions.