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Abstract Detail


Plant biotech & Risk Assessment

Mugutu, Allan Jalemba [1], Lopez-Ochoa, Luisa [2], Machuka, Jesse [3], Hanley-Bowdoin, Linda [4].

Development of resistance to maize streak virus (MSV) disease using peptide aptamers.

M a i z e s t r e a k virus (MSV) disease i s endemic i n A f r i c a, where it is responsible for a 40% decrease in maize production. During severe epidemics, MSV can result in 100% losses primarily for subsistence farmers, who contribute over 80% of total maize production in Kenya. Resistant maize varieties developed by conventional breeding have been used to control MSV disease, but many of these cultivars are compromised for other agronomical traits including yield, grain quality and environmental/pest tolerance. In addition, newly emerging recombinant MSV strains may overcome conventional resistance. MSV is a geminivirus characterized by a single-stranded, monopartite DNA genome. It is a member of the Mastrevirus genus that is t r a n s m i t t e d b y l e a f h o p p e r s . The MSV genome encodes two essential replication proteins – Rep and RepA, which share a common N-terminus that contains conserved motifs necessary for initiation of viral replication. We previously selected 31 peptide aptamers that interact with the N-terminus of the homologous Rep protein of a dicot-infecting geminivurus and interfere with its replication in cultured plant cells. We show here that 22 of the 31 interfering aptamers strongly interact with the N-terminus of the MSV Rep protein in yeast two-hybrid assays. We are currently evaluating their capacities to interfere with MSV replication in Black Mexican Sweet maize cells. The best candidates will be transformed into African land races and tested for MSV resistance in maize plants. Several maize varieties have been successfully evaluated for regenerability and transformability at Kenyatta University.


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1 - Kenyatta University, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Plant Transformation Laboratory, P.O Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
2 - North Carolina State University, Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, Biochemistr. Campus Box 7622, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 7695-7622, USA
3 - Kenyatta University, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Plant Transformation Laboratory, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
4 - North Carolina State University, Biochemistry

Keywords:
maize
Maize streak virus
peptide aptamers
tissue culture.

Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P45027
Abstract ID:1791


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