published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1961. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1962. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).

No description available.

In Lactuca sativa, the dominant gene Tu confers resistance to infection by turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Tu and Dm5/8, a gene for resistance to Bremia lactucae, are linked in L. sativa. The area surrounding Dm5/8 on the genetic map of L. sativa contains restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The orientation of Tu relative to Dm5/8 was not known. Locating Tu would indicate which markers are on the map of lettuce close to Tu. To locate Tu on the L. sativa genetic map, F$ sb3$ families from recombinant F$ sb2$ in the Dm5/8 area of a cross between TuMV-resistant (Cobbham Green) and susceptible (Calmar) cultivars were inoculated with TuMV and phenotyped for Tu by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polyclonal antibodies for immunodetection were produced using turnip mosaic virus coat protein expressed in E. coli. Phenotypic ratios within F$ sb3$ families were used to determine individual F$ sb2$ genotypes for Tu. With these genotypes, Tu was located on the genetic map of L. sativa relative to data present for Dm5/8 and surrounding markers, between OPM18 and OPY13. Using bulked segregant analysis, bulks created for the Dm5/8 locus were screened for genetic polymorphisms by the RAPD technique. Five new RAPD markers, UBC346, UBC517, UBC563, UBC599, and UBC675 were found linked to Tu after mapping relative to F$ sb2$ genotypes for Tu and other RAPD markers. The resulting three-point mapping information indicates that Tu is flanked by two markers, OPM18/OPL08 and UBC346, at respective genetic distances of 0.4 and 0.7 cM.

The response of Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia) to infection with turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) was characterized at the level of: disease symptom expression, cell content and protein composition. Visual symptoms observed were chlorotic and mottled leaf colouring, severely stunted growth, distortion of leaf blades and delayed bolting. All plants died before seed cases dehisced. Electron microscopy revealed three types of cylindrical inclusion bodies: pinwheels, scrolls and laminated aggregates, in the cytoplasm of infected plants similar to those observed in other plants infected with TuMV. Inoculation of Arabidopsis with TuMV resulted in quantitative changes in several proteins in both soluble and membrane proteins, as revealed by electrophoresis on 12% polyacrylamide gels. Antibodies were made to both infected membrane and soluble proteins. Western blots of infected and uninfected, soluble and membrane proteins probed with antibodies revealed quantitative changes in the same proteins identified by polyacrylamide gels. A CNBr 4B activated sepharose column was used to make infection-specific antibodies to infected soluble proteins. No infection-specific host proteins were detected in Arabidopsis infected with TuMV.

In lettuce (Lactuca sativa), the dominant gene Tu confers resistance to turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection. In order to eventually clone and characterize the Tu gene using a map-based cloning strategy, the chromosome region in which Tu is located needs to be saturated with molecular markers. Random polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were screened using bulked segregant analysis. Nine new RAPD markers, UBC431$ rm sb{420}, UBC431 sb{940}, UBC434 sb{360}, UBC434 sb{1000}, UBC439 sb{520}, UBC448 sb{685:750}, UBC135 sb{240}, OP108 sb{410} and OP108 sb{1305},$ were identified as linked to Tu. Each marker was mapped relative to Tu using F$ sb2$ individuals previously known to be recombinant in the area surrounding the Tu locus. Three new markers, UBC431$ rm sb{420}, UBC439 sb{520} and UBC135 sb{240}$ are within a 5 cM area of Tu. As the number of DNA markers on the map increased map expansion and difficulties in determining a unique order were encountered. To increase the confidence in the estimate of genetic distances, a population of 500 F$ sb2$ plants was screened in order to identify more recombinant individuals around the Tu locus. The population was screened using markers UBC431$ sb{420}$ and UBC135$ sb{240}.$ Thirty-three recombinants were identified in an interval of 6.6 cM. Two markers, UBC346$ sb{1067}$ and OP108$ sb{634},$ tightly flanking Tu were converted to sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR 346 and SCAR L08). No polymorphism was detected among the SCARs generated. The area surrounding Tu now includes 24 RAPD markers in an interval of 44 cM.

Interactions between plant and virus proteins play pivotal roles in many processes during the viral infection cycle. Analysis of protein-protein interactions is crucial for understanding virus and host protein functions and the molecular mechanisms underlying viral infection. Several interactions between virus-encoded proteins have been reported. However, few interactions between viral and plant proteins have been identified so far. To examine interactions between Turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) proteins and plant proteins, recombinant proteins were produced and used in ELISA-type assays and in in vitro co-immunoprecipitation experiments. An interaction between TuMV P1 proteinase and wheat poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) was identified. An interaction between P1 protein and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana eukaryotic initiation factor (iso)4E [eIF(iso)4E] was also found. Finally, potential interactions between both TuMV CI and P1 proteins and between TuMV CI protein and eIF(iso)4E were identified.