Expression of VP60 gene from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) YL strain under control of the ats1A promoter in tobacco

Abstract

The VP60 gene from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) YL strain in Northeast of China, under control of the ats1A promoter from Rubisco small subunit genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, was introduced into the transfer deoxyribonucleic acid (T-DNA) region of plant transfer vector pCAMBIA1300 and transferred to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petit Havanna SR1) with Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reverse transcription(RT) and -PCR analysis of the transformed tobacco plants confirmed the integration of the VP60 gene copy into the plant DNA and VP60 gene transcription produced. Western blot analysis revealed that the VP60 protein was expressed in tobacco under control of ats1A promoter.

Key words: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), VP60 protein, ats1A promoter, plant-derived vaccines