|
Faculty
Garry Sunter, Ph.D. Research Interests The main focus of my research is directed toward the study of plant gene expression, DNA replication and plant-pathogen interactions using single-stranded DNA plant viruses of the family Geminiviridae as a model system. One aspect of the research involves transcriptional regulation. In many viral systems, gene expression follows a temporal sequence that is closely coordinated and during the initial stages of infection viral DNA replication and transcription rely entirely on the host and in many cases some of the viral proteins initially expressed are subsequently involved in the regulation of other viral genes. I am particularly interested in two viral genes that are involved in replication and transcription of the viral genome. The coordinate regulation of these genes appears crucial to ensure correct timing of both replication and transcription and may well reveal novel mechanisms and insights into plant transcription mechanisms. A second interest involves the role of viral genes in host gene activation. Geminiviruses rely primarily on host replication and transcriptional machinery to express their genes and amplify their genomic DNA. To overcome the inherent inability of plant cells to replicate viral DNA, geminiviruses must in some way make cells receptive to replication and transcription of the virus. In animals, many DNA viruses are capable of altering the host cell to facilitate efficient replication and transcription of viral DNA, either by direct activation of host gene expression or by interacting with cellular transcription factors. These interactions in turn induce expression of genes encoding proteins required for DNA replication and cell cycle progression. I am interested in identifying cellular genes activated and/or repressed by the virus and elucidating mehcanisms by which the virus interacts with these proteins. Recent Publications Baliji S, Sunter J, Sunter G. Transcriptional analysis of complementary sense genes in Spinach curly top virus and functional role of C2 in pathogenesis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2007 Feb;20(2):194-206. Kim KI, Sunter G, Bisaro DM, Chung IS. Improved expression of recombinant GFP using a replicating vector based on Beet curly top virus in leaf-disks and infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Plant Mol Biol. 2007 Feb 9; [Epub ahead of print] Shung CY, Sunter J, Sirasanagandla SS, Sunter G. Distinct viral sequence elements are necessary for expression of Tomato golden mosaic virus complementary sense transcripts that direct AL2 and AL3 gene expression. Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2006 Dec;19(12):1394-405. Hong SH, Kim KI, Chung HY, Kim YJ, Sunter G, Bisaro DM, Chung IS. Expression of recombinant endostatin in Agrobacterium-inoculated leaf disks of Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi. Biotechnol Lett. 2004 Sep;26(18):1433-9. Wang H, Hao L, Shung CY, Sunter G, Bisaro DM. Adenosine kinase is inactivated by geminivirus AL2 and L2 proteins. Plant Cell. 2003 Dec;15(12):3020-32. Hao L, Wang H, Sunter G, Bisaro DM. Geminivirus AL2 and L2 proteins interact with and inactivate SNF1 kinase. Plant Cell. 2003 Apr;15(4):1034-48. Sunter G, Bisaro DM. Identification of a minimal sequence required for activation of the tomato golden mosaic virus coat protein promoter in protoplasts. Virology. 2003 Jan 20;305(2):452-62. Sunter G, Sunter JL, Bisaro DM. Plants expressing tomato golden mosaic virus AL2 or beet curly top virus L2 transgenes show enhanced susceptibility to infection by DNA and RNA viruses. Virology. 2001 Jun 20;285(1):59-70.
|
