Stable incorporation of plasmid DNA into higher plant cells: the molecular basis of crown gall tumorigenesis

Evidence is presented that crown gall tumors are caused by the incorporation of part of a virulence plasmid carried by the inciting bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The rate of reassociation of labeled plasmid DNA was slightly accelerated in the presence of tobacco crown gall tumor DNA, but not normal tobacco DNA. Treatment of tumor DNA with DNAase abolished the acceleration. To determine whether all plasmid sequences are represented in tumor DNA, the labeled plasmid DNA was separated into specific fragments after digestion with restriction endonuclease Sma I. Renaturation rates for DNA from bands 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 14 were not affected by tumor DNA. DNA from band 3 showed a slight rate increase in the presence of tumor DNA, indicating 21–27 copies of 14–18% of the DNA sequences in this (doublet) band. The band 3 doublet was separated by electrophoresis into bands 3a and 3b. Tumor DNA had little effect on the rate of reassociation of labeled band 3a DNA. Band 3b DNA renatured rapidly in the presence of tumor DNA, and its rate increase indicated that approximately 18 copies of 40% of band 3b DNA sequences are present per diploid tumor cell. This amounts to 3.7 × 106 daltons of foreign genetic information and represents a contribution of 0.0011% to the DNA content of the tumor cell. The relationship between this plant tumor and virally induced animal tumor systems is discussed.