Site-specific recombination induced in transgenic plants by PVX virus vector expressing bacteriophage P1 recombinase

Potato Virus X (PVX)-based vector has been constructed for transient expression of Cre recombinase protein in lox-containing transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants. In the virus genome, the cre gene was placed under the transcriptional control of the viral coat protein subgenomic promoter. The resulting recombinant virus (PVX-Cre) expressed functional Cre which mediated the excision of a lox-flanked sequence in the plant genome. PVX-Cre-infected plants were self-pollinated and the progeny was tested for the inheritance of site-specific recombination. One of the three plants tested transmitted the recombined state to all progeny. These results show for the first time that a recombinant plant virus vector produced a functional Cre recombinase. PVX-Cre-mediated recombined loci can be germinally transmitted. © 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.