Delivery of tobacco mosaic virus RNA into plant protoplasts mediated by reverse-phase evaporation vesicles (Liposomes)

Abstract

Protoplasts were isolated from tobacco suspension cultures using a new cellulase preparation. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) RNA was encapsulated in reverse-phase evaporation vesicle (REV) liposomes of phosphatidylserine and cholesterol, and was successfully introduced into tobacco protoplasts by treatment of the REV/protoplast mixture with polyvinyl alcohol or polyethylene glycol followed by washing with high pH-high Ca buffer. Delivery of TMV-RNA was monitored by determining the number of infected protoplasts using the immunofluorescence technique. Production of TMV particles in the infected protoplasts was also confirmed by electron microscopy. Because of the high encapsulation efficiency of REV liposomes the amount of TMV-RNA necessary to cause infection in the majority of protoplasts could be reduced to 1/10 to 1/5 that required in the previous study (Fukunaga et al. 1981). The usefulness of the REV-mediated delivery of nucleic acids for genetic manipulation of plant protoplasts is discussed.