Systemic Spread of Sequence-Specific Transgene RNA Degradation in Plants Is Initiated by Localized Introduction of Ectopic Promoterless DNA

Abstract

(Cell 95, 177–187; October 16, 1998) We the editors of Cell were contacted by the corresponding author, Dr. David Baulcombe, and the first author, Dr. Olivier Voinnet. They informed us that, in Figure 6C, lanes 6 and 7 were intended to show two different negative controls, but one of the lanes was erroneously duplicated. The authors were not able to locate the original data and could not determine how the error arose. Without access to the original data, a correction of this figure panel is not possible. Our evaluation of the other figures of the paper did not reveal any additional irregularities. Given the age of the paper and that the duplicated lane does not compromise the conclusions of the paper, based on the information available to us at this time, we will take no further action. Systemic Spread of Sequence-Specific Transgene RNA Degradation in Plants Is Initiated by Localized Introduction of Ectopic Promoterless DNAVoinnet et al.CellOctober 16, 1998In BriefSystemic, posttranscriptional silencing of transgenes in Nicotiana benthamiana was initiated in localized regions of the plant by introduction of transgene-homologous DNA fragments, including those without a promoter. Following this initiation step, a sequence-specific signal of gene silencing spread from cells that had received the ectopic DNA via a relay mechanism that employs plasmodesmatal and phloem channels. The nature of this mechanism, the mode of its initiation, and the ability of the signal to move long distances indicate the existence of a sequence-specific signaling mechanism in plants that may have roles in developmental control as well as in protection against transposons and viruses. Full-Text PDF Open Archive