Department of Plant Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai-625021.
Abstracts of Research Papers Presented during the National Symposium of Indian Virological Society at Unit of Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, October 14–1.
Cardamon mosaic virus (CdMV), the causative agent of the widespread ‘katte’ disease, has been shown to be a new member of the genus Macluravirus of Potyviridae family. NIa and NIb are the nuclear inclusion-forming proteins characteristic of viruses of the Potyviridae family. These proteins are involved in polyprotein processing, replication and viral movement. Using RT-PCR amplification, the complete NIa and NIb genes have been cloned, sequenced and deposited in the EMBL database. The NIa protease has been expressed and purified from E. coli. The characterization of the cis and trans protease activities of NIa is in progress. The NIb protein has also been expressed in E. coli. However, this protein forms insoluble aggregates. Therefore various deletion and point mutants of the protein have been generated towards obtaining the protein in a soluble form.
As a step towards the development of transgenic, virus resistant cardamom by the pathogen-derived resistance approach, the NIb gene has been used for the biolistic transformation of cardamom.
