VirA is a protein histidine kinase which senses certain sugars and phenolic compounds. These compounds are typically found from wounded plants, and as a result VirA is used by Agrobacterium tumefaciens to locate potential host organisms for infection. This detection is the first stage in the Ti plasmid transfer.[1]

References

  1. ^ Agrobacterium and plant genes involved in T-DNA transfer and integration - Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 2000. 51:223–56
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