Current Researchers: R. N. Beachy, M. Soto-Aguilar
Previous Researchers: M. Bendahmane, L. Brill, J. Szecsi, M. Heinlein, T. Kahn, W. Kim, C.O. Lim, P. Más, H.S. Padgett, C. Reichel, M. Fujiki, S. Kawakami

Plant viruses depend on one or more proteins to facilitate their spread from cell to cell. TMV includes a gene coding for a movement protein (MP) which is required for cell to cell movement of TMV infection.

The goal of the TMV MP research program is to identify the functions of MP and the viral and host components it interacts with. This information will aid in developing strategies for preventing viral infection in transgenic plants.

The MP research program consists of two main areas of investigation: studies to identify how and where MP is localized within plant cells during infection and studies of the three-dimensional structure of MP to identify components that are essential for function.

	Click on Image for more information on Movement Protein Localization			Click on Image for more information on Movement Protein Structure