Mapping nucleotides in the 126-kDa protein gene that control the differential symptoms induced by two strains of tobacco mosaic virus

Plant SNAREs SYP22 and SYP23 interact with Tobacco mosaic virus 126 kDa protein and SYP2s are required for normal local virus accumulation and spread

Viral proteins often interact with multiple host proteins during virus accumulation and spread. Identities and functions of all interacting host proteins are not known. Through a yeast two-hybrid screen an Arabidopsis thaliana Qa-SNARE protein [syntaxin of plants 23 (AtSYP23)], associated with pre-vacuolar compartment and vacuolar membrane fusion activities, interacted with Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 126 kDa protein, associated with virus accumulation and spread. In planta, AtSYP23 and AtSYP22 each fused with mCherry, co-localized with 126 kDa protein-GFP. Additionally, A. thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana SYP2 proteins and 126 kDa protein interacted during bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis. Decreased TMV accumulation in Arabidopsis plants lacking SYP23 and in N. benthamiana plants subjected to virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of SYP2 orthologs was observed. Diminished TMV accumulation during VIGS correlated with less intercellular virus spread. The inability to eliminate virus accumulation suggests that SYP2 proteins function redundantly for TMV accumulation, as for plant development.

Factors involved in the systemic transport of plant RNA viruses: the emerging role of the nucleus

Compatible virus-host interactions depend on a suitable milieu in the host cells permitting viral gene expression, replication, and spread. During pathogenesis, viruses hijack the plant cellular machinery to access molecules, subcellular structures, and host transport pathways needed for infection. Vascular trafficking of virus transport forms (VTF) within the phloem is a crucial step in setting-up virus infection within the entire plant. Moreover, vascular trafficking is an essential step for the further transmission of the viruses by their natural vectors as movement of the viruses to the distant parts of the plant from the initial site of infection guarantees accessibility of the virus particle for vector transmission. With the recent advances in the field of plant virology several emerging themes of viral systemic movement occur linking the role of virus-mediated transcriptional reprogramming and nuclear factors in vascular trafficking. Recent studies have uncovered host factors involved in virus vascular trafficking. Surprisingly, it appears that the role of the nucleus and nuclear factors in virus movement is still under-appreciated. This review describes how these new themes started to emerge by using two contrasting modes of virus vascular trafficking. It is argued that the translocation of viral movement proteins into the nuclei is, in many cases, an essential step in promoting virus systemic infection.

In vitro binding and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays suggest an interaction between tomato mosaic virus coat protein and tobacco chloroplast ferredoxin I

Symptom development of a viral plant disease results from molecular interactions between the virus and its host plant. Tomato mosaic virus coat protein (ToMV CP) not only plays a major role in virion assembly and long-distance movement but is also responsible for symptom development in ToMV-infected plants. This study provides evidence that chloroplast ferredoxin I (Fd I) interacts with ToMV CP in a GAL4-based two-hybrid yeast system for screening a Nicotiana tabacum cDNA library. The interaction between CP and Fd I was confirmed by in vitro binding and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays in plant cells.

Influence of host chloroplast proteins on Tobacco mosaic virus accumulation and intercellular movement

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) forms dense cytoplasmic bodies containing replication-associated proteins (virus replication complexes [VRCs]) upon infection. To identify host proteins that interact with individual viral components of VRCs or VRCs in toto, we isolated viral replicase- and VRC-enriched fractions from TMV-infected Nicotiana tabacum plants. Two host proteins in enriched fractions, ATP-synthase γ-subunit (AtpC) and Rubisco activase (RCA) were identified by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Through pull-down analysis, RCA bound predominantly to the region between the methyltransferase and helicase domains of the TMV replicase. Tobamovirus, but not Cucumber mosaic virus or Potato virus X, infection of N. tabacum plants resulted in 50% reductions in Rca and AtpC messenger RNA levels. To investigate the role of these host proteins in TMV accumulation and plant defense, we used a Tobacco rattle virus vector to silence these genes in Nicotiana benthamiana plants prior to challenge with TMV expressing green fluorescent protein. TMV-induced fluorescent lesions on Rca- or AtpC-silenced leaves were, respectively, similar or twice the size of those on leaves expressing these genes. Silencing Rca and AtpC did not influence the spread of Tomato bushy stunt virus and Potato virus X. In AtpC- and Rca-silenced leaves TMV accumulation and pathogenicity were greatly enhanced, suggesting a role of both host-encoded proteins in a defense response against TMV. In addition, silencing these host genes altered the phenotype of the TMV infection foci and VRCs, yielding foci with concentric fluorescent rings and dramatically more but smaller VRCs. The concentric rings occurred through renewed virus accumulation internal to the infection front.

Multiple domains of the tobacco mosaic virus p126 protein can independently suppress local and systemic RNA silencing

Small RNA-mediated RNA silencing is a widespread antiviral mechanism in plants and other organisms. Many viruses encode suppressors of RNA silencing for counter-defense. The p126 protein encoded by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been reported to be a suppressor of RNA silencing but the mechanism of its function remains unclear. This protein is unique among the known plant viral silencing suppressors because of its large size and multiple domains. Here, we report that the methyltransferase, helicase, and nonconserved region II (NONII) of p126 each has silencing-suppressor function. The silencing-suppression activities of methyltransferase and helicase can be uncoupled from their enzyme activities. Specific amino acids in NONII previously shown to be crucial for viral accumulation and symptom development are also crucial for silencing suppression. These results suggest that some viral proteins have evolved to possess modular structural domains that can independently interfere with host silencing, and that this may be an effective mechanism of increasing the robustness of a virus.

Intracellular transport of plant viruses: finding the door out of the cell

Plant viruses are a class of plant pathogens that specialize in movement from cell to cell. As part of their arsenal for infection of plants, every virus encodes a movement protein (MP), a protein dedicated to enlarging the pore size of plasmodesmata (PD) and actively transporting the viral nucleic acid into the adjacent cell. As our knowledge of intercellular transport has increased, it has become apparent that viruses must also use an active mechanism to target the virus from their site of replication within the cell to the PD. Just as viruses are too large to fit through an unmodified plasmodesma, they are also too large to be freely diffused through the cytoplasm of the cell. Evidence has accumulated now for the involvement of other categories of viral proteins in intracellular movement in addition to the MP, including viral proteins originally associated with replication or gene expression. In this review, we will discuss the strategies that viruses use for intracellular movement from the replication site to the PD, in particular focusing on the role of host membranes for intracellular transport and the coordinated interactions between virus proteins within cells that are necessary for successful virus spread.

Engineered Tobacco mosaic virus mutants with distinct physical characteristics in planta and enhanced metallization properties

Tobacco mosaic virus mutants were engineered to alter either the stability or surface chemistry of the virion: within the coat protein, glutamic acid was exchanged for glutamine in a buried portion to enhance the inter-subunit binding stability (E50Q), or a hexahistidine tract was fused to the surface-exposed carboxy terminus of the coat protein (6xHis). Both mutant viruses were expected to possess specific metal ion affinities. They accumulated to high titers in plants, induced distinct phenotypes, and their physical properties during purification differed from each other and from wild type (wt) virus. Whereas 6xHis and wt virions contained RNA, the majority of E50Q protein assembled essentially without RNA into rods which frequently exceeded 2 μm in length. Electroless deposition of nickel metallized the outer surface of 6xHis virions, but the central channel of E50Q rods, with significantly more nanowires of increased length in comparison to those formed in wtTMV.

A single residue in the 126-kDa protein of pepper mild mottle virus controls the severity of symptoms on infected green bell pepper plants

Infectious cDNA clones originally derived from a mild strain of Pepper mild mottle virus were constructed by replacing residue 649, a critical point for attenuation of this virus, with all possible amino acids. All clones were infectious to pepper plants and induced a variety of symptoms, including no visible symptoms. The results of this study showed that a single amino acid mutation at residue 649 could control the function of the 126- and 183-kDa proteins, replicases with multiple roles in the life cycle of this virus.

The cauliflower mosaic virus protein P6 forms motile inclusions that traffic along actin microfilaments and stabilize microtubules

The gene VI product (P6) of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is a multifunctional protein known to be a major component of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies formed during CaMV infection. Although these inclusions are known to contain virions and are thought to be sites of translation from the CaMV 35S polycistronic RNA intermediate, the precise role of these bodies in the CaMV infection cycle remains unclear. Here, we examine the functionality and intracellular location of a fusion between P6 and GFP (P6-GFP). We initially show that the ability of P6-GFP to transactivate translation is comparable to unmodified P6. Consequently, our work has direct application for the large body of literature in which P6 has been expressed ectopically and its functions characterized. We subsequently found that P6-GFP forms highly motile cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and revealed through fluorescence colocalization studies that these P6-GFP bodies associate with the actin/endoplasmic reticulum network as well as microtubules. We demonstrate that while P6-GFP inclusions traffic along microfilaments, those associated with microtubules appear stationary. Additionally, inhibitor studies reveal that the intracellular movement of P6-GFP inclusions is sensitive to the actin inhibitor, latrunculin B, which also inhibits the formation of local lesions by CaMV in Nicotiana edwardsonii leaves. The motility of P6 along microfilaments represents an entirely new property for this protein, and these results imply a role for P6 in intracellular and cell-to-cell movement of CaMV.

Tobacco mosaic virus 126-kDa protein increases the susceptibility of Nicotiana tabacum to other viruses and its dosage affects virus-induced gene silencing

The Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 126-kDa protein is a suppressor of RNA silencing previously shown to delay the silencing of transgenes in Nicotiana tabacum and N. benthamiana. Here, we demonstrate that expression of a 126-kDa protein-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion (126-GFP) in N. tabacum increases susceptibility to a broad assortment of viruses, including Alfalfa mosaic virus, Brome mosaic virus, Tobacco rattle virus (TRV), and Potato virus X. Given its ability to enhance TRV infection in tobacco, we tested the effect of 126-GFP expression on TRV-mediated virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and demonstrate that this protein can enhance silencing phenotypes. To explain these results, we examined the poorly understood effect of suppressor dosage on the VIGS response and demonstrated that enhanced VIGS corresponds to the presence of low levels of suppressor protein. A mutant version of the 126-kDa protein, inhibited in its ability to suppress silencing, had a minimal effect on VIGS, suggesting that the suppressor activity of the 126-kDa protein is indeed responsible for the observed dosage effects. These findings illustrate the sensitivity of host plants to relatively small changes in suppressor dosage and have implications for those interested in enhancing silencing phenotypes in tobacco and other species through VIGS.

The methyltransferase domain of the 1a protein of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus controls local and systemic accumulation in cowpea

The type strain of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV-T) induces a local and systemic infection in California Blackeye cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subs. unguiculata cv. California Blackeye), but accumulates to low levels in inoculated leaves and fails to accumulate systemically in the cowpea plant introduction (PI) 186465. CCMV-R, a mutant strain derived from CCMV-T, accumulates to higher levels than CCMV-T in inoculated leaves and systemically infects PI 186465 plants. The phenotypic determinant of CCMV-R was previously mapped to viral RNA1, but the location of the determinant within RNA1 was not identified. Pseudorecombinants generated from genomic cDNA clones of CCMV-T and CCMV-R indicated that the phenotypic differences on PI 186465 were independent of replication. Through the use of chimeric RNA1 cDNA clones containing portions of CCMV-T and CCMV-R and site-directed mutagenesis, two nucleotides, 299 (amino acid residue 77) and 951 (amino acid residue 294), were identified as being independently critical for the local and systemic accumulation patterns of CCMV-R in PI 186465 plants. A second independently derived CCMV-R-like mutant, identified nucleotide 216 (amino acid residue 49) as being critical for induction of the CCMV-R infection phenotype. Amino acid residues 49, 77, and 294 are within the methytransferase domain of the CCMV 1a protein, suggesting that the methytransferase domain has a role in cell-to-cell and systemic accumulation of the virus that is independent of replication.

Construction of infectious clones for RNA viruses: TMV

The generation of infectious clones is routinely the first step for reverse genetic studies of RNA plant virus gene and sequence function. The procedure given here, details the creation of cDNA clones of tobacco mosaic virus, from which infectious transcripts can be generated in vitro with T7 RNA polymerase. The procedure describes methods for virion purification, viral RNA extraction, reverse transcription, PCR amplification of genomic cDNA fragments, generation of a full-length cDNA clone under the control of a T7 promoter, in vitro transcription, and infectivity testing.

Virus infection improves drought tolerance

Viruses are obligate intracellular symbionts. Plant viruses are often discovered and studied as pathogenic parasites that cause diseases in agricultural plants. However, here it is shown that viruses can extend survival of their hosts under conditions of abiotic stress that could benefit hosts if they subsequently recover and reproduce. Various plant species were inoculated with four different RNA viruses, Brome mosaic virus (BMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco mosaic virus and Tobacco rattle virus. The inoculated plants were stressed by withholding water. The onset of drought symptoms in virus-infected plants was compared with that in the plants that were inoculated with buffer (mock-inoculated plants). Metabolite profiling analysis was conducted and compared between mock-inoculated and virus-infected plants before and after being subjected to drought stress. In all cases, virus infection delayed the appearance of drought symptoms. Beet plants infected with CMV also exhibited significantly improved tolerance to freezing. Metabolite profiling analysis showed an increase in several osmoprotectants and antioxidants in BMV-infected rice and CMV-infected beet plants before and after drought stress. These results indicate that virus infection improves plant tolerance to abiotic stress, which correlates with increased osmoprotectant and antioxidant levels in infected plants.

Direct and indirect roles of viral suppressors of RNA silencing in pathogenesis

Plant and animal viruses overcome host antiviral silencing by encoding diverse viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs). Prior to the identification and characterization of their silencing suppression activities mostly in transgene silencing assays, plant VSRs were known to enhance virus accumulation in the inoculated protoplasts, promote cell-to-cell virus movement in the inoculated leaves, facilitate the phloem-dependent long-distance virus spread, and/or intensify disease symptoms in systemically infected tissues. Here we discuss how the various silencing suppression activities of VSRs may facilitate these distinct steps during plant infection and why VSRs may not play a direct role in eliciting disease symptoms by general impairments of host endogenous small RNA pathways. We also highlight many of the key questions still to be addressed on the role of viral suppression of antiviral silencing in plant infection.

Suppression of infectious TMV genomes expressed in young transgenic tobacco plants

Full-length cDNAs of the wild-type (wt) Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and of the coat protein gene-deleted (DeltaCP) derivative of wt-TMV, under control of the 35S promoter and downstream ribozyme sequence to produce accurate viral transcripts, were transformed to tobacco plants to analyze plant-virus interactions through different stages of plant development. Surprisingly, young wt-TMV transgenics accumulated only very low levels of viral RNA, remained free of symptoms, and were moderately resistant against exogenous inoculations. This early resistance caused significant stress to the plants, as indicated by reduced growth. Approximately 7 to 8 weeks after germination, the resistance was broken and plants developed typical wt-TMV symptoms, with high accumulation of the viral RNAs and proteins. The DeltaCP-TMV plants likewise were initially resistant to the endogenous inoculum and were stunted, although to a lesser extent than the wt-TMV plants. The resistance was broken at the same time as in the wt-TMV plants, but the mutant replicated to much lower levels and produced much milder symptoms than the wt virus. TMV-specific small interfering RNAs as well as increased transgene methylation were detected in the plants only after the resistance break, indicating that the resistance in the young plants was not due to RNA silencing.

Tobacco mosaic virus defective RNAs expressing C-terminal methyltransferase domain sequences are severely impaired in long-distance movement in Nicotiana benthamiana

Tobamovirus replicase proteins, which function in replication and gene expression, are also implicated in viral cell-to-cell and long-distance movement. The role(s) of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 126-/183-kDa replicase protein in the complex movement process are not understood due to lack of systems that can separate the multiple steps involved. We previously developed a bipartite TMV-defective RNA (dRNA) system to dissect the role of the N-terminal methyltransferase (MT) domain in accumulation and cell-to-cell movement of dRNAs [Knapp, E., Danyluk, G.M., Achor, D., Lewandowski, D.J., 2005. A bipartite Tobacco mosaic virus-defective RNA (dRNA) system to study the role of the N-terminal methyltransferase domain in cell-to-cell movement of dRNAs. Virology 341, 47-58]. In the current study we analyzed long-distance movement of dRNAs in the presence of helper virus in Nicotiana benthamiana. dRNAs expressing approximately 50% of the MT domain (DeltaHinc151) moved long-distances in more than half of the plants. dRNAs expressing approximately 90% of the MT domain sequences (DeltaCla151) predominantly failed to accumulate in upper leaves. The helper virus moved systemically when inoculated alone or with a dRNA. In inoculated leaves, more DeltaHinc151-induced infection foci spread adjacent to class V veins compared to those of DeltaCla151. Consequently, DeltaHinc151 infected more class V veins than DeltaCla151. DeltaCla151 was only detected in bundle sheath cells, whereas DeltaHinc151 could accumulate in bundle sheath and phloem parenchyma cells of class V veins. However, the latter accumulation pattern did not always result in systemic accumulation of DeltaHinc151, suggesting that factors in addition to those affecting cell-to-cell movement played a role in long-distance movement.

The Tobacco mosaic virus replicase protein disrupts the localization and function of interacting Aux/IAA proteins

Previously, we identified a correlation between the interaction of the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 126/183-kDa replicase with the auxin response regulator indole acetic acid (IAA)26/PAP1 and the development of disease symptoms. In this study, the TMV replicase protein is shown to colocalize with IAA26 in the cytoplasm and prevent its accumulation within the nucleus. Furthermore, two additional auxin (Aux)/IAA family members, IAA27 and IAA18, were found to interact with the TMV replicase and displayed alterations in their cellular localization or accumulation that corresponded with their ability to interact with the TMV replicase. In contrast, the localization and accumulation of noninteracting Aux/IAA proteins were unaffected by the presence of the viral replicase. To investigate the effects of the replicase interaction on Aux/IAA function, transgenic plants expressing a proteolysis-resistant IAA26-P108L-green fluorescent protein (GFP) protein were created. Transgenic plants accumulating IAA26-P108L-GFP displayed an abnormal developmental phenotype that included severe stunting and leaf epinasty. However, TMV infection blocked the nuclear localization of IAA26-P108L-GFP and attenuated the developmental phenotype displayed by the transgenic plants. Combined, these findings suggest that TMV-induced disease symptoms can be attributed, in part, to the ability of the viral replicase protein to disrupt the localization and subsequent function of interacting Aux/IAA proteins.

Biological properties of Beet mild yellowing virus derived from a full-length cDNA clone

A German isolate of Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV-IPP) was used for RT-PCR-based construction of the first infectious full-length cDNA clone of the virus (BMYV(fl)). The complete genomic sequence was determined and displayed high similarity to the French isolate BMYV-2ITB. The host range of BMYV(fl) was examined by agroinoculation and aphid transmission. Both methods lead to systemic infections in Beta vulgaris, Nicotiana benthamiana, N. clevelandii, N. hesperis, Capsella bursa-pastoris and Lamium purpureum. Immunological investigation by tissue-print immunoassay (TPIA) of agroinoculated plant tissues revealed only local infections restricted to the agroinoculated mesophyll tissues in some plant species. In Nicotiana glutinosa and N. edwardsonii, BMYV was not found in either the agroinoculated tissue or distant tissues by TPIA. So far, BMYV(fl) agroinoculation did not extend or confine the BMYV host range known from aphid transmission experiments but it did describe new local hosts for BMYV.

Assessment of the effectiveness of a nuclear-launched TMV-based replicon as a tool for foreign gene expression in plants in comparison to direct gene expression from a nuclear promoter

An environmentally safe Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)-based expression replicon was constructed that lacks movement protein (MP) and coat protein (CP), and which expresses the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene from a full CP subgenomic promoter. The TMV replicon, whose cDNA was positioned between an enhanced Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (CaMV) and a self-cleaving hammerhead ribozyme with a downstream nopaline synthase gene polyadenylation signal [nos-poly(A)], was assessed for its effectiveness to accumulate GFP upon agroinfiltration into plant leaves compared to a control construct in which GFP was directly expressed from the enhanced CaMV 35S promoter. It was determined that individually expressing cells produced ca. 9-fold more GFP from the TMV-based replicon than from the enhanced 35S promoter. In contrast, GFP measurements from total leaf extracts determined that leaves infiltrated with the TMV-based replicon produced ca. 7-fold less GFP than the control construct. These apparently contradictory results can be explained by the low infectivity of the TMV-based replicon as it was found that the number of foci expressing GFP produced in leaves agroinfiltrated with the TMV-based replicon was ca. 66-fold lower than produced by the control.

A bipartite Tobacco mosaic virus-defective RNA (dRNA) system to study the role of the N-terminal methyl transferase domain in cell-to-cell movement of dRNAs

Plant viruses, in particular Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), are model systems to study RNA and protein trafficking in plants. Although TMV cell-to-cell transport controlled by the 30-kDa movement protein (MP) has been intensively studied, it was only recently demonstrated that the 126/183-kDa replicase proteins are also involved in cell-to-cell movement. Elucidating the role(s) of 126/183-kDa proteins in movement is complicated because these proteins have multiple functions associated with replication and gene expression. To overcome these difficulties we developed a TMV helper virus-defective RNA (dRNA) system to study the role of replicase protein sequences in dRNA cell-to-cell movement. Artificially constructed dRNAs lacking sequences encoding the helicase and polymerase domains of the replicase proteins and portions of the MP were viable in protoplasts and plants in the presence of helper virus. Expression of at least approximately 50% of the methyl transferase (MT) domain was required for efficient dRNA movement in Nicotiana benthamiana. dRNAs that encoded the N-terminal 64 replicase amino acids or lacked a translatable MT domain failed to move or moved poorly. TMV dRNAs expressing 258 amino acids of the replicase protein moved into all specialized non-vascular tissues, whereas dRNAs expressing replicase sequences beyond amino acid 258 were restricted to the epidermis and palisade mesophyll tissues. Furthermore, second-site mutations within the dRNA-encoded truncated replicase protein altered efficiency in dRNA cell-to-cell movement.

The tobacco mosaic virus 126-kilodalton protein, a constituent of the virus replication complex, alone or within the complex aligns with and traffics along microfilaments

Virus-induced cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (referred to as virus replication complexes [VRCs]) consisting of virus and host components are observed in plant cells infected with tobacco mosaic virus, but the components that modulate their form and function are not fully understood. Here, we show that the tobacco mosaic virus 126-kD protein fused with green fluorescent protein formed cytoplasmic bodies (126-bodies) in the absence of other viral components. Using mutant 126-kD:green fluorescent fusion proteins and viral constructs expressing the corresponding mutant 126-kD proteins, it was determined that the size of the 126-bodies and the corresponding VRCs changed in synchrony for each 126-kD protein mutation tested. Through colabeling experiments, we observed the coalignment and intracellular trafficking of 126-bodies and, regardless of size, VRCs, along microfilaments (MFs). Disruption of MFs with MF-depolymerizing agents or through virus-induced gene silencing compromised the intracellular trafficking of the 126-bodies and VRCs and virus cell-to-cell movement, but did not decrease virus accumulation to levels that would affect virus movement or prevent VRC formation. Our results indicate that (1) the 126-kD protein modulates VRC size and traffics along MFs in cells; (2) VRCs traffic along MFs in cells, possibly through an interaction with the 126-kD protein, and the negative effect of MF antagonists on 126-body and VRC intracellular movement and virus cell-to-cell movement correlates with the disruption of this association; and (3) virus movement was not correlated with VRC size.

Integration of mutations responsible for the attenuated phenotype of Pepper mild mottle virus strains results in a symptomless cross-protecting strain

An enhanced attenuated strain of Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) was constructed by incorporating mutations that affect viral attenuation from three reported attenuated strains of PMMoV, which causes serious economic losses in the production of green pepper in Japan. The new strain caused no symptoms on pepper plants and protected them from infection by a wild-type strain. The mutations responsible for viral attenuation were located in the intervening region (IR) of the 126-kDa/183-kDa proteins. The mutations had synergistic effects in terms of the attenuation of symptoms and decreased the accumulation of the viral coat protein in infected pepper plants. In this paper, we propose an efficient method for the improvement of attenuated viruses by reverse genetics in plant viruses.

A single amino acid residue of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the Potato virus X genome determines the symptoms in Nicotiana plants

A Potato virus X (PVX) strain, PVX-OS, causes a necrotic mosaic in Nicotiana benthamiana and ring spot mosaic in N. tabacum cv. SamsunNN. By contrast, strain PVX-BS causes a mild mosaic in N. benthamiana and systemic asymptomatic infection in N. tabacum cv. SamsunNN. To investigate the viral determinant of this difference, we produced various infectious cDNA clones chimeric between these PVX genomes and clones with point mutations introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Inoculation tests with these clones mapped the symptom determinant in Nicotiana plants to the 1422 amino acid residue in the region of the C-terminus of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Western blot analysis and local lesion assay indicated that virus accumulation in the infected leaves was similar for these PVX strains, suggesting that the symptom difference was not due to virus accumulation.

Mutation of Phe50 to Ser50 in the 126/183-kDa proteins of Odontoglossum ringspot virus abolishes virus replication but can be complemented and restored by exact reversion

Sequence comparison of a non-biologically active full-length cDNA clone of Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) pOT1 with a biologically active ORSV cDNA clone pOT2 revealed a single nucleotide change of T-->C at position 211. This resulted in the change of Phe50 in OT2 to Ser50 in OT1. It was not the nucleotide but the amino acid change of Phe50 that was responsible for the inability of OT1 to replicate. Time-course experiments showed that no minus-strand RNA synthesis was detected in mutants with a Phe50 substitution. Corresponding mutants in Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) showed identical results, suggesting that Phe50 may play an important role in replication in all tobamoviruses. Complementation of a full-length mutant OT1 was demonstrated in a co-infected local-lesion host, a systemic host and protoplasts by replication-competent mutants tORSV.GFP or tORSV.GFPm, and further confirmed by co-inoculation using tOT1.GFP+tORSV (TTC), suggesting that ORSV contains no RNA sequence inhibitory to replication in trans. Surprisingly, a small number of exact revertants were detected in plants inoculated with tOT1+tORSV.GFPm or tOT1.GFP+tORSV (TTC). No recombination was detected after screening of silent markers in virus progeny extracted from total RNA or viral RNA from inoculated and upper non-inoculated leaves as well as from transfected protoplasts. Exact reversion from TCT (OT1) to TTT (OT2), rather than recombination, restored its replication function in co-inoculated leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana.

Stable and unstable mutations in the 5' non-translated regions of tomato aspermy virus RNAs 1 and 2 generated de novo from infectious cDNA clones containing a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter

Tomato aspermy virus RNAs derived from infectious cDNA clones exhibited a number of sequence alterations in the 5' non-translated region (NTR). These included a deletion of the first four residues in both RNAs 1 and 2, transversion of residue 5 from a G to a U in RNA 1, and transversion of A to C at position of 50 of RNA 1. These alterations were not stable in the infected plants while the insertion of a U residue between nucleotides 1 and 5 of RNA 1 was stable in the infected plants. Generation of these sequence alternations was not dependent upon either the host species or the concentration of the inoculum. The sequence alterations also did not occur on passage of wildtype virus. Rather, the sequence alterations related to transcription from the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter-driving infectious cDNAs. The alternations observed had no impact on symptoms or infectivity, but did affect the accumulation of specific viral RNAs. The data also demonstrated the existence of some plasticity in the sequence of the 5' NTR.

The Tobacco mosaic virus 126-kDa protein associated with virus replication and movement suppresses RNA silencing

Systemic symptoms induced on Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are modulated by one or both amino-coterminal viral 126- and 183-kDa proteins: proteins involved in virus replication and cell-to-cell movement. Here we compare the systemic accumulation and gene silencing characteristics of TMV strains and mutants that express altered 126- and 183-kDa proteins and induce varying intensities of systemic symptoms on N. tabacum. Through grafting experiments, it was determined that M(IC)1,3, a mutant of the masked strain of TMV that accumulated locally and induced no systemic symptoms, moved through vascular tissue but failed to accumulate to high levels in systemic leaves. The lack of M(IC)1,3 accumulation in systemic leaves was correlated with RNA silencing activity in this tissue through the appearance of virus-specific, approximately 25-nucleotide RNAs and the loss of fluorescence from leaves of transgenic plants expressing the 126-kDa protein fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP). The ability of TMV strains and mutants altered in the 126-kDa protein open reading frame to cause systemic symptoms was positively correlated with their ability to transiently extend expression of the 126-kDa protein:GFP fusion and transiently suppress the silencing of free GFP in transgenic N. tabacum and transgenic N. benthamiana, respectively. Suppression of GFP silencing in N. benthamiana occurred only where virus accumulated to high levels. Using agroinfiltration assays, it was determined that the 126-kDa protein alone could delay GFP silencing. Based on these results and the known synergies between TMV and other viruses, the mechanism of suppression by the 126-kDa protein is compared with those utilized by other originally characterized suppressors of RNA silencing.

Rice dwarf phytoreovirus segment S6-encoded nonstructural protein has a cell-to-cell movement function

Rice dwarf virus (RDV) is a member of the genus Phytoreovirus, which is composed of viruses with segmented double-stranded RNA genomes. Proteins that support the intercellular movement of these viruses in the host have not been identified. Microprojectile bombardment was used to determine which open reading frames (ORFs) support intercellular movement of a heterologous virus. A plasmid containing an infectious clone of Potato virus X (PVX) defective in cell-to-cell movement and expressing either beta-glucuronidase or green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used for cobombardment with plasmids containing ORFs from RDV gene segments S1 through S12 onto leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. Cell-to-cell movement of the movement-defective PVX was restored by cobombardment with a plasmid containing S6. In the absence of S6, no other gene segment supported movement. Identical results were obtained with Nicotiana tabacum, a host that allows fewer viruses to infect and spread within its tissue. S6 supported the cell-to-cell movement of the movement-defective PVX in sink and source leaves of N. benthamiana. A mutant S6 lacking the translation start codon did not complement the cell-to-cell movement of the movement-defective PVX. An S6 protein product (Pns6)-enhanced GFP fusion was observed near or within cell walls of epidermal cells from N. tabacum. By immunocytochemistry, unfused Pns6 was localized to plasmodesmata in rice leaves infected with RDV. S6 thus encodes a protein with characteristics identical to those of other viral proteins required for the cell-to-cell movement of their genome and therefore is likely required for the cell-to-cell movement of RDV.

A natural variant of a host RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is associated with increased susceptibility to viruses by Nicotiana benthamiana

Nicotiana benthamiana often displays more intense symptoms after infection by RNA viruses than do other Nicotiana species. Here, we examined the role of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) in N. benthamiana antiviral defense. cDNAs representing only two genes encoding RdRPs were identified in N. benthamiana. One RdRP was similar in sequence to SDE1/SGS2 required for maintenance of transgene silencing, whereas the second, named NbRdRP1m, was >90% identical in sequence to the salicylic acid (SA)-inducible RdRP from Nicotiana tabacum required for defense against viruses. NbRdRP1m expression was induced by SA treatment or challenge with Tobacco mosaic virus, but the gene and transcript sequences differed from those of other SA-inducible RdRPs in that they contained a 72-nt insert with tandem in-frame stop codons in the 5' portion of the ORF. N. benthamiana plants transformed with an SA-inducible RdRP gene from Medicago truncatula were more resistant to infection by Tobacco mosaic virus, Turnip vein-clearing virus, and Sunn hemp mosaic virus (members of Tobamovirus genus), but not to Cucumber mosaic virus and Potato virus X (members of different genera than the tobamoviruses). Our results indicate that N. benthamiana lacks an active SA- and virus-inducible RdRP and thus is hypersusceptible to viruses normally limited in their accumulation by this RdRP. These findings are significant for those studying virus-induced gene silencing, the hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance.

Depletion of the photosystem II core complex in mature tobacco leaves infected by the flavum strain of tobacco mosaic virus

The flavum strain of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) differs from the wild-type (wt) virus by causing strong yellow and green mosaic in the systemically infected developing leaves, yellowing in the fully expanded leaves, and distinct malformations of chloroplasts in both types of infected tissues. Analysis of the thylakoid proteins of flavum strain-infected tobacco leaves indicated that the chlorosis in mature leaves was accompanied by depletion of the entire photosystem II (PSII) core complexes and the 33-kDa protein of the oxygen evolving complex. The only change observed in the thylakoid proteins of the corresponding wt TMV-infected leaves was a slight reduction of the alpha and beta subunits of the ATP synthase complex. The coat proteins of different yellowing strains of TMV are known to effectively accumulate inside chloroplasts, but in this work, the viral movement protein also was detected in association with the thylakoid membranes of flavum strain-infected leaves. The mRNAs of different enzymes involved in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway were not reduced in the mature chlorotic leaves. These results suggest that the chlorosis was not caused by reduction of pigment biosynthesis, but rather, by reduction of specific proteins of the PSII core complexes and by consequent break-down of the pigments.

Silencing of a gene encoding a protein component of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II enhances virus replication in plants

It has been suggested that, in addition to viral proteins, host proteins are involved in RNA virus replication. In this study the RNA helicase domain of the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) replicase proteins was used as bait in the yeast two-hybrid system to identify tobacco proteins with a putative role in TMV replication. Two host proteins were characterized. One protein (designated #3) belongs to a protein family of ATPases associated with various activities (AAA), while the second host protein (designated #13) is the 33K subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II. Using Tobacco rattle virus vectors, genes #3 and #13 were silenced in Nicotiana benthamiana, after which the plants were challenged by TMV infection. Silencing of gene #13 resulted in a 10-fold increase of TMV accumulation, whereas silencing of gene #3 caused a twofold reduction of TMV accumulation. Additionally, silencing of genes #3 and #13 decreased and increased, respectively, the accumulation of two other viruses. Similar to silencing of gene #13, inhibition of photosystem II by application of an herbicide increased TMV accumulation several fold. Infection of N. benthamiana with TMV resulted in a decrease of #13 mRNA levels. Silencing of gene #13 may reflect a novel strategy of TMV to suppress basal host defense mechanisms. The two-hybrid screenings did not identify tobacco proteins involved in helicase domain-induced N-mediated resistance.

Characterization of Tobacco mosaic virus Isolated from Potato Showing Yellow Leaf Mosaic and Stunting Symptoms in Korea

Four isolates of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-potato 1 to 4) were obtained from potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) in cultivated potato plantings in Korea. These isolates were differentiated based on biological properties, symptomatology, and nucleotide sequence analysis of the coat protein (CP) gene. TMV potato isolates caused typical symptoms on 20 inoculated plant species as compared to the type (U1) TMV strain. The four isolates each produced distinctly different symptoms on Gomphrena globosa. In contrast to the type strain of TMV, infections with two of the isolates reported here were not restricted to inoculated leaves of G. globosa but moved systemically through the plants. In addition, three additional systemic hosts (Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, and C. murale) for TMV were revealed. Sequence analysis of the CP gene differentiated TMV-potato isolates. The CP gene sequence exhibited significant identity (83.1 to 99.2%) among TMV-potato isolates while showing 88.1 to 99.4% identities on predicted amino acid sequences. Based on a comparison of the CP gene nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences between TMV-potato isolates and other TMV strains, TMV-potato 1, 3, and 4 were closely related to TMV strains U1, U2, V-FAVA, and NC82 with 98.8 to 100% identity. In contrast, TMV-potato 2 was closely related to TMV strains L, KP, KO-TOB, K1, and K2 with 93.8 to 98.8% identity.

Genetic diversity in RNA virus quasispecies is controlled by host-virus interactions

Many RNA viruses have genetically diverse populations known as quasispecies. Important biological characteristics may be related to the levels of diversity in the quasispecies (quasispecies cloud size), including adaptability and host range. Previous work using Tobacco mosaic virus and Cucumber mosaic virus indicated that evolutionarily related viruses have very different levels of diversity in a common host. The quasispecies cloud size for these viruses remained constant throughout serial passages. Inoculation of these viruses on a number of hosts demonstrated that quasispecies cloud size is not constant for these viruses but appears to be dependent on the host. The quasispecies cloud size remained constant as long as the viruses were maintained on a given host. Shifting the virus between hosts resulted in a change in cloud size to levels associated with the new host. Quasispecies cloud size for these viruses is related to host-virus interactions, and understanding these interactions may facilitate the prediction and prevention of emerging viral diseases.

Tobacco mosaic virus, not just a single component virus anymore

Summary Taxonomy: Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is the type species of the Tobamovirus genus and a member of the alphavirus-like supergroup. Historically, many tobamoviruses are incorrectly called strains of TMV, although they can differ considerably in sequence similarities and host range from each other and from TMV. Physical properties: TMV virions are 300 x 18 nm rods with a central hollow cavity (Fig. 1) and are composed of 95% capsid protein (CP), and 5% RNA. Each CP subunit interacts with 3-nts in a helical arrangement around the RNA. Virions are stable for decades; infectivity in sap survives heating to 90 degrees C. Hosts: The natural host range of TMV is limited; however, a broad range of weed and crop species, mostly Solanaceae that includes tobacco, pepper and tomato can be infected experimentally [Holmes, F.O. (1946) A comparison of the experimental host ranges of tobacco etch and tobacco mosaic viruses. Phytopathology, 36, 643-657]. TMV distribution is worldwide. No biological vectors are known. Useful website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/71010001.htm.

Evolutionarily related Sindbis-like plant viruses maintain different levels of population diversity in a common host

The levels of population diversity of three related Sindbis-like plant viruses, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), in infections of a common host, Nicotiana benthamiana, established from genetically identical viral RNA were examined. Despite probably having a common evolutionary ancestor, the three viruses maintained different levels of population diversity. CMV had the highest levels of diversity, TMV had an intermediate level of diversity, and CCMV had no measurable level of diversity in N. benthamiana. Interestingly, the levels of diversity were correlated to the relative host range sizes of the three viruses. The levels of diversity also remained relatively constant over the course of serial passage. Closer examination of the CMV and TMV populations revealed biases for particular types of substitutions and regions of the genome that may tolerate fewer mutations.

Rapid delivery of foreign genes into plants by direct rub-inoculation with intact plasmid DNA of a tomato bushy stunt virus gene vector

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) cDNA, positioned between a modified cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and the hepatitis delta virus antigenomic ribozyme with a downstream nopaline synthase gene polyadenylation signal, established infections upon rub-inoculation of plants with intact plasmids. Application of this methodology produced a TBSV DNA-based gene vector which yielded readily detectable levels of localized foreign gene expression in inoculated leaves. This is the first demonstration of an infectious DNA from a member of the Tombusviridae which permits rapid TBSV-mediated foreign-gene expression upon direct rub-inoculation of miniprep DNA onto a variety of plant species.

Tobacco mosaic virus virulence and avirulence

In celebration of a century of research on tobacco mosaic virus that initiated the science of virology, I review recent progress relative to earlier contributions concerning how viruses cause diseases of plants and how plants defend themselves from viruses.

Interactions between the structural domains of the RNA replication proteins of plant-infecting RNA viruses

Brome mosaic virus (BMV), a positive-strand RNA virus, encodes two replication proteins: the 2a protein, which contains polymerase-like sequences, and the 1a protein, with N-terminal putative capping and C-terminal helicase-like sequences. These two proteins are part of a multisubunit complex which is necessary for viral RNA replication. We have previously shown that the yeast two-hybrid assay consistently duplicated results obtained from in vivo RNA replication assays and biochemical assays of protein-protein interaction, thus permitting the identification of additional interacting domains. We now map an interaction found to take place between two 1a proteins. Using previously characterized 1a mutants, a perfect correlation was found between the in vivo phenotypes of these mutants and their abilities to interact with wild-type 1a (wt1a) and each other. Western blot analysis revealed that the stabilities of many of the noninteracting mutant proteins were similar to that of wt1a. Deletion analysis of 1a revealed that the N-terminal 515 residues of the 1a protein are required and sufficient for 1a-1a interaction. This intermolecular interaction between the putative capping domain and itself was detected in another tripartite RNA virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), suggesting that the 1a-1a interaction is a feature necessary for the replication of tripartite RNA viruses. The boundaries for various activities are placed in the context of the predicted secondary structures of several 1a-like proteins of members of the alphavirus-like superfamily. Additionally, we found a novel interaction between the putative capping and helicase-like portions of the BMV and CMV 1a proteins. Our cumulative data suggest a working model for the assembly of the BMV RNA replicase.

Characterization of cucumber mosaic virus. III. Localization of sequences in the movement protein controlling systemic infection in cucurbits

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), generated from biologically active cDNA clones of Fny-CMV RNA 1 plus 2 and Sny-CMV RNA 3, derived from the Fny- and Sny-strains of CMV, was able to infect tobacco but not squash plants systemically. In squash, viral RNA, movement protein, and coat protein all accumulated in the inoculated cotyledons. The lack of systemic infection was associated with a reduced rate of cell-to-cell movement within the cotyledons. The restricted movement mapped to two sequence changes in the codons of amino acids 51 and 240 of the Sny-CMV 3a gene. These same sequence changes previously were shown to be associated with high levels of 3a protein accumulation and chronic vs acute, cyclic infection typical of Sny-CMV vs Fny-CMV [Gal-on et al. (1996). Virology 226, 354-361]. Fny-CMV, mutated in the codons of 3a gene amino acids 51 and 240, was still able to infect several solanaceous hosts (tobacco, tomato, and pepper) systemically, but did not elicit a typical CMV systemic infection on any of several cucurbit hosts (cucumber, melon, or squash). The significance of the location of amino acid positions 51 and 240 in the 3a movement protein is discussed.

Invasion of minor veins of tobacco leaves inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus mutants defective in phloem-dependent movement

To fully understand vascular transport of plant viruses, the viral and host proteins, their structures and functions, and the specific vascular cells in which these factors function must be determined. We report here on the ability of various cDNA-derived coat protein (CP) mutants of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to invade vascular cells in minor veins of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi nn. The mutant viruses we studied, TMV CP-O, U1mCP15-17, and SNC015, respectively, encode a CP from a different tobamovirus (i.e., from odontoglossum ringspot virus) resulting in the formation of non-native capsids, a mutant CP that accumulates in aggregates but does not encapsidate the viral RNA, or no CP. TMV CP-O is impaired in phloem-dependent movement, whereas U1mCP15-17 and SNC015 do not accumulate by phloem-dependent movement. In developmentally-defined studies using immunocytochemical analyses we determined that all of these mutants invaded vascular parenchyma cells within minor veins in inoculated leaves. In addition, we determined that the CPs of TMV CP-O and U1mCP15-17 were present in companion (C) cells of minor veins in inoculated leaves, although more rarely than CP of wild-type virus. These results indicate that the movement of TMV into minor veins does not require the CP, and an encapsidation-competent CP is not required for, but may increase the efficiency of, movement into the conducting complex of the phloem (i.e., the C cell/sieve element complex). Also, a host factor(s) functions at or beyond the C cell/sieve element interface with other cells to allow efficient phloem-dependent accumulation of TMV CP-O.

The 126- and 183-kilodalton proteins of tobacco mosaic virus, and not their common nucleotide sequence, control mosaic symptom formation in tobacco

Nucleotide substitutions at two positions within the open reading frame encoding the 126-kDa protein in the attenuated masked (M) strain of tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV) to those found in the virulent U1-TMV genome led to the induction of near U1-TMV-like symptoms on leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi nn by progeny virus (M. H. Shintaku, S. A. Carter, Y. Bao, and R. S. Nelson, Virology 221:218-225, 1996). In this study, further site-directed mutations were made at these positions within the M strain cDNA to determine whether the protein or nucleotide sequence directly controlled the symptom phenotype. The protein and not the nucleotide sequence directly controlled the symptom phenotype when amino acid 360 within the 126-kDa protein sequence was altered and likely controlled the symptom phenotype when amino acid 601 was altered. The effects of the substitutions at amino acid position 360 on viral protein accumulation were studied by pulse-labeling proteins in infected protoplasts. Accumulation of the 126- and 183-kDa proteins was less for an attenuated mutant than for two virulent mutants, but the viral movement protein and coat protein accumulated to levels reported to be sufficient for normal systemic symptom development. The size of necrotic local lesions on N. tabacum L. cv. Xanthi NN was negatively correlated with symptom development and accumulation of the 126-kDa protein for these mutants. With reference to this last finding, an explanation of the cause of the differing symptoms induced by these viruses is presented.