Rootstock-induced scion resistance against tobacco mosaic virus is associated with the induction of defence-related transcripts and graft-transmissible mRNAs

Grafting is a common horticultural practice used to confer desirable traits between rootstock and scion, including disease resistance. To investigate graft-conferred resistance against viral diseases a novel heterografting system was developed using Nicotiana benthamiana scions grafted onto different tomato rootstocks. N. benthamiana is normally highly susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection. However, specific tomato rootstock varieties were found to confer a range of resistance levels to N. benthamiana scions inoculated with TMV. Conferred resistance was associated with delays in virus accumulation and the reduction in virus spread. RNA sequencing analysis showed the enrichment of transcripts associated with disease resistance and plant stress in N. benthamiana scions grafted onto resistance-inducing tomato rootstocks. Genome sequencing of resistance- and nonresistance-conferring rootstocks was used to identify mobile tomato transcripts within N. benthamiana scions. Within resistance-induced N. benthamiana scions, enriched mobile tomato transcripts were predominantly associated with defence, stress, and abscisic acid signalling when compared to similar scions grafted onto nonresistance-inducing rootstock. Combining these findings suggests that graft-induced resistance is modulated by rootstock scion transcriptional responses and rootstock-specific mobile transcripts.

Infection of groundnut ringspot virus in Plumeria pudica characterized by irregular virus distribution and intermittent expression of symptoms

Plumeria pudica, known as bridal bouquet, exhibiting characteristic symptoms of orthotospovirus infection were found in different localities in Brazil. Symptoms were restricted to leaves of the middle and lower thirds of a few branches of each plant. Electron microscopy, molecular analyses, and complete genome sequencing identified the orthotospovirus as groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV),member of the species Orthotospovirus arachianuli. The virus was poorly transmitted mechanically to P. pudica. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses performed using total RNA extracted from leaf blades, primary veins, petioles, and regions of petiole insertion on branches indicated the presence of GRSV, predominantly in the symptomatic leaf blades. Symptomatic branches propagate vegetatively, often resulting in plants expressing GRSV symptoms. In contrast, vegetative propagation of the asymptomatic branches of infected plants predominantly generates plants without GRSV symptoms. The resistance of P. pudica plants to GRSV infection, restricted systemic viral movement, and expression of symptoms in infected plants suggest that this orthotospovirus does not threaten this ornamental plant.

Circulative Transmission of Cileviruses in Brevipalpus Mites May Involve the Paracellular Movement of Virions

Plant viruses transmitted by mites of the genus Brevipalpus are members of the genera Cilevirus, family Kitaviridae, or Dichorhavirus, family Rhabdoviridae. They produce non-systemic infections that typically display necrotic and/or chlorotic lesions around the inoculation loci. The cilevirus citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C) causes citrus leprosis, rated as one of the most destructive diseases affecting this crop in the Americas. CiLV-C is vectored in a persistent manner by the flat mite Brevipalpus yothersi. Upon the ingestion of viral particles with the content of the infected plant cell, virions must pass through the midgut epithelium and the anterior podocephalic gland of the mites. Following the duct from this gland, virions reach the salivary canal before their inoculation into a new plant cell through the stylet canal. It is still unclear whether CiLV-C multiplies in mite cells and what mechanisms contribute to its movement through mite tissues. In this study, based on direct observation of histological sections from viruliferous mites using the transmission electron microscope, we posit the hypothesis of the paracellular movement of CiLV-C in mites which may involve the manipulation of septate junctions. We detail the presence of viral particles aligned in the intercellular spaces between cells and the gastrovascular system of Brevipalpus mites. Accordingly, we propose putative genes that could control either active or passive paracellular circulation of viral particles inside the mites.

Cell-to-Cell Communication During Plant-Pathogen Interaction

Being sessile, plants are continuously challenged by changes in their surrounding environment and must survive and defend themselves against a multitude of pathogens. Plants have evolved a mode for pathogen recognition that activates signaling cascades such as reactive oxygen species, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Ca²⁺ pathways, in coordination with hormone signaling, to execute the defense response at the local and systemic levels. Phytopathogens have evolved to manipulate cellular and hormonal signaling and exploit hosts' cell-to-cell connections in many ways at multiple levels. Overall, triumph over pathogens depends on how efficiently the pathogens are recognized and how rapidly the plant response is initiated through efficient intercellular communication via apoplastic and symplastic routes. Here, we review how intercellular communication in plants is mediated, manipulated, and maneuvered during plant-pathogen interaction.[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2022.

Identification and Functional Analysis of Four RNA Silencing Suppressors in Begomovirus Croton Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus

Croton yellow vein mosaic virus (CYVMV), a species in the genus Begomovirus, is a prolific monopartite begomovirus in the Indian sub-continent. CYVMV infects multiple crop plants to cause leaf curl disease. Plants have developed host RNA silencing mechanisms to defend the threat of viruses, including CYVMV. We characterized four RNA silencing suppressors, namely, V2, C2, and C4 encoded by CYVMV and betasatellite-encoded C1 protein (βC1) encoded by the cognate betasatellite, croton yellow vein betasatellite (CroYVMB). Their silencing suppressor functions were verified by the ability of restoring the β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity suppressed by RNA silencing. We showed here for the first time that V2 was capable of self-interacting, as well as interacting with the V1 protein, and could be translocalized to the plasmodesmata in the presence of CYVMV. The knockout of either V2 or V1 impaired the intercellular mobility of CYVMV, indicating their novel coordinated roles in the cell-to-cell movement of the virus. As pathogenicity determinants, each of V2, C2, and C4 could induce typical leaf curl symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana plants even under transient expression. Interestingly, the transcripts and proteins of all four suppressors could be detected in the systemically infected leaves with no correlation to symptom induction. Overall, our work identifies four silencing suppressors encoded by CYVMV and its cognate betasatellite and reveals their subcellular localizations, interaction behavior, and roles in symptom induction and intercellular virus movement.

Genome-Wide Identification of GDSL-Type Esterase/Lipase Gene Family in Dasypyrum villosum L. Reveals That DvGELP53 Is Related to BSMV Infection

GDSL-type esterase/lipase proteins (GELPs) characterized by a conserved GDSL motif at their N-terminus belong to the lipid hydrolysis enzyme superfamily. In plants, GELPs play an important role in plant growth, development and stress response. The studies of the identification and characterization of the GELP gene family in Triticeae have not been reported. In this study, 193 DvGELPs were identified in Dasypyrum villosum and classified into 11 groups (clade A–K) by means of phylogenetic analysis. Most DvGELPs contain only one GDSL domain, only four DvGELPs contain other domains besides the GDSL domain. Gene structure analysis indicated 35.2% DvGELP genes have four introns and five exons. In the promoter regions of the identified DvGELPs, we detected 4502 putative cis-elements, which were associated with plant hormones, plant growth, environmental stress and light responsiveness. Expression profiling revealed 36, 44 and 17 DvGELPs were highly expressed in the spike, the root and the grain, respectively. Further investigation of a root-specific expressing GELP, DvGELP53, indicated it was induced by a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. The knockdown of DvGELP53 inhibited long-distance movement of BSMV in the tissue of D. villosum. This research provides a genome-wide glimpse of the D. villosum GELP genes and hints at the participation of DvGELP53 in the interaction between virus and plants.

Autophagy Inhibits Intercellular Transport of Citrus Leaf Blotch Virus by Targeting Viral Movement Protein

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular-degradation mechanism implicated in antiviral defense in plants. Studies have shown that autophagy suppresses virus accumulation in cells; however, it has not been reported to specifically inhibit viral spread in plants. This study demonstrated that infection with citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV; genus Citrivirus, family Betaflexiviridae) activated autophagy in Nicotiana benthamiana plants as indicated by the increase of autophagosome formation. Impairment of autophagy through silencing of N. benthamiana autophagy-related gene 5 (NbATG5) and NbATG7 enhanced cell-to-cell and systemic movement of CLBV; however, it did not affect CLBV accumulation when the systemic infection had been fully established. Treatment using an autophagy inhibitor or silencing of NbATG5 and NbATG7 revealed that transiently expressed movement protein (MP), but not coat protein, of CLBV was targeted by selective autophagy for degradation. Moreover, we identified that CLBV MP directly interacted with NbATG8C1 and NbATG8i, the isoforms of autophagy-related protein 8 (ATG8), which are key factors that usually bind cargo receptors for selective autophagy. Our results present a novel example in which autophagy specifically targets a viral MP to limit the intercellular spread of the virus in plants.

Residues R192 and K225 in RNA-Binding Pocket of Tobacco Vein Banding Mosaic Virus CP Control Virus Cell-to-Cell Movement and Replication

Potyviruses move to neighboring cells in the form of virus particles or a coat protein (CP)-containing ribonucleoprotein complex. However, the precise roles of RNA-binding residues in potyviral CP in viral cell-to-cell movement remain to be elucidated. In this study, we predicted the three-dimensional model of tobacco vein banding mosaic virus (TVBMV)-encoded CP and found nine residues presumably located in the CP RNA-binding pocket. Substitutions of the two basic residues at positions 192 and 225 (R192 and K225) with either alanine, cysteine, or glutamic acid abolished TVBMV cell-to-cell and systemic movement in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. These substitutions also reduced the replication of the mutant viruses. Results from the electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the RNA-binding activity of mutant CPs derived from R192 or K225 substitutions was significantly lower than that of wild-type CP. Analysis of purified virus particles showed that mutant viruses with R192 or K225 substitutions formed RNA-free virus-like particles. Mutations of R192 and K225 did not change the CP plasmodesmata localization. The wild-type TVBMV CP could rescue the deficient cell-to-cell movement of mutant viruses. Moreover, deletion of any of the other seven residues also abolished TVBMV cell-to-cell movement and reduced the CP RNA-binding activity. The corresponding nine residues in watermelon mosaic virus CP were also found to play essential roles in virus cell-to-cell movement. In conclusion, residues R192 and K225 in the CP RNA-binding pocket are critical for viral RNA binding and affect both virus replication and cell-to-cell movement.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Citrus miraculin-like protein hijacks a viral movement-related p33 protein and induces cellular oxidative stress in defence against Citrus tristeza virus

To defend against pathogens, plants have developed a complex immune system, which recognizes the pathogen effectors and mounts defence responses. In this study, the p33 protein of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), a viral membrane-associated effector, was used as a molecular bait to explore virus interactions with host immunity. We discovered that Citrus macrophylla miraculin-like protein 2 (CmMLP2), a member of the soybean Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor family, targets the viral p33 protein. The expression of CmMLP2 was up-regulated by p33 in the citrus phloem-associated cells. Knock-down of the MLP2 expression in citrus plants resulted in a higher virus accumulation, while the overexpression of CmMLP2 reduced the infectivity of CTV in the plant hosts. Further investigation revealed that, on the one hand, binding of CmMLP2 interrupts the cellular distribution of p33 whose proper function is necessary for the effective virus movement throughout the host. On the other hand, the ability of CmMLP2 to reorganize the endomembrane system, amalgamating the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, induces cellular stress and accumulation of the reactive oxygen species, which inhibits the replication of CTV. Altogether, our data suggest that CmMLP2 employs a two-way strategy in defence against CTV infection.

Variability, Functions and Interactions of Plant Virus Movement Proteins: What Do We Know So Far?

Of the various proteins encoded by plant viruses, one of the most interesting is the movement protein (MP). MPs are unique to plant viruses and show surprising structural and functional variability while maintaining their core function, which is to facilitate the intercellular transport of viruses or viral nucleoprotein complexes. MPs interact with components of the intercellular channels, the plasmodesmata (PD), modifying their size exclusion limits and thus allowing larger particles, including virions, to pass through. The interaction of MPs with the components of PD, the formation of transport complexes and the recruitment of host cellular components have all revealed different facets of their functions. Multitasking is an inherent property of most viral proteins, and MPs are no exception. Some MPs carry out multitasking, which includes gene silencing suppression, viral replication and modulation of host protein turnover machinery. This review brings together the current knowledge on MPs, focusing on their structural variability, various functions and interactions with host proteins.

Transcriptional Regulatory Networks Associate with Early Stages of Potato Virus X Infection of Solanum tuberosum

Potato virus X (PVX) belongs to genus Potexvirus. This study characterizes the cellular transcriptome responses to PVX infection in Russet potato at 2 and 3 days post infection (dpi). Among the 1242 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 268 genes were upregulated, and 37 genes were downregulated at 2 dpi while 677 genes were upregulated, and 265 genes were downregulated at 3 dpi. DEGs related to signal transduction, stress response, and redox processes. Key stress related transcription factors were identified. Twenty-five pathogen resistance gene analogs linked to effector triggered immunity or pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity were identified. Comparative analysis with Arabidopsis unfolded protein response (UPR) induced DEGs revealed genes associated with UPR and plasmodesmata transport that are likely needed to establish infection. In conclusion, this study provides an insight on major transcriptional regulatory networked involved in early response to PVX infection and establishment.

Dichorhaviruses Movement Protein and Nucleoprotein Form a Protein Complex That May Be Required for Virus Spread and Interacts in vivo With Viral Movement-Related Cilevirus Proteins

Brevipalpus-transmitted viruses (BTVs) belong to the genera Dichorhavirus and Cilevirus and are the main causal agents of the citrus leprosis (CL) disease. In this report, we explored aspects related to the movement mechanism mediated by dichorhaviruses movement proteins (MPs) and the homologous and heterologous interactions among viral proteins related to the movement of citrus leprosis-associated viruses. The membrane-spanning property and topology analysis of the nucleocapsid (N) and MP proteins from two dichorhaviruses revealed that the MPs are proteins tightly associated with the cell membrane, exposing their N- and C-termini to the cytoplasm and the inner part of the nucleus, whereas the N proteins are not membrane-associated. Subcellular localization analysis revealed the presence of dichorhavirus MPs at the cell surface and in the nucleus, while the phosphoproteins (P) were located exclusively in the nucleus and the N proteins in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Co-expression analysis with the MP, P, and N proteins showed an interaction network formed between them. We highlight the MP capability to partially redistribute the previously reported N-P core complex, redirecting a portion of the N from the nucleus to the plasmodesmata at the cell periphery, which indicates not only that the MP might guide the intracellular trafficking of the viral infective complex but also that the N protein may be associated with the cell-to-cell movement mechanism of dichorhaviruses. The movement functionality of these MPs was analyzed by using three movement-defective infectious systems. Also, the MP capacity to generate tubular structures on the protoplast surface by ectopic expression was analyzed. Finally, we evaluated the in vivo protein–protein interaction networks between the dichorhavirus MP and/or N proteins with the heterologous cilevirus movement components, which suggest a broad spectrum of interactions, highlighting those among capsid proteins (CP), MPs, and Ns from citrus leprosis-associated viruses. These data may aid in understanding the mixed infection process naturally observed in the field caused by distinct BTVs.

Plant-virus-insect tritrophic interactions: insights into the functions of geminivirus virion-sense strand genes

The genome of the plant-infecting viruses in the family Geminiviridae is composed of one or two circular single stranded DNA of approximately 2.7-5.2 kb in length. These viruses have emerged as the most devastating pathogen infecting a large number of crops and weeds across the continents. They code for fewer open reading frames (ORFs) through the generation of overlapping transcripts derived from the bidirectional viral promoters. Members of geminiviruses code for up to four ORFs in the virion-sense strand, and their gene expression is regulated by various cis-elements located at their promoters in the intergenic region. These viral proteins perform multiple functions at every stage of the viral life cycle such as virus transport, insect-mediated virus transmission and suppression of host defence. They impede the host's multi-layered antiviral mechanisms including gene silencing (at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels) and hypersensitive response. This review summarizes the essential role of virion-sense strand encoded proteins in transport of viral genomes within and between plant cells, countering defence in hosts (both plants and the insects), and also in the ubiquitous role in vector-mediated transmission. We highlight the significance of their pro-viral activities in manipulating host-derived innate immune responses and the interaction with whitefly-derived proteins. We also discuss the current knowledge on virus replication and transcription within the insect body.

Disrupting the Homeostasis of High Mobility Group Protein Promotes the Systemic Movement of Bamboo mosaic virus

Viruses hijack various organelles and machineries for their replication and movement. Ever more lines of evidence indicate that specific nuclear factors are involved in systemic trafficking of several viruses. However, how such factors regulate viral systemic movement remains unclear. Here, we identify a novel role for Nicotiana benthamiana high mobility group nucleoprotein (NbHMG1/2a) in virus movement. Although infection of N. benthamiana with Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) decreased NbHMG1/2a expression levels, nuclear-localized NbHMG1/2a protein was shuttled out of the nucleus into cytoplasm upon BaMV infection. NbHMG1/2a knockdown or even overexpression did not affect BaMV accumulation in inoculated leaves, but it did enhance systemic movement of the virus. Interestingly, the positive regulator Rap-GTPase activation protein 1 was highly upregulated upon infection with BaMV, whereas the negative regulator thioredoxin h protein was greatly reduced, no matter if NbHMG1a/2a was silenced or overexpressed. Our findings indicate that NbHMG1/2a may have a role in plant defense responses. Once its homeostasis is disrupted, expression of relevant host factors may be perturbed that, in turn, facilitates BaMV systemic movement.

Viruses Reveal the Secrets of Plasmodesmal Cell Biology

Plasmodesmata (PD) are essential for intercellular trafficking of molecules required for plant life, from small molecules like sugars and ions to macromolecules including proteins and RNA molecules that act as signals to regulate plant development and defense. As obligate intracellular pathogens, plant viruses have evolved to manipulate this communication system to facilitate the initial cell-to-cell and eventual systemic spread in their plant hosts. There has been considerable interest in how viruses manipulate the PD that connect the protoplasts of neighboring cells, and viruses have yielded invaluable tools for probing the structure and function of PD. With recent advances in biochemistry and imaging, we have gained new insights into the composition and structure of PD in the presence and absence of viruses. Here, we first discuss viral strategies for manipulating PD for their intercellular movement and examine how this has shed light on our understanding of native PD function. We then address the controversial role of the cytoskeleton in trafficking to and through PD. Finally, we address how viruses could alter PD structure and consider possible mechanisms of the phenomenon described as 'gating'. This discussion supports the significance of virus research in elucidating the properties of PD, these persistently enigmatic plant organelles.

Citrus Psorosis Virus Movement Protein Contains an Aspartic Protease Required for Autocleavage and the Formation of Tubule-Like Structures at Plasmodesmata

Plant virus cell-to-cell movement is an essential step in viral infections. This process is facilitated by specific virus-encoded movement proteins (MPs), which manipulate the cell wall channels between neighboring cells known as plasmodesmata (PD). Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) infection in sweet orange involves the formation of tubule-like structures within PD, suggesting that CPsV belongs to "tubule-forming" viruses that encode MPs able to assemble a hollow tubule extending between cells to allow virus movement. Consistent with this hypothesis, we show that the MP of CPsV (MPCPsV) indeed forms tubule-like structures at PD upon transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Tubule formation by MPCPsV depends on its cleavage capacity, mediated by a specific aspartic protease motif present in its primary sequence. A single amino acid mutation in this motif abolishes MPCPsV cleavage, alters the subcellular localization of the protein, and negatively affects its activity in facilitating virus movement. The amino-terminal 34-kDa cleavage product (34KCPsV), but not the 20-kDa fragment (20KCPsV), supports virus movement. Moreover, similar to tubule-forming MPs of other viruses, MPCPsV (and also the 34KCPsV cleavage product) can homooligomerize, interact with PD-located protein 1 (PDLP1), and assemble tubule-like structures at PD by a mechanism dependent on the secretory pathway. 20KCPsV retains the protease activity and is able to cleave a cleavage-deficient MPCPsV in trans Altogether, these results demonstrate that CPsV movement depends on the autolytic cleavage of MPCPsV by an aspartic protease activity, which removes the 20KCPsV protease and thereby releases the 34KCPsV protein for PDLP1-dependent tubule formation at PD.IMPORTANCE Infection by citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) involves a self-cleaving aspartic protease activity within the viral movement protein (MP), which results in the production of two peptides, termed 34KCPsV and 20KCPsV, that carry the MP and viral protease activities, respectively. The underlying protease motif within the MP is also found in the MPs of other members of the Aspiviridae family, suggesting that protease-mediated protein processing represents a conserved mechanism of protein expression in this virus family. The results also demonstrate that CPsV and potentially other ophioviruses move by a tubule-guided mechanism. Although several viruses from different genera were shown to use this mechanism for cell-to-cell movement, our results also demonstrate that this mechanism is controlled by posttranslational protein cleavage. Moreover, given that tubule formation and virus movement could be inhibited by a mutation in the protease motif, targeting the protease activity for inactivation could represent an important approach for ophiovirus control.

Susceptibility Genes to Plant Viruses

Plant viruses use cellular factors and resources to replicate and move. Plants respond to viral infection by several mechanisms, including innate immunity, autophagy, and gene silencing, that viruses must evade or suppress. Thus, the establishment of infection is genetically determined by the availability of host factors necessary for virus replication and movement and by the balance between plant defense and viral suppression of defense responses. Host factors may have antiviral or proviral activities. Proviral factors condition susceptibility to viruses by participating in processes essential to the virus. Here, we review current advances in the identification and characterization of host factors that condition susceptibility to plant viruses. Host factors with proviral activity have been identified for all parts of the virus infection cycle: viral RNA translation, viral replication complex formation, accumulation or activity of virus replication proteins, virus movement, and virion assembly. These factors could be targets of gene editing to engineer resistance to plant viruses.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus NSs Protein Supports Infection and Systemic Movement of a Potyvirus and Is a Symptom Determinant

Plant viruses are inducers and targets of antiviral RNA silencing. To condition susceptibility, most plant viruses encode silencing suppressor proteins that interfere with antiviral RNA silencing. The NSs protein is an RNA silencing suppressor in orthotospoviruses, such as the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The mechanism of RNA silencing suppression by NSs and its role in virus infection and movement are poorly understood. Here, we cloned and tagged TSWV NSs and expressed it from a GFP-tagged turnip mosaic virus (TuMV-GFP) carrying either a wild-type or suppressor-deficient (AS9) helper component proteinase (HC-Pro). When expressed in cis, NSs restored pathogenicity and promoted systemic infection of suppressor-deficient TuMV-AS9-GFP in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. Inactivating mutations were introduced in NSs RNA-binding domain one. A genetic analysis with active and suppressor-deficient NSs, in combination with wild-type and mutant plants lacking essential components of the RNA silencing machinery, showed that the NSs insert is stable when expressed from a potyvirus. NSs can functionally replace potyviral HC-Pro, condition virus susceptibility, and promote systemic infection and symptom development by suppressing antiviral RNA silencing through a mechanism that partially overlaps that of potyviral HC-Pro. The results presented provide new insight into the mechanism of silencing suppression by NSs and its effect on virus infection.

A thioredoxin NbTRXh2 from Nicotiana benthamiana negatively regulates the movement of Bamboo mosaic virus

An up-regulated gene derived from Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV)-infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants was cloned and characterized in this study. BaMV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus. This gene product, designated as NbTRXh2, was matched with sequences of thioredoxin h proteins, a group of small proteins with a conserved active-site motif WCXPC conferring disulfide reductase activity. To examine how NbTRXh2 is involved in the infection cycle of BaMV, we used the virus-induced gene silencing technique to knock down NbTRXh2 expression in N. benthamiana and inoculated the plants with BaMV. We observed that, compared with control plants, BaMV coat protein accumulation increased in knockdown plants at 5 days post-inoculation (dpi). Furthermore, BaMV coat protein accumulation did not differ significantly between NbTRXh2-knockdown and control protoplasts at 24 hpi. The BaMV infection foci in NbTRXh2-knockdown plants were larger than those in control plants. In addition, BaMV coat protein accumulation decreased when NbTRXh2 was transiently expressed in plants. These results suggest that NbTRXh2 plays a role in restricting BaMV accumulation. Moreover, confocal microscopy results showed that NbTRXh2-OFP (NbTRXh2 fused with orange fluorescent protein) localized at the plasma membrane, similar to AtTRXh9, a homologue in Arabidopsis. The expression of the mutant that did not target the substrates failed to reduce BaMV accumulation. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that the viral movement protein TGBp2 could be the target of NbTRXh2. Overall, the functional role of NbTRXh2 in reducing the disulfide bonds of targeting factors, encoded either by the host or virus (TGBp2), is crucial in restricting BaMV movement.

Setting Up Shop: The Formation and Function of the Viral Factories of Cauliflower mosaic virus

Similar to cells, viruses often compartmentalize specific functions such as genome replication or particle assembly. Viral compartments may contain host organelle membranes or they may be mainly composed of viral proteins. These compartments are often termed: inclusion bodies (IBs), viroplasms or viral factories. The same virus may form more than one type of IB, each with different functions, as illustrated by the plant pararetrovirus, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV). CaMV forms two distinct types of IBs in infected plant cells, those composed mainly of the viral proteins P2 (which are responsible for transmission of CaMV by insect vectors) and P6 (required for viral intra-and inter-cellular infection), respectively. P6 IBs are the major focus of this review. Much of our understanding of the formation and function of P6 IBs comes from the analyses of their major protein component, P6. Over time, the interactions and functions of P6 have been gradually elucidated. Coupled with new technologies, such as fluorescence microscopy with fluorophore-tagged viral proteins, these data complement earlier work and provide a clearer picture of P6 IB formation. As the activities and interactions of the viral proteins have gradually been determined, the functions of P6 IBs have become clearer. This review integrates the current state of knowledge on the formation and function of P6 IBs to produce a coherent model for the activities mediated by these sophisticated virus-manufacturing machines.

Host Factors in the Infection Cycle of Bamboo mosaic virus

To complete the infection cycle efficiently, the virus must hijack the host systems in order to benefit for all the steps and has to face all the defense mechanisms from the host. This review involves a discussion of how these positive and negative factors regulate the viral RNA accumulation identified for the Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV), a single-stranded RNA virus. The genome of BaMV is approximately 6.4 kb in length, encoding five functional polypeptides. To reveal the host factors involved in the infection cycle of BaMV, a few different approaches were taken to screen the candidates. One of the approaches is isolating the viral replicase-associated proteins by co-immunoprecipitation with the transiently expressed tagged viral replicase in plants. Another approach is using the cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism technique to screen the differentially expressed genes derived from N. benthamiana plants after infection. The candidates are examined by knocking down the expression in plants using the Tobacco rattle virus-based virus-induced gene silencing technique following BaMV inoculation. The positive or negative regulators could be described as reducing or enhancing the accumulation of BaMV in plants when the expression levels of these proteins are knocked down. The possible roles of these host factors acting on the accumulation of BaMV will be discussed.

Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus VPg Is the Determinant Protein for Breaking eIF4E-Mediated Recessive Resistance in Barley Plants

In this study, we investigated the barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV, genus Bymovirus) factor(s) responsible for breaking eIF4E-mediated recessive resistance genes (rym4/5/6) in barley. Genome mapping analysis using chimeric infectious cDNA clones between rym5-breaking (JT10) and rym5-non-breaking (JK05) isolates indicated that genome-linked viral protein (VPg) is the determinant protein for breaking the rym5 resistance. Likewise, VPg is also responsible for overcoming the resistances of rym4 and rym6 alleles. Mutational analysis identified that amino acids Ser-118, Thr-120, and His-142 in JT10 VPg are the most critical residues for overcoming rym5 resistance in protoplasts. Moreover, the rym5-non-breaking JK05 could accumulate in the rym5 protoplasts when eIF4E derived from a susceptible barley cultivar was expressed from the viral genome. Thus, the compatibility between VPg and host eIF4E determines the ability of BaYMV to infect barley plants.

cmv1 is a gate for Cucumber mosaic virus transport from bundle sheath cells to phloem in melon

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has the broadest host range among plant viruses, causing enormous losses in agriculture. In melon, strains of subgroup II are unable to establish a systemic infection in the near-isogenic line SC12-1-99, which carries the recessive resistance gene cmv1 from the accession PI 161375, cultivar 'Songwhan Charmi'. Strains of subgroup I overcome cmv1 resistance in a manner dependent on the movement protein. We characterized the resistance conferred by cmv1 and established that CMV-LS (subgroup II) can move from cell to cell up to the veins in the inoculated leaf, but cannot enter the phloem. Immunogold labelling at transmission electron microscopy level showed that CMV-LS remains restricted to the bundle sheath (BS) cells in the resistant line, and does not invade vascular parenchyma or intermediary cells, whereas, in the susceptible line 'Piel de Sapo' (PS), the virus invades all vein cell types. These observations indicate that the resistant allele of cmv1 restricts systemic infection in a virus strain- and cell type-specific manner by acting as an important gatekeeper for virus progression from BS cells to phloem cells. Graft inoculation experiments showed that CMV-LS cannot move from the infected PS stock into the resistant cmv1 scion, thus suggesting an additional role for cmv1 related to CMV transport within or exit from the phloem. The characterization of this new form of recessive resistance, based on a restriction of virus systemic movement, opens up the possibility to design alternative approaches for breeding strategies in melon.

Tobacco mosaic virus-directed reprogramming of auxin/indole acetic acid protein transcriptional responses enhances virus phloem loading

Vascular phloem loading has long been recognized as an essential step in the establishment of a systemic virus infection. In this study, an interaction between the replication protein of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and phloem-specific auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) transcriptional regulators was found to modulate virus phloem loading in an age-dependent manner. Promoter expression studies show that in mature tissues TMV 126/183-kDa-interacting Aux/IAAs predominantly express and accumulate within the nuclei of phloem companion cells (CCs). Furthermore, CC Aux/IAA nuclear localization is disrupted upon infection with an interacting virus. In situ analysis of virus spread shows that the inability to disrupt Aux/IAA CC nuclear localization correlates with a reduced ability to load into the vascular tissue. Subsequent systemic movement assays also demonstrate that a virus capable of disrupting Aux/IAA localization is significantly more competitive at moving out of older plant tissues than a noninteracting virus. Similarly, CC expression and overaccumulation of a degradation-resistant Aux/IAA-interacting protein was found to inhibit TMV accumulation and phloem loading selectively in flowering plants. Transcriptional expression studies demonstrate a role for Aux/IAA-interacting proteins in the regulation of salicylic and jasmonic acid host defense responses as well as virus-specific movement factors, including pectin methylesterase, that are involved in regulating plasmodesmata size-exclusion limits and promoting virus cell-to-cell movement. Combined, these findings indicate that TMV directs the reprogramming of auxin-regulated gene expression within the vascular phloem of mature tissues as a means to enhance phloem loading and systemic spread.

Salicylic acid treatment and expression of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 transgene inhibit lethal symptoms and meristem invasion during tobacco mosaic virus infection in Nicotiana benthamiana

BACKGROUND

Host RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDRs) 1 and 6 contribute to antiviral RNA silencing in plants. RDR6 is constitutively expressed and was previously shown to limit invasion of Nicotiana benthamiana meristem tissue by potato virus X and thereby inhibit disease development. RDR1 is inducible by salicylic acid (SA) and several other phytohormones. But although it contributes to basal resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) it is dispensable for SA-induced resistance in inoculated leaves. The laboratory accession of N. benthamiana is a natural rdr1 mutant and highly susceptible to TMV. However, TMV-induced symptoms are ameliorated in transgenic plants expressing Medicago truncatula RDR1.

RESULTS

In MtRDR1-transgenic N. benthamiana plants the spread of TMV expressing the green fluorescent protein (TMV.GFP) into upper, non-inoculated, leaves was not inhibited. However, in these plants exclusion of TMV.GFP from the apical meristem and adjacent stem tissue was greater than in control plants and this exclusion effect was enhanced by SA. TMV normally kills N. benthamiana plants but although MtRDR1-transgenic plants initially displayed virus-induced necrosis they subsequently recovered. Recovery from disease was markedly enhanced by SA treatment in MtRDR1-transgenic plants whereas in control plants SA delayed but did not prevent systemic necrosis and death. Following SA treatment of MtRDR1-transgenic plants, extractable RDR enzyme activity was increased and Western blot analysis of RDR extracts revealed a band cross-reacting with an antibody raised against MtRDR1. Expression of MtRDR1 in the transgenic N. benthamiana plants was driven by a constitutive 35S promoter derived from cauliflower mosaic virus, confirmed to be non-responsive to SA. This suggests that the effects of SA on MtRDR1 are exerted at a post-transcriptional level.

CONCLUSIONS

MtRDR1 inhibits severe symptom development by limiting spread of virus into the growing tips of infected plants. Thus, RDR1 may act in a similar fashion to RDR6. MtRDR1 and SA acted additively to further promote recovery from disease symptoms in MtRDR1-transgenic plants. Thus it is possible that SA promotes MtRDR1 activity and/or stability through post-transcriptional effects.

A model for transport of a viral membrane protein through the early secretory pathway: minimal sequence and endoplasmic reticulum lateral mobility requirements

Viral movement proteins exploit host endomembranes and the cytoskeleton to move within the cell via routes that, in some cases, are dependent on the secretory pathway. For example, melon necrotic spot virus p7B, a type II transmembrane protein, leaves the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the COPII-dependent Golgi pathway to reach the plasmodesmata. Here we investigated the sequence requirements and putative mechanisms governing p7B transport through the early secretory pathway. Deletion of either the cytoplasmic N-terminal region (CR) or the luminal C-terminal region (LR) led to ER retention, suggesting that they are both essential for ER export. Through alanine-scanning mutagenesis, we identified residues in the CR and LR that are critical for both ER export and for viral cell-to-cell movement. Within the CR, alanine substitution of aspartic and proline residues in the DSSP β-turn motif (D7 AP10 A) led to movement of discrete structures along the cortical ER in an actin-dependent manner. In contrast, alanine substitution of a lysine residue in the LR (K49 A) resulted in a homogenous ER distribution of the movement protein and inhibition of ER-Golgi traffic. Moreover, the ability of p7B to recruit Sar1 to the ER membrane is lost in the D7 AP10 A mutant, but enhanced in the K49 A mutant. In addition, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that K49 A but not D7 AP10 A dramatically diminished protein lateral mobility. From these data, we propose a model whereby the LR directs actin-dependent mobility toward the cortical ER, where the cytoplasmic DSSP β-turn favors assembly of COPII vesicles for export of p7B from the ER.

WRKY8 transcription factor functions in the TMV-cg defense response by mediating both abscisic acid and ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis

WRKY transcription factors are key players in the plant immune response, but less is known about their involvement in antiviral defense than about their roles in defense against bacterial or fungi pathogens. Here, we report that Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY DNA-binding protein 8 (WRKY8) has a role in mediating the long-distance movement of crucifer-infecting tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-cg). The expression of WRKY8 was inhibited by TMV-cg infection, and mutation of WRKY8 accelerated the accumulation of TMV-cg in systemically infected leaves. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of ABA insensitive 4 (ABI4) was reduced and the expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase 6 (ACS6) and ethylene response factor 104 (ERF104) was enhanced in the systemically infected leaves of wrky8. Immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that WRKY8 could bind selectively to putative W-boxes of the ABI4, ACS6, and ERF104 promoters. Furthermore, TMV-cg infection enhanced WRKY8 binding to the ABI4 promoter but reduced the binding of WRKY8 to the ACS6 and ERF104 promoters, indicating that regulation of ABI4, ACS6, and ERF104 by WRKY8 is at least partially dependent on TMV-cg. Exogenous applications of abscisic acid (ABA) reduced the systemic accumulation of TMV-cg. Mutations in ABA deficient 1, ABA deficient 2, ABA deficient 3, or abi4 accelerated systemic TMV-cg accumulation. In contrast, exogenous application of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid enhanced the systemic accumulation of TMV-cg, but mutations in acs6, erf104, or an octuple acs mutant inhibited systemic TMV-cg accumulation. Our results demonstrate that WRKY8 is involved in the defense response against TMV-cg through the direct regulation of the expression of ABI4, ACS6, and ERF104 and may mediate the crosstalk between ABA and ethylene signaling during the TMV-cg-Arabidopsis interaction.

Recent advances in research of plant virus movement mediated by triple gene block

The aim of this short review was to summarize recent advances in the field of viral cell-to-cell movement mediated by the triple gene block (TGB). The growing body of new research has uncovered links between virus cell-to-cell trafficking and replication, silencing suppression, virus spread over the plant, as well as suggested the roles of nucleus/nucleolus in plant virus transport and revealed protein-membrane associations occurring during subcellular targeting and cell-to-cell movement. In this context, our review briefly summarized current views on several potentially important functions of TGB proteins and on the development of new experimental systems that improved understanding of the molecular events during TGB-mediated virus movement.

The Role of Microtubule Association in Plasmodesmal Targeting of Potato mop-top virus Movement Protein TGBp1

Cell-to-cell movement of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) is mediated by three virus-encoded ‘triple gene block’ (TGB) proteins termed TGBp1, TGBp2 and TGBp3. TGBp1 binds virus RNAs to form viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs), the transport form of viral genome. TGBp2 and TGBp3 are necessary for intracellular delivery of TGBp1-containing vRNPs to plasmodesmata. To analyze subcellular localization and transport of TGBp1 we used a single binary vector for agrobacterium-mediated co-expression of PMTV TGBp1 fused to green fluorescent protein and TGBp2/TGBp3. At two days post infiltration (dpi) TGBp1 was found in the nucleus and in association with microtubules (MTs). Similar localization pattern was revealed in cells expressing GFP-TGBp1 alone after particle bombardment. At 3 dpi, in addition to the nucleus and MTs, TGBp1 was detected in numerous granular bodies located both along the MTs and at the cell wall. The latter structures co-localized with plasmodesmata-associated callose depositions. At 4 dpi, GFP-TGBp1 was detected in cell wall-associated bodies and also in residual MTs, the nucleoplasm and large perinuclear inclusions resembling aggresomes. Therefore GFP-TGBp1 association with MTs preceded to its localization to plasmodesmata. Disassembly of cell MTs by colchicine prevented GFP-TGBp1 targeting to plasmodesmata and the MT-dependent aggresome formation. Deletion analysis also revealed a correlation between TGBp1 microtubule association and plasmodesmata targeting. We propose that TGBp1 interaction with MTs may be important for the formation of vRNP bodies destined for the transport to plasmodesmata as well as degradation of the excessive TGBp1.

Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus isolate-dependent host movement systems reveal two movement control determinants and the coat protein is the dominant

Little is known about how plant viruses of a single species exhibit different movement behavior in different host species. Two Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus (CymMV) isolates, M1 and M2, were studied. Both can infect Phalaenopsis orchids, but only M1 can systemically infect Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Protoplast inoculation and whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that both isolates can replicate in N. benthamiana; however, M2 was restricted to the initially infected cells. Genome shuffling between M1 and M2 revealed that two control modes are involved in CymMV host dependent movement. The M1 coat protein (CP) plays a dominant role in controlling CymMV movement between cells, because all chimeric CymMV viruses containing the M1 CP systemically infected N. benthamiana plants. Without the M1 CP, one chimeric virus containing the combination of the M1 triple gene block proteins (TGBps), the M2 5' RNA (1-4333), and the M2 CP effectively moved in N. benthamiana plants. Further complementation analysis revealed that M1 TGBp1 and TGBp3 are co-required to complement the movement of the chimeric viruses in N. benthamiana. The amino acids within the CP, TGBp1 and TGBp3 which are required or important for CymMV M2 movement in N. benthamiana plants were mapped. The required amino acids within the CP map to the predicted RNA binding domain. RNA-protein binding assays revealed that M1 CP has higher RNA binding affinity than does M2 CP. Yeast two-hybrid assays to detect all possible interactions of M1 TGBps and CP, and only TGBp1 and CP self-interactions were observed.

Covering common ground: F-actin-dependent transport of plant viral protein inclusions reveals a novel mechanism for movement utilized by unrelated viral proteins

Plant viruses are composed of diverse genomes (e.g., RNA or DNA) encoding proteins that vary widely in sequence. It is becoming clear, however, that some apparently unrelated viral proteins have similar functions. The P6 protein encoded by Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and the 126-kDa protein encoded by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are examples of this convergence in protein function. Although having no apparent sequence similarity, both proteins are pathogenicity determinants during infection, are components of novel intracellular cytoplasmic inclusions and suppress RNA silencing. Here we review our recent results demonstrating an additional novel convergent activity between these proteins: both proteins traffic along the actin cytoskeleton (microfilaments). We also discuss results showing a unique property of the P6 protein: a non-mobile strong association with microtubules. Lastly, we discuss the potential mechanism by which the P6 and 126-kDa proteins traffic along microfilaments. We provide new results suggesting that actin filament polymerization-driven movement does not support 126-kDa protein transport, thus leading to a focus on myosins as the driving force for this movement.