Genetic analyses of the FRNK motif function of Turnip mosaic virus uncover multiple and potentially interactive pathways of cross-protection

Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2014 Sep;27(9):944-55. doi: 10.1094/MPMI-04-14-0116-R.

Abstract

Cross-protection triggered by a mild strain of virus acts as a prophylaxis to prevent subsequent infections by related viruses in plants; however, the underling mechanisms are not fully understood. Through mutagenesis, we isolated a mutant strain of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), named Tu-GK, that contains an Arg182Lys substitution in helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro(K)) that confers complete cross-protection against infection by a severe strain of TuMV in Nicotiana benthamiana, Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0, and the Arabidopsis dcl2-4/dcl4-1 double mutant defective in DICER-like ribonuclease (DCL)2/DCL4-mediated silencing. Our analyses showed that HC-Pro(K) loses the ability to interfere with microRNA pathways, although it retains a partial capability for RNA silencing suppression triggered by DCL. We further showed that Tu-GK infection triggers strong salicylic acid (SA)-dependent and SA-independent innate immunity responses. Our data suggest that DCL2/4-dependent and -independent RNA silencing pathways are involved, and may crosstalk with basal innate immunity pathways, in host defense and in cross-protection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Arabidopsis / immunology
  • Arabidopsis / virology
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cross Protection*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Nicotiana / immunology
  • Nicotiana / virology
  • Plant Diseases / immunology*
  • Plant Diseases / virology
  • Plant Leaves / immunology
  • Plant Leaves / virology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Potyvirus / genetics*
  • Potyvirus / physiology
  • RNA Interference
  • Ribonuclease III / genetics*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism
  • Salicylic Acid / metabolism
  • Seedlings / immunology
  • Seedlings / virology
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Viral Proteins
  • DCL4 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DCL2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Ribonuclease III
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • HC-Pro protein, potyvirus
  • Salicylic Acid

Associated data

  • SRA/SRR1262389
  • SRA/SRR1262545
  • SRA/SRR1262546
  • SRA/SRR1262601