Transgenically expressed viral RNA silencing suppressors interfere with microRNA methylation in Arabidopsis

FEBS Lett. 2006 May 29;580(13):3117-20. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.04.063. Epub 2006 May 2.

Abstract

HEN1-dependent methylation of the 3'-terminal nucleotide is a crucial step in plant microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Here we report that several viral RNA silencing suppressors (P1/HC-Pro, p21 and p19) inhibit miRNA methylation. These suppressors have distinct effects on different miRNAs. We also show that miRNA* is methylated in vivo in a suppressor-sensitive manner, suggesting that the viral proteins interfere with miRNA/miRNA* duplexes. p19 and p21 bind both methylated and unmethylated miRNA/miRNA* duplexes in vivo. These findings suggest miRNA/miRNA* as the in vivo substrates for the HEN1 miRNA methyltransferase and raise intriguing possibilities regarding the cellular location of miRNA methylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / virology
  • Methylation
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional*
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Suppression, Genetic*
  • Viral Core Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Core Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • Viral Proteins