Influence of cytoplasmic heat shock protein 70 on viral infection of Nicotiana benthamiana

Mol Plant Pathol. 2008 Nov;9(6):809-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2008.00505.x.

Abstract

The accumulation of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) generally occurs in plants infected with viruses. However, the effect of Hsp70 accumulation on plant viral infection and pathogenesis remains elusive. In this study, the expression of six Hsp70 genes was found to be induced by the four diverse RNA viruses, Tobacco mosaic virus, Potato virus X (PVX), Cucumber mosaic virus and Watermelon mosaic virus, in Nicotiana benthamiana. Heat treatment enhanced the accumulation and systemic infection of these viruses. Similar results were obtained for viral infection in plants heterologously expressing an Arabidopsis cytoplasmic Hsp70 through either a PVX vector or Agrobacterium infiltration. In contrast, viral infection was compromised in cytoplasmic NbHsp70c-1 gene-silenced plants. These data demonstrate that the cytoplasmic Hsp70s can enhance the infection of N. benthamiana by diverse viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cucumovirus / pathogenicity
  • Cucumovirus / physiology
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / physiology*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Mosaic Viruses / pathogenicity
  • Mosaic Viruses / physiology
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / virology*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / physiology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / virology
  • Potexvirus / pathogenicity
  • Potexvirus / physiology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tobacco Mosaic Virus / pathogenicity
  • Tobacco Mosaic Virus / physiology

Substances

  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Plant Proteins