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Viral suppression of systemic silencing.

David Baulcombe¹

¹The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. david.balcombe@sainsbury-laboratory.ac.uk

Trends in Microbiology

|July 12, 2002

Summary

Plant RNA silencing acts as antiviral defense, triggered by transgenes and suppressed by viral proteins. A cucumber mosaic virus protein prevents systemic spread, highlighting its complex role in plant immunity.

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Area of Science:

Plant molecular biology
Virology
Genetics

Background:

RNA silencing is a conserved biological process involved in gene regulation and defense.
Initially observed as an anomaly with transgenes, RNA silencing functions as a plant's antiviral defense mechanism.
Viral proteins are known to suppress RNA silencing, aiding pathogen infection.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanism of RNA silencing suppression by viral proteins.
To understand the role of the cucumber mosaic virus 2b protein in systemic spread of silencing signals.
To explore the potential conserved antiviral role of RNA silencing in animals.

Main Methods:

Analysis of transgene effects in plants.
Identification and characterization of viral proteins that suppress RNA silencing.
Localization studies of viral proteins within infected cells.

Main Results:

RNA silencing is associated with a systemic mobile signal, presumed to be RNA.
The 2b protein of cucumber mosaic virus suppresses the systemic spread of this RNA signal.
Despite suppressing systemic spread, the 2b protein localizes to the nucleus.
A viral suppressor of silencing has been identified in an insect virus, suggesting conserved mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Plant RNA silencing is a crucial antiviral defense system.
Viral proteins, like the 2b protein, have evolved to counteract this defense.
The nuclear localization of the 2b protein suggests complex interactions in regulating RNA silencing.
The discovery of suppressors in insect viruses points to a potentially conserved antiviral role of silencing across kingdoms.

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