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Rice dwarf phytoreovirus segment S6-encoded nonstructural protein has a cell-to-cell movement function
1Peking-Yale Joint Center for Plant Molecular Genetics and Agrobiotechnology, The National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. liyi@pku.edu.cn
Journal of Virology
|April 29, 2004
Summary
Researchers identified a key protein from Rice dwarf virus (RDV) that enables its movement between plant cells. This discovery sheds light on how plant viruses spread within their hosts, specifically identifying the S6 gene product as crucial for intercellular transport.
Area of Science:
- Plant Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Pathology
Background:
- Rice dwarf virus (RDV) belongs to the Phytoreovirus genus, characterized by segmented double-stranded RNA genomes.
- Proteins facilitating intercellular movement of Phytoreoviruses have not been previously identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific Rice dwarf virus (RDV) open reading frames (ORFs) that support intercellular movement.
- To investigate the role of RDV gene segments in the movement of a heterologous virus within plant tissues.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microprojectile bombardment to introduce plasmids containing RDV ORFs and a movement-defective Potato virus X (PVX) clone into *Nicotiana benthamiana* and *Nicotiana tabacum*.
- Assessed the restoration of PVX cell-to-cell movement upon co-bombardment with individual RDV gene segments.
- Employed GFP-fusion proteins and immunocytochemistry to localize the S6 protein product (Pns6).
Main Results:
- Co-bombardment with the RDV S6 gene segment restored cell-to-cell movement of the movement-defective PVX in *N. benthamiana* and *N. tabacum*.
- No other RDV gene segment facilitated PVX movement in the absence of S6.
- The S6 protein product (Pns6) was localized to plasmodesmata in infected rice leaves and near cell walls in *N. tabacum* epidermal cells.
Conclusions:
- The RDV S6 gene encodes a protein (Pns6) essential for the cell-to-cell movement of the virus.
- Pns6 exhibits characteristics similar to known viral movement proteins, suggesting it mediates intercellular transport of RDV.
- This finding provides critical insight into the mechanisms of plant virus spread.