Accumulation of maize chlorotic dwarf virus proteins in its plant host and leafhopper vector

The genome of Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV; genus Waikavirus; family Sequiviridae) consists of a monopartite positive-sense RNA genome encoding a single large polyprotein. Antibodies were produced to His-fusions of three undefined regions of the MCDV polyprotein: the N-terminus of the polyprotein (R78), a region between coat proteins (CPs) and the nucleotide-binding site (NBS) (R37), and a region between the NBS and a 3C-like protease (R69). The R78 antibodies react with proteins of 50 kDa (P50), 35 kDa (P35), and 25 kDa (P25) in virus preparations, and with P35 in plant extracts. In extracts of the leafhopper vector Graminella nigrifrons fed on MCDV-infected plants, the R78 antibodies reacted with P25 but not with P50 and P35. The R69 antibodies bound proteins of approximately 36 kDa (P36), 30 kDa (P30), and 26 kDa (P26) in virus preparations, and P36 and P26 in plant extracts. Antibodies to R37 reacted with a 26-kDa protein in purified virus preparations, but not in plant extracts. Neither the R69 nor the R37 antibodies bound any proteins in G. nigrifrons. Thus, in addition to the three CPs, cysteine protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, the MCDV polyprotein is apparently post-transitionally cleaved into P50, P35, P25, P36, P30, and P26.