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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
Identification of two RNA silencing suppressors from banana bunchy top virus
Shengniao Niu1, Baosheng Wang, Xiaofen Guo
1Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, Hainan, China.
Abstract:
In order to suppress RNA silencing, many plant and some animal viruses encode RNA silencing suppressors to achieve infection. In this study, we report that B3 and B4, encoded by DNA3 and DNA4 of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), exhibit RNA silencing suppression activity. B3 and B4 were able to increase the transient expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and dramatically enhanced the pathogenicity of potato virus X (PVX) in Nicotiana benthamiana. B4 was able to reverse established gene silencing on an inoculated leaf or on an upper leaf. B3, however, was only active during infection of an inoculated leaf. Furthermore, B4, but not B3, was able to enhance GFP expression in the transgenic N. benthamiana line 16c. In conclusion, B3 and B4 are the RNA silencing suppressors of BBTV, and they may act at different steps in the RNA silencing pathways.
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