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C2 from Beet curly top virus meddles with the cell cycle: a novel function for an old pathogenicity factor
Rosa Lozano-Duran1, Zaira Caracuel, Eduardo R Bejarano
1Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Department Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
Plant Signaling & Behavior
|October 18, 2012
Summary
Beet curly top virus protein C2 reactivates the cell cycle in terminally differentiated plant cells. This viral protein enhances DNA replication, creating a favorable environment for geminivirus replication.
Area of Science:
- Plant virology
- Molecular biology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Geminiviruses are single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) plant viruses infecting diverse crops.
- Replication requires inducing cell cycle re-entry in terminally differentiated cells.
- Previously, only viral protein Rep and curtovirus C4 were known to restore cell competency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Beet curly top virus (BCTV) protein C2 in host cell cycle regulation.
- To determine if BCTV C2 contributes to geminivirus replication competency.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of BCTV C2 function in host cells.
- Gene expression profiling of host cells upon C2 expression.
- Assessment of DNA virus replication in C2-expressing cells.
Main Results:
- BCTV C2 activates host genes involved in DNA replication and G2/M cell cycle transition.
- C2 expression promotes cell cycle re-entry.
- Enhanced replication of DNA viruses was observed upon BCTV C2 expression.
Conclusions:
- BCTV C2 functions as a cell cycle re-activator in infected plant cells.
- C2 enhances DNA replication competency and creates a favorable cellular environment for geminiviruses.
- This highlights a novel mechanism for viral manipulation of host cell processes.
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