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Turnip mosaic virus moves systemically through both phloem and xylem as membrane-associated complexes
Juan Wan1, Daniel Garcia Cabanillas1, Huanquan Zheng1
1Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7 (J.W., D.G.C., J.-F.L.); andDepartment of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1 (H.Z.).
Plant Physiology
|February 27, 2015
Summary
Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) utilizes viral replication factories, which are 6K2-tagged vesicles, to move through plant phloem and xylem. These findings reveal a novel mechanism for systemic plant virus movement.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Virology
- Plant Cell Biology
Background:
- Plant viruses spread systemically via the phloem, often as virions or ribonucleic protein complexes.
- The Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) 6K2 protein drives the formation of viral replication factories, which are vesicle-based structures containing viral RNA (vRNA) and replication proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and role of TuMV-induced viral replication factories in systemic plant transport.
- To determine if these factories move through the phloem and xylem and contribute to systemic infection.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to visualize vRNA-containing vesicles in phloem and xylem.
- Stem-girdling experiments to assess the role of xylem in systemic TuMV infection.
- Analysis of phloem and xylem from Potato virus X-infected plants.
Main Results:
- 6K2-tagged vesicles containing vRNA and RNA polymerase were identified in phloem sieve elements and xylem vessels.
- TEM revealed vRNA-containing vesicles associated with viral particles within xylem vessels.
- Stem-girdling confirmed that TuMV can infect plants systemically via xylem vessels.
- Non-encapsidated vRNA associated with membranes was found in phloem and xylem of both TuMV- and Potato virus X-infected plants.
Conclusions:
- Viral replication factories can be transported within phloem sieve elements and xylem vessels.
- The transport of these factories through xylem is a viable route for systemic TuMV infection.
- Membrane-associated ribonucleic protein complexes may be a common mechanism for phloem and xylem transport of plant viruses.
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