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Updated: Oct 16, 2025

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
Phytosterol metabolism in plant positive-strand RNA virus replication
Teresa Altabella1,2, Karla Ramirez-Estrada3, Albert Ferrer4,5
1Plant Metabolism and Metabolic Engineering Program, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Cerdanyola, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. taltabella@ub.edu.
Abstract:
The genome of most plant viruses consists of a single positive-strand of RNA (+ ssRNA). Successful replication of these viruses is fully dependent on the endomembrane system of the infected cells, which experiences a massive proliferation and a profound reshaping that enables assembly of the macromolecular complexes where virus genome replication occurs. Assembly of these viral replicase complexes (VRCs) requires a highly orchestrated interplay of multiple virus and co-opted host cell factors to create an optimal microenvironment for efficient assembly and functioning of the virus genome replication machinery. It is now widely accepted that VRC formation involves the recruitment of high levels of sterols, but the specific role of these essential components of cell membranes and the precise molecular mechanisms underlying sterol enrichment at VRCs are still poorly known. In this review, we intend to summarize the most relevant knowledge on the role of sterols in ( +)ssRNA virus replication and discuss the potential of manipulating the plant sterol pathway to help plants fight these infectious agents.
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