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Updated: May 8, 2025

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
Viral coat proteins decrease the gene silencing activity of cognate and heterologous viral suppressors
Dóra Pinczés1,2, Réka Sáray1, Katalin Nemes3
1Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, HUN-REN, Budapest, Hungary.
Viral coat proteins (CPs) universally fine-tune the RNA silencing suppression (RSS) activity of viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs). This interference was observed across different virus families, with peanut stunt virus CP showing the strongest effect.
Area of Science:
- Plant Virology
- Molecular Biology
- RNA Silencing
Background:
- RNA silencing is a defense mechanism against viruses.
- Viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) counteract this defense.
- Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) coat protein (CP) was previously shown to reduce VSR activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the universal role of viral CPs in modulating VSR activity.
- To compare the RNA silencing suppression (RSS) activity of VSRs from different virus families.
- To assess the interference between CPs and VSRs from Bromoviridae and Potyviridae families.
Main Methods:
- Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana.
- Comparative analysis of VSRs (CMV 2b, PSV 2b, PPV HC-Pro) and their cognate/heterologous CPs.
- Evaluation in PTGS suppressor-deficient CMV mutant virus-infected plants.
Main Results:
- The joint presence of CPs and VSRs consistently decreased RSS activity across all tested combinations.
- This interference effect was independent of the specific CP-VSR origin, indicating a universal role.
- Peanut stunt virus (PSV) CP demonstrated the most significant reduction in RSS activity for all three VSRs.
Conclusions:
- Viral CPs play a universal role in fine-tuning VSR-mediated RNA silencing suppression.
- CP-VSR interactions represent a conserved mechanism in plant virus evolution.
- PSV CP is a potent modulator of VSR activity, offering potential insights into virus-host interactions.
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