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Pelota: A double-edged sword in virus infection

Xue Li1, Xueping Zhou1,2, Fangfang Li1

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

Plos Pathogens
|July 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pelota, a ribosome rescue factor, acts as a double-edged sword in plant-virus interactions. Its mutations can confer resistance or susceptibility, offering potential for antiviral strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Pelota is a conserved ribosome rescue factor crucial for mRNA surveillance.
  • It plays a role in maintaining translational fidelity through No-Go Decay and Non-Stop Decay pathways.
  • Pelota is increasingly recognized for its complex role in the host-virus interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the dual role of Pelota in viral infections.
  • To explore Pelota's function as both a host restriction factor and a viral susceptibility element.
  • To investigate the implications of Pelota's interaction with viruses for resistance breeding and antiviral strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Pelota's function in DNA and RNA virus infections.
  • Investigating the effects of natural Pelota mutations on viral protein translation and replication.
  • Examining Pelota's impact on plant immune signaling pathways.
  • Reviewing viral counterdefense strategies targeting Pelota.

Main Results:

  • Pelota acts as a restriction factor in RNA virus infections but can promote DNA virus replication.
  • Natural Pelota mutations confer recessive resistance in plants against geminiviruses by impairing viral translation.
  • Pelota mutations can modulate plant immune responses, leading to enhanced resistance or autoimmunity.
  • Viruses have evolved mechanisms to subvert Pelota function, such as targeted degradation and SUMOylation interference.

Conclusions:

  • Pelota functions as a double-edged sword in viral infections, influencing host resistance and viral susceptibility.
  • Understanding Pelota's complex roles provides insights for developing novel antiviral strategies through genetic manipulation.
  • Pelota represents a promising target for enhancing crop resistance against viral diseases.

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