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Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
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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
Summary
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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