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Broadening Virus Resistance Through Gene Pyramiding of eIF4E Family Members
Masato Suzuki1, Masanobu Nishikawa1, Toya Yamamoto1
1Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Molecular Plant Pathology
|December 10, 2025
Summary
Gene pyramiding using eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) family mutants broadens plant virus resistance, including new virus genera. Careful selection of gene combinations is crucial to balance resistance with plant growth.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Recessive resistance via host susceptibility gene mutations is key for plant virus control.
- The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) gene family (eIF4E, eIFiso4E, nCBP) is implicated in plant virus resistance.
- Gene pyramiding within the eIF4E family offers potential for broad-spectrum virus resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the practicality of eIF4E family gene pyramiding for enhancing plant virus resistance.
- To analyze a comprehensive set of eIF4E family knockout mutants against diverse viruses.
- To uncover novel resistance mechanisms and identify potential drawbacks of gene pyramiding.
Main Methods:
- Creation and analysis of eIF4E family knockout mutants.
- Testing mutant lines against six phylogenetically diverse plant viruses.
- Assessment of plant growth in double-gene mutant lines.
Main Results:
- Double mutants ncbp eif4e1 and ncbp eifiso4e showed resistance to five and three viruses, respectively.
- Resistance extended to Comovirus, Tymovirus, Betacarmovirus, and Tobamovirus genera, previously unlinked to eIF4E.
- The ncbp eif4e1 mutant exhibited a more severe growth penalty than ncbp eifiso4e.
Conclusions:
- The eIF4E family plays a broader role in viral susceptibility than previously recognized, potentially due to functional redundancy.
- eIF4E family gene pyramiding can confer broad-spectrum virus resistance, but requires careful selection of gene combinations to mitigate negative impacts on plant growth.
- This study provides insights for developing crop varieties with enhanced, durable virus resistance.
Keywords:
breedingeukaryotic translation initiation factor 4Egene pyramidinghost factorplant virusvirus resistanceMore Related Videos
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