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High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses
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Rice ARGONAUTE 2 plays essential roles in a broad-spectrum antiviral defense
Jiahao Li1,2, Xueying Wu2, Changtian Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, Vector-borne Virus Research Center, Institute of Plant Virology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology
|December 13, 2025
Summary
Rice Argonaute protein OsAGO2 is crucial for plant antiviral defense. Its expression increases upon viral infection, and modifying OsAGO2 levels affects the plant's ability to fight viruses.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- RNA silencing mechanisms
- Plant-pathogen interactions
Background:
- Argonaute (AGO) proteins are key effectors in RNA silencing.
- RNA silencing plays a vital role in plant antiviral immunity.
- Specific AGO proteins involved in rice antiviral defense require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of OsAGO2 in rice antiviral defense against specific viruses.
- To determine the impact of OsAGO2 expression levels on plant resistance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of OsAGO2 gene expression in response to viral infection.
- Generation and phenotypic analysis of OsAGO2 loss-of-function mutants.
- Evaluation of antiviral activity in OsAGO2 over-expressing rice lines.
Main Results:
- OsAGO2 expression was significantly upregulated following Rice stripe virus and Rice dwarf virus infections.
- Loss-of-function mutations in OsAGO2 resulted in a complete lack of antiviral activity.
- Over-expression of OsAGO2 led to enhanced antiviral activity in rice plants.
Conclusions:
- OsAGO2 is a critical component of the RNA silencing pathway mediating antiviral defense in rice.
- OsAGO2 functions as a positive regulator of plant immunity against RNA viruses.
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