Citrus tristeza virus p20 suppresses antiviral RNA silencing by co-opting autophagy-related protein 8 to mediate the autophagic degradation of SGS3.

ABSTRACT: Viruses exploit autophagy to degrade host immune components for their successful infection. However, how viral factors sequester the autophagic substrates into autophagosomes remains largely unknown. In this study, we showed that p20 protein, a viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) encoded by citrus tristeza virus (CTV), mediated autophagic degradation of SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING 3 (SGS3), a plant-specific RNA-binding protein that is pivotal in antiviral RNA silencing. CTV infection activated autophagy, and the overexpression of p20 was sufficient to induce autophagy. Silencing of autophagy-related genes NbATG5 and NbATG7 attenuated CTV infection in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. In contrast, knockdown of the autophagy negative-regulated genes NbGAPCs led to virus accumulation, indica

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11882097 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature