Gain-of-function mutant of movement protein allows systemic transport of a defective tobacco mosaic virus.

ABSTRACT: Functional compensation in response to gene dysfunction is a fascinating phenomenon that allows mutated viruses to regain the capabilities of their wild-type parental strains. In this study, we isolated mutants of tobacco mosaic virus capable of CP-independent systemic movement. These gain-of-function mutants lacked the 16 C-terminal amino acids of the movement protein (MP). Whereas this deletion did not affect the cell-to-cell movement of MP, it dramatically enhanced the viral genomic RNA levels and MP accumulation within the infected cells and altered the subcellular localization of MP from exclusively plasmodesmata (PD) to both PD and plasma membrane. The adapted defective virus suppressed the expression of the ethylene pathway and phloem-associated resistance factors in the inoculated

SUBMITTER: Tran PT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9676214 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature