Dataset Information

Function and diversity of P0 proteins among cotton leafroll dwarf virus isolates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The RNA silencing pathway is an important anti-viral defense mechanism in plants. As a counter defense, some members of the viral family Luteoviridae are able to evade host immunity by encoding the P0 RNA silencing suppressor protein. Here we explored the functional diversity of P0 proteins among eight cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) isolates, a virus associated with a worldwide cotton disease known as cotton blue disease (CBD).

Methods

CLRDV-infected cotton plants of different varieties were collected from five growing fields in Brazil and their P0 sequences compared to three previously obtained isolates. P0's silencing suppression activities were scored based on transient expression experiments in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves.

Results

High sequence diversity was observed among CLRDV P0 proteins, indicating that some isolates found in cotton varieties formerly resistant to CLRDV should be regarded as new genotypes within the species. All tested proteins were able to suppress local and systemic silencing, but with significantly variable degrees. All P0 proteins were able to mediate the decay of ARGONAUTE proteins, a key component of the RNA silencing machinery.

Conclusions

The sequence diversity observed in CLRDV P0s is also reflected in their silencing suppression capabilities. However, the strength of local and systemic silencing suppression was not correlated for some proteins.

SUBMITTER: Cascardo RS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4531488 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:In response to infection, viral genomes are processed by Dicer-like (DCL) ribonuclease proteins into viral small RNAs (vsRNAs) of discrete sizes. vsRNAs are then used as guides for silencing the viral genome. The profile of vsRNAs produced during the infection process has been extensively studied for some group of viruses. However, nothing is known for members of the economically important family Luteoviridae, a group of phloem-restricted viruses. Here, the population of vsRNAs from cotton plants infected with Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), a member of the genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae, is characterized.Deep sequencing of small RNAs (sRNAs) from CLRDV-infected cotton leaves was performed. Results showed 21-nt to 24-nt long vsRNAs matching all the viral genome, with a higher frequency of matches in the 3M-CM-"M-BM-^@M-BM-^Y region. Equivalent amounts of sense and antisense vsRNAs were found, and the 22-nt long small RNA class was the most prominent one. Looking for cotton Dcl transcripts levels during infection, we could observe that Dcl4 seems to be up-regulated, while Dcl2 seems to be down-regulated.This is the first report on the profile of sRNAs coming from a plant infected with a member of the family Luteoviridae. Our sequence data strongly suggest that virus-derived double-stranded RNA functions as one of the main precursors of vsRNAsOur results indicate that secondary structures of the viral RNAs are not the main source of the viRNAs observed, as suggested for other viruses. Judging by the profiled size classes, all cotton DCLs might be working to silence the virus. The possible causes for the unexpected high accumulation of 22-nt viRNAvsRNAs are discussed. CLRDV is the causal agent of worldwide cotton pathology named Cotton blue disease. Our results are an important contribution for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in this and related diseases. Total RNA obtained from leaves of the cotton plant 5 days post-infection with Cotton leafrol dawrf virus (CLRDV) compared to not-infected control.