The ORF2 protein of Fusarium graminearum virus 1 suppresses the transcription of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1 to limit host antiviral defences.

ABSTRACT: The filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum possesses an RNA-interference (RNAi) pathway that acts as a defence response against virus infections and exogenous double-stranded (ds) RNA. Fusarium graminearum virus 1 (FgV1), which infects F. graminearum, confers hypovirulence-associated traits such as reduced mycelial growth, increased pigmentation and reduced pathogenicity. In this study, we found that FgV1 can suppress RNA silencing by interfering with the induction of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1, which are involved in RNAi antiviral defence and the hairpin RNA/RNAi pathway in F. graminearum. In an FgAGO1- or FgDICER2-promoter/GFP-reporter expression assay the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transcript levels were reduced in FgV1-infected transformed mutant strains. By comparing transcription leve

SUBMITTER: Yu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6988435 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature