title: Formation of plant RNA virus replication complexes on membranes: role of an endoplasmic reticulum-targeted viral protein.
abstract: The mechanisms that direct positive-stranded RNA virus replication complexes to plant and animal cellular membranes are poorly understood. We describe a specific interaction between a replication protein of an RNA plant virus and membranes in vitro and in live cells. The tobacco etch virus (TEV) 6 kDa protein associated with membranes as an integral protein via a central 19 amino acid hydrophobic domain. In the presence or absence of other viral proteins, fluorescent fusion proteins containing the 6 kDa protein associated with large vesicular compartments derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Infection by TEV was associated with a collapse of the ER network into a series of discrete aggregated structures. Viral RNA replication complexes from infected cells were also associated with ER-like membranes. Targeting of TEV RNA replication complexes to membranous sites of replication is proposed to involve post-translational interactions between the 6 kDa protein and the ER.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station 77843, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schaad
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carrington
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D017800:Potyvirus / Q000502:physiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins