Expression of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) deficient in the production of its native coat protein supports long-distance movement of a chimeric TMV.
Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) coat protein is involved in systemic infection of host plants, and a specific mutation in this gene prevents the virus from moving into the upper uninoculated leaves. The coat protein also is required for different viral functions during early and late infection. To study the role of the coat protein in long-distance movement of AlMV independent of other vital functions during virus infection, we cloned the gene encoding the coat protein of AlMV into a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based vector Av. This vector is deficient in long-distance movement and is limited to locally inoculated leaves because of the lack of native TMV coat protein. Expression of AlMV coat protein, directed by the subgenomic promoter of TMV coat protein in Av, supported systemic infection with the chimeric virus in Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum MD609, and Spinacia oleracea. The host range of TMV was extended to include spinach as a permissive host. Here we report the alteration of a host range by incorporating genetic determinants from another virus.
Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
S
S
Spitsin
K
K
Steplewski
N
N
Fleysh
H
H
Belanger
T
T
Mikheeva
S
S
Shivprasad
W
W
Dawson
H
H
Koprowski
V
V
Yusibov
D017794:Alfalfa mosaic virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010935:Plant Diseases; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000821:virology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000821:virology; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D011994:Recombinant Proteins