Induction and suppression of RNA silencing by an animal virus.
RNA silencing is a sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism that is operational in plants and animals. Here, we show that flock house virus (FHV) is both an initiator and a target of RNA silencing in Drosophila host cells and that FHV infection requires suppression of RNA silencing by an FHV-encoded protein, B2. These findings establish RNA silencing as an adaptive antiviral defense in animal cells. B2 also inhibits RNA silencing in transgenic plants, providing evidence for a conserved RNA silencing pathway in the plant and animal kingdoms.
Li
Hongwei
H
Department of Plant Pathology and Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Li
Wan Xiang
WX
Ding
Shou Wei
SW
D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005814:Genes, Viral; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030381:Nodaviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins