Viral suppression of systemic silencing.
RNA silencing in plants is a form of antiviral defense that was originally discovered from the anomalous effects of transgenes. The process is associated with a systemic signal, presumed to be RNA, and is suppressed by plant virus-encoded proteins. One of these proteins, the 2b protein of cucumber mosaic virus, prevents systemic spread of the signal molecule but, curiously, is located in the nucleus of infected cells. The antiviral role of silencing might also apply in animals because a suppressor of silencing encoded by an insect virus was identified recently.
The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. david.balcombe@sainsbury-laboratory.ac.uk
David
D
Baulcombe
D000818:Animals; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D014764:Viral Proteins