title: Subcellular distribution of mutant movement proteins of Cucumber mosaic virus fused to green fluorescent proteins.
abstract: The subcellular distribution of the movement proteins (MPs) of nine alanine-scanning mutants of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed from CMV, was determined by confocal microscopy of infected epidermal cells of Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana benthamiana, as well as infected N. benthamiana protoplasts. Only those mutant MPs that were functional for movement in all host species tested localized to plasmodesmata of infected epidermal cells and to tubules extending from the surface of infected protoplasts, as for wild-type CMV 3a MP. Various mutant MPs that were either conditionally functional for movement or dysfunctional for movement did not localize to plasmodesmata and did not form tubules on the surface of infected protoplasts. Rather, they showed distribution to different extents throughout the infected cells, including the cytoplasm, nucleus or the plasma membrane. The CMV 3a MP also did not associate with microtubules.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Canto
authors.affiliation: Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palukaitis
mesh_terms: D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009154:Mutation; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology; D053830:Plant Viral Movement Proteins; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000821:virology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053830:Plant Viral Movement Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins