Functional analysis of the 5' untranslated region of potexvirus RNA reveals a role in viral replication and cell-to-cell movement.
Cell-to-cell movement of potexviruses requires cognate recognition between the viral RNA, the triple gene block proteins (TGBp1-3) and the coat protein (CP). cis-acting motifs required for recognition and translocation of viral RNA were identified using an artificial potexvirus defective RNA encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transcriptionally fused to the terminal viral sequences. Analysis of GFP fluorescence produced in vivo from these defective RNA constructs, referred to as chimeric RNA reporters, was used to identify viral cis-acting motifs required for RNA trafficking. Mapping experiments localized the cis-acting element to nucleotides 1-107 of the Potato virus X (PVX) genome. This sequence forms an RNA secondary structural element that has also been implicated in viral plus-strand accumulation [Miller, E.D., Plante, C.A., Kim, K.-H., Brown, J.W. and Hemenway, C. (1998) J. Mol. Biol. 284, 591-608]. While replication and movement functions associated with this region have not been separated, these results are consistent with sequence-specific recognition of RNA by the viral movement protein(s). This situation is unusual among viral movement proteins that typically function to translocate RNA between cells in a non-sequence-specific manner. These data support the concept of cis-acting elements specifying intercellular potexvirus RNA movement and thus provide a basis for dissection of RNA-mediated intercellular communication in plants.
Lough
Tony J
TJ
Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand, Plant Health and Development Group, Private Bag 11030, Palmerston North, New Zealand. t.lough@genesis.co.nz
Lee
Robyn H
RH
Emerson
Sarah J
SJ
Forster
Richard L S
RL
Lucas
William J
WJ
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017863:Potexvirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins