title: Visualization of the interaction between the precursors of VPg, the viral protein linked to the genome of turnip mosaic virus, and the translation eukaryotic initiation factor iso 4E in Planta.
abstract: The RNA genome of Turnip mosaic virus is covalently linked at its 5' end to a viral protein known as VPg. This protein binds to the translation eukaryotic initiation factor iso 4E [eIF(iso)4E]. This interaction has been shown to be important for virus infection, although its exact biological function(s) has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the subcellular site of the VPg-eIF(iso)4E interaction using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). As a first step, eIF(iso)4E, 6K-VPg-Pro, and VPg-Pro were expressed as full-length green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana, and their subcellular localizations were visualized by confocal microscopy. eIF(iso)4E was predominantly associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and VPg-Pro was observed in the nucleus and possibly the nucleolus, while 6K-VPg-Pro-GFP induced the formation of cytoplasmic vesicles budding from the ER. In BiFC experiments, reconstituted green fluorescence was observed throughout the nucleus, with a preferential accumulation in subnuclear structures when the GFP split fragments were fused to VPg-Pro and eIF(iso)4E. On the other hand, the interaction of 6K-VPg-Pro with eIF(iso)4E was observed in cytoplasmic vesicles embedded in the ER. These data suggest that the association of VPg with the translation factor might be needed for two different functions, depending of the VPg precursor involved in the interaction. VPg-Pro interaction with eIF(iso)4E may be involved in perturbing normal cellular functions, while 6K-VPg-Pro interaction with the translation factor may be needed for viral RNA translation and/or replication.
authors.affiliation: Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, Canada H7V 1B7.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beauchemin
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boutet
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Laliberté
mesh_terms: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / Q000378:metabolism*; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D017800:Potyvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C511734:eIF(iso)4E protein, Arabidopsis; C102206:genome-linked viral protein, potato virus Y; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins