Formation of virions is strictly required for turnip yellows virus long-distance movement in plants.
Viral genomic RNA of the Turnip yellows virus (TuYV; genus Polerovirus; family Luteoviridae) is protected in virions formed by the major capsid protein (CP) and the minor component, the readthrough (RT*) protein. Long-distance transport, used commonly by viruses to systemically infect host plants, occurs in phloem sieve elements and two viral forms of transport have been described: virions and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. With regard to poleroviruses, virions have always been presumed to be the long-distance transport form, but the potential role of RNP complexes has not been investigated. Here, we examined the requirement of virions for polerovirus systemic movement by analysing CP-targeted mutants that were unable to form viral particles. We confirmed that TuYV mutants that cannot encapsidate into virions are not able to reach systemic leaves. To completely discard the possibility that the introduced mutations in CP simply blocked the formation or the movement of RNP complexes, we tested in trans complementation of TuYV CP mutants by providing WT CP expressed in transgenic plants. WT CP was able to facilitate systemic movement of TuYV CP mutants and this observation was always correlated with the formation of virions. This demonstrated clearly that virus particles are essential for polerovirus systemic movement.
UMR INRA-UDS Virus-Vection Group, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68021 Colmar, France.
Clémence
C
Hipper
UMR INRA-UDS Virus-Vection Group, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68021 Colmar, France.
Baptiste
B
Monsion
CNRS, IBMP, UPR 2357, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
Diane
D
Bortolamiol-Bécet
CNRS, IBMP, UPR 2357, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
Véronique
V
Ziegler-Graff
UMR INRA-UDS Virus-Vection Group, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68021 Colmar, France.
Véronique
V
Brault
D029688:Brassica napus / Q000821:virology; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D052679:Luteoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly