title: eIF4E Resistance: Natural Variation Should Guide Gene Editing.
abstract: eIF4E translation initiation factors have emerged as major susceptibility factors for RNA viruses. Natural eIF4E-based resistance alleles are found in many species and are mostly variants that maintain the translation function of the protein. eIF4E genes represent major targets for engineering viral resistance, and gene-editing technologies can be used to make up for the lack of natural resistance alleles in some crops, often by knocking out eIF4E susceptibility factors. However, we report here how redundancy among eIF4E genes can restrict the efficient use of knockout alleles in breeding. We therefore discuss how gene-editing technologies can be used to design de novo functional alleles, using knowledge about the natural evolution of eIF4E genes in different species, to drive resistance to viruses without affecting plant physiology.
authors.affiliation: GAFL, INRA, 84140, Montfavet, France; Aix Marseille University, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales UMR 7265, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille F-13009, France; CNRS, UMR 7265 Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Marseille F-13009, France; CEA, Bioscience and Biotechnology Institute of Aix-Marseille, Marseille F-13009, France.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bastet
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales UMR 7265, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille F-13009, France; CNRS, UMR 7265 Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Marseille F-13009, France; CEA, Bioscience and Biotechnology Institute of Aix-Marseille, Marseille F-13009, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robaglia
authors.affiliation: GAFL, INRA, 84140, Montfavet, France. Electronic address: jean-luc.gallois@inra.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gallois
mesh_terms: D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072669:Gene Editing; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D057865:Plant Immunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E