Cucumber mosaic virus coat protein induces the development of chlorotic symptoms through interacting with the chloroplast ferredoxin I protein

Abstract

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infection could induce mosaic symptoms on a wide-range of host plants. However, there is still limited information regarding the molecular mechanism underlying the development of the symptoms. In this study, the coat protein (CP) was confirmed as the symptom determinant by exchanging the CP between a chlorosis inducing CMV-M strain and a green-mosaic inducing CMV-Q strain. A yeast two-hybrid analysis and bimolecular fluorescence complementation revealed that the chloroplast ferredoxin I (Fd I) protein interacted with the CP of CMV-M both in vitro and in vivo, but not with the CP of CMV-Q. The severity of chlorosis was directly related to the expression of Fd1, that was down-regulated in CMV-M but not in CMV-Q. Moreover, the silencing of Fd I induced chlorosis symptoms that were similar to those elicited by CMV-M. Subsequent analyses indicated that the CP of CMV-M interacted with the precursor of Fd I in the cytoplasm and disrupted the transport of Fd I into chloroplasts, leading to the suppression of Fd I functions during a viral infection. Collectively, our findings accentuate that the interaction between the CP of CMV and Fd I is the primary determinant for the induction of chlorosis in tobacco.

Impaired Expression of Chloroplast HSP90C Chaperone Activates Plant Defense Responses with a Possible Link to a Disease-Symptom-Like Phenotype

“…Leaf chlorosis, the most frequently observed symptom, reduces plant productivity and thus leads to a significant loss in crop yield. Virus-induced chlorosis often accompanies the structural change and dysfunction of chloroplasts, including the reduction in chlorophyll content and the expression of photosynthetic genes [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of chloroplast dysfunction would lead us to the establishment of countermeasures against crop loss.…”

Peanut Stunt Virus and Its Satellite RNA Trigger Changes in Phosphorylation in N. benthamiana Infected Plants at the Early Stage of the Infection

“…However, in the presence of satRNA, more proteins with decreased levels were found, implying that this small particle presence contributes to changes in the plant metabolism during viral infection. Photosynthesis or other processes associated with chloroplasts were reported to be affected by numerous viruses including Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), PSV, or Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), suggesting a common phenomenon [ 11 , 12 , 48 , 49 ]. Usually, viruses decrease photosynthetic activity, but satRNA presence strengthens the down-regulating effect, which was shown in PSV-P and satRNA-infected N. benthamiana proteomic studies [ 12 ].…”

Transcriptome Analysis Shows Activation of Stress and Defense Responses by Silencing of Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Enzyme CHLI in Transgenic Tobacco

“…Reduced productivity along with significant yield loss are common features of chlorotic plants. Virus-induced chlorosis, represented by the distortion and dysfunction of chloroplasts, results from the reduced chlorophyll production and photosynthetic gene expression [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Although the major strategies for protecting plants from virus diseases comprise the use of resistant cultivars and the control of vector organisms, regulation of symptom development could contribute to alleviating crop loss.…”