Plant viruses and biomolecular condensates: novel perspectives in virus replication strategies

Abstract

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, membraneless, cellular compartments formed by the reversible assembly of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules (Hyman et al., 2014). The functions of these condensates in cellular processes have been extensively studied in mammalian systems (Yoshizawa et al., 2020), but similar studies in plants have traditionally lagged far behind. However, in the past c. 5 years, a flurry of research in plants has revealed that biomolecular condensates play crucial roles in cellular organization and functions. These functions are wide-ranging and include flowering, stress responses, RNA processing, and DNA damage, among others (Liu et al., 2024). Like cellular proteins, viral proteins can form condensates during infection, contributing significantly to virus replication cycles. While the functions of biomolecular condensates formed by viral pathogens in mammals are well-documented (Zhang et al., 2023), our understanding of the functions of condensates formed by plant viruses is limited. In an article published in this issue of New Phytologist, Lin & Nagy (2024; 1917-1935 demonstrate that biomolecular condensates formed during Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV, Tombusviridae family) infection sequester glycolytic enzymes and increase local adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations for virus replication. These findings advance our understanding of the pro-viral roles of biomolecular condensates, broadening possibilities for how plant viruses concentrate biomolecules beyond traditional membrane-bound virus inclusions formed during infection.