Plant viral suppressors of RNA silencing

Virus Res. 2004 Jun 1;102(1):97-108. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2004.01.020.

Abstract

RNA silencing is an ancient eukaryotic pathway in which double stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers destruction of related RNAs in the cell. Early studies in plants pointed to a role for this pathway as a defense against viruses. Most known plant viruses have RNA genomes and replicate via dsRNA intermediates, thereby serving as potent inducers of RNA silencing early in replication and as silencing targets later in infection. Because RNA silencing is an antiviral mechanism, it is not surprising that many plant viruses encode suppressors of RNA silencing. This review focuses on the currently known plant virus encoded suppressors of silencing and the functional assays used to identify these proteins. Because they interfere with silencing at different points in the pathway, these viral suppressors are powerful tools to help unravel the mechanism of RNA silencing in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / physiology
  • Plant Viruses / genetics
  • Plant Viruses / physiology*
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / virology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Potexvirus / genetics
  • Potexvirus / physiology
  • RNA Interference*
  • Tombusvirus / genetics
  • Tombusvirus / physiology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • 2b protein, cucumber mosaic virus
  • Viral Proteins
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • HC-Pro protein, potyvirus