Amino acid sequence motifs essential for P0-mediated suppression of RNA silencing in an isolate of potato leafroll virus from Inner Mongolia

Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 2014 Jun;27(6):515-27. doi: 10.1094/MPMI-08-13-0231-R.

Abstract

Polerovirus P0 suppressors of host gene silencing contain a consensus F-box-like motif with Leu/Pro (L/P) requirements for suppressor activity. The Inner Mongolian Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) P0 protein (P0(PL-IM)) has an unusual F-box-like motif that contains a Trp/Gly (W/G) sequence and an additional GW/WG-like motif (G139/W140/G141) that is lacking in other P0 proteins. We used Agrobacterium infiltration-mediated RNA silencing assays to establish that P0(PL-IM) has a strong suppressor activity. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that the P0(PL-IM) F-box-like motif encompasses amino acids 76-LPRHLHYECLEWGLLCG THP-95, and that the suppressor activity is abolished by L76A, W87A, or G88A substitution. The suppressor activity is also weakened substantially by mutations within the G139/W140/G141 region and is eliminated by a mutation (F220R) in a C-terminal conserved sequence of P0(PL-IM). As has been observed with other P0 proteins, P0(PL-IM) suppression is correlated with reduced accumulation of the host AGO1-silencing complex protein. However, P0(PL-IM) fails to bind SKP1, which functions in a proteasome pathway that may be involved in AGO1 degradation. These results suggest that P0(PL-IM) may suppress RNA silencing by using an alternative pathway to target AGO1 for degradation. Our results help improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PLRV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • China
  • Conserved Sequence
  • F-Box Motifs
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Luteoviridae / genetics
  • Luteoviridae / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / virology*
  • Plant Diseases / virology*
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / virology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Solanum tuberosum / virology*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Argonaute Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Viral Proteins