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RNA viruses encode various RNA binding proteins that function in many steps of viral infection cycles. These proteins function as RNA helicases, methyltransferases, RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, RNA silencing suppressors, RNA chaperones, movement proteins, and so on. Although many of the proteins bind the viral RNA genome during different stages of infection, our knowledge about the coordination of their functions is limited. In this study, we describe a novel role for the Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) γb as an enhancer of αa RNA helicase activity, and we show that the γb protein is recruited by the αa viral replication protein to chloroplast membrane sites of BSMV replication. Mutagenesis or deletion of γb from BSMV resulted in reduced positive strand (+) RNAα accumulation, but γb mutations abolishing viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) activity did not completely eliminate genomic RNA replication. In addition, cis- or trans-expression of the Tomato bushy stunt virus p19 VSR protein failed to complement the γb replication functions, indicating that the direct involvement of γb in BSMV RNA replication is independent of VSR functions. These data support a model whereby two BSMV-encoded RNA-binding proteins act coordinately to regulate viral genome replication and provide new insights into strategies whereby double-stranded viral RNA unwinding is regulated, as well as formation of viral replication complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), encodes either four or five plus-sense single stranded RNAs and is the causal agent of sugar beet rhizomania disease, which is widely distributed in most regions of the world. BNYVV can also infect Nicotiana benthamiana systemically, and causes severe curling and stunting symptoms in the presence of RNA4 or mild symptoms in the absence of RNA4. Results: Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analyses showed that the RNA4-encoded p31 protein fused to the red fluorescent protein (RFP) accumulated mainly in the nuclei of N. benthamiana epidermal cells. This suggested that severe RNA4-induced symptoms might result from p31-dependent modifications of the transcriptome. Therefore, we used next-generation sequencing technologies to analyze the transcriptome profile of N. benthamiana in response to infection with different isolates of BNYVV. Comparisons of the transcriptomes of mock, BN3 (RNAs 1+2+3), and BN34 (RNAs 1+2+3+4) infected plants identified 3,016 differentially expressed transcripts, which provided a list of candidate genes that potentially are elicited in response to virus infection. Our data indicate that modifications in the expression of genes involved in RNA silencing, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, cellulose synthesis, and metabolism of the plant hormone gibberellin may contribute to the severe symptoms induced by RNA4 from BNYVV. Conclusions: These results expand our understanding of the genetic architecture of N. benthamiana as well as provide valuable clues to identify genes potentially involved in resistance to BNYVV infection. Our global survey of gene expression changes in infected plants reveals new insights into the complicated molecular mechanisms underlying symptom development, and aids research into new strategies to protect crops against viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a full-length infectious cDNA clone, gene modifications of Tobacco necrosis virus A Chinese isolate (TNV-Ac) were made by site-directed mutagenesis or nucleotide deletions for in vitro transcription of mutant viral RNAs. Mechanical inoculations of Chenopodium amaranticolor with in vitro transcripts, containing a single nucleic acid substitution at the presumed transcriptional start sites for the two subgenomic (sg) RNAs, showed that the sgRNA1 and sgRNA2 of TNV-Ac were initiated at G2184 or C2460, respectively. Mutagenesis of the translational initiation-codons for the open-reading frame (ORF) P8 or P6 encoded by sgRNA1 indicated that each of the two genes was essential for formation of local lesions on C. amaranticolor leaves, perhaps by blocking virus cell-to-cell movement, but were not necessary for viral RNA replication in the protoplast of tobacco cell BY-2. Results of prokaryotic expression showed that the ORF coding for coat protein on TNV-Ac sgRNA2 was initiatively translated by the first AUG codon at nucleotides 2612-261 4. Site-directed mutation of translational start codons, and deletion of the entire coding region, showed that the intact TNV-Ac coat protein was dispensable for establishment of TNV-Ac infection in C. amaranticolor, otherwise the numbers of local lesions and the viral RNA accumulation level were reduced, or the time to symptom appearance significantly delayed. These results suggested that the nucleotide sequence around the translational start codon coding for TNV-Ac coat protein gene may play an important role in the local symptoms. Aspects of the involvement of the coat protein in the TNV-Ac life cycle were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Plant viruses show significant potential as expression vectors for producing foreign proteins in plants. In this study, codon-optimized VP6 gene (sVP6) of human rotavirus was engineered as a replacement to the coat protein (CP) open reading frame of Beet black scorch virus (BBSV). In vitro-generated RNA transcripts corresponding to the engineered virus were infectious when inoculated onto the leaves of Chenopodium amaranticolor. Molecular analysis revealed that sVP6 was efficiently expressed and accounted for 0.25% of the total soluble protein (TSP) in plant leaves on 7dpi. On average, a high level 1.54μg of sVP6 was expressed in each gram of infected leaves. Oral immunization of female BALB/c mice with the plant-based sVP6 protein induced high titers of anti-VP6 mucosal IgA and serum IgG. 60% of suckling pups born from immunized dams were protected against the virulent rotavirus challenge and those infected pups developed less severe diarrhea. These results suggested that it is feasible to induce lactogenic immunity against an enteric pathogen through oral vaccination, by using the antigen produced in a new BBSV-based plant protein expression system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]