Eureka lemon zinc finger protein ClDOF3.4 interacts with citrus yellow vein clearing virus coat protein to inhibit viral infection

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus(CYVCV)is a new citrus virus that has become an important factor restricting the development of China’s citrus industry,and the CYVCV coat protein(CP)is associated with viral pathogenicity.In this study,the Eureka lemon zinc finger protein(ZFP)ClDOF3.4 was shown to interact with CYVCV CP in vivo and in vitro.Transient expression of ClDOF3.4 in Eureka lemon induced the expression of salicylic acid(SA)-related and hypersensitive response marker genes,and triggered a reactive oxygen species burst,ion leakage necrosis,and the accumulation of free SA.Furthermore,the CYVCV titer in ClDOF3.4 transgenic Eureka lemon plants was approximately 69.4%that in control plants 6 mon after inoculation,with only mild leaf chlorotic spots observed in those transgenic plants.Taken together,the results indicate that ClDOF3.4 not only interacts with CP but also induces an immune response in Eureka lemon by inducing the SA pathways.This is the first report that ZFP is involved in the immune response of a citrus viral disease,which provides a basis for further study of the molecular mechanism of CYVCV infection.

线虫surface coat proteins提取方法的建立与双向电泳分析

目的:建立一套适用于蛋白质双向电泳体系的线虫surface coat proteins(SCPs)样品制备技术,为今后研究线虫surfacecoat蛋白质组学及线虫病理生理学奠定基础。方法:以秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)为研究材料,对比和分析不同的蛋白提取沉淀方法,进而采用SDS-PAGE电泳技术和双向电泳技术对所提蛋白进行评价。结果:通过35%乙醇结合TCA-丙酮沉淀法获得的质量较好的线虫SCPs,在12%的SDS-PAGE分析中该法提取的蛋白背景浅,蛋白条带多且清晰尖锐,含有丰富的蛋白信息量。通过双向电泳分析,可从提取的蛋白中鉴定出清晰蛋白点400多个。随机选择5个蛋白斑点,进行基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱鉴定,鉴定得到高度匹配的已知线虫蛋白质2个。结论:所建立的方法可为今后研究线虫surface coat蛋白质组学及线虫病理生理学提供重要工具。

P1 of strawberry vein banding virus, a multilocalized protein, functions as a movement protein and interacts with the coat protein

Although the complete nucleotide sequence of strawberry vein banding virus(SVBV) has been determined and bioinformatic analysis has revealed that the SVBV genome could encode seven proteins, the precise function of each protein is unclear. This study provided evidence that the P1 protein of SVBV(SVBV-P1) possesses the following features. Bioinformatic and subcellular localization analyses showed that SVBV-P1 is localized in the cytoplasm and cell walls of epidermal cells in Nicotiana benthamiana, and it forms inclusion bodies associated with microtubules and the endoplasmic reticulum. Dilution experiments demonstrated that SVBV-P1 could move from the original agro-infiltrated cells to adjacent cells in N. benthamiana leaves. Further trans-complementation experiments demonstrated that SVBV-P1 could facilitate the intercellular movement of a movement-deficient potato virus X mutant in N. benthamiana leaves. Finally, yeast twohybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays revealed that SVBV-P1 could interact with the SVBV coat protein, which is a major component of Caulimovirus virions. Results of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that SVBV-P1 lacks DNA-binding capability. In summary, the results suggest that SVBV-P1 is probably a movement protein of SVBV, providing new insights into the function of movement proteins of the Caulimovirus genus.

Transformation of Coat Protein Encoding Gene from Soil-Borne Mosaic Virus into Wheat

CWMV-CP1 target gene and bar selection gene were co-transferred into commercial wheat variety of Yangmai158 by particle bombardment. In total, 145 resistant plants to 3 -5 mg L-1 Bialaphos were obtained, 21 plants were identified to be positive in T0 generation by PCR-Southern test, and the transformation frequency had 0.99%. T1 plants were further tested by PCR and Southern hybridization. Results demonstrated that the alien resistance gene had been integrated into the wheat genome. The segregation ratio of CP1+ to CP1- in T1 generation was 1.0 to 1. 3, and didn't agree with Mendelian rule. RT-PCR result from T2 plants showed that the alien gene CWMV-CP1 had stable expression in wheat genetic background.

Mapping subgenomic promoter of coat protein gene of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus

Many plant viruses utilize subgenomic RNA as gene expression strategy, therefore mapping subgenomic promoter(SGP) is extremely important for constructing viral vectors. Although Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus(CGMMV)-based virus vectors have been constructed, SGP of the coat protein(CP) has not yet mapped. To this end, we firstly presumed 13 nucleotides upstream of the start codon as the transcription starting site(TSS) as previous study identified by random amplification of c DNA ends(RACE). Secondly, the region from nucleotides –110 to +175 is the putative CP SGP, as predicted, a long stem loop structure by the secondary structure of RNA covering movement protein(MP) and CP. To map the CGMMV CP SGP, we further constructed a series of deletion mutants according to RNA secondary structure prediction. The deletion of TSS upstream significantly enhanced CP transcription when 105 nucleotides were retained before the CP TSS. For the downstream of CP TSS, we analyzed the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) in a series of vectors with partial deletion of the CGMMV CP and found that the nucleotides from +71 to +91 played a key role in the EGFP expression at the transcription level, while EGFP showed the highest expression level when 160 nucleotides were retained downstream of the CP TSS. To confirm these results, we applied online software MEME to predict the motifs and cis-acting elements in the 466 nucleotides covering the sequences of deletion analysis. Conserved motifs and relative acting elements were in regions in which transcription levels were the highest or enhanced. To our best knowledge, this is the first mapping of CGMMV SGP.

Expression of Rice Gall Dwarf Virus Outer Coat Protein Gene (S8) in Insect Cells

To obtain the P8 protein of Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) with biological activity,its outer coat protein gene S8 was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells using the baculovirus expression system.The S8 gene was subcloned into the pFastBacTM1 vector,to produce the recombinant baculovirus transfer vector pFB-S8.After transformation,pFB-S8 was introduced into the competent cells (E.coli DH10Bac) containing a shuttle vector,Bacmid,generating the recombinant bacmid rbpFB-S8.After being infected by recombinant baculovirus rvpFB-S8 at different multiplicities of infection,Sf9 cells were collected at different times and analyzed by SDS-PAGE,Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy.The expression level of the P8 protein was highest between 48-72 h after transfection of Sf9 cells.Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that P8 protein of RGDV formed punctate structures in the cytoplasm of Sf9 cells.

Transgenic Tobacco Lines Expressing Yam Mosaic Virus Coat Protein-Derived dsRNA Are Resistant to Yam Mosaic Virus

Yam mosaic virus (YMV), a Potyvirus, is a highly destructive pathogen of yam accounting for yield losses up to 40%. Apart from causing significant reduction in tuber size and quality, it restricts international exchange of germplasms. It thus becomes crucial to get resistant or at least virus-free planting materials for farmers. This study was aimed at inducing resistance to YMV in tobacco by RNA silencing. An RNAi construct containing 161 bp fragment of YMV-coat protein (CP) gene was developed and used to produce transgenic tobacco lines expressing YMV-coat protein (CP) derived double stranded RNA (dsRNA) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Of the eight T1 transgenic lines inoculated with YMV, six (L1, L2, L3, L5, L7 and L8) showed immunity to YMV as no symptoms were detected, whereas two (L4 and L10) exhibited high resistance with mild symptoms limited to inoculation portions. No virus could be detected in uninoculated new leaves of the transgenic lines after RT-PCR and qPCR analyses of YMV-coat protein (CP). The presence of small interfering RNAs in transgenic lines after virus challenge indicates that the resistance was acquired through RNA silencing.

Application of M13 Phage Coat Proteins

M13 phage＇is a filamentous bacteriophage containing a circular single-stranded DNA molecular, which is surrounded by approximately 2 800 copies of protein PVIII. In addition, there are five copies of each of proteins PVII and PXI in one end, and five copies of each of proteins PVI and PUI on the other. These coat proteins have play an important role in the infection and assembly of M13 phage. With the development of phage display technology, these five coat proteins all can be used in phage display, which plays an increasingly important role in molecular detection and treatment.

Genetic Characteristics of <i>Citrus Tristeza Virus</i>Isolates from Cultivated Citrus in China Based on Coat Protein Gene

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is an important citrus pathogen causing considerable economic loss to citrus production. Knowledge on genetic evolutionary of the CTV population in China remains limited. In this study, 1439 samples were collected from nine citrus-producing areas of China. The coat protein (CP) genes of CTV were amplified by RT-PCR, and sequenced to analyze the genetic evolution. Analysis of the base composition showed an AU preference pattern, with the GC content was lower than AU content. Nine CTV populations were clustered into one clade in neighbor-joining (NJ) tree, indicative of a close phylogenetic relationship among the populations in China. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) revealed that 77.72% genetic variations of CTV populations were observed among populations, with an FST value of 0.223. The values of dN/dS and neutrality test of CP gene were ranged from 0.016 to 0.082 and -1.377 to 1.456, respectively, the results suggesting that all of nine CTV populations were relatively constantly maintained under purifying selection. Our study demonstrated the genetic characteristics and molecular evolution relationship of CTV populations in China, and provided a theoretical basis for scientific control of CTV.

Sweet Potato Leaf Curl Virus: Coat Protein Gene Expression in <i>Escherichia coli</i>and Product Identification by Mass Spectrometry

Sweet potato is one of the first natural GMOs, genetically modified 8000 years ago by Agrobacterium rhizogenes as reported recently by Kyndt et al. A section of 10 kbp long DNA (Transferred- DNA or T-DNA) of the Ri (Root-inducing) plasmid was transferred to the plant genome by A. rhizo-genes and has been maintained in all 291 hexaploid sweet potato cultivars of the world. The maintenance in the sweet potato genome and expression of two T-DNA genes for tryptophan-2-monooxygenease (iaaM) and for indole-3-acetamide hydrolase (iaaH) are likely to be physiologically significant since these enzymes convert tryptophan to indole-3-acetic acid, a major plant growth hormone auxin. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is ranked the third most important root crop after potato and cassava, and the seventh in global food crop production with more than 126 million metric tons. Although sweet potato originated in Central or South America, China currently produces over 86% of world production with 109 million metric tons. In the United States, North Carolina is the leading producer with 38.5% of the 2007 sweet potato production, followed by California, Mississippi, and Louisiana with 23%, 19%, and 15.9%, respectively. Leaf curl virus diseases have been reported in sweet potato throughout the world. One of the causal agents is Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) belonging to the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae). Although SPLCV does not cause symptoms on Beauregard, one of the most predominant sweet potato cultivars in the US, it can reduce the yield up to 26%. Serological detection of SPLCV is not currently available due to the difficulties in obtaining purified virions that can be used as antigen for antiserum production. In attempts to obtain the coat protein (CP) of SPLCV for antibody production, primers were designed to amplify the CP gene. This gene was cloned into the expression vector pMAL-c2E as a fusion protein with maltose-binding protein, and transformed into Escherichia coli strain XL1-Blue. After gene induction, a fusion protein of 72 kDa was purified by amylose affinity chromatography. The yield of the purified fusion protein was approximately 200 μg/liter of bacterial culture. Digestion with enterokinase cleaved the fusion protein into a 42.5 kDa maltosebinding protein and a 29.4 kDa protein. The latter protein was identified by mass spectrometry analysis as the coat protein of SPLCV based on the fact that the mass spectrometry elucidated the sequences corresponding to 37% of amino acid positions of the SPLCV coat protein.

Coat protein of rice stripe virus enhances autophagy activity through interaction with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases,a negative regulator of plant autophagy

Viral infection commonly induces autophagy,leading to antiviral responses or conversely,promoting viral infection or replication.In this study,using the experimental plant Nicotiana benthamiana,we demonstrated that the rice stripe virus(RSV)coat protein(CP)enhanced autophagic activity through interaction with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2(GAPC2),a negative regulator of plant autophagy that binds to an autophagy key factor,autophagy-related protein 3(ATG3).Competitive pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)assays showed that RSV CP activated autophagy by disrupting the interaction between GAPC2 and ATG3.An RSV CP mutant that was unable to bind GAPC2 failed to disrupt the interaction between GAPC2 and ATG3 and therefore lost its ability to induce autophagy.RSV CP enhanced the autophagic degradation of a viral movement protein(MP)encoded by a heterologous virus,citrus leaf blotch virus(CLBV).However,the autophagic degradation of RSV-encoded MP and RNA-silencing suppressor(NS3)proteins was inhibited in the presence of CP,suggesting that RSV CP can protect MP and NS3 against autophagic degradation.Moreover,in the presence of MP,RSV CP could induce the autophagic degradation of a remorin protein(NbREM1),which negatively regulates RSV infection through the inhibition of viral cell-to-cell movement.Overall,our results suggest that RSV CP induces a selective autophagy to suppress the antiviral factors while protecting RSV-encoded viral proteins against autophagic degradation through an as-yet-unknown mechanism.This study showed that RSV CP plays dual roles in the autophagy-related interaction between plants and viruses.

Coat protein of Chinese wheat mosaic virus upregulates and interacts with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,a negative regulator of plant autophagy,to promote virus infection

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation mechanism involved in antiviral defense,but the strategies employed by plant viruses to counteract autophagy-related defense remain unknown for the majority of the viruses.Herein,we describe how the Chinese wheat mosaic virus(CWMV,genus Furovirus)interferes with autophagy and enhances its infection in Nicotiana benthamiana.Yeast two-hybrid screening and in vivo/in vitro assays revealed that the 19 k Da coat protein(CP19 K)of CWMV interacts with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases(GAPCs),negative regulators of autophagy,which bind autophagy-related protein 3(ATG3),a key factor in autophagy.CP19 K also directly interacts with ATG3,possibly leading to the formation of a CP19 K–GAPC–ATG3 complex.CP19 K–GAPC interaction appeared to intensify CP19 K–ATG3 binding.Moreover,CP19 K expression upregulated GAPC gene transcripts and reduced autophagic activities.Accordingly,the silencing of GAPC genes in transgenic N.benthamiana reduced CWMV accumulation,whereas CP19 K overexpression enhanced it.Overall,our results suggest that CWMV CP19 K interferes with autophagy through the promotion and utilization of the GAPC role as a negative regulator of autophagy.

Variation in the Coat Protein Gene of Papaya ringspot Virus Isolates from Multiple Locations of China

The potyvirus Papaya ringspot virus （PRSV） is an important pathogen of papaya that causes severe losses in economic crops for papaya production globally. The coat protein （CP） genes of five PRSV isolates originating from different locations in China were cloned and sequenced. The CP-coding region varied in size from 864-873 nucleotides, encoding proteins of 288-291 amino acids. The five Chinese isolates of PRSV have been characterized as papaya-infecting （PRSV-P）. The CP sequences of the Chinese isolates were compared with those of previously published PRSV isolates originating from different countries at amino acid levels. A number of KE repeat boxes in the N terminus of the PRSV-CP were found in all Chinese isolates. The phylogenetic branching pattern revealed that there was certain extended grouping between geographic locations, and the Asian type probably represents the oldest population of PRSV. The information of CP genes will be useful in designing and developing durable virus resistant-PRSV transgenic papaya in China. Meanwhile broad-spectrum-virus resistant, strongly resistant-PRSV and good safe papaya lines are required.

Cloning and expression of the Chinese wheat mosaic virus RNA2 coat protein read-through and 19 ku cysteine-rich domains and localization of these proteins

The 5’-terminal (RTn) and 3’-terminal (RTc) halves of the coat protein readthrough domain and the 19 ku cysteine-rich protein of Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV) were amplified by RT-PCR, cloned and expressed in E. coll. Antisera and monoclonal antibodies against these proteins were prepared by immunising these purified proteins to mice. Detection of RTn, RTc and 19 ku proteins in CWMV infected wheat sap and leaf tissue indicated that the RTn and RTc proteins were distributed on the surface of virus particles whereas the 19 ku protein was in the cytoplasm of the infected wheat cells.

TURNIP MOSAIC VIRUS COAT PROTEIN GENE: CLONING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT VECTOR

Complementary DNAs to turnip mosaic virus (a radish Raphanus stativus isolate) genomicRNA were synthesized using oligo (dT) as primer and cloned into the vector λ-ZAP Ⅱ. Afterhybridization with a single-stranded cDNA probe and the sequencing of inserted DNA,positive clones with poly--A tails were obtained. One clone containing 1429-base pair insertwas sequenced. The coat protein gene was identified based on the molecular weight of theTuMV coat protein and the consensus sequences of the polyprotein processing sites ofpotyviruses. The 5’ end of the coat protein gene was modified by PCR to introduce aninitiation codon, ATG, and two restriction enzyme sites. The gene was then manipulatedinto a binary vector pBIN437 which was derived from pBI121, and the plant expressionvector is being used to transform Brassica napus.

Silencing of potato virus X coat protein gene in transgenic tobaccos by codon replacement that confers resistance to PVX infection

To understand the effect of rare codon on the silencing ratio of foreign gene, some preferred codon in potato virus X (PVX) coat protein gene (cp) were substituted with synonymous rare codons. The modified PVX coat protein gene (cpm) and wild-type cp gene (cpw) were inserted into binary vector under the control of CaMV35S promoter, and these two plant expression constructs were transferred into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) genomes via Agrobacterium mediated method and transgenic plants were generated. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from these plants showed that the silencing ratio of cpm gene in transgenic tobaccos was higher than that of cpw (35% and 6.25% respectively). Run on results indicate that the silencing of cp gene happened at post-transcriptional level. The resistance of transgenic tobaccos carrying cpm genes to PVX is increased compared with that of transformants carrying cpw genes. These results suggest that the resistance of transgenic tobacco to PVX can be enhanced by codon replacement.

THE STUDY OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF RICE STRIPE VIRUS (Ⅰ)——MOLECULAR WEIGHT, AMINO ACID COMPOSITION AND PROPERTY OF COAT PROTEIN

Rice stripe virus (RSV)causes rice stripe disease which is one of the main damages to rice. The virus is transmitted by Laodelphax striatellus and three other plant hoppers. It infects 37 cereals including rice, wheat and maize, and results in a significant reduction of pro-

STUDY ON MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF RICE STRIPE VIRUS (Ⅱ)——SYNTHESIS, CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF COAT PROTEIN GENE

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONRice stripe disease is one of the main diseases to rice. Its pathogeny is rice stripe virus (called RSV for short). RSV can damage 37 species of gramineal crops, such as rice, wheat and corn, and decrease the yield seriously. In 1975 Koganezawa first reported that RSV possessed the branched filamentous particle. Then a series of papers was

cDNA CLONING OF GENE ENCODING COAT PROTEIN OF CMV INFECTING TO BACCO PLANTS IN CHINA

In recent years, the rapid development of techniques in plant genetic engineering has provided a new way for breeding virus-resistance plants. Powell et al. constructed the cDNA gene encoding the coat protein(CP)of tobacco mosaic virus(TMV)under the control of a plant constitutive promoter and transferred it into tobacco cells. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing TMV coat protein gene showed the resistance or delaying of disease symptom development. Subsequently, the same method was successfully used for some other viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus(CMV), alfalfa mosaic virus(ALMV), potato virus X(PVX)and potato virus Y(PVY).

Capillary Zone Electrophoretic Separation of Basic Proteins with Coated Columns Prepared by Sol-Gel Technology

Coated capillary columns were prepared by sol-gel technology and used in the separation of basic proteins with capillary zone electrophoresis. The results indicated that a significant decrease in protein adsorption was obtained and EOF was also diminished to zero in the pH range of 3-10.