The inhibition of cowpea mosaic virus replication by actinomycin D

Expression of Middle-Component RNA of Cowpea Mosaic Virus: In Vitro Generation of a Precursor to Both Capsid Proteins by a Bottom-Component RNA-Encoded Protease from Infected Cells

The expression of the middle-component (M) RNA of cowpea mosaic virus was studied by means of in vitro translation. In both the wheat germ extract and the rabbit reticulocyte lysate, M RNA was translated into two overlapping polypeptides of 95 and 105 kilodaltons. Incubation of these polypeptides with 30,000 x g supernatant fractions from cowpea mesophyll protoplasts inoculated with complete virus or with separate bottom (B) components alone resulted in extensive processing, yielding polypeptides of 60, 58, 48, and 47 kilodaltons. Similar proteolytic activity was found associated with the in vitro translation products from the bottom-component RNA, demonstrating that the protease present in infected cells is encoded by B RNA. Using antisera raised against the separate capsid proteins VP23 and VP37, it was shown that the 60-kilodalton cleavage product is the precursor to both capsid proteins. Cleavage of nascent 95- and 105- kilodalton polypeptides by the in vivo protease demonstrated that this capsid protein precursor is located C terminally within both polypeptides and that the synthesis of these two overlapping polypeptides is the result of two initiation sites on middle-component RNA. In addition, a second virus-induced proteolytic activity, capable of releasing VP23 from the 95- and 105-kilodalton polypeptides, was detected in leaves of infected plants, but not in infected mesophyll protoplasts. A model for the expression of the middle-component RNA is presented.

The Arabidopsis kinase-associated protein phosphatase controls internalization of the somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 1

The AtSERK1 protein is a plasma membrane-located LRR receptor-like serine threonine kinase that is transiently expressed during plant embryogenesis. Our results show that AtSERK1 interacts with the kinase-associated protein phosphatase (KAPP) in vitro. The kinase interaction (KI) domain of KAPP does not interact with a catalytically inactive kinase mutant. Using mutant AtSERK1 proteins in which Thr 462, Thr 463, and Thr 468 in the A-loop of the AtSERK1 kinase domain were replaced by alanines, we show that phosphorylation status of the receptor is involved in interaction with KAPP. KAPP and AtSERK1 cDNAs were fused to two different variants of green fluorescent protein (GFP), the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) or the cyan fluorescent protein (CFP). Both KAPP and AtSERK1 proteins are found at the plasma membrane. Our results show that AtSERK1-CFP becomes sequestered into intracellular vesicles when transiently coexpressed with KAPP-YFP proteins. AtSERK1(T463A)-CFP and AtSERK1(3T-->A)-CFP proteins were partially sequestered intracellularly in the absence of KAPP-YFP protein, suggesting an active role for KAPP dephosphorylation of threonine residues in the AtSERK1 A-loop in receptor internalization. The interaction between the KAPP-CFP/YFP and AtSERK1-CFP/YFP fusion proteins was investigated with fluorescence spectral imaging microscopy (FSPIM). Our results show that AtSERK1-CFP and KAPP-YFP proteins are colocalized at the plasma membrane but only show fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) indicative of physical interaction in intracellular vesicles. These results suggest that KAPP is an integral part of the AtSERK1 endocytosis mechanism.

Characterization of plant proteins that interact with cowpea mosaic virus '60K' protein in the yeast two-hybrid system

Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) replication occurs in close association with small membranous vesicles in the host cell. The CPMV RNA1-encoded 60 kDa nucleotide-binding protein ('60K') plays a role in the formation of these vesicles. In this study, five cellular proteins were identified that interacted with different domains of 60K using a yeast two-hybrid search of an Arabidopsis cDNA library. Two of these host proteins (termed VAP27-1 and VAP27-2), with high homology to the VAP33 family of SNARE-like proteins from animals, interacted specifically with the C-terminal domain of 60K and upon transient expression colocalized with 60K in CPMV-infected cowpea protoplasts. eEF1-beta, picked up using the central domain of 60K, was also found to colocalize with 60K. The possible role of these host proteins in the viral replicative cycle is discussed.

Subcellular localization and oligomerization of the Arabidopsis thaliana somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 1 protein

The Arabidopsis thaliana somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 1 (AtSERK1) gene is expressed in developing ovules and early embryos. AtSERK1 is also transiently expressed during somatic embryogenesis. The predicted AtSERK1 protein contains an extracellular domain with a leucine zipper motif followed by five leucine-rich repeats, a proline-rich region, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular kinase domain. The AtSERK1 cDNA was fused to two different variants of green fluorescent protein (GFP), a yellow-emitting GFP (YFP) and a cyan-emitting GFP (CFP), and transiently expressed in both plant protoplasts and insect cells. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy it was determined that the AtSERK1-YFP fusion protein is targeted to plasma membranes in both plant and animal cells. The extracellular leucine-rich repeats, and in particular the N-linked oligosaccharides that are present on them appear to be essential for correct localization of the AtSERK1-YFP protein. The potential for dimerization of the AtSERK1 protein was investigated by measuring the YFP/CFP fluorescence emission ratio using fluorescence spectral imaging microscopy. This ratio will increase due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer if the AtSERK1-CFP and AtSERK1-YFP fusion proteins interact. In 15 % of the cells the YFP/CFP emission ratio for plasma membrane localized AtSERK1 proteins was enhanced. Yeast-protein interaction experiments confirmed the possibility for AtSERK1 homodimerization. Elimination of the extracellular leucine zipper domain reduced the YFP/CFP emission ratio to control levels indicating that without the leucine zipper domain AtSERK1 is monomeric.

Studies on hybrid comoviruses reveal the importance of three-dimensional structure for processing of the viral coat proteins and show that the specificity of cleavage is greater in trans than in cis

A series of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV)-based hybrid comoviral RNA-2 molecules have been constructed. In these, the region encoding both the large (L) and small (S) viral coat proteins was replaced by the equivalent region from bean pod mottle virus (BPMV). The hybrid RNA-2 molecules were able to replicate in cowpea protoplasts in the presence of CPMV RNA-1. Though processing of the hybrid polyproteins by the CPMV-specific 24K proteinase at the site between the 58/48K and L proteins could readily be achieved, no processing at the site between the L and S coat proteins could be obtained even when the sequence of amino acids between the two coat proteins was made CPMV-like. As a result, none of the hybrids was able to form functional virus particles, and they could not infect cowpea plants. Comparison with the processing of the L-S site in cis in reticulocyte lysates demonstrated that the requirements for processing are more stringent in trans than in cis. The results suggest that the L-S cleavage site is defined by more than just a linear sequence of amino acids and probably involves interactions between the L-S loop and the beta barrels of the viral coat proteins.

Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (genus Nanovirus) requires a helper factor for its aphid transmission

Purified faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV; genus Nanovirus) alone is not transmissible by its aphid vector, Acyrthosiphon pisum, regardless of whether it is acquired from artificial diets or directly microinjected into the aphid's hemocoel. The purified virus contains all of the genetic information required for its infection cycle as it readily replicated in cowpea protoplasts and systemically infected Vicia faba seedlings that were biolistically inoculated using gold particles coated with intact virions or viral DNA. The bombarded plants not only developed the typical disease syndrome, thus indicating that FBNYV is the sole causal agent of the disease, but also served as a source from which the virus was readily acquired and transmitted by A. pisum. The defect of the purified virus in aphid transmissibility suggests that FBNYV requires a helper factor (HF) for its vector transmission that is either nonfunctional or absent in purified virus suspensions. The requirement for an HF was confirmed in complementation experiments using two distinct isolates of the virus. These experiments revealed that aphids transmitted the purified virus isolate from artificial diets only when they had fed previously on plants infected with the other FBNYV isolate. Also, microinjected FBNYV, which persisted to the same extent in A. pisum as naturally acquired virus, was transmissible when aphids had acquired the HF from infected plants. This suggests that one of the functions of the HF in the transmission process is to facilitate virus transport across the hemocoel-salivary gland interface.

The cowpea mosaic virus M RNA-encoded 48-kilodalton protein is responsible for induction of tubular structures in protoplasts

Tubular structures extending from plasmodesmata in cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV)-infected tissue have been implicated to play an important role in cell-to-cell movement of this virus. Using a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter-based transient expression vector, we show that expression of only the CPMV M RNA-encoded 48-kDa protein (48K protein) in cowpea protoplasts is sufficient to induce these structures. Strikingly, expression of the 48K protein in protoplasts from a number of nonhost plant species, such as barley, Arabidopsis thaliana, and carrot, also resulted in tubular structure formation. Thus, it is not likely that the viral 48K protein, though playing a key role in cell-to-cell movement of CPMV, has a role in determining the host range of CPMV.

VPg Northern-immunoblots as a means for detection of viral RNAs in protoplasts or plants infected with grapevine fanleaf nepovirus

Anti-genome-linked viral protein (anti-VPg) antibodies were produced from a synthetic peptide corresponding to the integral VPg sequence of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus-F13. These antibodies allowed detection of viral VPg-linked proteins which occur during the processing of viral polyproteins and of viral RNAs in total RNA extracts from infected protoplasts or plants after Northern blotting. These highly specific antibodies recognised RNAs from two grapevine fanleaf virus strains but not from arabis mosaic virus.

Synthesis of full-length transcripts of beet western yellows virus RNA: messenger properties and biological activity in protoplasts

Full-length cDNA of beet western yellows virus genomic RNA has been cloned behind the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter of the transcription vector BS(-). The in vitro run-off transcription product obtained in the presence of T7 RNA polymerase and m7GpppG cap has the same messenger properties as natural viral RNA in in vitro translation systems. The full-length transcript was also able to infect Chenopodium quinoa protoplasts inoculated by electroporation. Infection could be followed by the appearance of viral coat protein in the inoculated protoplasts and the de novo synthesis of viral RNA. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that expression of beet western yellows virus open reading frame 1 and the C-terminal portion of open reading frame 6 were not required for infection of protoplasts. Additional experiments with these mutants and mutants in the other viral open reading frames should provide information concerning the requirements for beet western yellows virus replication and, ultimately, the role of virus genes in other important steps in the virus infection cycle, such as aphid transmission.

A general method for the detection of potyviral gene products in plant protoplasts and tissue

A rapid immunostaining procedure for detecting potyviral antigens in individual protoplasts, isolated mesophyll cells, and epidermal strips of Nicotiana tabacum is described. Although all specific antibodies tested detected potyviral antigens in electroporated protoplasts, those against cytoplasmic inclusion (CI) protein provided the most useful results. The number of protoplasts reacting with anti-CI increased with time after inoculation, roughly in parallel with the accumulation of capsid protein, which was measured independently by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Potyviral gene products were also detected in epidermal strips and mesophyll cells separated from systemically infected leaves, indicating that the immunostaining method is generally applicable and that it may prove useful for studying the movement of potyviruses from cell to cell in intact plants.

The expression of the TMV-specific 30-kDa protein in tobacco protoplasts is strongly and selectively enhanced by actinomycin

The TMV-encoded 30-kDa protein has been implicated in the cell-to-cell transport of TMV in the infected plant. The polyethylene glycol-mediated inoculation of tobacco protoplasts with TMV particles and TMV RNA was used to compare the time courses of the viral 30-kDa protein synthesis in vivo. Upon infection of protoplasts with TMV RNA, the synthesis of the viral 30-kDa protein starts after 4 to 6 hr, has its maximum after 8 to 10 hr, and decreases. After inoculation of protoplasts with TMV, however, the start of the viral 30-kDa protein synthesis and its maximum are delayed by 2 hr, followed by the same decrease. We show that actinomycin D dramatically stimulates the synthesis of the 30-kDa protein by up to 2 orders of magnitude, whereas the synthesis of the viral 126 kDa, the 183 kDa, and the coat protein is increased only by a factor of 2. Surprisingly, actinomycin V is twice as active as actinomycin D, whereas actinomycin I is nearly inactive. The specific stimulation of the 30-kDa synthesis by actinomycin D in vivo depends neither on the Nicotiana variety nor on the TMV strain used. Final evidence that the 30-kDa protein is truly TMV-derived is provided by the slightly different electrophoretic mobilities of the 30-kDa proteins encoded by TMV strains vulgare, dahlemense, and U2. The identification of the 30-kDa protein in two-dimensional gels was achieved for the first time by a combination of ionic and nonionic detergents for the solubilization of the 30-kDa protein and by the specific stimulation of its synthesis by actinomycin D. The mechanism of the strong and selective actinomycin effect on the viral 30-kDa protein synthesis in vivo is as yet obscure. Actinomycin does not appear to act directly on viral protein biosynthesis, since it neither stimulates the 30-kDa synthesis upon translation of TMV RNA in vitro nor alters the ratio of the products. Actinomycin may rather act by inhibiting selectively the synthesis of a host factor whose synthesis starts at least 4 hr after TMV infection and which strongly inhibits the expression of the viral 30-kDa transport protein.

Infectious RNA transcripts derived from full-length DNA copies of the genomic RNAs of cowpea mosaic virus

A set of full-length DNA copies of both M and B RNA of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) was cloned downstream of a phage T7 promoter. Upon in vitro transcription using T7 RNA polymerase, M and B RNA-like transcripts were obtained from these DNA copies with only two additional nucleotides at the 5' end and five extra nucleotides at the 3' end in comparison to natural viral RNA. In cowpea protoplasts the transcripts of several cDNA clones of B RNA were able to replicate leading to detectable synthesis of viral RNA and proteins. Transcripts of M cDNA clones inoculated together with these B RNA transcripts were also expressed, although the number of protoplasts in which both transcripts were expressed was very low. Preliminary infectivity tests with mutagenized RNA transcripts indicate essential roles of the B RNA-encoded 24K and 32K polypeptides in viral RNA replication.

Effect of actinomycin D on tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) accumulation in isolated tobacco protoplasts under varying light conditions

The effect on Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) accumulation of actinomycin D (AMD) introduced shortly after inoculation into isolated tobacco protoplasts under varying light conditions was examined. The emission spectrum of the light source contained lines in the visible range and in the ultraviolet band (300-400 nm). AMD absorbed light in the visible (400-500 nm) and in the uv (200-400 nm) ranges. AMD substantially inhibited TMV multiplication in the light, and also when the protoplasts were incubated in petri dishes covered with a black filter that allowed only uv light in the range 260-390 nm to pass. In the dark, and also in petri dishes covered with blue or yellow filters that passed in the ranges 400-500 or 500-600 nm, respectively, AMD stimulated TMV reproduction. The suppression of TMV multiplication in isolated tobacco protoplasts was assumed to be associated with a photodynamic effect caused by absorption of uv light by AMD.

Optimisation of conditions for infection of isolated potato protoplasts with potato virus X

Conditions for the reproducible infection of potato protoplasts with PVX were determined. Successful virus infection was achieved when potato protoplasts at a concentration of 3 X 10(5) cells/ml were incubated with 20 micrograms/ml PVX and 2 micrograms/ml Poly-L-ornithine (MW 100,000) for 15 minutes at 0 degrees C. Numbers of protoplasts infected varied between 30 and 50 per cent. Preincubation of PVX with PLO for a minimum of 10 minutes was essential for good infection. The type and molecular weight of polycation used had a major effect on virus infection. PLO at 100,000 MW was the most efficient.

Orientation of the Cleavage Map of the 200-Kilodalton Polypeptide Encoded by the Bottom-Component RNA of Cowpea Mosaic Virus

The genomic organization of the bottom-component RNA of cowpea mosaic virus was studied. In vivo, this RNA encodes at least eight different polypeptides of 170, 110, 87, 84, 60, 58, 32, and 4 kilodaltons (K), the last polypeptide representing the genome-bound protein VPg. In rabbit reticulocyte lysates, bottom-component RNA is translated into a 200K polypeptide which is then processed to give the 32 and 170K polypeptides also found in vivo. By pulse-labeling the 200K primary translation product, we now show that the 32 and 170K polypeptides are derived from the NH 2 -terminal and COOH-terminal parts of this polypeptide, respectively. Comparison of the proteolytic peptide patterns of 170K polypeptides synthesized in vitro and pulse-labeled at either the NH 2 -terminal or the COOH-terminal end with the patterns of the 170 and 110K polypeptides found in vivo demonstrates that the order within the 200K primary translation product of cowpea mosaic virus bottom-component RNA is as follows: NH 2 -32K polypeptide-58K polypeptide-VPg-24K polypeptide-87K polypeptide-COOH.

Inhibition of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA and protein synthesis by actinomycin D and cycloheximide

Actinomycin D, added early after inoculation, reduces the production of infectious alfalfa mosaic virus in cowpea protoplasts by 90%. This reduction was associated with an inhibition of viral minus-strand and plus-strand RNA synthesis, suggesting the involvement of host factors in these processes. Coat protein production was less affected by the drug. Addition of cycloheximide throughout the growth cycle resulted in an immediate cessation of coat protein production and an enhanced degradation of viral RNA. This degradation obscured possible effects of the drug on viral RNA synthesis.

Antibodies Against the Genome-Linked Protein VPg of Cowpea Mosaic Virus Recognize a 60,000-Dalton Precursor Polypeptide

We have prepared a rabbit antiserum specifically directed against the genome-linked protein (VPg) of cowpea mosaic virus by injecting an hydrolysate of purified virion RNA. Using this antiserum as a probe in combination with “Western” (protein) blots of subcellular fractions of cowpea mosaic virus-infected cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) cells, we have detected a bottom component RNA-encoded, 60,000-dalton polypeptide which is membrane bound and presumably represents the immediate precursor of VPg.

Expression of Bottom Component RNA of Cowpea Mosaic Virus in Cowpea Protoplasts

Upon inoculation of cowpea protoplasts with the bottom component of cowpea mosaic virus, at least six virus-induced proteins (with sizes of 170, 110, 87, 84, 60, and 32 kilodaltons) are synthesized, but not the capsid proteins (37 and 23 kilodaltons). These bottom-component-induced proteins were studied with respect to their genetic origin and mode of synthesis. The analyses were based on their electrophoretic peptide patterns resulting from partial digestion with Staphylococcus aureus protease V8. Comparison of the peptide patterns of the virus-induced proteins with those of the cowpea mosaic virus RNA-coded polypeptides produced in rabbit reticulocyte lysate showed that the 170- and 32-kilodalton polypeptides, which are the first viral products in cowpea mosaic virus-infected cells, were actually coded by the bottom component RNA of the virus. The 110-, 87-, and 84-kilodalton polypeptides, and possibly the 60-kilodalton polypeptide, appeared to have amino acid sequences in common with the 170-kilodalton polypeptide, demonstrating that they were virus coded as well. The results indicated that cowpea mosaic virus bottom component RNA was translated in vivo into a single 200-kilodalton polyprotein from which probably all bottom-component-specific proteins arose by three successive cleavages.