Functional analysis of virus and host components that mediate potyvirus-induced diseases
Authors: Whitham Steven A. , Gal-On Amit , Arazi Tzahi 
Published: December 2021

The mechanisms underlying the development of symptoms in response to virus infection remain to be discovered in plants. Insight into symptoms induced by potyviruses comes from evidence implicating the potyviral HC-Pro protein in symptom development. In particular, recent studies link the development of symptoms in infected plants to HC-Pro's ability to interfere with small RNA metabolism and function in plant hosts. Moreover, mutation of the highly conserved FRNK amino acid motif to FINK in the HC-Pro of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) converts a severe strain into an asymptomatic strain, but does not affect virus accumulation in cucurbit hosts. The ability of this FINK mutation to uncouple symptoms from virus accumulation creates a unique opportunity to study symptom etiology, which is usually confounded by simultaneous attenuation of both symptoms and virus accumulation. Our goal was to determine how mutations in the conserved FRNK motif affect host responses to potyvirus infection in cucurbits and Arabidopsis thaliana. Our first objective was to define those amino acids in the FRNK motif that are required for symptoms by mutating the FRNK motif in ZYMV and Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Symptom expression and accumulation of resulting mutant viruses in cucurbits and Arabidopsis was determined. Our second objective was to identify plant genes associated with virus disease symptoms by profiling gene expression in cucurbits and Arabidopsis in response to mutant and wild type ZYMV and TuMV, respectively. Genes from the two host species that are differentially expressed led us to focus on a subset of genes that are expected to be involved in symptom expression. Our third objective was to determine the functions of small RNA species in response to mutant and wild type HC-Pro protein expression by monitoring the accumulation of small RNAs and their targets in Arabidopsis and cucurbit plants infected with wild type and mutant TuMV and ZYMV, respectively. We have found that the maintenance of the charge of the amino acids in the FRNK motif of HC-Pro is required for symptom expression. Reduced charge (FRNA, FRNL) lessen virus symptoms, and maintain the suppression of RNA silencing. The FRNK motif is involved in binding of small RNA species including microRNAs (miRNA) and short interfering RNAs (siRNA). This binding activity mediated by the FRNK motif has a role in protecting the viral genome from degradation by the host RNA silencing system. However, it also provides a mechanism by which the FRNK motif participates in inducing the symptoms of viral infection. Small RNA species, such as miRNA and siRNA, can regulate the functions of plant genes that affect plant growth and development. Thus, this binding activity suggests a mechanism by which ZYMVHC-Pro can interfere with plant development resulting in disease symptoms. Because the host genes regulated by small RNAs are known, we have identified candidate host genes that are expected to play a role in symptoms when their regulation is disrupted during viral infections. As a result of this work, we have a better understanding of the FRNK amino acid motif of HC-Pro and its contribution to the functions of HC-Pro, and we have identified plant genes that potentially contribute to symptoms of virus infected plants when their expression becomes misregulated during potyviral infections. The results set the stage to establish the roles of specific host genes in viral pathogenicity. The potential benefits include the development of novel strategies for controlling diseases caused by viruses, methods to ensure stable expression of transgenes in genetically improved crops, and improved potyvirus vectors for expression of proteins or peptides in plants.