Identification of host genes involved in geminivirus infection using a reverse genetics approach

Geminiviruses, like all viruses, rely on the host cell machinery to establish a successful infection, but the identity and function of these required host proteins remain largely unknown. Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV), a monopartite geminivirus, is one of the causal agents of the d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 6; no. 7; p. e22383
Main Authors Lozano-Durán, Rosa, Rosas-Díaz, Tábata, Luna, Ana P, Bejarano, Eduardo R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 26.07.2011
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

Loading…
More Information
Summary:Geminiviruses, like all viruses, rely on the host cell machinery to establish a successful infection, but the identity and function of these required host proteins remain largely unknown. Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV), a monopartite geminivirus, is one of the causal agents of the devastating Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD). The transgenic 2IRGFP N. benthamiana plants, used in combination with Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS), entail an important potential as a tool in reverse genetics studies to identify host factors involved in TYLCSV infection. Using these transgenic plants, we have made an accurate description of the evolution of TYLCSV replication in the host in both space and time. Moreover, we have determined that TYLCSV and Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) do not dramatically influence each other when co-infected in N. benthamiana, what makes the use of TRV-induced gene silencing in combination with TYLCSV for reverse genetic studies feasible. Finally, we have tested the effect of silencing candidate host genes on TYLCSV infection, identifying eighteen genes potentially involved in this process, fifteen of which had never been implicated in geminiviral infections before. Seven of the analyzed genes have a potential anti-viral effect, whereas the expression of the other eleven is required for a full infection. Interestingly, almost half of the genes altering TYLCSV infection play a role in postranslational modifications. Therefore, our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying geminivirus infections, and at the same time reveal the 2IRGFP/VIGS system as a powerful tool for functional reverse genetics studies.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
Current address: The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
Conceived and designed the experiments: RL-D TR-D ERB. Performed the experiments: RL-D TR-D APL. Analyzed the data: RL-D TR-D ERB. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: ERB. Wrote the paper: RL-D TR-D ERB.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0022383