Functionality of potato virus Y coat protein in cell-to-cell movement is defined by flexibility of its N terminal region

  1. Anže Vozelj
  2. Tjaša Mahkovec Povalej
  3. Katja Stare
  4. Magda Tušek Žnidarič
  5. Katarina Bačnik
  6. Valentina Levak
  7. Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre
  8. Marjetka Podobnik
  9. Kristina Gruden
  10. Anna Coll
  11. Tjaša Lukan
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Abstract

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the top ten economically most important plant viruses and responsible for major yield losses. We previously suggested the involvement of the N terminal region of potato virus Y coat protein (CP) in PVY spread. By constructing different PVY N terminal deletion mutants, we here show that deletions of 40 or more amino acid residues from the N terminal region of the CP resulted in the PVY multiplication limited to primary infected cells. Deletion of 26 residues profoundly impaired PVY cell-to-cell movement and prevented systemic PVY spread, while deletions of 19-23 residues allowed delayed systemic PVY spread. Introduced point mutations in the identified region hinder the filaments formation (S21G) and prevent (S21G) or delay (G20P) PVY movement. In addition, the mutants with deletion of more than 23 residues were not able to form full length viral particles in bombarded leaves, which confirms the overall significance of this region also in capsid assembly.

Author summary

Potato virus Y is one of the most economically important plant viruses worldwide, since it causes major yield losses inSolanaceae, especially in potato, where it is the causal agent of potato tuber necrosis ringspot disease, negatively impacting tubers quality and significantly reduces potato yield. By constructing different PVY N terminal deletion mutants, we identified the regions of the coat protein that are important for efficient PVY cell-to-cell movement and putative mechanisms supporting it. Furthermore, our findings indicate that potato virus Y N terminal region plays an important role in efficiency of assembly into full length viral particles. Understanding these regions, responsible for cell-to-cell as well as long distance movement, is crucial for economically important plant viruses such as PVY, since dissolving such complex processes will enhance our understanding of the PVY infective cycle and contribute to the development of effective tackling strategies against PVY infections in potato and prevent yield losses.

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