Genetic diversity and silencing suppression activity of the p22 protein of Tomato chlorosis virus isolates from tomato and sweet pepper

Virus Genes. 2015 Oct;51(2):283-9. doi: 10.1007/s11262-015-1244-3. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

As for other bipartite criniviruses (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae), the genome of Tomato chlorosis virus encodes an RNA silencing suppressor, the protein p22, in the 3'-proximal region of RNA1. This protein has been reported as having one of the longest lasting local suppressor activities when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, we examined the genetic diversity of the p22 gene in ToCV isolates from tomato and sweet pepper. The p22 gene sequences clearly grouped into two separated clades. However, functional analysis of both types of p22 proteins indicated no evident differences in suppressor activity. Our findings provide experimental evidence that the presence of a "strong" silencing suppressor is a conserved feature of ToCV isolates.

Keywords: Closteroviridae; Crinivirus; Plant viral suppressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Capsicum / virology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Crinivirus / genetics
  • Crinivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Crinivirus / physiology*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Diseases / virology
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Solanum lycopersicum / virology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins