The dehydrin protein COR15 enhances antiviral RNA silencing by preventing viral protein-mediated SGS3 degradation and promoting SGS3 condensate formation.
Zhang YL, Yang ZK, Zhang Z, Ma LY, Jiang SS
Antiviral Immunity
Citrus tristeza virus has wiped out millions of citrus trees globally — understanding how plants like limes naturally fight back could lead to hardier citrus varieties that protect the oranges, lemons, and limes at your grocery store and in backyard orchards.
Plants have a built-in immune system that makes tiny molecular tools to chop up and destroy viruses. This study found a protein called COR15 that acts like a bodyguard for one of the key players in that immune system, preventing the virus from disabling it. When scientists used gene editing to remove COR15 from plants, the plants became significantly worse at fighting off viral infections — confirming that COR15 is a previously unrecognized defender in the plant immune system.
Key Findings
COR15 directly interacts with and neutralizes the citrus tristeza virus protein p20, which normally shuts down the plant's RNA-based immune defense
COR15 protects the defense protein SGS3 from viral degradation and promotes formation of antiviral processing hubs inside plant cells, enhancing production of virus-fighting molecules
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of COR15 in plants reduced the number and size of antiviral processing hubs and impaired the plant's ability to produce virus-silencing molecules, confirming COR15's essential role
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered that a stress protein called COR15, found in citrus and tobacco plants, boosts the plant's natural antiviral immune system by protecting a key defense component from viral attack. This protein helps plants resist citrus tristeza virus and potentially a broad range of other viral infections.
Abstract Preview
RNA silencing, a conserved gene regulatory mechanism mediated by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), is a major component of plant antiviral immunity. The plant RNA-binding protein SUPPRESSOR OF GENE ...
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