bioRxiv · 2026-05-09
Researchers discovered that Turnip mosaic virus hijacks the plant cell's own RNA-tagging system to modify its own genetic material, making infection far more effective. This reveals a hidden step in how the virus replicates and points to new targets for protecting crops.
TuMV viral RNA enters the plant cell nucleus — a previously unknown step — where host enzymes add chemical marks (m6A) across the viral genome.
The virus uses both standard (canonical DRACH) and unusual non-canonical m6A sites, plus a second modification (m5C), creating a complex, virus-specific methylation landscape.
Plants with mutant m6A writer or reader proteins showed aberrant viral methylation and significantly reduced TuMV infectivity, confirming the host methylation system is essential for efficient infection.
