NMR chemical shift backbone assignment of the viral protein P1 encoded by the African Rice Yellow Mottle Virus

International audienceRNA silencing describes a pan-eukaryotic pathway of gene regulation where doubled stranded RNA are processed by the RNAse III enzyme Dicer or homologs. In particular, plants use it as a way to defend themselves against pathogen invasions. In turn, to evade the plant immune response, viruses have developed anti-RNA silencing mechanisms. They may indeed code for proteins called "viral suppressor of RNA silencing" which block the degrading of viral genomic or messenger RNA by the plant. The Rice Mottle Virus is an African virus of the sobemovirus family, which attacks the most productive rice varieties cultivated on this continent. It encodes P1, a cysteine-rich protein described as a potential RNA silencing suppressor. P1 is a 157 amino-acid long protein, characterized by a high propensity to aggregate concomitant with a limited stability with time in the conditions used in structural studies. To overcome this problem, shorter fragments were also studied. This strategy enabled the assignment of more than 90% backbone resonances of P1. This assignment should set the base of future NMR investigation of the protein structure and of its interactions with rice cellular partners

Efficient detection of long dsRNA in vitro and in vivo using the dsRNA binding domain from FHV B2 protein

BM benefited from an IdEx postdoctoral fellowship from the Université de Strasbourg. Financial support to MI was provided in part by the INTERREG V Upper Rhine program Vitifutur, Transcending borders with every project. Work in the JT laboratory is funded by the U.K. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M007200/1).Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) plays essential functions in many biological processes, including the activation of innate immune responses and RNA interference. dsRNA also represents the genetic entity of some viruses and is a hallmark of infections by positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Methods for detecting dsRNA rely essentially on immunological approaches and their use is often limited to in vitro applications, although recent developments have allowed the visualization of dsRNA in vivo. Here, we report the sensitive and rapid detection of long dsRNA both in vitro and in vivo using the dsRNA binding domain of the B2 protein from Flock house virus. In vitro, we adapted the system for the detection of dsRNA either enzymatically by northwestern blotting or by direct fluorescence labeling on fixed samples. In vivo, we produced stable transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines allowing the visualization of dsRNA by fluorescence microscopy. Using these techniques, we were able to discriminate healthy and positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus-infected material in plants and insect cells. In N. benthamiana, our system proved to be very potent for the spatio-temporal visualization of replicative RNA intermediates of a broad range of positive-sense RNA viruses, including high- vs. low-copy number viruses.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Structure-function analysis of the multifunsctionnal movement protein P1 from the rice yellow mottle virus

Le virus de la panachure jaune du riz (virus RYMV pour Rice Yellow Mottle Virus) infecte principalement le genre Oryza et provoque d'importants dégâts sur les cultures de riz en Afrique. Bien que son génome soit rudimentaire, ce virus code des protéines essentielles pour son maintien chez l’hôte en dépit des mécanismes de défense de la plante. Les travaux récents de l’équipe ont permis d’identifier la protéine P1 codée par ce virus comme une protéine qui pourrait, grâce à sa propriété de suppresseur de RNA silencing, permettre au virus de contourner un mécanisme de défense essentiel de l’hôte et permettre au virus de perpétuer son cycle viral. Peu de données concernant les mécanismes d’action de la protéine P1 sont disponibles à ce jour. Le travail entrepris au cours de ma thèse a donc consisté à compléter les connaissances sur la biochimie de cette protéine, à définir sa structure tridimensionnelle et à mettre à jour sa localisation sub cellulaire afin de révéler des propriétés qui pourraient nous permettre non seulement de mieux comprendre comment cette protéine opère ses fonctions mais également de définir des méthodes de lutte adéquates contre ce virus. Ainsi, je montre que la protéine P1 constitue une nouvelle famille de protéine à doigt de zinc possédant une structure 3D inédite composée d’un premier domaine impliqué dans la dimérisation de la protéine et dans des interactions avec des ligands dont certains pourraient provenir de la plante hôte. Mon travail permet également d’identifier un deuxième domaine senseur de l’état redox au sein de la protéine qui lui permet probablement de sonder l’état de la plante pendant l’infection virale et d’adapter ses conformations pour assurer ses fonctions. Finalement, une approche par mutagénèse sur la protéine P1 assistée par la nouvelle structure 3D démontre qu’il est désormais possible d’identifier les résidus essentiels à la protéine pour sa participation dans l’infection virale. Ce travail ouvre donc de nombreuses perspectives pour de futures études de mécanistique sur ces domaines-clé de la protéine, ainsi que pour des études sur sa diversité génétique au sein des très nombreux isolats du virus RYMV en Afrique.The virus of rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV for Rice Yellow Mottle Virus) mainly infects the genus Oryza and causes significant damage to rice crops in Africa. Although its genome is rudimentary, this virus code essential proteins for its maintenance in the host despite the defense mechanisms of the plant. Recent work by the team has identified the P1 protein encoded by the virus as a protein that could, through its ownership of RNA silencing suppressor, allow the virus to bypass an essential defense mechanism of the host and allow the virus to perpetuate its viral cycle. Little data on the mechanisms of action of the P1 protein is available to date. The work undertaken during my thesis was therefore to supplement the knowledge of the biochemistry of this protein, to define its three-dimensional structure and update its sub cellular localization to reveal properties that could enable us not only to understand how this protein works its functions but also to define methods of adequate response against the virus. Thus, I show that the P1 protein is a new zinc finger protein family having a unique 3D structure consisting of a first domain involved in the dimerization of the protein and in interactions with ligands some of which may originate from the plant host. My work also identifies a second sensor field in the redox state of the protein that probably allows him to probe the state of the plant during viral infection and adapt its conformation to conduct their duties. Finally, a mutagenesis approach to P1 assisted by the new 3D protein structure shows that it is now possible to identify critical residues in the protein for its participation in the viral infection. This work thus opens up many possibilities for future mechanistic studies on these key areas of the protein, as well as for studies of genetic diversity within many RYMV isolates of virus in Afric

Efficient detection of long dsRNA <i>in vitro </i>and <i>in vivo</i> using the dsRNA binding domain from FHV B2 protein

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) plays essential functions in many biological processes, including the activation of innate immune responses and RNA interference. dsRNA also represents the genetic entity of some viruses and is a hallmark of infections by positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Methods for detecting dsRNA rely essentially on immunological approaches and their use is often limited to in vitro applications, although recent developments have allowed the visualization of dsRNA in vivo. Here, we report the sensitive and rapid detection of long dsRNA both in vitro and in vivo using the dsRNA binding domain of the B2 protein from Flock house virus. In vitro, we adapted the system for the detection of dsRNA either enzymatically by northwestern blotting or by direct fluorescence labeling on fixed samples. In vivo, we produced stable transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines allowing the visualization of dsRNA by fluorescence microscopy. Using these techniques, we were able to discriminate healthy and positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus-infected material in plants and insect cells. In N. benthamiana, our system proved to be very potent for the spatio-temporal visualization of replicative RNA intermediates of a broad range of positive-sense RNA viruses, including high- vs. low-copy number viruses

The Rice Yellow Mottle sobemovirus (RYMV) belongs to the most damaging pathogens devastating rice fields in Africa. P1, a key protein for RYMV, was reported as a potent RNAi suppressor counteracting RNA silencing in plant reporter systems. Here we describe the complete 3D structure and dynamics of P1. Its N-terminal region contains ZnF1, a structural CCCC-type zinc finger strongly affine to zinc and a prominent short helix, rendering this region poorly amenable to structural changes. P1 C-terminal region contains ZnF2, an atypical HCHC-type ZnF that does not belong to any existing class of Zn finger proteins. ZnF2 appeared much less affine to zinc and more sensitive to oxidizing environments than ZnF1, and may serve as a sensor of plant redox status. We also identified key residues essential for RYMV infectivity and spread in rice tissues through their participation in P1 oligomerization and folding.Altogether, our results provide the first complete structure of a rice antiviral silencing suppressor and highlight P1 structural properties that may serve RYMV functions to infect and invade the host plant.

The Rice Yellow Mottle sobemovirus (RYMV) belongs to the most damaging pathogens devastating rice fields in Africa. P1, a key protein for RYMV, was reported as a potent RNAi suppressor counteracting RNA silencing in plant reporter systems. Here we describe the complete 3D structure and dynamics of P1. Its N-terminal region contains ZnF1, a structural CCCC-type zinc finger strongly affine to zinc and a prominent short helix, rendering this region poorly amenable to structural changes. P1 C-terminal region contains ZnF2, an atypical HCHC-type ZnF that does not belong to any existing class of Zn finger proteins. ZnF2 appeared much less affine to zinc and more sensitive to oxidizing environments than ZnF1, and may serve as a sensor of plant redox status. The structure helped us to identify key residues essential for RYMV infectivity and spread in rice tissues through their participation in P1 oligomerization and folding. Altogether, our results provide the first complete structure of an antiviral silencing suppressor encoded by a virus infecting rice and highlight P1 structural and dynamical properties that may serve RYMV functions to infect and invade its host plant

A Flexible and Original Architecture of Two Unrelated Zinc Fingers Underlies the Role of the Multitask P1 in RYMV Spread

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Structural basis of nanobody recognition of grapevine fanleaf virus and of virus resistance loss

International audienceGrapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is a picorna-like plant virus transmitted by nematodes that affects vineyards worldwide. Nanobody (Nb)-mediated resistance against GFLV has been created recently, and shown to be highly effective in plants, including grapevine, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we present the high-resolution cryo electron microscopy structure of the GFLV-Nb23 complex, which provides the basis for molecular recognition by the Nb. The structure reveals a composite binding site bridging over three domains of one capsid protein (CP) monomer. The structure provides a precise mapping of the Nb23 epitope on the GFLV capsid in which the antigen loop is accommodated through an induced-fit mechanism. Moreover, we uncover and characterize several resistance-breaking GFLV isolates with amino acids mapping within this epitope, including C-terminal extensions of the CP, which would sterically interfere with Nb binding. Escape variants with such extended CP fail to be transmitted by nematodes linking Nb-mediated resistance to vector transmission. Together, these data provide insights into the molecular mechanism of Nb23-mediated recognition of GFLV and of virus resistance loss