J Bacteriol Virol.  2013 Mar;43(1):54-63. 10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.54.

Read-through Mutation in the Coat Protein ORF Suppresses Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus Subgenomic RNA Accumulation

• Shin HI
• Cho TJ

• KMID: 1782703
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.54

Abstract

We have previously observed that a sequence in coat protein (CP) ORF of Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) is required for efficient replication of the virus. The sequence was predicted to take a stem-loop structure, thus termed SL2. While examining various SL2 mutants, we observed that all the modifications resulting in extension of translation beyond the CP ORF significantly suppressed subgenomic RNA accumulation. The genomic RNA level, in contrast, was not affected. Introduction of an in-frame stop codon in the CP ORF of these constructs restored the level of subgenomic RNA. Overall, the results suggest that the read-through makes the subgenomic RNA unstable.

Keyword

TYMV; Read-through; sgRNA stability

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brassica napus
Codon, Terminator
Ecthyma, Contagious
RNA
Tymovirus
Viruses
Codon, Terminator
RNA

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. TYΔCP2 and SL2 constructs. (A) TYMV genome and a deletion construct TYΔCP2. TYMV genome is schematically represented with the predicted domains: MTR, methyltransferase; PRO, protease; HEL, helicase; POL, polymerase; CP, coat protein. The sequence between nt-6139 and nt-6181 in wild-type TYMV (TYW) is predicted to take a stem-loop structure, termed SL2. In TYΔCP2, the nucleotides between nt-6067 and nt-6202 were deleted and several cloning sites were added (SmaI and EcoRI recognition sites are underlined). Nonviral sequences are indicated by small letters. (B) TYΔCP2+SL2 construct. In this construct, the sequence between nt-6137 and nt-6183 was added back into the TYΔCP2. Predicted secondary structure of SL2 is represented.

• 

  Figure 2. Influence of SL2 modifications on TYMV replication. (A) Variant SL2 constructs. TYΔCP2+m1 lacks the bottom half of the stem. In TYΔCP2+m2, the terminal loop was replaced with a GAAA tetraloop. In TYΔCP2+m3, the non-paired C in the upper stem was deleted. In TYΔCP2+m4, the side bulge was replaced with a single A. (B) Northern and Western analysis of the SL2 mutants. Seven days after agroinfiltration of N. benthamiana leaf with various TYMV constructs, total RNA was extracted from the leaf. 1 μg or 0.1 μg (10−1) of total RNA was size-fractionated in the 1% agarose gel and examined by Northern blot analysis, using the DIG-labeled probe representing the CP ORF. The blots were developed by chemiluminescent immunodetection of DIG. The panel below the Northern blot represents a gel stained with ethidium bromide. In Western blot analysis of coat protein expression (bottom panel), 1 μl of 1:10 diluted (10−1) or undiluted leaf extract was loaded and electrophoresed in 12.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The proteins were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Coat protein was detected using anti-TYMV coat protein rabbit antibody and anti-rabbit HRP conjugate. The membrane was developed by a Luminata™ Forte (Millipore) using luminol as the substrate.

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  Figure 3. Effect of the sequence adjacent to the SL2. (A) Alignment of the constructs derived from TYΔCP2. As in TYΔCP2+SL2, TYΔCP2+m1′∼TYΔCP2+m4′ constructs have CC and AC nucleotides upstream and downstream of the SL2 sequence. In contrast, the CC and AC nucleotides are missing in TYΔCP2+m1∼TYΔCP2+m4 constructs (see Fig. 2A). In TYΔCP2-2, the CC and AC nucleotides were added into the TYΔCP2. (B) Replication of the TYΔCP2+m1′∼TYΔCP2+m4′ constructs containing the CC/AC. (C) Replication of the TYΔCP2-2 containing CC/AC. Northern and western analyses were done as described in Fig. 2.

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  Figure 4. Alignment of the predicted translation products from TYΔCP2-derived constructs. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the TYΔCP2+SL2, TYΔCP2+m1∼TYΔCP2+m4, and TYΔCP2+m1′∼TYΔCP2+m4′ constructs are shown. Stop codons are indicated by asterisks. In TYΔCP2+m1∼TYΔCP2+m4 constructs, translation would be extended beyond the CP ORF up to the 3′-end. Broken arrows indicate read-through. 35 amino acids could be additionally added to the C-terminus of CP, compared to the TYΔCP2+SL2.

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  Figure 5. Effect of in-frame stop codons on sgRNA accumulation. (A) Alignment of the TYΔCP2+m1∼TYΔCP2+m4 constructs having in-frame stop codons. In TYΔCP2+m1stop∼TYΔCP2+m4stop constructs, one or two nucleotides after the EcoRI site (underlined) were removed to have an in-frame stop codon as in TYΔCP2+SL2. (B) Replication of the TYΔCP2+m1stop∼TYΔCP2+m4stop constructs. Northern and western analyses were done as described in Fig. 2.

• 

  Figure 6. Effect of read-through mutations on the replication of TYΔCP2 and TYΔCP2+SL2 variants. (A) Alignment of various TYΔCP2 and TYΔCP2+SL2 variants and their expected translation products. TYΔCP2-2-FS has one nucleotide deletion, compared to the TYΔCP2-2. This deletion results in frameshift and read-through beyond the CP ORF, as in TYΔCP2+m1′∼TYΔCP2+m4′ constructs. TYΔCP2+SL2-2 has a four-nucleotide (CC/AC) deletion, also resulting in read-through beyond the CP ORF. In TYΔCP2+mSL2-2, the four nucleotide (CC/AC) deletion leads to premature termination. Broken arrows indicate read-through. (B) Replication of TYΔCP2+ SL2-2 and TYΔCP2+mSL2-2 constructs. (C) Replication of TYΔCP2-2-FS. Total RNAs from the agroinfiltrated with the constructs were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization, as described in Fig. 2. Bottom panels represent the results of the western analysis of CP.

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