Premium
Formation of plant RNA virus replication complexes on membranes: role of an endoplasmic reticulum‐targeted viral protein
Author(s) -
Schaad Mary C.,
Jensen Patricia E.,
Carrington James C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/16.13.4049
Subject(s) - biology , endoplasmic reticulum , rna , viral replication , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , virology , virus , gene
The mechanisms that direct positive‐stranded RNA virus replication complexes to plant and animal cellular membranes are poorly understood. We describe a specific interaction between a replication protein of an RNA plant virus and membranes in vitro and in live cells. The tobacco etch virus (TEV) 6 kDa protein associated with membranes as an integral protein via a central 19 amino acid hydrophobic domain. In the presence or absence of other viral proteins, fluorescent fusion proteins containing the 6 kDa protein associated with large vesicular compartments derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Infection by TEV was associated with a collapse of the ER network into a series of discrete aggregated structures. Viral RNA replication complexes from infected cells were also associated with ER‐like membranes. Targeting of TEV RNA replication complexes to membranous sites of replication is proposed to involve post‐translational interactions between the 6 kDa protein and the ER.