Open AccessTomato yellow leaf curl S ardinia virus ‐resistant tomato plants expressing the multifunctional N ‐terminal domain of the replication‐associated protein show transcriptional changes resembling stress‐related responses
Author(s) -
Lucioli Alessandra,
Berardi Alessandra,
Gatti Francesca,
Tavazza Raffaela,
Pizzichini Daniele,
Tavazza Mario
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12063
Subject(s) - biology , gene , transgene , genetically modified crops , transcriptome , transcription (linguistics) , genetically modified tomato , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene expression , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The N ‐terminal domain (amino acids 1–130) of the replication‐associated protein ( R ep 130 ) of T omato yellow leaf curl S ardinia virus ( TYLCSV ) retains the ability of full‐length R ep to localize to the nucleus and to down‐regulate C 1 transcription when ectopically expressed in plants, both functions being required to inhibit homologous viral replication. In this study, we analysed the effect of R ep 130 expression on virus resistance and the plant transcriptome in the natural and agronomically important host species of TYLCSV , S olanum lycopersicum . Tomato plants accumulating high levels of R ep 130 were generated and proved to be resistant to TYLCSV . Using an in vitro assay, we showed that plant‐expressed R ep 130 also retains the catalytic activity of R ep, thus supporting the notion that this protein domain is fully functional. Interestingly, R ep 130 ‐expressing tomatoes were characterized by an altered transcriptional profile resembling stress‐related responses. Notably, the serine‐type protease inhibitor ( S er‐ PI ) category was over‐represented among the 20 up‐regulated genes. The involvement of R ep 130 in the alteration of host mRNA steady‐state levels was confirmed using a distinct set of virus‐resistant transgenic tomato plants expressing the same TYLCSV R ep 130 , but from a different, synthetic, gene. Eight genes were found to be up‐regulated in both types of transgenic tomato and two encoded S er‐ PIs . Four of these eight genes were also up‐regulated in TYLCSV ‐infected wild‐type tomato plants. Implications with regard to the ability of this R ep domain to interfere with viral infections and to alter the host transcriptome are discussed.