molecular mechanism for the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus resistance at the ty-5 locus

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a major pathogen of tomato that causes extensive crop loss worldwide, including the US and Israel. Genetic resistance in the host plant is considered highly effective in the defense against viral infection in the field. Thus, the best way to reduce yield losses due to TYLCV is by breeding tomatoes resistant or tolerant to the virus. To date, only six major TYLCV-resistance loci, termed Ty-1 to Ty-6, have been characterized and mapped to the tomato genome. Among tomato TYLCV-resistant lines containing these loci, we have identified a major recessive quantitative trait locus (QTL) that was mapped to chromosome 4 and designated ty-5. Recently, we identified the gene responsible for the TYLCV resistance at the ty-5 locus as the tomato homolog of the gene encoding messenger RNA surveillance factor Pelota (Pelo). A single amino acid change in the protein is responsible for the resistant phenotype. Pelo is known to participate in the ribosome-recycling phase of protein biosynthesis. Our hypothesis was that the resistant allele of Pelo is a “loss-of-function” mutant, and inhibits or slows-down ribosome recycling. This will negatively affect viral (as well as host-plant) protein synthesis, which may result in slower infection progression. Hence we have proposed the following research objectives: Aim 1: The effect of Pelota on translation of TYLCV proteins: The goal of this objective is to test the effect Pelota may or may not have upon translation of TYLCV proteins following infection of a resistant host. Aim 2: Identify and characterize Pelota cellular localization and interaction with TYLCV proteins: The goal of this objective is to characterize the cellular localization of both Pelota alleles, the TYLCV-resistant and the susceptible allele, to see whether this localization changes following TYLCV infection, and to find out which TYLCV protein interacts with Pelota. Our results demonstrate that upon TYLCV-infection the resistant allele of pelota has a negative effect on viral replication and RNA transcription. It is also shown that pelota interacts with the viral C1 protein, which is the only viral protein essential for TYLCV replication. Following subcellular localization of C1 and Pelota it was found that both protein localize to the same subcellular compartments. This research is innovative and potentially transformative because the role of Peloin plant virus resistance is novel, and understanding its mechanism will lay the foundation for designing new antiviral protection strategies that target translation of viral proteins. BARD Report - Project 4953 Page 2