Early trans-plasma membrane responses to Tobacco mosaic virus infection

Abstract

Early trans-plasma membrane behavior after in vivo mechanical inoculation of Nicotiana tabacum with Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was investigated and compared to virus quantification in leaf tissues. To identify early events related to virus/host interaction, the systemic virus TMV was used to infect lower leaves and tests were carried out on upper leaves which were not directly infected. Non-invasive microelectrodes were used to estimate trans-plasma membrane electron transport and membrane potential after artificial inoculum of virus, monitoring the plant for the following 15 days. Virus infection was assessed by ELISA and quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. Collected data showed that after 2-day post-inoculation (dpi), TMV was able to modify membrane parameters: transient hyperpolarization of trans-membrane potential was observed until 10 dpi, while redox activity in infected samples was higher compared to control until end of tests. Conversely, ELISA diagnostic test was not able to reveal the virus presence in tobacco leaves until 6 dpi, while leaf symptoms were manifested after 13 dpi.

Antiviral Activity of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins

“…Viral infection is supposed to facilitate the entry of the RIP, which inactivates cell ribosomes, causing cell death and preventing the virus from using the cellular machinery to replicate and spread [125]. So far, the mechanism by which the virus facilitates the entry of RIPs has not been shown, although the ability of viruses to modify plasma membrane permeability is well-known [126]. In the cytosol, it can inactivate ribosomes (rRNA glycosylase activity), causing the death of infected cells and thus preventing the spread of the virus.…”

Effects of modulation of potassium channels in tobacco mosaic virus elimination

“…Viral particles were purified from diseased N. tabacum plants form leaves (50g of tissue) (Uhde-Holzem et al, 2010). According to Rettcher et al (2015), polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method was performed as reported by Uhde-Holzem et al (2010) omitting the sucrose cushion centrifugation to limit losses in TMV amount (Luvisi et al, 2017). Following the sucrose gradient step, selected fractions were pooled, followed by centrifugation at 248,000 × g for three hours.…”