Suppression of nbe-miR1919c-5p Expression in Nicotiana benthamiana Enhances Tobacco Curly Shoot Virus and Its Betasatellite Co-Infection

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding but functional RNA molecules of 21–25 nucleotides in length. MiRNAs play significant regulatory roles in diverse plant biological processes. In order to decipher the relationship between nbe-miR1919c-5p and the accumulations of tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) and its betasatellite (TbCSB) DNAs, as well as viral symptom development, we investigated the function of nbe-miR1919c-5p during TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection in plants using a PVX-and a TRV-based short tandem target mimic (STTM) technology. Suppression of nbe-miR1919c-5p expression using these two technologies enhanced TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection-induced leaf curling symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Furthermore, suppression of nbe-miR1919c-5p expression enhanced TbCSV and TbCSB DNA accumulations in the infected plants. Our results can advance our knowledge on the nbe-miR1919c-5p function during TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection.

Tobacco curly shoot virus Down-Regulated the Expression of nbe-miR167b-3p to Facilitate Its Infection in Nicotiana benthamiana

“…Moreover, different miRNAs participated in anti-virus defense pathways in various plant ( Amin et al, 2011 ). It was also found by our laboratory that different miRNAs can manipulated infected plants to show varied severity of disease symptoms ( Du et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Virus-based miRNA suppression (VbMS) system was used for miRNA function analysis in N. benthamiana . The PVX-miR167b-3p vector was created to mediate nbe-miR167b-3p down-regulation with the technique described and applied by Du et al (2020) . The target mimic was designed to sequester nbe-miR167b-3p using the method of Yan et al (2014) .…”

“…TbCSV is transmitted by whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ) and causes significant losses of tobacco and tomato frequently in China ( Li et al, 2005 ; Xu et al, 2019 ). Previous studies have shown that inhibiting the expression of nbe-miR1919c-5p can enhance the infection of TbCSV to N. benthamiana ( Du et al, 2020 ). At the same time, nbe-miR167b-3p may also respond to the infection of TbCSV ( Du et al, 2019 ).…”

Special Issue: “Plant Virus Pathogenesis and Disease Control”

“…They also identified 8 N. benthamiana-specific miRNAs. Du and colleagues used heterologous viruses and short tandem target mimic (STTM) technology to assess the role of microRNA nbe-miR1919c-5p in infections of N. benthamiana plants by tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) and its betasatellite (TbCSB) DNA [5]. Suppression of nbe-miR1919c-5p by STTM resulted in increased titers for TbCSV and TbCSB, plus more severe symptoms, including leaf curling in plants.…”

“…Three groups addressed the roles of non-coding RNAs in plant virus infections [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Liu and colleagues used microarray analysis to screen microRNAs (the microRNAome) and obtained a global profile allowing for the identification of some miRNAs and their roles as well as their corresponding target mRNAs, and resulting defense signaling pathways in beet necrotic yellow vein virus pathogenesis in Nicotiana benthamiana plants [ 6 ].…”