Enhancing plant antiviral responses and productivity through the elimination of m5C methyltransferase - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #plant antiviral defense
- #wheat breeding
- #RNA methylation
- RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) plays an undefined role in plant antiviral defense.
- Wheat methyltransferase TaNSUN2 is an RNA m5C methyltransferase recruited by TaeEF1A into CWMV replication complexes (VRCs).
- TaNSUN2 promotes m5C modification of CWMV RNAs, stabilizing them and enhancing their translational efficiency.
- m5C modification in RNA 3' untranslated region strengthens TaeEF1A binding and viral coat protein interaction, promoting viral replication and assembly.
- A major allele of TaNSUN2 prevents interaction with TaeEF1A, hindering its entry into VRCs and suppressing m5C modification of viral RNAs.
- TaNSUN2 knockout enhances wheat resistance to CWMV and increases grain weight and size.
- Findings provide insights into RNA modifications in plant virus infection and offer a genetic resource for wheat breeding.