Evaluation of recombinase polymerase amplification for detection of begomoviruses by plant diagnostic clinics.

BACKGROUND: Plant viruses in the genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae often cause substantial crop losses. These viruses have been emerging in many locations throughout the tropics and subtropics. Like many plant viruses, they are often not recognized by plant diagnostic clinics due in large part to the lack of rapid and cost effective assays. An isothermal amplification assay, Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), was evaluated for its ability to detect three begomoviruses and for its suitability for use in plant diagnostic clinics. Methods for DNA extraction and separation of amplicons from proteins used in the assay were modified and compared to RPA manufacturer's protocols. The modified RPA assays were compared to PCR assays for sensitivity, use in downstream applications, cost, and speed. RESULTS: Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays for the detection of Bean golden yellow mosaic virus, Tomato mottle virus and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were specific, only amplifying the target viruses in three different host species. RPA was able to detect the target virus when the template was in a crude extract generated using a simple inexpensive extraction method, while PCR was not. Separation of RPA-generated amplicons from DNA-binding proteins could be accomplished by several methods, all of which were faster and less expensive than that recommended by the manufacturer. Use of these modifications resulted in an RPA assay that was faster than PCR but with a similar reagent cost. This modified RPA was the more cost effective assay when labor is added to the cost since RPA can be performed much faster than PCR. RPA had a sensitivity approximate to that of ELISA when crude extract was used as template. RPA-generated amplicons could be used in downstream applications (TA cloning, digestion with a restriction endonuclease, direct sequencing) similar to PCR but unlike some other isothermal reactions. CONCLUSIONS: RPA could prove useful for the cost effective detection of plant viruses by plant diagnostic clinics. It can be performed in one hour or less with a reagent cost similar to that of PCR but with a lower labor cost, and with an acceptable level of sensitivity and specificity.

The RXL motif of the African cassava mosaic virus Rep protein is necessary for rereplication of yeast DNA and viral infection in plants.

Geminiviruses, single-stranded DNA plant viruses, encode a replication-initiator protein (Rep) that is indispensable for virus replication. A potential cyclin interaction motif (RXL) in the sequence of African cassava mosaic virus Rep may be an alternative link to cell cycle controls to the known interaction with plant homologs of retinoblastoma protein (pRBR). Mutation of this motif abrogated rereplication in fission yeast induced by expression of wildtype Rep suggesting that Rep interacts via its RXL motif with one or several yeast proteins. The RXL motif is essential for viral infection of Nicotiana benthamiana plants, since mutation of this motif in infectious clones prevented any symptomatic infection. The cell-cycle link (Clink) protein of a nanovirus (faba bean necrotic yellows virus) was investigated that activates the cell cycle by binding via its LXCXE motif to pRBR. Expression of wildtype Clink and a Clink mutant deficient in pRBR-binding did not trigger rereplication in fission yeast.

Biochemical characterization of C4 protein of Cotton leaf curl Kokhran Virus-Dabawali.

BACKGROUND: Cotton leaf curl Kokhran Virus-Dabawali (CLCuKV-Dab) is a monopartite begomovirus encoding two proteins V1 and V2 in the virion sense and four proteins C1, C2, C3 and C4 in the complementary sense. The C4 protein of monopartite begomoviruses has been implicated to play a role in symptom determination and virus movement. The present work aims at the biochemical characterization of this protein. METHODS: The C4 protein of CLCuKV-Dab was purified in fusion with GST and tested for the ability to hydrolyze ATP and other phosphate containing compounds. ATPase activity was assayed by using radiolabeled γ-[32P]-ATP and separating the product of reaction by thin layer chromatography. The hydrolysis of other compounds was monitored by the formation of a blue colored phosphomolybdate complex which was estimated by measuring the absorbance at 655nm. RESULTS: The purified GST-C4 protein exhibited metal ion dependent ATPase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities. Deletion of a sequence resembling the catalytic motif present in phosphotyrosine phosphatases resulted in 70% reduction in both the activities. Mutational analysis suggested arginine 13 to be catalytically important for the ATPase and cysteine 8 for the pyrophosphatase activity of GST-C4. Interaction of V2 with GST-C4 resulted in an increase in both the enzymatic activities of GST-C4. CONCLUSIONS: The residues important for the enzymatic activities of GST-C4 are present in a motif different from the classical Walker motifs and the non-classical ATP binding motifs reported so far. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The C4 protein of CLCuKV-Dab, a putative natively unfolded protein, exhibits enzymatic activities.

Enhanced nicking activity of Rep in presence of pre-coat protein of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus.

Yellow mosaic disease causes severe yield loss in grain legumes in Indian subcontinent and south east Asia. The disease is caused by two virus species, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV). They have genome organization typical of Old World begomoviruses, the unique feature being the presence of an open reading frame (ORF) AV2 upstream of coat protein gene. In order to elucidate its function, ORF AV2 of blackgram isolate, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus-[India:New Delhi:Blackgram 3:1991] MYMIV-[IN:ND:Bg3:91] and cowpea isolate, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus-[India:New Delhi:Cowpea7:1998] MYMIV-[IN:ND:Cp7:98], respectively, were over expressed in Escherichia coli in fusion with maltose binding protein (MBP). The recombinant protein did not show efficient binding to DNA. However, both MBP-BgAV2 and MBP-CpAV2 proteins modulated nicking and ATPase activity of replication initiation protein (Rep). Even low concentration, 20 ng of MBP-BgAV2 and MBP-CpAV2 could bring 20 folds increase in nicking activity of Rep. Similarly in the presence of AV2 protein, two to three fold increase in ATPase activity was observed. It is hypothesized that AV2 protein may play a role of accessory protein modulating Rep activities.

Detección, identificación y localización geográfica de Begomovirus que afectan al tomate en Colombia / Detection, identification and geographical localization of tomato-infecting Begomovirus in Colombia

En la actualidad, los Begomovirus (Familia Geminiviridae) se han convertido en la mayor amenaza para los cultivos de interés agrícola ubicados en las zonas tropicales y templadas del planeta. Estos virus son transmitidos por la mosca blanca Bemisia tabaci, la cual en los últimos años en Colombia ha tenido un aumento significativo en sus poblaciones y se ha asociado con la aparición de síntomas virales en cultivos de tomate. Muestras de tomate con síntomas virales típicos fueron recolectadas en las cinco principales zonas productoras de esta solanácea en el país. Los Begomovirus fueron detectados por medio de la técnica de hibridación de ácidos nucleicos tipo Dot blot así como por medio de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) en todas las muestras colectadas. Con la excepción de un reporte previo en el Valle del Cauca, este es el primer reporte de Begomovirus afectando cultivos de tomate en los departamentos de Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá y Cundinamarca. Asimismo, es la primera vez que se informa sobre Begomovirus que afectan cultivos de tomate localizados por encima de 1500 msnm en Colombia.

The begomoviruses (Family Geminiviridae) have recently emerged as samples with typical Begomovirus symptoms were collected in five different departments, comprising the mayor tomato growing areas of the country. Begomovirus were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Dot Blot Hybridization in all tomato samples collected in whole tomato growing areas of the country. With exception for Valle del Cauca, this is the first report of tomato-infecting Begomovirus in Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá and Cundinamarca departments. Also this is the first report of tomato-infecting Begomovirus crops located above 1500 masl in Colombia.

Tomato leaf curl Kerala virus (ToLCKeV) AC3 protein forms a higher order oligomer and enhances ATPase activity of replication initiator protein (Rep/AC1).

BACKGROUND: Geminiviruses are emerging plant viruses that infect a wide variety of vegetable crops, ornamental plants and cereal crops. They undergo recombination during co-infections by different species of geminiviruses and give rise to more virulent species. Antiviral strategies targeting a broad range of viruses necessitate a detailed understanding of the basic biology of the viruses. ToLCKeV, a virus prevalent in the tomato crop of Kerala state of India and a member of genus Begomovirus has been used as a model system in this study. RESULTS: AC3 is a geminiviral protein conserved across all the begomoviral species and is postulated to enhance viral DNA replication. In this work we have successfully expressed and purified the AC3 fusion proteins from E. coli. We demonstrated the higher order oligomerization of AC3 using sucrose gradient ultra-centrifugation and gel-filtration experiments. In addition we also established that ToLCKeV AC3 protein interacted with cognate AC1 protein and enhanced the AC1-mediated ATPase activity in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Highly hydrophobic viral protein AC3 can be purified as a fusion protein with either MBP or GST. The purification method of AC3 protein improves scope for the biochemical characterization of the viral protein. The enhancement of AC1-mediated ATPase activity might lead to increased viral DNA replication.

The oligomeric Rep protein of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) is a likely replicative helicase.

Geminiviruses replicate by rolling circle mode of replication (RCR) and the viral Rep protein initiates RCR by the site-specific nicking at a conserved nonamer (TAATATT downward arrow AC) sequence. The mechanism of subsequent steps of the replication process, e.g. helicase activity to drive fork-elongation, etc. has largely remained obscure. Here we show that Rep of a geminivirus, namely, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV), acts as a replicative helicase. The Rep-helicase, requiring > or =6 nt space for its efficient activity, translocates in the 3'-->5' direction, and the presence of forked junction in the substrate does not influence the activity to any great extent. Rep forms a large oligomeric complex and the helicase activity is dependent on the oligomeric conformation ( approximately 24mer). The role of Rep as a replicative helicase has been demonstrated through ex vivo studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in planta analyses in Nicotiana tabacum. We also establish that such helicase activity is not confined to the MYMIV system alone, but is also true with at least two other begomoviruses, viz., Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) and Indian cassava mosaic virus (ICMV).