Objective
A typical plant virus enters the initially inoculated cell through a wound site induced either mechanically or by an insect vector. The virus then spreads from cell to cell until reaching the vascular system of the plant. This is the short-distance movement mechanism. A second process, the long-distance mechanism, then allows the virus to enter the vascular system and spread systemically in the plant. The aim of this research is to characterise the movement mechanisms of several viruses with RNA genomes, with particular emphasis given to the identification of common processes in the movement of different groups of viruses.
In one approach these common processes will be analysed by trans-complementation of a movement defect in a virus by inoculation with a second virus. Alternatively the complementing function will be provided by transgenic expression of the movement protein of the second virus. Using mutant viruses, either as complemented or as complementing components of these experiments, it will be possible to identify domains of different viral movement proteins carrying out homologous functions. The participants in the network have both the experience and the required clones and transgenic plants to enable these experiments to be carried out with an extensive range of viral systems.
The research will also include experiments to analyse variation between virus isolates as an approach to identification of virus functions implicated in movement.
A final component of the research is the analysis of structural changes in the plant associated with expression of viral movement proteins. Successful completion of the planned research will provide information required for the genetic engineering of plants with broad spectrum virus resistance.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
NR47UH NORWICH
United Kingdom