A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Depletion of the photosystem II core complex in mature tobacco leaves infected by the Flavum strain of tobacco mosaic virus




AuthorsLehto K, Tikkanen M, Hiriart JB, Paakkarinen V, Aro EM

PublisherAMER PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOC

Publication year2003

Journal:Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Journal name in sourceMOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS

Journal acronymMOL PLANT MICROBE IN

Volume16

Issue12

First page 1135

Last page1144

Number of pages10

ISSN0894-0282

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI.2003.16.12.1135


Abstract
The flavum strain of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) differs from the wild-type (wt) virus by causing strong yellow and green mosaic in the systemically infected developing leaves, yellowing in the fully expanded leaves, and distinct malformations of chloroplasts in both types of infected tissues. Analysis of the thylakoid proteins of flavum strain-infected tobacco leaves indicated that the chlorosis in mature leaves was accompanied by depletion of the entire photosystem 11 (PSII) core complexes and the 33-kDa protein of the oxygen evolving complex. The only change observed in the thylakoid proteins of the corresponding wt TMV-infected leaves was a slight reduction of the alpha and beta subunits of the ATP synthase complex. The coat proteins of different yellowing strains of TMV are known to effectively accumulate inside chloroplasts, but in this work, the viral movement protein also was detected in association with the thylakoid membranes of flavum strain-infected leaves. The mRNAs of different enzymes involved in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway were not reduced in the mature chlorotic leaves. These results suggest that the chlorosis was not caused by reduction of pigment biosynthesis, but rather, by reduction of specific proteins of the PSII core complexes and by consequent break-down of the pigments.



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