Functional Analysis of BCTV ORF L4 by Site-directed Mutagenesis

Site-directed mutagenesis를 이용한 BCTV ORF L4의 기능 분석

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) mutant has been constructed in vitro that contain G-to-T transversions at nucleotide 2727 within overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) L1 and L4. The mutations introduce termination codon in ORF L4 without affecting the amino acid encoded by ORF L1. When agroinoculated into Arabidopsis thaliana the mutant caused mild stunting and stem curling, but not the callus induction and hyperlasia on infected tissues of Sei-O ecotype. However, this mutant was not infectious on Col-O. Levels of single stranded DNA forms were similar in mutant and wild type BCTV infections. The DNA quantitation data showed that the DNA of BCTV-L4 mutant virus was accumulated in shoot tips, infection origin and roots with similar levels to those of wild type virus infected. Three tissues of asymptomatic ecotype Col-O also had as much as virus DNA from wild type virus infections. In both ecotypes infected with BCTV-Logan and BCTV-L4 mutant, root tissues contained more virus DNA than any other tissues by the Southern hybridization data. The results suggest that ORF L4 encodes a functional protein that is a major determinant of pathogenesis that might affect the hyperplastic response of the host to BCTV infection.