• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.02a
• /
• pp.651-651
• /
• 2013

Templated strategy is a very powerful tool for creating multi-dimensional self assembly of nanomaterials. Since viral protein cages have a uniform size with a well-defined structure, they can serve as an excellent template for the formation of a three-dimensional self-assembly of synthetic nanoparticles. In this study, we have examined the feasibility of the 3D self-assembly of gold nanoparticles of various sizes using a brome mosaic virus (BMV) capsid with cysteine groups expressed on its surface as a scaffold for the assembly. It was found that the three-dimensional clusters of gold nanoparticles with a designed structure were attainable by this approach, which was verified by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.9
• /
• pp.678-683
• /
• 2008

The initial step during assembly of the hepatitis A virus particle is driven by domain 2A of P1-2A, which is the precursor of the structural proteins. The proteolytic removal of 2A from particulate VP1-2A by an as yet unknown host enzyme presumably terminates viral morphogenesis. Using a genetic approach, we show that a basic amino acid residue at the C-terminus of VP1 is required for efficient particle assembly and that host proteases trypsin and cathepsin L remove 2A from hepatitis A virus particles in vitro. Analyses of insertion mutants in the C-terminus of 2A reveal that this part of 2A is important for liberation of P1-2A from the polyprotein. The data provide the first evidence that the VP1/2A junction is involved in both viral particle assembly and maturation and, therefore, seems to coordinate the first and last steps in viral morphogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.14-14
• /
• 2003

Potato virus X (PVX), the type member of Potexvirus genus, is a flexuous rod-shaped virus containing a single-stranded (＋) RNA. Infection by PVX produces genomic plus- and minus-strand RNAs and two major subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs). To understand the mechanism for PVX replication, we are studying the cis- and/or trans-acting elements required for RNA replication. Previous studies have shown that the conserved sequences located upstream of two major sgRNAs, as well as elements in the 5' non-translated region (NTR) affect accumulation of genomic and sg RNAs. Complementarity between sequences at the 5' NTR and those located upstream of two major sgRNAs and the binding of host protein(s) to the 5' NTR have shown to be important for PVX RNA replication. The 5 NTR of PVX contains single-stranded AC-rich sequence and stem-loop structure. The potential role(s) of these cis-elements on virus replication, assembly, and their interaction with viral and host protein(s) during virus infection will be discussed based on the data obtained by in vitro binding, in vitro assembly, gel shift mobility assay, host gene expression profiling using various mutants at these regions.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.495-500
• /
• 2013

Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) is a positive strand RNA virus. We have modified TYMV coat protein (CP) by inserting a c-Myc epitope peptide at the N- or C-terminus of the CP, and have examined its effect on assembly. We introduced the recombinant CP constructs into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by agroinfiltration. Examination of the leaf extracts by agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis showed that the CP modified at the N-terminus produced a band co-migrating with wild-type virions. With C-terminal modification, however, the detected bands moved faster than the wild-type virions. To further examine the effect, TYMV constructs producing the modified CPs were prepared. With N-terminal modification, viral RNAs were protected from RNase A. In contrast, the viral RNAs were not protected with C-terminal modification. Overall, the results suggest that virion assembly and RNA packaging occur properly when the N-terminus of CP is modified, but not when the C-terminus is modified.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.735-740
• /
• 2004

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causal agent of the chronic liver infection. To understand HCV morphogenesis, we studied the assembly of HCV structural proteins in insect cells. We constructed recombinant baculovirus expression vectors consisting of either HCV core alone, core-E1, or core-E1-E2. These structural proteins were expressed in insect cells and were examined to assemble into particles. Neither core-E1 nor core-E1-E2 was capable of assembling into virus-like particles (VLPs). It was surprising that the core protein alone was assembled into core-like particles. These particles were released into the culture medium as early as 2 days after infection. In our system, HCV structural proteins including envelope proteins did not assemble into VLPs. Instead, the core protein itself has the intrinsic capacity to assemble into amorphous core-like particles. Furthermore, released core particles were associated with HCV RNA, indicating that core proteins were assembled into nucleocapsids. These results suggest that HCV may utilize a unique core release mechanism to evade the hosts defense mechanism, thus contributing to the persistence of HCV infection.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 2005

All viruses have few genes relative to their hosts. Viruses, thus, utilize many host factors for efficient viral replication in host cell. Virus-host interactions are crucial determinations of host range, replication, and pathology. Host factors participate in most steps of positive-strand RNA virus infection, including entry, viral gene expression, virion assembly, and release. Recent data show that host factors play important roles in assembling the viral RNA replication complex, selecting and recruiting viral RNA replication templates, activating the viral complex for RNA synthesis, and the other steps. These virus-host interactions may contribute to the host specificity and/or pathology. Positive-strand RNA viruses encompass over two-thirds of all virus genera and include numerous pathogens. This review focuses on the importance of host factors involved in positive strand plant RNA virus genome replication.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.162-172
• /
• 2021

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the predominant viral pathogen that affects the yield and quality of soybean. The natural host range for SMV is very narrow, and generally limited to Leguminosae. However, we found that SMV can naturally infect Pinellia ternata and Atractylodes macrocephala. In order to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the cross-family infection of SMV, we used double-stranded RNA extraction, rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction and Gibson assembly techniques to carry out SMV full-length genome amplification from susceptible soybeans and constructed an infectious cDNA clone for SMV. The genome of the SMV Shanxi isolate (SMV-SX) consists of 9,587 nt and encodes a polyprotein consisting of 3,067 aa. SMV-SX and SMV-XFQ008 had the highest nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities of 97.03% and 98.50%, respectively. A phylogenetic tree indicated that SMV-SX and SMV-XFQ018 were clustered together, sharing the closest relationship. We then constructed a pSMV-SX infectious cDNA clone by Gibson assembly technology and used this clone to inoculate soybean and Ailanthus altissima; the symptoms of these hosts were similar to those caused by the virus isolated from natural infected plant tissue. This method of construction not only makes up for the time-consuming and laborious defect of traditional methods used to construct infectious cDNA clones, but also avoids the toxicity of the Potyvirus special sequence to Escherichia coli, thus providing a useful cloning strategy for the construction of infectious cDNA clones for other viruses and laying down a foundation for the further investigation of SMV cross-family infection mechanisms.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.63 no.3
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2020

The soybean (Glycine max L.), also known as the soya bean, is an economically important legume species. Pathogens are always major threats for soybean cultivation. Several pathogens negatively affect soybean production. The soybean is also known as a susceptible host to many viruses. Recently, we carried out systematic analyses to identify viruses infecting soybeans using soybean transcriptome data. Our screening results showed that only few soybean transcriptomes contained virus-associated sequences. In this study, we further carried out bioinformatics analyses using a soybean flower bud transcriptome for virus identification, genome assembly, and single nucleotide variations (SNVs). We assembled the genome of Soybean yellow common mosaic virus (SYCMV) isolate China and revealed two SNVs. Phylogenetic analyses using three viral proteins suggested that SYCMV isolate China is closely related to SYCMV isolates from South Korea. Furthermore, we found that replication and mutation of SYCMV is relatively low, which might be associated with flower bud tissue. The most interesting finding was that SYCMV was not detected in the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) line derived from the non-CMS line that was severely infected by SYCMV. In summary, in silico analyses identified SYCMV from the soybean flower bud transcriptome, and a nearly complete genome of SYCMV was successfully assembled. Our results suggest that the low level of virus replication and mutation for SYCMV might be associated with plant tissues. Moreover, we provide the first evidence that male sterility might be used to eliminate viruses in crop plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.478-487
• /
• 2017

Soybean is the most important legume crop in the world. Several diseases in soybean lead to serious yield losses in major soybean-producing countries. Moreover, soybean can be infected by diverse viruses. Recently, we carried out a large-scale screening to identify viruses infecting soybean using available soybean transcriptome data. Of the screened transcriptomes, a soybean transcriptome for soybean seed development analysis contains several virus-associated sequences. In this study, we identified five viruses, including soybean mosaic virus (SMV), infecting soybean by de novo transcriptome assembly followed by blast search. We assembled a nearly complete consensus genome sequence of SMV China using transcriptome data. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the consensus genome sequence of SMV China was closely related to SMV isolates from South Korea. We examined single nucleotide variations (SNVs) for SMVs in the soybean seed transcriptome revealing 780 SNVs, which were evenly distributed on the SMV genome. Four SNVs, C-U, U-C, A-G, and G-A, were frequently identified. This result demonstrated the quasispecies variation of the SMV genome. Taken together, this study carried out bioinformatics analyses to identify viruses using soybean transcriptome data. In addition, we demonstrated the application of soybean transcriptome data for virus genome assembly and SNV analysis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.213-228
• /
• 2017

Plasmodesmata (PDs) are specialized intercellular channels that facilitate the exchange of various molecules, including sugars, ribonucleoprotein complexes, transcription factors, and mRNA. Their diameters, estimated to be 2.5 nm in the neck region, are too small to transfer viruses or viral genomes. Tobacco mosaic virus and Potexviruses are the most extensively studied viruses. In viruses, the movement protein (MP) is responsible for the PD gating that allows the intercellular movement of viral genomes. Various host factors interact with MP to regulate complicated mechanisms related to PD gating. Virus replication and assembly occur in viral replication complex (VRC) with membrane association, especially in the endoplasmic reticulum. VRC have a highly organized structure and are highly regulated by interactions among the various host factors, proteins encoded by the viral genome, and the viral genome. Virus trafficking requires host machineries, such as the cytoskeleton and the secretory systems. MP facilitates the virus replication and movement process. Despite the current level of understanding of virus movement, there are still many unknown and complex interactions between virus replication and virus movement. While numerous studies have been conducted to understand plant viruses with regards to cell-to-cell movement and replication, there are still many knowledge gaps. To study these interactions, adequate research tools must be used such as molecular, and biochemical techniques. Without such tools, virologists will not be able to gain an accurate or detailed understanding of the virus infection process.