Towards plant resistance to viruses using protein-only RNase P

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21338-6
• Publication Date: 2021-02-12T11:07:44Z
• Authors: Anthony Gobert; Yifat Quan; Mathilde Arrivé; Florent Waltz; Nathalie Da Silva; Lucile Jomat; Mathias Cohen; Isabelle Jupin; Philippe Giegé
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; [SDV.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biotechnology; Chloroplasts; Science; Protoplasts; Q; Arabidopsis; Biology and Life Sciences; Article; Ribonuclease P; [SDV.BV.PEP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Phytopathology and phytopharmacy; Plant Viruses; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; RNA, Transfer; Mosaic Viruses; RNA Precursors; Disease Resistance

AbstractPlant viruses cause massive crop yield loss worldwide. Most plant viruses are RNA viruses, many of which contain a functional tRNA-like structure. RNase P has the enzymatic activity to catalyze the 5′ maturation of precursor tRNAs. It is also able to cleave tRNA-like structures. However, RNase P enzymes only accumulate in the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts rather than cytosol where virus replication takes place. Here, we report a biotechnology strategy based on the re-localization of plant protein-only RNase P to the cytosol (CytoRP) to target plant viruses tRNA-like structures and thus hamper virus replication. We demonstrate the cytosol localization of protein-only RNase P in Arabidopsis protoplasts. In addition, we provide in vitro evidences for CytoRP to cleave turnip yellow mosaic virus and oilseed rape mosaic virus. However, we observe varied in vivo results. The possible reasons have been discussed. Overall, the results provided here show the potential of using CytoRP for combating some plant viral diseases.