The 6-kilodalton peptide 1 in plant viruses of the family Potyviridae is a viroporin

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401748121
• Publication Date: 2024-05-13T19:01:27Z
• Authors: Mengzhu Chai; Lei Li; Yong Li; Yingshuai Yang; Yuting Wang; Xue Jiang; Yameng Luan; Fangfang Li; Hongguang Cui; Aiming Wang; Wensheng Xiang; Xiaoyun Wu; Xiaofei Cheng
• Keywords: Potyviridae; Tetraspanin

Potyviridae, the largest family of plant RNA viruses, includes many important pathogens that significantly reduce yields crops worldwide. In this study, we report 6-kilodalton peptide 1 (6K1), one least characterized potyviral proteins, is an endoplasmic reticulum–localized protein. AI–assisted structure modeling and biochemical assays suggest 6K1 forms pentamers with a central hydrophobic tunnel, can increase cell membrane permeability Escherichia coli Nicotiana benthamiana , conduct potassium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . An infectivity assay showed viral proliferation inhibited by mutations affect multimerization. Moreover, or its homologous 7K proteins from other viruses Potyviridae also have ability to transmembrane conductance. Taken together, these data reveal function as viroporins infected cells.