Coat Protein-mediated Resistance Research Articles

Inhibition of uncoating of tobacco mosaic virus particles in protoplasts from transqenic tobacco plants that express the viral coat protein gene

The uncoating of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles in protoplasts isolated from leaves of transgenic tobacco plants that express the TMV coat protein gene was investigated. Extracts of these protoplasts collected up to 1 hr after inoculation with TMV contained fewer of the complexes (“striposomes”) thought to be involved in cotranslational disassembly of virus particles than did extracts of protoplasts that do not express the viral coat protein gene. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TMV coat protein-mediated resistance is at least in part the result of inhibition of the uncoating of the virus particles in the inoculum.

Coat Protein-Mediated Resistance Against Virus Infection

The common phenotype of different resistant plants are described and individual examples are reviewed in order to compare and contrast the characteristics of resistance to different viruses. The limited number of experiments that explore the fundamental basis of resistance are described. Ideas are presented for the types of experiments that are needed to more completely understand the mechanisms of resistance and to extend the resistance to other important plant viruses. Topics covered include: definition; strategy to create coat protein-mediated resistance; phenotype of coat protein-mediated resistance; examples of coat protein-mediated resistance; understanding the mechanisms of CP-mediated resistance; field tests of coat protein-mediated resistance; and conclusions and future directions