Arabidopsis RTM1 and RTM2 Genes Function in Phloem to Restrict Long-Distance Movement of Tobacco Etch Virus

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) 2001-12, Vol.127 (4), p.1667-1675
• Main Authors: Chisholm, Stephen T., Michael A. Parra, Anderberg, Robert J., Carrington, James C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - physiology; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - physiology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; Escherichia coli - genetics; Fluorescence; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; green fluorescent protein; Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; Heat-Shock Proteins - physiology; Lectins - genetics; Lectins - physiology; Nicotiana - virology; Pathology. Damages, economic importance; Phloem; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Diseases - virology; Plant Lectins; Plant Proteins; Plant Structures - genetics; Plant Structures - physiology; Plant tissues; Plant viruses and viroids; Plants; Plants and fungi; Plants Interacting with Other Organisms; Plants, Genetically Modified; Potyvirus - physiology; Proteins; Regulatory sequences; RTM1 gene; RTM1 protein; RTM2 gene; RTM3 gene; Sieve elements; Stems; Tobacco etch virus; Transgenic plants; Viruses
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.010479

Restriction of long-distance movement of tobacco etch virus (TEV) in Arabidopsis ecotype Col-0 plants requires the function of at least three genes: RTM1 (restricted TEV movement 1), RTM2, and RTM3. The mechanism of TEV movement restriction remains poorly understood, although it does not involve a hypersensitive response or systemic acquired resistance. A functional characterization of RTM1 and RTM2 was done. The RTM1 protein was found to be soluble with the potential to form self-interacting complexes. The regulatory regions of both the RTM1 and RTM2 genes were analyzed using reporter constructs. The regulatory sequences from both genes directed expression of β-glucuronidase exclusively in phloem-associated cells. Translational fusion proteins containing the green fluorescent protein and RTM1 or RTM2 localized to sieve elements when expressed from their native regulatory sequences. Thus, components of the RTM system may function within phloem, and sieve elements in particular, to restrict TEV long-distance movement.