Work

The NSvc4 Protein of Rice Stripe Virus Suppresses Chloroplast-Mediated Defense by Interacting with NbPsbQ

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The chloroplast, a key organelle for plant immunity, is frequently targeted by viral proteins to suppress host defense. Here, we demonstrate that NSvc4, the movement protein of rice stripe virus (Tenuivirus oryzaclavatae; genus Tenuivirus), functions as a chloroplast-localized virulence effector. We show that NSvc4 enters chloroplasts and directly associates with NbPsbQ, a subunit of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of Photosystem II. This interaction competitively disrupts the binding of NbPsbQ to its native partners NbPsbO and NbPsbP, thereby dampening the accumulation of chloroplast-derived reactive oxygen species (cROS) and attenuating pathogen-triggered immune signaling. Genetic knockout of NbPsbQ enhanced plant susceptibility to RSV, confirming its role as a positive regulator of antiviral defense. Our study uncovers a distinct strategy whereby a viral movement protein inhibits chloroplast-mediated immunity by targeting extrinsic subunits of the OEC. These findings expand the functional scope of viral movement proteins and highlight the OEC as a critical battleground in plant–virus interactions.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27093859

Authors: Zongdi Li, Chenyang Li, Jianxiang Wu, Xiuling Yang, Xueping Zhou

Institutions: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests

Language: English

Topic: Plant Virus Research Studies

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499