Nature Communications (Nov 2023)

A papain-like cysteine protease-released small signal peptide confers wheat resistance to wheat yellow mosaic virus

  • Peng Liu,
  • Chaonan Shi,
  • Shuang Liu,
  • Jiajia Lei,
  • Qisen Lu,
  • Haichao Hu,
  • Yan Ren,
  • Ning Zhang,
  • Congwei Sun,
  • Lu Chen,
  • Yaoyao Jiang,
  • Lixiao Feng,
  • Tianye Zhang,
  • Kaili Zhong,
  • Jiaqian Liu,
  • Juan Zhang,
  • Zhuo Zhang,
  • Bingjian Sun,
  • Jianping Chen,
  • Yimiao Tang,
  • Feng Chen,
  • Jian Yang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43643-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 18

Abstract

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Abstract Wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV), a soil-borne pathogen, poses a serious threat to global wheat production. Here, we identify a WYMV resistance gene, TaRD21A, that belongs to the papain-like cysteine protease family. Through genetic manipulation of TaRD21A expression, we establish its positive role in the regulation of wheat to WYMV resistance. Furthermore, our investigation shows that the TaRD21A-mediated plant antiviral response relies on the release of a small peptide catalyzed by TaRD21A protease activity. To counteract wheat resistance, WYMV-encoded nuclear inclusion protease-a (NIa) suppress TaRD21A activity to promote virus infection. In resistant cultivars, a natural variant of TaRD21A features a alanine to serine substitution and this substitution enables the phosphorylation of Serine, thereby weakening the interaction between NIa and TaRD21A, reinforcing wheat resistance against WYMV. Our study not only unveils a WYMV resistance gene but also offers insights into the intricate mechanisms underpinning resistance against WYMV.