Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis

Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), which is caused by maize chlorotic mottle virus along with a potyvirus, has threatened the food security of smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. Mutations in eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs), which also facilitate virus genome translation, are known to con...

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Main Authors: Wen, Zhengyu, Lu, Fengzhong, Jung, Mark, Humbert, Sabrina, Marshall, Lisa, Hastings, Craig, Wu, Emily, Jones, Todd, Pacheco, Mario, Martinez, Ivan, Mahabaleswara, Suresh L., Beyene, Yoseph, Prasanna, Boddupalli M., Pixley, Kevin V., Dhugga, Kanwarpal
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/163232
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author Wen, Zhengyu
Lu, Fengzhong
Jung, Mark
Humbert, Sabrina
Marshall, Lisa
Hastings, Craig
Wu, Emily
Jones, Todd
Pacheco, Mario
Martinez, Ivan
Mahabaleswara, Suresh L.
Beyene, Yoseph
Prasanna, Boddupalli M.
Pixley, Kevin V.
Dhugga, Kanwarpal
author_browse Beyene, Yoseph
Dhugga, Kanwarpal
Hastings, Craig
Humbert, Sabrina
Jones, Todd
Jung, Mark
Lu, Fengzhong
Mahabaleswara, Suresh L.
Marshall, Lisa
Martinez, Ivan
Pacheco, Mario
Pixley, Kevin V.
Prasanna, Boddupalli M.
Wen, Zhengyu
Wu, Emily
author_facet Wen, Zhengyu
Lu, Fengzhong
Jung, Mark
Humbert, Sabrina
Marshall, Lisa
Hastings, Craig
Wu, Emily
Jones, Todd
Pacheco, Mario
Martinez, Ivan
Mahabaleswara, Suresh L.
Beyene, Yoseph
Prasanna, Boddupalli M.
Pixley, Kevin V.
Dhugga, Kanwarpal
author_sort Wen, Zhengyu
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), which is caused by maize chlorotic mottle virus along with a potyvirus, has threatened the food security of smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. Mutations in eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs), which also facilitate virus genome translation, are known to confer variable resistance against viruses. Following phylogenetic analysis, we selected two eIF4E proteins from maize as the most likely candidates to facilitate MLN infection. A knockout (KO) of each of the corresponding genes in elite but MLN-susceptible maize lines conferred only partial protection. Our inability to knockout both the genes together suggested that at least one was required for survival. When we edited (ED) the eIF4E genes in Mini Maize, however, the plants with the eif4e1-KO became highly resistant, whereas those with the eif4e2-KO remained susceptible. Neither of the causal viruses could be detected in the MLN-inoculated eif4e1-KO plants. The eIF4E2 cDNA in Mini Maize lacked the entire 4th exon, causing a 22-amino acid in-frame deletion, which shortened the protein to 198 amino acids. When we introduced mutations in the 4th exon of the eIF4E2 gene in two elite, MLN-susceptible lines pre-edited for an eif4e1-KO, we obtained as strong resistance against MLN as in eif4e1-KO Mini Maize. The MLN-inoculated lines with eif4e1-KO/eIF4E2-exon-4ED performed as well as the uninoculated wild-type lines. We demonstrate that the C-terminal 38 amino acids of eIF4E2 are dispensable for normal plant growth but are required for the multiplication of MLN viruses. Our discovery has wide applications across plant species for developing virus-resistant varieties.
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spelling CGSpace1632322025-12-08T09:54:28Z Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis Wen, Zhengyu Lu, Fengzhong Jung, Mark Humbert, Sabrina Marshall, Lisa Hastings, Craig Wu, Emily Jones, Todd Pacheco, Mario Martinez, Ivan Mahabaleswara, Suresh L. Beyene, Yoseph Prasanna, Boddupalli M. Pixley, Kevin V. Dhugga, Kanwarpal maize necrosis disease resistance gene editing food security Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), which is caused by maize chlorotic mottle virus along with a potyvirus, has threatened the food security of smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. Mutations in eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs), which also facilitate virus genome translation, are known to confer variable resistance against viruses. Following phylogenetic analysis, we selected two eIF4E proteins from maize as the most likely candidates to facilitate MLN infection. A knockout (KO) of each of the corresponding genes in elite but MLN-susceptible maize lines conferred only partial protection. Our inability to knockout both the genes together suggested that at least one was required for survival. When we edited (ED) the eIF4E genes in Mini Maize, however, the plants with the eif4e1-KO became highly resistant, whereas those with the eif4e2-KO remained susceptible. Neither of the causal viruses could be detected in the MLN-inoculated eif4e1-KO plants. The eIF4E2 cDNA in Mini Maize lacked the entire 4th exon, causing a 22-amino acid in-frame deletion, which shortened the protein to 198 amino acids. When we introduced mutations in the 4th exon of the eIF4E2 gene in two elite, MLN-susceptible lines pre-edited for an eif4e1-KO, we obtained as strong resistance against MLN as in eif4e1-KO Mini Maize. The MLN-inoculated lines with eif4e1-KO/eIF4E2-exon-4ED performed as well as the uninoculated wild-type lines. We demonstrate that the C-terminal 38 amino acids of eIF4E2 are dispensable for normal plant growth but are required for the multiplication of MLN viruses. Our discovery has wide applications across plant species for developing virus-resistant varieties. 2024-12 2024-12-09T18:31:09Z 2024-12-09T18:31:09Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/163232 en Open Access application/pdf Wiley Wen, Z., Lu, F., Jung, M., Humbert, S., Marshall, L., Hastings, C., Wu, E., Jones, T., Pacheco, M., Martinez, I., Suresh, L. M., Beyene, Y., Boddupalli, P., Pixley, K., & Dhugga, K. S. (2024). Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 22(12), 3523–3535. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14472
spellingShingle maize
necrosis
disease resistance
gene editing
food security
Wen, Zhengyu
Lu, Fengzhong
Jung, Mark
Humbert, Sabrina
Marshall, Lisa
Hastings, Craig
Wu, Emily
Jones, Todd
Pacheco, Mario
Martinez, Ivan
Mahabaleswara, Suresh L.
Beyene, Yoseph
Prasanna, Boddupalli M.
Pixley, Kevin V.
Dhugga, Kanwarpal
Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title_full Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title_fullStr Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title_full_unstemmed Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title_short Edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
title_sort edited eukaryotic translation initiation factors confer resistance against maize lethal necrosis
topic maize
necrosis
disease resistance
gene editing
food security
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/163232
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