Engineered Tobacco mosaic virus mutants with distinct physical characteristics in planta and enhanced metallization properties

authored by

Anan Kadri, Edgar Maiß, Nadja Amsharov, Alexander M. Bittner, Sinan Balci, Klaus Kern, Holger Jeske, Christina Wege

Abstract

Tobacco mosaic virus mutants were engineered to alter either the stability or surface chemistry of the virion: within the coat protein, glutamic acid was exchanged for glutamine in a buried portion to enhance the inter-subunit binding stability (E50Q), or a hexahistidine tract was fused to the surface-exposed carboxy terminus of the coat protein (6xHis). Both mutant viruses were expected to possess specific metal ion affinities. They accumulated to high titers in plants, induced distinct phenotypes, and their physical properties during purification differed from each other and from wild type (wt) virus. Whereas 6xHis and wt virions contained RNA, the majority of E50Q protein assembled essentially without RNA into rods which frequently exceeded 2 μm in length. Electroless deposition of nickel metallized the outer surface of 6xHis virions, but the central channel of E50Q rods, with significantly more nanowires of increased length in comparison to those formed in wtTMV.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Horticultural Production Systems

External Organisation(s)

University of Stuttgart
Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (MPI-FKF)

Type

Article

Journal

Virus research

Volume

157

Pages

35-46

No. of pages

12

ISSN

0168-1702

Publication date

08.02.2011

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cancer Research, Virology, Infectious Diseases

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2011.01.014 (Access: Closed)