Researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have identified a crucial defense mechanism in plants that helps combat viruses. Plants utilize sticky protein droplets to trap and deactivate invading viruses. The study, led by Dr. Mandar V. Deshmukh and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), sheds light on the detailed molecular process behind this defense strategy.
When plants get infected by viruses containing double-stranded RNA, they produce specific proteins known as RNA-binding proteins. These proteins can recognize the viral RNA and bind to the Viral Replication Complexes, hindering the virus’s genetic replication process. By preventing the division of the virus’s genetic material, the virus fails to replicate within the infected cells. The exact mechanism of how these proteins bind to the RNA has been a mystery until now, as per a release from the CCMB.
Traditionally, it was believed that RNA-binding proteins attach to double-stranded RNA like a key fitting into a lock. However, through advanced techniques like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, the CCMB researchers discovered a unique structure in these proteins. This structure features electric charges distributed on the protein’s surface, creating sticky patches that attract and bind to one another, forming dense, gel-like droplets.
“These proteins function as a molecular adhesive,” explains Dr. Jaydeep Paul, the study’s lead author. By forming these dense droplets, plant cells effectively trap viral RNA, preventing it from interacting with the replication machinery. These biomolecular condensates not only revolutionize the understanding of cell biology but also offer promising implications for agricultural and medical biotechnology applications.
