The Peptide AmPep1 Derived from Amaranth Recognizes the Replication Hairpin of TYLCV Disturbing Its Replication Process in Host Plants

Abstract

Antiviral compounds targeting viral replicative processes have been studied as an alternative for the control of begomoviruses. Previously, we have reported that the peptide AmPep1 has strong affinity binding to the replication origin sequence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). In this study, we describe the mechanism of action of this peptide as a novel alternative for control of plant-infecting DNA viruses. When AmPep1 was applied exogenously to tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana plants infected with TYLCV, a decrease in the synthesis of the two viral DNA strands (CS and VS) was observed, with a consequent delay in the development of disease progress in treated plants. The chemical mechanism of action of AmPep1 was deduced using Raman spectroscopy and molecular modeling showing the formation of chemical interactions such as H bonds and electrostatic interactions and the formation of pi-pi interactions between both biomolecules contributing to tampering with the viral replication.

Keywords

peptide; TYLCV; Raman spectroscopy; plant virus; antiviral

Published in

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
2019, volume: 67, number: 33, pages: 9241-9253
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

SLU Authors

• Kvarnheden, Anders

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network
AMR: Virus

UKÄ Subject classification

Botany
Structural Biology
Microbiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b02526

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/101579