Location: Vegetable Crops Research
Project Number: 5090-21220-005-012-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2015
End Date: Jun 30, 2019
Objective:
The focus of this research is to understand the mechanism that allows breakdown of eIF4E-mediated resistance by specific strains of PVY. This objective fits with the long-term goal to assess the sustainability of eIF4E-mediated resistance as a disease control strategy against PVY under the constant pressure of emergence of more virulent strains.
Our specific objectives are to:
1) use a next-generation sequencing approach to identify and quantify the expression level of the mutated eIF4E transgene over that of endogenous eIF4E alleles and its eIFiso4E isoforms in our transgenic lines.
We hypothesize that: 1) the different resistance phenotypes of the transgenic potato lines are linked to the differential expression of the endogenous wild type eIF4E over that of the transgene, and 2) Various tube isolates maintain infection with a relatively low level of endogenous eIF4E and/or uses eIFiso4E variants.
2) measure the interaction potential of the viral protein VPg of the various PVY strains to the different eIF4E and eIFiso4E alleles expressed in the transgenic lines. The determinant of virulence is based on the VPg-eIF4E interaction.
We hypothesize that various tuber isolates have a stronger affinity to the eIF4E alleles and the isoforms than PVYO.
Approach:
Cooperator will be responsible for contributing plant materials that have different resistance phenotypes. These materials will be used to identify genes responsible for resistance or susceptibility. Cooperator will also provide materials needed to study the protein-protein interaction between specific viral and host proteins. ARS will provide resources and methods for the analysis of protein-protein interactions.
