CCMB Uncovers Plant Virus Defense

Scientists at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, led by Mandar V. Deo and with Jaydeep Paul as first author, have uncovered a crucial plant defense mechanism. They discovered that plants use liquid-like, sticky protein droplets, known as biomolecular condensates, to trap and disable invading viruses. These proteins possess unique folds with strategically distributed electric charges, creating 'sticky patches' that allow them to bind together and form dense, gel-like droplets. This mechanism effectively traps viral RNA, preventing it from replicating. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, has significant implications for agriculture, potentially leading to crop varieties with stronger natural immunity against viral outbreaks. Furthermore, the findings may have applications in human health, offering insights into dissolving neurotoxic protein clumps associated with dementia and disrupting protective liquid barriers around tumors, which could aid in drug development.