Perception of viral infections and initiation of antiviral defence in rice
Crop production faces persistent threats from insect-vector-borne viral diseases<sup>1,2</sup>. Recent advancements have revealed the intricate immune mechanisms that plants deploy against viral pathogens<sup>3-8</sup>. However, the molecular mechanisms through which plant hosts recognize viral infections and initiate antiviral defence at disease onset have not been elucidated. Here, through the natural infection of rice by inoculation with insect vectors carrying the natural forms of viruses, we show that viral coat proteins are perceived by the RING1-IBR-RING2-type ubiquitin ligase (RBRL), initiating the first step of the natural antiviral response in rice. RBRL subsequently targets an adaptor protein of the transcriptional repression complex of the jasmonate pathway, NOVEL INTERACTOR OF JAZ 3 (NINJA3), for degradation through the ubiquitination system, inducing jasmonate signalling and activating downstream antiviral defence. We further show that this phenomenon is a universal molecular mechanism used by rice plants to perceive viral infections and initiate antiviral signalling cascades. This approach is important not only for obtaining a deeper understanding of virus-host interactions but also for further disease resistance breeding.
Authors
- Shuo Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9636-9376)
- Tong Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-3001)
- Linlin Du (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8868-6374)
- Zhirui Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2131-5864)
- Changtian Chen
- Jiajia Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3904-6642)
- Shengze Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4195-8402)
- Yanhong Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1636-4047)
- Yu Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5681-1476)
- Xi Sun
- Jiahao Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-4470)
- He Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9654-6283)
- Yi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0258-3452)
- Wenming Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6652-5964)
- Xiaoqiang Cao
- Qi Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8262-9093)
- Jialin Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-8278)
- Yinghua Ji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3532-7582)
- Chunhong Wei
Institutions
- Yunnan University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Sichuan Agricultural University (CN)
- Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Institute of Plant Protection (CN)
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (CN)
- Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Syngenta (China) (CN)
- China Agricultural University (CN)
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature
- Published
- 2025-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08706-8
- Citations
- 33
- Primary Topic
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 57.74