Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize

Abstract Virus-based gene expression is a simple and powerful approach for functional genetic studies in plants. Here, sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV, Potyvirus sacchari) was engineered as a dual gene expression vector for simultaneous expression of two heterologous proteins in maize plants. Inoculati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huangai Li, Ke Xie, Xiyin Zheng, Meng Han, Asigul Ismayil, Na Liu, Xiang Wei, Rong Zhong, Yan Wang, Yule Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Phytopathology Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42483-025-00330-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312170450354176
author Huangai Li
Ke Xie
Xiyin Zheng
Meng Han
Asigul Ismayil
Na Liu
Xiang Wei
Rong Zhong
Yan Wang
Yule Liu
author_facet Huangai Li
Ke Xie
Xiyin Zheng
Meng Han
Asigul Ismayil
Na Liu
Xiang Wei
Rong Zhong
Yan Wang
Yule Liu
author_sort Huangai Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Virus-based gene expression is a simple and powerful approach for functional genetic studies in plants. Here, sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV, Potyvirus sacchari) was engineered as a dual gene expression vector for simultaneous expression of two heterologous proteins in maize plants. Inoculation of the full-length cDNA clone of SCMV from agro-infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in a rapid systemic infection in maize. To assess the possibility of SCMV as the gene expression vector, the marker gene GFP or GUS was inserted into either the NIb/CP or P1/HC-Pro junction site of SCMV to produce single-gene expression vectors. The results showed that these engineered SCMV vectors permitted efficient gene expression in systemically infected leaves and had the genetic capacity of inserts of more than 1800 bp, suggesting that both junction sites are suitable for heterologous gene insertion and expression. Furthermore, two different genes GFP and mCherry could be expressed simultaneously by engineering them into either NIb/CP or P1/HC-Pro junction sites of the same vector. These results clearly demonstrate the suitability of SCMV as a transient dual gene expression vector for maize plants.
format Article
id doaj-art-4fc53d6d994b431284f776a76971ae9a
institution Kabale University
issn 2524-4167
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Phytopathology Research
spelling doaj-art-4fc53d6d994b431284f776a76971ae9a2025-08-20T03:53:11ZengBMCPhytopathology Research2524-41672025-05-017111310.1186/s42483-025-00330-8Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maizeHuangai Li0Ke Xie1Xiyin Zheng2Meng Han3Asigul Ismayil4Na Liu5Xiang Wei6Rong Zhong7Yan Wang8Yule Liu9Center for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityGuangxi Vocational University of AgricultureCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Plant Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Virus-based gene expression is a simple and powerful approach for functional genetic studies in plants. Here, sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV, Potyvirus sacchari) was engineered as a dual gene expression vector for simultaneous expression of two heterologous proteins in maize plants. Inoculation of the full-length cDNA clone of SCMV from agro-infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in a rapid systemic infection in maize. To assess the possibility of SCMV as the gene expression vector, the marker gene GFP or GUS was inserted into either the NIb/CP or P1/HC-Pro junction site of SCMV to produce single-gene expression vectors. The results showed that these engineered SCMV vectors permitted efficient gene expression in systemically infected leaves and had the genetic capacity of inserts of more than 1800 bp, suggesting that both junction sites are suitable for heterologous gene insertion and expression. Furthermore, two different genes GFP and mCherry could be expressed simultaneously by engineering them into either NIb/CP or P1/HC-Pro junction sites of the same vector. These results clearly demonstrate the suitability of SCMV as a transient dual gene expression vector for maize plants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42483-025-00330-8Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV)MaizeVirus-based gene expression vectorsDual gene expressionMechanical inoculation
spellingShingle Huangai Li
Ke Xie
Xiyin Zheng
Meng Han
Asigul Ismayil
Na Liu
Xiang Wei
Rong Zhong
Yan Wang
Yule Liu
Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
Phytopathology Research
Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV)
Maize
Virus-based gene expression vectors
Dual gene expression
Mechanical inoculation
title Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
title_full Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
title_fullStr Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
title_full_unstemmed Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
title_short Establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus-based vector for dual gene expression in maize
title_sort establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus based vector for dual gene expression in maize
topic Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV)
Maize
Virus-based gene expression vectors
Dual gene expression
Mechanical inoculation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42483-025-00330-8
work_keys_str_mv AT huangaili establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT kexie establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT xiyinzheng establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT menghan establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT asigulismayil establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT naliu establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT xiangwei establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT rongzhong establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT yanwang establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize
AT yuleliu establishmentofsugarcanemosaicvirusbasedvectorfordualgeneexpressioninmaize