Selective autophagy limits cauliflower mosaic virus infection by NBR1-mediated targeting of viral capsid protein and particles

Significance

Autophagy contributes to innate immune responses in metazoans by targeted elimination of intracellular pathogens, including viruses, in a process termed “xenophagy.” Whether autophagy has a similar role in plant immunity is unknown. Here we demonstrate that the selective autophagy receptor NEIGHBOR OF BRCA1 (NBR1) binds the viral capsid protein and particles of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and mediates their autophagic degradation. We further demonstrate that this antiviral xenophagy is counteracted by protective functions of autophagy-resistant CaMV inclusion bodies. Finally, we show that a second, nonselective NBR1-independent autophagy pathway promotes plant viability during infection and serves as a proviral mechanism to extend the timespan for virus production and potential CaMV transmission. Thus autophagy exhibits important pro- and antiviral roles in compatible plant–virus interactions.

Abstract

Autophagy plays a paramount role in mammalian antiviral immunity including direct targeting of viruses and their individual components, and many viruses have evolved measures to antagonize or even exploit autophagy mechanisms for the benefit of infection. In plants, however, the functions of autophagy in host immunity and viral pathogenesis are poorly understood. In this study, we have identified both anti- and proviral roles of autophagy in the compatible interaction of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), a double-stranded DNA pararetrovirus, with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that the autophagy cargo receptor NEIGHBOR OF BRCA1 (NBR1) targets nonassembled and virus particle-forming capsid proteins to mediate their autophagy-dependent degradation, thereby restricting the establishment of CaMV infection. Intriguingly, the CaMV-induced virus factory inclusions seem to protect against autophagic destruction by sequestering capsid proteins and coordinating particle assembly and storage. In addition, we found that virus-triggered autophagy prevents extensive senescence and tissue death of infected plants in a largely NBR1-independent manner. This survival function significantly extends the timespan of virus production, thereby increasing the chances for virus particle acquisition by aphid vectors and CaMV transmission. Together, our results provide evidence for the integration of selective autophagy into plant immunity against viruses and reveal potential viral strategies to evade and adapt autophagic processes for successful pathogenesis.