Movement of potexviruses requires species-specific interactions among the cognate triple gene block proteins, as revealed by a trans-complementation assay based on the bamboo mosaic virus satellite RNA-mediated expression system.

The intra- and intercellular transport of potexviruses require interactions among viral RNA, coat protein and elements of the triple gene block proteins (TGBps). In this study, the requirement of bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) TGBps for movement functions and the compatibilities with those of two potexviruses, Potato virus X (PVX) and Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV), were examined using a satellite RNA-mediated trans-complementation assay system. Single or multiple TGBps of BaMV, PVX and FoMV were expressed from BaMV satellite RNA (satBaMV RNA) vectors to complement the functions of green fluorescent protein-tagged, movement-defective BaMV with mutation(s) in the matching gene(s). It was found that individual BaMV TGBps expressed from the satellite vector could function normally in trans, whereas bi-gene BaMV TGBp constructs in which the expression of TGBp3 might be impaired and individual TGBp genes from PVX or FoMV could not complement the movement functions of the defective helper viruses. Furthermore, alterations of the ratio among TGBps by ectopic expression of individual components of TGBps from satBaMV RNA vectors did not affect the cell-to-cell movement capabilities of wild-type BaMV significantly. The results indicate that species-specific interactions among movement proteins are obligatory for the cell-to-cell movement of BaMV and possibly other potexviruses.