TMV movement protein is not a transmembrane protein

What is it about?

Plant virus infection and spread depends on association of virus-encoded movement proteins (MPs) with biological membranes. The precise interaction of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) MP with membranes is not clear. In this paper we show that TMV MP is tightly associated with the cell membrane, but neither of its domains spans the membrane or is translocated into the lumen. This work sheds light on host factors involved in the functionality of MPs and resistance to plant viruses.

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Why is it important?

The current data provide greatly needed clarification of the topological model and provide substantial evidence that TMV MP is membrane associated only at the cytoplasmic face of the membrane and that neither of its domains is integrated into the membrane or translocated into the lumen. Understanding the topology of MPs in the ER is vital for understanding the role of the ER in plant virus transport and for predicting interactions with host factors that mediate resistance to plant viruses.