Comparison of the minor coat protein gene sequences of aphid-transmissible and -nontransmissible isolates of Citrus tristeza virus

The nucleotide sequences for the minor coat protein (CPm) gene and its deduced amino acid sequences for two aphid-transmissible and two nontransmissible isolates of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) from symptomless orchard trees of Miyagawa satsuma [Citrus unshiu (Macf.) Marc.] on trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliate (L.) Raf.] and declining Washington navel [C. sinensis (L.) Osb.] trees on sour orange (C. aurantium L.) rootstocks were analyzed and compared with those of highly transmissible CTV strains available in GenBank. The isolates produced severe symptoms on indicator plants and their aphid transmissibility was assayed through acquisition by A. gossypii of CTV and subsequent inoculation feeding on young Mexican lime seedlings. The CPm gene nucleotides and coded amino acid sequences were very similar among the nontransmissible isolates and among the transmissible. Five of 73 nucleotide substitutions that existed between CPm gene nucleotide sequence of nontransmissible and transmissible isolates caused changes in the deduced amino acid sequences of the nontransmissible isolates. Two nucleotide substitutions yielded new amino acids with similar properties. However, the three remaining mutations led to substitution of new amino acids with a different charge and polarity at positions 14, 238 and 239. The last two mutations occurred at the C-terminal region of the CPm, which is implicated in the formation of a salt bridge that helps to maintain the protein’s tertiary structure. Amino acid substitutions can affect aphid transmission efficiency by altering the conformation of the proteins or masking motifs involved in the interaction between CPm and aphid stylets.