Title:	Deciphering Cowpea resistance to Potyvirus: assessment of eIF4E gene mutations and their impact on the eIF4E-VPg protein interaction.
Authors:	ANDRADE, F. A. de LUNA-ARAGÃO, M. A. de FERREIRA, J. D. C. SOUZA, F. F. OLIVEIRA, A. C. da R. COSTA, A. F. da ARAGÃO, F. J. L. SANTOS-SILVA, C. A. dos BENKO-ISEPPON, A. M. PANDOLFI, V.
Affiliation:	FERNANDA ALVES DE ANDRADE, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO; MADSON ALLAN DE LUNA-ARAGÃO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS; JOSÉ DIOGO CAVALCANTI FERREIRA, INSTITUTO FEDERAL DE EDUCAÇÃO, CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DE PERNAMBUCO; FERNANDA FREITAS SOUZA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO; ANA CAROLINA DA ROCHA OLIVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO; ANTÔNIO FÉLIX DA COSTA, INSTITUTO AGRONÔMICO DE PERNAMBUCO; FRANCISCO JOSE LIMA ARAGAO, CENARGEN; CARLOS ANDRÉ DOS SANTOS-SILVA, CENTRO UNIVERSITÁRIO CESMAC; ANA MARIA BENKO-ISEPPON, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO; VALESCA PANDOLFI, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO.
Date Issued:	2025
Citation:	Viruses, v. 17, n. 8, 1050, 2025.
Description:	Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a crop of significant socioeconomic importance, particularly in the semi-arid regions of Africa and America. However, its productivity has been adversely affected by viral diseases, including the cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), a single-stranded RNA virus. It is known that the VPg protein interacts with the host’s translation initiation factor (eIF4E), promoting viral replication. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mutations in the cowpea eIF4E gene and resistance to CABMV. Twenty-seven cultivars were screened by PCR and bioassays for presence/absence of mutations associated with resistance or susceptibility to Potyviruses. Of the cultivars with mutations previously associated with susceptibility, 88.24% exhibited viral symptoms, while 62.5% associated with resistance remained asymptomatic. The in silico analyses revealed that non-synonymous mutations (Pro68Arg, Gly109Arg) alter the structure of the eIF4E protein, reducing its affinity to VPg. Molecular dynamics simulations also pointed to an enhanced structural stability of eIF4E in resistant cultivars and reinforced, for the first time, key mutations and the functional role of the eIF4E gene in resistance to CABMV in cowpea. Our results offer valuable insights for virus disease management and for genetic improvement programs for this important crop.
Thesagro:	Vigna Unguiculata
Keywords:	Translation initiation factor 4E CABMV Recessive resistance
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081050
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CENARGEN)