A viral protein competitively bound to rice CIPK23 inhibits potassium absorption and facilitates virus systemic infection in rice.

Potassium (K) plays a crucial role as a macronutrient in the growth and development of plants. Studies have definitely determined the vital roles of K in response to pathogen invasion. Our previous investigations revealed that rice plants infected with rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) displayed a reduction in K content, but the mechanism by which RGSV infection subverts K uptake remains unknown. In this study, we found that overexpression of RGSV P1, a specific viral protein encoded by viral RNA1, results in enhanced sensitivity to low K stress and exhibits a significantly lower rate of K influx compared to wild-type rice plants. Further investigation revealed that RGSV P1 interacts with OsCIPK23, an upstream regulator of Shaker K channel OsAKT1. Moreover, we found that the P1 protein recruits the OsCIPK23 to the Cajal bodies (CBs). In vivo assays demonstrated that the P1 protein competitively binds to OsCIPK23 with both OsCBL1 and OsAKT1. In the nucleus, the P1 protein enhances the binding of OsCIPK23 to OsCoilin, a homologue of the signature protein of CBs in Arabidopsis, and facilitates their trafficking through these CB structures. Genetic analysis indicates that mutant in oscipk23 suppresses RGSV systemic infection. Conversely, osakt1 mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to RGSV infection. These findings suggest that RGSV P1 hinders the absorption of K in rice plants by recruiting the OsCIPK23 to the CB structures. This process potentially promotes virus systemic infection but comes at the expense of inhibiting OsAKT1 activity.