Sequences within the Spinach curly top virus virion sense promoter are necessary for vascular-specific expression of virion sense genes

Sequences necessary for activity of the Spinach curly top virus virion sense promoter have been identified within an 84 bp region upstream of two transcription start sites located at nt 252 and 292. RNAs initiating at these sites are expressed at equivalent levels in SCTV-infected Arabidopsis and from promoter-reporter constructs. The promoter is capable of directing expression of all three virion sense genes, although not to the same degree. While CP and V3 expression are similar, expression of V2 is elevated. The promoter is active in transient leaf infusion assays in the absence of C2. In Nicotiana benthamiana plants the promoter is active in vascular tissue and under no conditions did we detect promoter activity in the mesophyll. This is in contrast to begomoviruses where the virion sense promoter is dependent on AL2, a positional homolog of C2, and the promoter is functional in both vascular and mesophyll tissue.

► Promoter elements for SCTV virion sense transcription have been identified. ► The virion sense promoter drives expression of the three virion sense genes. ► The virion sense promoter is active only in vascular tissue. ► The virion sense promoter is active in the absence of the viral C2 protein.