Membrane association of importin α facilitates viral entry into salivary gland cells of vector insects
Yonghuan Ma, Hong Lü, Wei Wang, Jiaming Zhu, Wan Zhao, Feng Cui
Abstract
Significance The importin α family is well known as a cargo transporter from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, with diverse functions in eukaryotes. However, some members of the importin α family also localize to the cell membrane. Here, we report that a cell membrane–associated importin α takes part in viral transmission by vector insects. Importin α2 of the small brown planthopper binds the rice stripe virus on the proteoglycans of the cell membrane and efficiently controls viral entry into insect salivary glands and subsequent transmission to rice. These findings not only demonstrate the specific function of importin α in the cell membrane utilized by viruses, but also provide a promising target gene for preventing outbreaks of rice stripe disease.