Cell-to-Cell Movement
• Plant viruses move cell-to-cell slowly
through plasmodesmata
• Most plant viruses move cell-to-cell as
complexes of non-structural protein and
genomic RNA
• The viral protein that facilitates movement is
called the “movement protein” (MP)
• MPs act as host range determinants
• MP alone causes expansion of normally
constricted plasmodesmata pores; MPs
then traffic through rapidly
(coat protein required)
• Transmission from plant to plant
– requires whole particles