Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 13: Researchers at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology have uncovered a crucial defence mechanism that plants use to protect themselves from viral infections, offering new possibilities for stronger disease-resistant crops and future medical breakthroughs.

The study, led by scientist Mandar V. Deshmukh and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, explains how certain plant proteins form sticky, liquid-like structures that can capture and disable viruses before they spread inside cells.

According to the researchers, many viruses carry double-stranded RNA as their genetic material. When plants detect such infections, they produce specialised RNA-binding proteins that identify and attach themselves to the viral genetic material at specific replication sites. Once attached, these proteins interfere with the virus’s ability to reproduce, effectively stopping the infection from multiplying within plant cells.

Until now, scientists largely believed these proteins functioned through a simple “lock-and-key” interaction with viral RNA. However, the CCMB team discovered a far more complex mechanism using advanced techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations.

The researchers found that the proteins possess uniquely arranged electrical charges on their surfaces, creating sticky interaction zones. These charged regions attract one another, allowing multiple proteins to assemble into interconnected, gel-like droplets known as biomolecular condensates.

Dr Jaydeep Paul, the study’s first author, explained that these droplets behave like a molecular glue system inside plant cells. By forming dense clusters around viral RNA, they effectively isolate the virus and prevent it from accessing the cellular machinery required for replication.

The findings also contribute to a broader scientific shift in understanding how cells function. Instead of viewing cells only as collections of rigid membrane-bound structures like nuclei and mitochondria, scientists increasingly see them as dynamic environments where temporary, droplet-like compartments form and dissolve as needed.

Researchers believe the discovery could have major agricultural applications by helping scientists develop crops with stronger built-in immunity against viral diseases that cause significant global crop losses every year.

The implications may also extend beyond plants. Scientists say a better understanding of these sticky protein interactions in human cells could eventually support the development of treatments for conditions linked to harmful protein clumps, including neurodegenerative disorders and certain cancers. The research may also pave the way for future drugs designed to precisely control these molecular interactions for medical use.