The C4 protein encoded by Tomato leaf curl Yunnan virus interferes with mitogen‐activated protein kinase cascade‐related defense responses through inhibiting the dissociation of the ERECTA/BKI1 complex

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are involved in host defense against pathogens and often activated by upstream plasma membrane leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs). ERECTA (ER) is an LRR-RLK that regulates plant developmental processes through activating MAPK cascades. Tomato leaf curl Yunnan virus (TLCYnV) C4 interacts with BKI1, stabilizes it at the impairs ER autophosphorylation suppressing dissociation of BKI1/ER complex, then inhibits activation downstream cascades, which ultimately creates a favorable environment for TLCYnV infection. This study provides novel viral strategy to impair activation.