FIGURE 5.

RNA silencing suppression by RHBV NS3. The GFP-expressing Nicotiana benthamiana leaves (16C) were co-infiltrated with a mixture of two Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains. One directs the expression of RHBV NS3 WT together with GFP (lower-left spot on the leaf) and the other directs the expression of RHBV NS3 mutant (NS3 NTD, NS3 CTD, NS3 D38A, NS3 R50A/H51A, NS3 H57A, NS3 N71A, NS3 K77A, NS3 H85A, NS3 R87A, respectively) together with GFP (lower-right spot on the leaf). Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain with transformed GFP-expressing vector was infiltrated at the upper spot on the leaf as a negative control. The leaves were detached and photographed under UV illumination 6 d after infiltration.