Utilizing the mechanisms of Nicotiana benthamiana asparagine synthetase NbAS-B for the creation of PGANPs: A novel approach to enhance growth and induce resistance against viral infection

Utilizing the mechanisms of Nicotiana benthamiana asparagine synthetase NbAS-B for the creation of PGANPs: A novel approach to enhance growth and induce resistance against viral infection | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Utilizing the mechanisms of Nicotiana benthamiana asparagine synthetase NbAS-B for the creation of PGANPs: A novel approach to enhance growth and induce resistance against viral infection Xianchao Sun, Gang Qiao, Changyun Liu, Li Chen, ShaoRui Tian, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5395869/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Asparagine synthetase AS-B plays a pivotal role in the response to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection. In this study, the evolutionarily conserved NbAS-B was found to induce both antiviral and growth-promoting responses in an expression intensity-dependent manner in Nicotiana benthamiana. These effects were mediated through glutamate-dependent enhancement of salicylic acid (SA) signaling and reprogramming of the photosynthesis pathway. Further, based on the stronger resistance induction of polyglutamic acid (PGA), a polymer of glutamate, we developed nanogels (PGANPs) by loading PGA onto chitosan via electrostatic interactions to regulate the glutamate-dependent salicylic acid (SA) signaling. Notably, PGANPs exhibited enhanced antiviral activity beyond the combined effects of PGA and chitosan, while maintaining long-term foliar persistence that continuously activated SA signaling pathways, resulting in prolonged TMV resistance. Importantly, this persistence did not adversely affect plant growth or development, making these environmentally friendly, biopolymer-based nanogels a promising sustainable solution for controlling plant viral diseases. Biological sciences/Biological techniques/Nanobiotechnology/Nanoparticles Biological sciences/Biological techniques obacco mosaic virus NbAS-B PGANP Transcriptional metabolome salicylic acid Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files Appendix.pdf Supplementary Dataset 12 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5395869","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":375350383,"identity":"f3e77018-5354-4241-a3e4-dccc4327751b","order_by":0,"name":"Xianchao 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