Beyond movement: expanding functional landscape of luteovirus movement proteins

Viruses explore the potential multifunctional capacity of the proteins encoded in their compact genome to establish infection. P4 of luteoviruses has emerged as one such multifunctional protein. Expressed from an open reading frame (ORF) nested within coat protein ORF, it displays diverse subcellular localizations and interactions, reflecting its complex role in virus infection. In this review we explore how P4, constrained by overlapping ORFs, has evolved multiple functional motifs. We analyze these motifs’ conservation across different barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) species and related poleroviruses. We also discuss how viral proteins cooperate to facilitate movement and localization of the virus throughout infection. We provide insights into potential future research directions and suggest strategies for developing potential antiviral-resistant approaches.