This study reveals that RNA silencing component Argonaute 2 (AGO2) loads small RNAs at endoplasmic reticulum–chloroplast membrane contact sites with the help of RNA helicase 3 (RH3), which also enhances the loading of viral-derived small RNAs. These findings highlight the connections between RNA silencing, viral replication, and plant antiviral resistance.
- Juan Huang
- Juan Du
- Xiaoming Zhang