Expression of the lipid transfer protein Ace-AMP1 in transgenic wheat enhances antifungal activity and defense responses

Plant apoplast serves as the frontier battlefield of plant defense in response to different types of pathogens. Many pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are accumulated in apoplastic space during the onset of plant–pathogen interaction, where they act to suppress pathogen infection. In this study, we found the expression of Triticum aestivum lipid transfer protein 3 (TaLTP3) gene was unregulated during incompatible interaction mediated by leaf rust resistance genes Lr39/41 at the early infection stage. Stable transgenic wheat lines overexpressing TaLTP3 exhibited enhanced resistance to leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina. Transcriptome analysis revealed that overexpression of TaLTP3 specifically activated the transcription of pathogenesis-related protein 1a (TaPR1a) and multiple plant hormone pathways, including salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and auxin, in response to the infection of the model bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Further investigation indicated that TaLTP3 physically associated with wheat TaPR1a protein in the apoplast. Transgenic wheat lines overexpressing TaLTP3 and TaPR1a showed higher accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during plant defense responses. All these findings suggested that TaLTP3 is involved in wheat resistance against leaf rust pathogen infection and forming a TaLTP3-TaPR1a complex in apoplast against this pathogen, which provides new insights into the functional roles of PR proteins.

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Purification, biochemical characterization and antifungal activity of a new lipid transfer protein (LTP) from Coffea canephora seeds with α-amylase inhibitor properties

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects ◽

10.1016/j.bbagen.2010.12.002 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1810 (4) ◽

pp. 375-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Umberto Zottich ◽

Maura Da Cunha ◽

André O. Carvalho ◽

Germana B. Dias ◽

Nádia C.M. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Biochemical Characterization ◽

Lipid Transfer Protein ◽

Coffea Canephora ◽

Lipid Transfer ◽

Transfer Protein ◽

Amylase Inhibitor

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A lipid transfer protein has antifungal and antioxidant activity and suppresses Fusarium head blight disease and DON accumulation in transgenic wheat

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-04-20-0153-r ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

John E McLaughlin ◽

Noura Al Darwish ◽

Jeffrey Garcia-Sanchez ◽

Neerja Tyagi ◽

Harold N Trick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Fusarium Head Blight ◽

Lipid Transfer Protein ◽

Field Testing ◽

Transgenic Wheat ◽

Lesion Size ◽

Lipid Transfer ◽

Head Blight ◽

Transfer Protein ◽

Field Suppression

Trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), are virulence factors of Fusarium graminearum, which causes Fusarium head blight (FHB), one of the most important diseases of small grain cereals. We previously identified a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) gene, AtLTP4.4, which was overexpressed in an activation tagged Arabidopsis line resistant to trichothecin (Tcin), a type B trichothecene in the same class as DON. Here we show that overexpression of AtLTP4.4 in transgenic wheat significantly reduced F. graminearum growth in Bobwhite and RB07 lines in the greenhouse and reduced fungal lesion size in detached leaf assays. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation was attenuated upon exposure of transgenic wheat plants to DON, indicating that AtLTP4.4 may confer resistance by inhibiting oxidative stress. Field testing indicated that disease severity was significantly reduced in two transgenic Bobwhite lines expressing AtLTP4.4. DON accumulation was significantly reduced in four different transgenic Bobwhite lines expressing AtLTP4.4 or a wheat nsLTP, TaLTP3, which was previously shown to have antioxidant activity. Recombinant AtLTP4.4 purified from Pichia pastoris exhibited potent antifungal activity against F. graminearum. These results demonstrate that overexpression of AtLTP4.4 in transgenic wheat suppresses DON accumulation in the field. Suppression of DON induced reactive oxygen species by AtLTP4.4 might be the mechanism by which fungal spread and mycotoxin accumulation are inhibited in the transgenic wheat plants.

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