scholarly journals Armet, an aphid effector protein, induces pathogen resistance in plants by promoting the accumulation of salicylic acid

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1767) ◽  
pp. 20180314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Cui ◽  
Hong Lu ◽  
Tianzuo Wang ◽  
Wenhao Zhang ◽  
Le Kang ◽  
...  

Effector proteins present in aphid saliva are thought to modulate aphid–plant interactions. Armet, an effector protein, is found in the phloem sap of pea-aphid-infested plants and is indispensable for the survival of aphids on plants. However, its function in plants has not been investigated. Here, we explored the functions of Armet after delivery into plants. Examination of the transcriptomes of Nicotiana benthamiana and Medicago truncatula following transgenic expression of Armet or infiltration of the protein showed that Armet activated pathways associated with plant–pathogen interactions, mitogen-activated protein kinase and salicylic acid (SA). Armet induced a fourfold increase in SA accumulation by regulating the expression of SAMT and SABP2 , two genes associated with SA metabolism, in Armet-infiltrated tobacco. The increase in SA enhanced the plants' resistance to bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae but had no detectable adverse effects on aphid survival or reproduction. Similar molecular responses and a chlorosis phenotype were induced in tobacco by Armet from two aphid species but not by locust Armet, suggesting that the effector function of Armet may be specific for aphids. The results suggest that Armet causes plants to make a pathogen-resistance decision and reflect a novel tripartite insect–plant–pathogen interaction. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Biotic signalling sheds light on smart pest management’.

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhumati Mukherjee ◽  
Katherine E. Larrimore ◽  
Naushin J. Ahmed ◽  
Tyler S. Bedick ◽  
Nadia T. Barghouthi ◽  
...  

The ascorbic acid (AA)-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana vtc1-1 mutant exhibits increased resistance to the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. This response correlates with heightened levels of salicylic acid (SA), which induces antimicrobial pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. To determine if SA-mediated, enhanced disease resistance is a general phenomenon of AA deficiency, to elucidate the signal that stimulates SA synthesis, and to identify the biosynthetic pathway through which SA accumulates, we studied the four AA-deficient vtc1-1, vtc2-1, vtc3-1, and vtc4-1 mutants. We also studied double mutants defective in the AA-biosynthetic gene VTC1 and the SA signaling pathway genes PAD4, EDS5, and NPR1, respectively. All vtc mutants were more resistant to P. syringae than the wild type. With the exception of vtc4-1, this correlated with constitutively upregulated H2O2, SA, and messenger RNA levels of PR genes. Double mutants exhibited decreased SA levels and enhanced susceptibility to P. syringae compared with the wild type, suggesting that vtc1-1 requires functional PAD4, EDS5, and NPR1 for SA biosynthesis and pathogen resistance. We suggest that AA deficiency causes constitutive priming through a buildup of H2O2 that stimulates SA accumulation, conferring enhanced disease resistance in vtc1-1, vtc2-1, and vtc3-1, whereas vtc4-1 might be sensitized to H2O2 and SA production after infection.


Development ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (16) ◽  
pp. dev189647
Author(s):  
Yiqiao Wang ◽  
Xing Cui ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Shutao Xu ◽  
Xiangyan Wei ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTReactive oxygen species (ROS) and salicylic acid (SA) are two factors regulating leaf senescence and defense against pathogens. However, how a single gene integrates both ROS and SA pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Arabidopsis WRKY55 transcription factor positively regulates ROS and SA accumulation, and thus leaf senescence and resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. WRKY55 is predominantly expressed in senescent leaves and encodes a transcriptional activator localized to nuclei. Both inducible and constitutive overexpression of WRKY55 accelerates leaf senescence, whereas mutants delay it. Transcriptomic sequencing identified 1448 differentially expressed genes, of which 1157 genes are upregulated by WRKY55 expression. Accordingly, the ROS and SA contents in WRKY55-overexpressing plants are higher than those in control plants, whereas the opposite occurs in mutants. Moreover, WRKY55 positively regulates defense against P. syringae. Finally, we show that WRKY55 activates the expression of RbohD, ICS1, PBS3 and SAG13 by binding directly to the W-box-containing fragments. Taken together, our work has identified a new WRKY transcription factor that integrates both ROS and SA pathways to regulate leaf senescence and pathogen resistance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yang ◽  
Bosheng Li ◽  
Xiao-yu Zheng ◽  
Jigang Li ◽  
Mei Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Heterosis, the phenotypic superiority of a hybrid over its parents, has been demonstrated for many traits in Arabidopsis thaliana, but its effect on defence remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that hybrids between some A. thaliana accessions show increased resistance to the biotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. Comparisons of transcriptomes between these hybrids and their parents after inoculation reveal that several key salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis genes are significantly upregulated in hybrids. Moreover, SA levels are higher in hybrids than in either parent. Increased resistance to Pst DC3000 is significantly compromised in hybrids of pad4 mutants in which the SA biosynthesis pathway is blocked. Finally, increased histone H3 acetylation of key SA biosynthesis genes correlates with their upregulation in infected hybrids. Our data demonstrate that enhanced activation of SA biosynthesis in A. thaliana hybrids may contribute to their increased resistance to a biotrophic bacterial pathogen.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Straub ◽  
Elena Colombi ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Hongwen Huang ◽  
Matthew D. Templeton ◽  
...  

SUMMARYInteractions between commensal microbes and invading pathogens are understudied, despite their likely effects on pathogen population structure and infection processes. We describe the population structure and genetic diversity of a broad range of co-occurringPseudomonas syringaeisolated from infected and uninfected kiwifruit during an outbreak of bleeding canker disease caused byP. syringaepv.actinidiae(Psa) in New Zealand. Overall population structure was clonal and affected by ecological factors including infection status and cultivar. Most isolates are members of a new clade in phylogroup 3 (PG3a), also present on kiwifruit leaves in China and Japan. Stability of the polymorphism between pathogenicPsaand commensalP. syringaePG3a isolated from the same leaf was tested using reciprocal invasion from rare assaysin vitroand in planta.P. syringaeG33C (PG3a) inhibitedPsaNZ54, while the presence ofPsaNZ54 enhanced the growth ofP. syringaeG33C. This effect could not be attributed to virulence activity encoded by the Type 3 secretion system ofPsa. Together our data contribute toward the development of an ecological perspective on the genetic structure of pathogen populations.ORIGINALITY-SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTBacterial pathogen populations are often studied with little consideration of co-occurring microbes and yet interactions between pathogens and commensals can affect both population structure and disease progression. A fine-scale sampling of commensals present on kiwifruit leaves during an outbreak of bleeding canker disease caused byP. syringaepv.actinidiaereveals a clonal population structure. A new clade of non-pathogenicP. syringae(PG3a) appears to be associated with kiwifruit on a global scale. The presence of PG3a on kiwifruit has significant effects on the outcome of infection byP. syringaepv.actinidiae. This emphasises the value of studying the effect of co-occurring bacteria on pathogen-plant interactions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 585-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shujing Wu ◽  
Dongping Lu ◽  
Mehdi Kabbage ◽  
Hai-Lei Wei ◽  
Bryan Swingle ◽  
...  

Many bacterial pathogens inject a cocktail of effector proteins into host cells through type III secretion systems. These effectors act in concert to modulate host physiology and immune signaling, thereby promoting pathogenicity. In a search for additional Pseudomonas syringae effectors in suppressing plant innate immunity triggered by pathogen or microbe-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs or MAMPs), we identified P. syringae tomato DC3000 effector HopF2 as a potent suppressor of early immune-response gene transcription and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling activated by multiple MAMPs, including bacterial flagellin, elongation factor Tu, peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide and HrpZ1 harpin, and fungal chitin. The conserved surface-exposed residues of HopF2 are essential for its MAMP suppression activity. HopF2 is targeted to the plant plasma membrane through a putative myristoylation site, and the membrane association appears to be required for its MAMP-suppression function. Expression of HopF2 in plants potently diminished the flagellin-induced phosphorylation of BIK1, a plasma membrane–associated cytoplasmic kinase that is rapidly phosphorylated within one minute upon flagellin perception. Thus, HopF2 likely intercepts MAMP signaling at the plasma membrane immediately of signal perception. Consistent with the potent suppression function of multiple MAMP signaling, expression of HopF2 in transgenic plants compromised plant nonhost immunity to bacteria P. syringae pv. Phaseolicola and plant immunity to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
José S. Rufián ◽  
Javier Rueda-Blanco ◽  
Diego López-Márquez ◽  
Alberto P. Macho ◽  
Carmen R. Beuzón ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe Pseudomonas syringae type III secretion system translocates effector proteins into the host cell cytosol, suppressing plant basal immunity triggered upon recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and effector-triggered immunity. Effector HopZ1a suppresses local and systemic immunity triggered by PAMPs and effectors, through target acetylation. HopZ1a has been shown to target several plant proteins, but none fully substantiates HopZ1a-associated immune suppression. Here, we investigate Arabidopsis thaliana mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MKKs) as potential targets, focusing on AtMKK7, a positive regulator of local and systemic immunity. We analyse HopZ1a interference with AtMKK7 by translocation of HopZ1a from bacteria inoculated into Arabidopsis expressing MKK7 from an inducible promoter. Reciprocal phenotypes are analysed on plants expressing a construct quenching MKK7 native expression. We analyse HopZ1a-MKK7 interaction by three independent methods, and the relevance of acetylation by in vitro kinase and in planta functional assays. We demonstrate AtMKK7 contribution to immune signalling showing MKK7-dependent flg22-induced ROS burst, MAPK activation, and callose accumulation, plus AvrRpt2-triggered MKK7-dependent signalling. Further, we demonstrate HopZ1a suppression of all MKK7-dependent responses, HopZ1a-MKK7 interaction in planta, and HopZ1a acetylation of MKK7 in a lysine required for full kinase activity. We demonstrate that HopZ1a targets AtMKK7 to suppress local and systemic plant immunity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca R. Noll ◽  
Colleen M. Pike ◽  
Stephanie S. Lehman ◽  
Chad Williamson ◽  
Ramona Neunuebel

Autophagy is a fundamental eukaryotic process that mediates clearance of unwanted molecules and facilitates nutrient release. The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila establishes an intracellular niche within phagocytes by manipulating host cellular processes, such as autophagy. Effector proteins translocated by L. pneumophila's Dot/Icm type IV secretion system have been shown to suppress autophagy. However evidence suggests that overall inhibition of autophagy may be detrimental to the bacterium. As autophagy contributes to cellular homeostasis and nutrient acquisition, L. pneumophila may translocate effectors that promote autophagy for these benefits. Here, we show that effector protein Lpg2411 binds phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate lipids and preferentially binds autophagosomes. Translocated Lpg2411 accumulates late during infection and co-localizes with the autophagy receptor p62 and ubiquitin. Furthermore, autophagy is inhibited to a greater extent in host cells infected with a mutant strain lacking Lpg2411 compared to those infected with wild-type L. pneumophila, indicating that Lpg2411 stimulates autophagy to support the bacterium's intracellular lifestyle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2085-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoya Asano ◽  
Thi Hang-Ni Nguyen ◽  
Michiko Yasuda ◽  
Yasir Sidiq ◽  
Kohji Nishimura ◽  
...  

Abstract The genome of Arabidopsis encodes more than 60 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) kinases (MAPKKKs); however, the functions of most MAPKKKs and their downstream MAPKKs are largely unknown. Here, MAPKKK δ-1 (MKD1), a novel Raf-like MAPKKK, was isolated from Arabidopsis as a subunit of a complex including the transcription factor AtNFXL1, which is involved in the trichothecene phytotoxin response and in disease resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000). A MKD1-dependent cascade positively regulates disease resistance against PstDC3000 and the trichothecene mycotoxin-producing fungal pathogen Fusarium sporotrichioides. MKD1 expression was induced by trichothecenes derived from Fusarium species. MKD1 directly interacted with MKK1 and MKK5 in vivo, and phosphorylated MKK1 and MKK5 in vitro. Correspondingly, mkk1 mutants and MKK5RNAi transgenic plants showed enhanced susceptibility to F. sporotrichioides. MKD1 was required for full activation of two MAPKs (MPK3 and MPK6) by the T-2 toxin and flg22. Finally, quantitative phosphoproteomics suggested that an MKD1-dependent cascade controlled phosphorylation of a disease resistance protein, SUMO, and a mycotoxin-detoxifying enzyme. Our findings suggest that the MKD1–MKK1/MKK5–MPK3/MPK6-dependent signaling cascade is involved in the full immune responses against both bacterial and fungal infection.


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