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Zuo W, Depotter JRL, Stolze SC, Nakagami H, Doehlemann G. A transcriptional activator effector of Ustilago maydis regulates hyperplasia in maize during pathogen-induced tumor formation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6722. [PMID: 37872143 PMCID: PMC10593772 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42522-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis causes common smut in maize, which is characterized by tumor formation in aerial parts of maize. Tumors result from the de novo cell division of highly developed bundle sheath and subsequent cell enlargement. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis are still largely unknown. Here, we characterize the U. maydis effector Sts2 (Small tumor on seedlings 2), which promotes the division of hyperplasia tumor cells. Upon infection, Sts2 is translocated into the maize cell nucleus, where it acts as a transcriptional activator, and the transactivation activity is crucial for its virulence function. Sts2 interacts with ZmNECAP1, a yet undescribed plant transcriptional activator, and it activates the expression of several leaf developmental regulators to potentiate tumor formation. On the contrary, fusion of a suppressive SRDX-motif to Sts2 causes dominant negative inhibition of tumor formation, underpinning the central role of Sts2 for tumorigenesis. Our results not only disclose the virulence mechanism of a tumorigenic effector, but also reveal the essential role of leaf developmental regulators in pathogen-induced tumor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiliang Zuo
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany.
| | - Jasper R L Depotter
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Sara Christina Stolze
- Protein Mass Spectrometry, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hirofumi Nakagami
- Protein Mass Spectrometry, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany
- Basic Immune System of Plants, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, 50829, Germany
| | - Gunther Doehlemann
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany.
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Teper D, White FF, Wang N. The Dynamic Transcription Activator-Like Effector Family of Xanthomonas. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:651-666. [PMID: 36449529 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-10-22-0365-kd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are bacterial proteins that are injected into the eukaryotic nucleus to act as transcriptional factors and function as key virulence factors of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas. TALEs are translocated into plant host cells via the type III secretion system and induce the expression of host susceptibility (S) genes to facilitate disease. The unique modular DNA binding domains of TALEs comprise an array of nearly identical direct repeats that enable binding to DNA targets based on the recognition of a single nucleotide target per repeat. The very nature of TALE structure and function permits the proliferation of TALE genes and evolutionary adaptations in the host to counter TALE function, making the TALE-host interaction the most dynamic story in effector biology. The TALE genes appear to be a relatively young effector gene family, with a presence in all virulent members of some species and absent in others. Genome sequencing has revealed many TALE genes throughout the xanthomonads, and relatively few have been associated with a cognate S gene. Several species, including Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and X. citri pv. citri, have near absolute requirement for TALE gene function, while the genes appear to be just now entering the disease interactions with new fitness contributions to the pathogens of tomato and pepper among others. Deciphering the simple and effective DNA binding mechanism also has led to the development of DNA manipulation tools in fields of gene editing and transgenic research. In the three decades since their discovery, TALE research remains at the forefront of the study of bacterial evolution, plant-pathogen interactions, and synthetic biology. We also discuss critical questions that remain to be addressed regarding TALEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doron Teper
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Frank F White
- Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, U.S.A
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3
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Action Mechanisms of Effectors in Plant-Pathogen Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126758. [PMID: 35743201 PMCID: PMC9224169 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogens are one of the main factors hindering the breeding of cash crops. Pathogens, including oomycetes, fungus, and bacteria, secrete effectors as invasion weapons to successfully invade and propagate in host plants. Here, we review recent advances made in the field of plant-pathogen interaction models and the action mechanisms of phytopathogenic effectors. The review illustrates how effectors from different species use similar and distinct strategies to infect host plants. We classify the main action mechanisms of effectors in plant-pathogen interactions according to the infestation process: targeting physical barriers for disruption, creating conditions conducive to infestation, protecting or masking themselves, interfering with host cell physiological activity, and manipulating plant downstream immune responses. The investigation of the functioning of plant pathogen effectors contributes to improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions. This understanding has important theoretical value and is of practical significance in plant pathology and disease resistance genetics and breeding.
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Sivaraman S, Krishnamoorthy D, Arvind K, Grace T, Sharma J, Antony G. TAL effectors and the predicted host targets of pomegranate bacterial blight pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae. Curr Genet 2022; 68:361-373. [PMID: 35275250 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-022-01232-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of pomegranate susceptibility to bacterial blight, a serious threat to pomegranate production in India, is largely unknown. In the current study, we have used PacBio and Illumina sequencing of Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae (Xcp) strain 119 genome to identify tal genes and RNA-Seq analysis to identify putative host targets in the susceptible pomegranate variety Bhagwa challenged with Xcp119. Xcp119 genome encodes seven transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), three of which are harbored by a plasmid. RVD-based phylogenetic analysis of TALEs of Xanthomonas citri pathovars indicate the TALEs of Xcp as evolutionarily and functionally close to Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum and Xanthomonas citri pv. glycines. Comparative RNA-Seq of Xcp and mock-inoculated leaf tissues revealed Xcp-induced pomegranate transcription modulation. The prediction of TALE binding elements (EBEs) in the promoters of up-regulated genes identified a set of TALE-targeted candidate genes in pomegranate-Xcp interaction. The predicted candidate susceptibility genes include two oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase gene, ethylene-responsive transcription factor and flavanone 3-hydroxylase-like gene, and the further characterization of these would enable blight resistance engineering in pomegranate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sruthi Sivaraman
- Department of Plant Science, Central University of Kerala, Periye, 671320, Kerala, India
| | | | - Kumar Arvind
- Department of Genomic Science, Central University of Kerala, Periye, 671320, Kerala, India
| | - Tony Grace
- Department of Genomic Science, Central University of Kerala, Periye, 671320, Kerala, India
| | - Jyotsana Sharma
- ICAR-National Research Centre On Pomegranate, Kegaon, Solapur, 413255, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ginny Antony
- Department of Plant Science, Central University of Kerala, Periye, 671320, Kerala, India.
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Ji Z, Guo W, Chen X, Wang C, Zhao K. Plant Executor Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031524. [PMID: 35163443 PMCID: PMC8835739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Executor (E) genes comprise a new type of plant resistance (R) genes, identified from host-Xanthomonas interactions. The Xanthomonas-secreted transcription activation-like effectors (TALEs) usually function as major virulence factors, which activate the expression of the so-called "susceptibility" (S) genes for disease development. This activation is achieved via the binding of the TALEs to the effector-binding element (EBE) in the S gene promoter. However, host plants have evolved EBEs in the promoters of some otherwise silent R genes, whose expression directly causes a host cell death that is characterized by a hypersensitive response (HR). Such R genes are called E genes because they trap the pathogen TALEs in order to activate expression, and the resulting HR prevents pathogen growth and disease development. Currently, deploying E gene resistance is becoming a major component in disease resistance breeding, especially for rice bacterial blight resistance. Currently, the biochemical mechanisms, or the working pathways of the E proteins, are still fuzzy. There is no significant nucleotide sequence homology among E genes, although E proteins share some structural motifs that are probably associated with the signal transduction in the effector-triggered immunity. Here, we summarize the current knowledge regarding TALE-type avirulence proteins, E gene activation, the E protein structural traits, and the classification of E genes, in order to sharpen our understanding of the plant E genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Ji
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence: (Z.J.); (K.Z.); Tel.: +86-10-82108751 (Z.J. & K.Z.)
| | - Wei Guo
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; (W.G.); (X.C.)
| | - Xifeng Chen
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; (W.G.); (X.C.)
| | - Chunlian Wang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Kaijun Zhao
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence: (Z.J.); (K.Z.); Tel.: +86-10-82108751 (Z.J. & K.Z.)
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