Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 Produces a Second Set of Plant-Inducible Pectate Lyase Isozymes

Bacterial secretion systems contribute to rapid tissue decay in button mushroom soft rot disease

The soft rot pathogen Janthinobacterium agaricidamnosum causes devastating damage to button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), one of the most cultivated and commercially relevant mushrooms. We previously discovered that this pathogen releases the membrane-disrupting lipopeptide jagaricin. This bacterial toxin, however, could not solely explain the rapid decay of mushroom fruiting bodies, indicating that J. agaricidamnosum implements a more sophisticated infection strategy. In this study, we show that secretion systems play a crucial role in soft rot disease. By mining the genome of J. agaricidamnosum, we identified gene clusters encoding a type I (T1SS), a type II (T2SS), a type III (T3SS), and two type VI secretion systems (T6SSs). We targeted the T2SS and T3SS for gene inactivation studies, and subsequent bioassays implicated both in soft rot disease. Furthermore, through a combination of comparative secretome analysis and activity-guided fractionation, we identified a number of secreted lytic enzymes responsible for mushroom damage. Our findings regarding the contribution of secretion systems to the disease process expand the current knowledge of bacterial soft rot pathogens and represent a significant stride toward identifying targets for their disarmament with secretion system inhibitors. IMPORTANCE The button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the most popular edible mushroom in the Western world. However, mushroom crops can fall victim to serious bacterial diseases that are a major threat to the mushroom industry, among them being soft rot disease caused by Janthinobacterium agaricidamnosum. Here, we show that the rapid dissolution of mushroom fruiting bodies after bacterial invasion is due to degradative enzymes and putative effector proteins secreted via the type II secretion system (T2SS) and the type III secretion system (T3SS), respectively. The ability to degrade mushroom tissue is significantly attenuated in secretion-deficient mutants, which establishes that secretion systems are key factors in mushroom soft rot disease. This insight is of both ecological and agricultural relevance by shedding light on the disease processes behind a pathogenic bacterial-fungal interaction which, in turn, serves as a starting point for the development of secretion system inhibitors to control disease progression.

The Bacterial Soft Rot Pathogens, Pectobacterium carotovorum and P. atrosepticum, Respond to Different Classes of Virulence-Inducing Host Chemical Signals

Soft rot bacteria of the Pectobacterium and Dickeya genera are Gram-negative phytopathogens that produce and secrete plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDE), the actions of which lead to rotting and decay of their hosts in the field and in storage. Host chemical signals are among the factors that induce the bacteria into extracellular enzyme production and virulence. A class of compounds (Class I) made up of intermediate products of cell wall (pectin) degradation induce exoenzyme synthesis through KdgR, a global negative regulator of exoenzyme production. While the KdgR− mutant of P. carotovorum is no longer inducible by Class I inducers, we demonstrated that exoenzyme production is induced in this strain in the presence of extracts from hosts including celery, potato, carrot, and tomato, suggesting that host plants contain another class of compounds (Class II inducers) different from the plant cell wall-degradative products that work through KdgR. The Class II inducers are thermostable, water-soluble, diffusible, and dialysable through 1 kDa molecular weight cut off pore size membranes, and could be a target for soft rot disease management strategies.

The Changing Face of Bacterial Soft-Rot Diseases

Bacterial soft rot is a disease complex caused by multiple genera of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with Dickeya and Pectobacterium being the most widely studied soft-rot bacterial pathogens. In addition to soft rot, these bacteria also cause blackleg of potato, foot rot of rice, and bleeding canker of pear. Multiple Dickeya and Pectobacterium species cause the same symptoms on potato, complicating epidemiology and disease resistance studies. The primary pathogen species present in potato-growing regions differs over time and space, further complicating disease management. Genomics technologies are providing new management possibilities, including improved detection and biocontrol methods that may finally allow effective disease management. The recent development of inbred diploid potato lines is also having a major impact on studying soft-rot pathogens because it is now possible to study soft-rot disease in model plant species that produce starchy vegetative storage organs. Together, these new discoveries have changed how we face diseases caused by these pathogens.

The Ribosomal Protein RplY Is Required for Pectobacterium carotovorum Virulence and Is Induced by Zantedeschia elliotiana Extract

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum strain PccS1, a bacterial pathogen causing soft rot disease of Zantedeschia elliotiana (colored calla), was investigated for virulence genes induced by the host plant. Using a promoter-trap transposon (mariner), we obtained 500 transposon mutants showing kanamycin resistance dependent on extract of Z. elliotiana. One of these mutants, PM86, exhibited attenuated virulence on both Z. elliotiana and Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis. The growth of PM86 was also reduced in minimal medium (MM), and the reduction was restored by adding plant extract to the MM. The gene containing the insertion site was identified as rplY. The deletion mutant ΔrplY, exhibited reduced virulence, motility and plant cell wall-degrading enzyme production but not biofilm formation. Analysis of gene expression and reporter fusions revealed that the rplY gene in PccS1 is up-regulated at both the transcriptional and the translational levels in the presence of plant extract. Our results suggest that rplY is induced by Z. elliotiana extract and is crucial for virulence in P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.

Analysis of putative apoplastic effectors from the nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, and identification of an expansin-like protein that can induce and suppress host defenses

The potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, is an important pest of potato. Like other pathogens, plant parasitic nematodes are presumed to employ effector proteins, secreted into the apoplast as well as the host cytoplasm, to alter plant cellular functions and successfully infect their hosts. We have generated a library of ORFs encoding putative G. rostochiensis putative apoplastic effectors in vectors for expression in planta. These clones were assessed for morphological and developmental effects on plants as well as their ability to induce or suppress plant defenses. Several CLAVATA3/ESR-like proteins induced developmental phenotypes, whereas predicted cell wall-modifying proteins induced necrosis and chlorosis, consistent with roles in cell fate alteration and tissue invasion, respectively. When directed to the apoplast with a signal peptide, two effectors, an ubiquitin extension protein (GrUBCEP12) and an expansin-like protein (GrEXPB2), suppressed defense responses including NB-LRR signaling induced in the cytoplasm. GrEXPB2 also elicited defense response in species- and sequence-specific manner. Our results are consistent with the scenario whereby potato cyst nematodes secrete effectors that modulate host cell fate and metabolism as well as modifying host cell walls. Furthermore, we show a novel role for an apoplastic expansin-like protein in suppressing intra-cellular defense responses.

Nanotechnology enabled enhancement of enzyme activity and thermostability: study on impaired pectate lyase from attenuated Macrophomina phaseolina in presence of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle

In this paper we show that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (NP) can not only act as a chaperon (by imparting thermostability) but can serve as a synthetic enhancer of activity of an isolated extracellular pectate lyase (APL) with low native state activity. The purified enzyme (an attenuated strain of Macrophomina phaseolina) showed feeble activity at 50°C and pH 5.6. However, on addition of 10.5 µg/ml of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (NP), APL activity increased 27.7 fold with a 51 fold increase in half-life at a temperature of 90°C as compared to untreated APL. The chaperon like activity of NP was evident from entropy–enthalpy compensation profile of APL. The upper critical temperature for such compensation was elevated from 50°C to 90°C in presence of NP. This dual role of NP in enhancing activity and conferring thermostability to a functionally impaired enzyme is reported for the first time.

Potato signal molecules that activate pectate lyase synthesis in Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043

A new type of plant-derived signal molecules that activate extracellular pectate lyase activity in phytopathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 was revealed. These compounds were characterized and partially purified by means of several approaches including RT-PCR analysis, luminescence bioassay and HPLC fractionation. They were smaller than 1 kDa, thermoresistant, nonproteinaceous, hydrophilic, and slightly negatively charged molecules. Using gene expression analysis and bacterial biosensor assay the mode of activity of revealed compounds was studied. The possibility of their action through quorum sensing- and KdgR-mediated pathways was analyzed.

Role of Polyphenol Oxidase, Peroxidase, Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase, Chlorogenic Acid, and Total Soluble Phenols in Resistance of Potatoes to Soft Rot

Pectobacterium atrosepticum, P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis, and Dickeya spp. cause soft rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum) worldwide. Plants respond to bacterial invasion by activating defense responses associated with accumulation of several enzymes and inhibitors, which prevent pathogen infection. This study focused on the role of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chlorogenic acid, and total soluble phenols in imparting resistance to soft rot pathogens. Seven and 11 varieties grown by farmers in South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively, were used in the study. The results showed significantly higher (P < 0.001) enzyme activity of PPO and PAL as well as higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid and total soluble phenols in Vanderplank, Pentland Dell, M69/11, Romano, M59/20, and Mondial_Zw. PAL activity increased significantly with time in all varieties, and the highest activity was recorded 8 h after cutting. The resistance of the varieties was correlated with high PPO and PAL enzyme activity as well as increased concentrations of chlorogenic acid and total soluble phenols. PPO, POD, and PAL activities increased significantly in wounded and inoculated tubers. These findings show that PAL, PPO, POD, chlorogenic acid, and total soluble phenols play a role in imparting resistance to potato soft rot infection.

The role of secretion systems and small molecules in soft-rot Enterobacteriaceae pathogenicity

Soft-rot Enterobacteriaceae (SRE), which belong to the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya, consist mainly of broad host-range pathogens that cause wilt, rot, and blackleg diseases on a wide range of plants. They are found in plants, insects, soil, and water in agricultural regions worldwide. SRE encode all six known protein secretion systems present in gram-negative bacteria, and these systems are involved in attacking host plants and competing bacteria. They also produce and detect multiple types of small molecules to coordinate pathogenesis, modify the plant environment, attack competing microbes, and perhaps to attract insect vectors. This review integrates new information about the role protein secretion and detection and production of ions and small molecules play in soft-rot pathogenicity.

Burkholderia glumae: next major pathogen of rice?

Burkholderia glumae causes bacterial panicle blight of rice, which is an increasingly important disease problem in global rice production. Toxoflavin and lipase are known to be major virulence factors of this pathogen, and their production is dependent on the TofI/TofR quorum-sensing system, which is mediated by N-octanoyl homoserine lactone. Flagellar biogenesis and a type III secretion system are also required for full virulence of B. glumae. Bacterial panicle blight is thought to be caused by seed-borne B. glumae; however, its disease cycle is not fully understood. In spite of its economic importance, neither effective control measures for bacterial panicle blight nor rice varieties showing complete resistance to the disease are currently available. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying B. glumae virulence and of the rice defence mechanisms against the pathogen would lead to the development of better methods of disease control for bacterial panicle blight.

TAXONOMY

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Burkholderiales; Burkholderiaceae; Burkholderia.

MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Gram-negative, capsulated, motile, lophotrichous flagella, pectolytic.

DISEASE SYMPTOMS

Aborted seed, empty grains as a result of failure of grain filling, brown spots on panicles, seedling rot.

DISEASE CONTROL

Seed sterilization, planting partially resistant lines (no completely resistant line is available). KNOWN VIRULENCE FACTORS: Toxoflavin, lipase, type III effectors.

Endo- and exopolygalacturonases of Ralstonia solanacearum are inhibited by polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) activity in tomato stem extracts

Polygalacturonases (PGs) of wild-type and non-virulent phenotype conversion mutant (PC) strains of Ralstonia solanacearum were compared by investigating their activities and their inhibition by polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) from tomato stems. In cultures of wild-type strain ToUdk2, slimy (s), retarded slimy (rs) and non-slimy (ns) colonies appeared. The conversion of the 's' into the 'rs' colony form coincided with the beginning of PG production. PG activity of the PC strain increased about 5 h earlier (at 6 hpi), and was up to 35 times higher in media supplemented with two different tomato stem extracts or polygalacturonic acid, compared to the wild-type at 6 hpi, and generally 4-8 times higher across test media and time. By hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), fluorophor-assisted carbohydrate-polyacrylamid-gel electrophoresis (FACE-PAGE) and mass spectrometry analyses, endo-PG PehA, exo-PGs PehB and PehC were identified. PGs of the PC mutant consisted mainly of endo-PG. The increased PG production after supplementing the medium with tomato cell wall extract was reflected by a higher activity of exo-PGs for both strains. Total PGs (endo-PG and exo-PGs) activities were inhibited by PGIPs of tomato stem extracts. PGIP activity was concentration dependent, constitutively present, and not related to resistance nor susceptibility of tomato recombinant inbred lines to R. solanacearum. The proteinaceous character of the inhibiting component was inferred from ammonium sulphate precipitation. For the first time a plant PGIP activity against a bacterial pathogen is reported. Observations support that endo- and exo-PG synthesis is governed by a sensitive regulatory network, which, in interaction with PGIP and cell wall degradation products, leads to generation or avoidance of elicitor-active oligomers, and, thus, may contribute to the development of the compatible or incompatible interaction.

Studying plant-pathogen interactions in the genomics era: beyond molecular Koch's postulates to systems biology

Molecular factors enabling microbial pathogens to cause plant diseases have been sought with increasing efficacy over three research eras that successively introduced the tools of disease physiology, single-gene molecular genetics, and genomics. From this work emerged a unified model of the interactions of biotrophic and hemibiotrophic pathogens, which posits that successful pathogens typically defeat two levels of plant defense by translocating cytoplasmic effectors that suppress the first defense (surface arrayed against microbial signatures) while evading the second defense (internally arrayed against effectors). As is predicted from this model and confirmed by sequence pattern-driven discovery of large repertoires of cytoplasmic effectors in the genomes of many pathogens, the coevolution of (hemi)biotrophic pathogens and their hosts has generated pathosystems featuring extreme complexity and apparent robustness. These findings highlight the need for a fourth research era of systems biology in which virulence factors are studied as pathosystem components, and pathosystems are studied for their emergent properties.

Transcriptional profile of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola NPS3121 in response to tissue extracts from a susceptible Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivar

BACKGROUND

Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola is a Gram-negative plant-pathogenic bacterium that causes "halo blight" disease of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This disease affects both foliage and pods, and is a major problem in temperate areas of the world. Although several bacterial genes have been determined as participants in pathogenesis, the overall process still remains poorly understood, mainly because the identity and function of many of the genes are largely unknown. In this work, a genomic library of P. syringae pv. phaseolicola NPS3121 was constructed and PCR amplification of individual fragments was carried out in order to print a DNA microarray. This microarray was used to identify genes that are differentially expressed when bean leaf extracts, pod extracts or apoplastic fluid were added to the growth medium.

RESULTS

Transcription profiles show that 224 genes were differentially expressed, the majority under the effect of bean leaf extract and apoplastic fluid. Some of the induced genes were previously known to be involved in the first stages of the bacterial-plant interaction and virulence. These include genes encoding type III secretion system proteins and genes involved in cell-wall degradation, phaseolotoxin synthesis and aerobic metabolism. On the other hand, most repressed genes were found to be involved in the uptake and metabolism of iron.

CONCLUSION

This study furthers the understanding of the mechanisms involved, responses and the metabolic adaptation that occurs during the interaction of P. syringae pv. phaseolicola with a susceptible host plant.

SlyA, a MarR family transcriptional regulator, is essential for virulence in Dickeya dadantii 3937

SlyA, a MarR family transcriptional regulator, controls an assortment of biological functions in several animal-pathogenic bacteria. In order to elucidate the functions of SlyA in the phytopathogen Dickeya dadantii (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) 3937, a slyA gene deletion mutant (denoted DeltaslyA) was constructed. The mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to sodium hypochlorite, the cationic antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B, and oxidative stress. The mutant showed reduced production of pectate lyase and exopolysaccharide and an inability to form a pellicle. The mutant lacking a functional slyA gene showed a significantly reduced ability to cause maceration of potato tubers. Accordingly, the mutant exhibited significantly reduced bacterial growth and failed to hyperinduce pectate lyase production in planta. Introduction of a plasmid containing slyA into the DeltaslyA mutant caused all of these phenotypes to recover to wild-type levels. These results suggest that SlyA plays an important role in virulence to plants by positively regulating the expression of multiple pathogenicity-related traits of D. dadantii 3937.

Citrate uptake into Pectobacterium atrosepticum is critical for bacterial virulence

To analyze whether metabolite import into Pectobacterium atrosepticum cells affects bacterial virulence, we investigated the function of a carrier which exhibits significant structural homology to characterized carboxylic-acid transport proteins. The corresponding gene, ECA3984, previously annotated as coding for a Na(+)/sulphate carrier, in fact encodes a highly specific citrate transporter (Cit1) which is energized by the proton-motive force. Expression of the cit1 gene is stimulated by the presence of citrate in the growth medium and is substantial during growth of P. atrosepticum on potato tuber tissue. Infection of tuber tissue with P. atrosepticum leads to reduced citrate levels. P. atrosepticum insertion mutants, lacking the functional Cit1 protein, did not grow in medium containing citrate as the sole carbon source, showed a substantially reduced ability to macerate potato tuber tissue, and did not provoke reduced citrate levels in the plant tissue upon infection. We propose that citrate uptake into P. atrosepticum is critical for full bacterial virulence.

The role of pectate lyase and the jasmonic acid defense response in Pseudomonas viridiflava virulence

Pseudomonas viridiflava is a common pathogen of Arabidopsis thaliana in wild populations, yet very little is known about mechanisms of resistance and virulence in this interaction. We examined the induced defense response of A. thaliana to several strains of P. viridiflava collected from this host by quantifying the expression of PR-1 and LOX2/PDF1.2, which serve as markers for induction of the salicylic and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways, respectively. Growth of these strains then was assessed on Col-0, the fad3/7/8 and coil-1 mutants deficient in JA- and ethylene (ET)-induced defense responses, and the sid2-1 mutant deficient in salicylic acid-induced defense responses. All strains of P. viridiflava induced high expression of LOX2 and PDF1.2 on Col-0. In contrast, PR-1 expression was delayed and reduced relative to PDF1.2 expression. Additionally, three of four P. viridiflava strains were more virulent on fad3/7/8 relative to Col-0, whereas all strains were more virulent on coil-1 relative to Col-0, indicating that P. viridiflava generally may be suppressed by JA/ET-mediated defense responses. In contrast, no increase in the growth of P. viridiflava strains was observed in the sid2-1 mutant relative to Col-0. Parallel experiments were performed with the closely related P. syringae pv. tomato for comparative purposes. In addition, we assessed the role of pectate lyase and the alternative sigma factor HrpL in P. viridiflava virulence on A. thaliana and found that pectate lyase activity is correlated with virulence, whereas the removal of pectate lyase or HrpL significantly reduced virulence.

Pyramiding unmarked deletions in Ralstonia solanacearum shows that secreted proteins in addition to plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes contribute to virulence

Ralstonia solanacearum, like many phytopathogenic bacteria, makes multiple extracellular plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDE), some of which contribute to its ability to cause wilt disease. CWDE and many other proteins are secreted to the milieu via the highly conserved type II protein secretion system (T2SS). R. solanacearum with a defective T2SS is weakly virulent, but it is not known whether this is due to absence of all the CWDE or the loss of other secreted proteins that contribute to disease. These alternatives were investigated by creating mutants of wild-type strain GMI1000 lacking either the T2SS or up to six CWDE and comparing them for virulence on tomato plants. To create unmarked deletions, genomic regions flanking the target gene were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified, were fused using splice overlap extension PCR, were cloned into a suicide plasmid harboring the sacB counter-selectable marker, and then, were site-specifically introduced into the genome. Various combinations of five deletions (delta pehA, delta pehB, delta B, PehC, and Pme) was not statistically different from GMI1000, but all the mutants lacking one or both cellulolytic enzymes (Egl or CbhA) wilted plants significantly more slowly than did the wild type. The GMI-6 mutant that lacks all six CWDE was more virulent than the mutant lacking only its two cellulolytic enzymes, and both were significantly more virulent than the T2SS mutant (GMI-D). Very similar results were observed in wounded-petiole inoculation assays, so GMI-6 and GMI-D appear to be less capable of colonizing tomato tissues after invasion. Because the T2SS mutant was much less virulent than the sixfold CWDE mutant, we conclude that other secreted proteins contribute substantially to the ability of R. solanacearum GMI1000 to systemically colonize tomato plants.

Functional analysis of Botrytis cinerea pectin methylesterase genes by PCR-based targeted mutagenesis: Bcpme1 and Bcpme2 are dispensable for virulence of strain B05.10

SUMMARY Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic pathogen that produces an array of enzymes capable of attacking the plant cell wall components. We have previously shown that growth of the fungus in planta is accompanied by the degradation of pectin and that endopolygalacturonase (Bcpg) genes are expressed during infection of different plant tissues. It was assumed that pectin demethylation by pectin methylesterases (PME) was essential for the subsequent depolymerization by BcPGs to occur efficiently. We report here on the functional analysis of two Bcpme genes in strain B05.10, using a gene-replacement approach. The method used for the generation of constructs for gene replacement in B. cinerea circumvents the need for cloning and yielded a high proportion of homologous recombinants. Mutants lacking both Bcpme genes are not affected in their growth on highly methylated pectin, nor did they show any reduction in virulence. The results suggest that B. cinerea strain B05.10 can efficiently degrade pectin without prior demethylation.

Bacterial type two secretion system secreted proteins: double-edged swords for plant pathogens

The type two secretion system (T2S) is important for virulence of a number of gram-negative bacterial plant pathogens. Most of the T2S-secreted proteins that have been characterized to date are involved in degrading different components of plant cell walls. Functional redundancy appears to exist among T2S-secreted proteins because significant effects on virulence are observed only in strains in which multiple secreted proteins are mutated. Several T2S-secreted proteins have been shown to induce plant defense responses, including hypersensitive response-like reactions. Bacterial pathogens can suppress these defense responses, and recent results indicate that suppression is mediated through the type three secretion system.

Detection of and response to signals involved in host-microbe interactions by plant-associated bacteria

Diverse interactions between hosts and microbes are initiated by the detection of host-released chemical signals. Detection of these signals leads to altered patterns of gene expression that culminate in specific and adaptive changes in bacterial physiology that are required for these associations. This concept was first demonstrated for the members of the family Rhizobiaceae and was later found to apply to many other plant-associated bacteria as well as to microbes that colonize human and animal hosts. The family Rhizobiaceae includes various genera of rhizobia as well as species of Agrobacterium. Rhizobia are symbionts of legumes, which fix nitrogen within root nodules, while Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a pathogen that causes crown gall tumors on a wide variety of plants. The plant-released signals that are recognized by these bacteria are low-molecular-weight, diffusible molecules and are detected by the bacteria through specific receptor proteins. Similar phenomena are observed with other plant pathogens, including Pseudomonas syringae, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Erwinia spp., although here the signals and signal receptors are not as well defined. In some cases, nutritional conditions such as iron limitation or the lack of nitrogen sources seem to provide a significant cue. While much has been learned about the process of host detection over the past 20 years, our knowledge is far from being complete. The complex nature of the plant-microbe interactions makes it extremely challenging to gain a comprehensive picture of host detection in natural environments, and thus many signals and signal recognition systems remain to be described.

Novel mutants of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora defective in the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes generated by Mu transpososome-mediated insertion mutagenesis

As in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora the regulation details of the main virulence factors, encoding extracellular enzymes that degrade the plant cell wall, is only rudimentally understood, we performed a genetic screen to identify novel candidate genes involved in the process. Initially, we used Mu transpososome-mediated mutagenesis approach to generate a comprehensive transposon insertion mutant library of ca. 10000 clones and screened the clones for the loss of extracellular enzyme production. Extracellular enzymes production was abolished by mutations in the chromosomal helEcc, trkAEcc yheLEcc, glsEcc, igaAEcc and cysQEcc genes. The findings reported here demonstrate that we have isolated six new representatives that belong to the pool of genes modulating the production of virulence factors in E. carotovora.

Expression patterns and phylogenetic analysis of two xylanase genes (htxyl1 and htxyl2) from Helminthosporium turcicum, the cause of northern leaf blight of maize

A xylanase gene (htxyl2) was cloned from Helminthosporium turcicum, the cause of northern leaf blight of maize by screening the genomic library from the fungus using a approximately 500 bp PCR fragment of the gene as a probe. The gene is a second xylanase gene cloned from the fungus and it is different from the previously cloned xylanase gene (htxyl1). The two genes are grouped into separate clades in a phylogenetic tree based on DNA sequences. The patterns of htxyl1 and htxyl2 transcript accumulation were studied in vitro with different carbon and nitrogen sources and during infection of maize by the pathogen. In culture high htxyl1 transcript was detected in mycelium obtained from medium containing birchwood xylan and birchwood xylan plus xylose as sole carbon sources. On the other hand htxyl2 transcript was detected in a medium containing birchwood xylan plus xylose but not in the medium where only birchwood xylan was used as the sole carbon source. Addition of glucose to the basal inducing media had inhibitory effect to the expression of both genes. The htxyl1 transcript accumulation declined sharply with an increase in concentration of ammonium sulphate and glutamic acid, while increased htxyl2 transcript was observed with an increase in concentrations of the two nitrogen sources. Abundant htxyl2 transcript was detected at early and late stages of infection of maize by Helminthosporium turcicum. On the other hand no detectable htxyl1 transcript was found in northern blot under the test conditions. This study demonstrated that in H. turcicum xylanolytic system htxyl1 and htxyl2 are differentially expressed and might play important roles in the saprophytic and pathogenic phases of the fungus, respectively.

Analysis of Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 pelE::uidA, pelL::uidA, and hrpN::uidA mutants reveals strain-specific atypical regulation of the Hrp type III secretion system

The plant pathogen Erwinia chrysanthemi produces a variety of factors that have been implicated in its ability to cause soft-rot diseases in various hosts. These include HrpN, a harpin secreted by the Hrp type III secretion system; PelE, one of several major pectate lyase isozymes secreted by the type II system; and PelL, one of several secondary Pels secreted by the type II system. We investigated these factors in E. chrysanthemi EC16 with respect to the effects of medium composition and growth phase on gene expression (as determined with uidA fusions and Northern analyses) and effects on virulence. pelE was induced by polygalacturonic acid, but pelL was not, and hrpN was expressed unexpectedly in nutrient-rich King's medium B and in minimal salts medium at neutral pH. In contrast, the effect of medium composition on hrp expression in E. chrysanthemi CUCPB1237 and 3937 was like that of many other phytopathogenic bacteria in being repressed in complex media and induced in acidic pH minimal medium. Northern blot analysis of hrpN and hrpL expression by the wild-type and hrpL::omegaCmr and hrpS::omegaCmr mutants revealed that hrpN expression was dependent on the HrpL alternative sigma factor, whose expression, in turn, was dependent on the HrpS putative sigma54 enhancer binding protein. The expression of pelE and hrpN increased strongly in late logarithmic growth phase. To test the possible role of quorum sensing in this expression pattern, the expI/expR locus was cloned in Escherichia coli on the basis of its ability to direct production of acyl-homoserine lactone and then used to construct expI mutations in pelE::uidA, pelL::uidA, and hrpN::uidA Erwinia chrysanthemi strains. Mutation of expI had no apparent effect on the growth-phase-dependent expression of hrpN and pelE, or on the virulence of E. chrysanthemi in witloof chicory leaves. Overexpression of hrpN in E. chrysanthemi resulted in approximately 50% reduction of lesion size on chicory leaves without an effect on infection initiation.

The Erwinia chrysanthemi phoP-phoQ operon plays an important role in growth at low pH, virulence and bacterial survival in plant tissue

We have studied the role of acidic pH as a barrier for the colonization of the plant apoplast by Erwinia chrysanthemi. A minitransposon containing a promoterless reporter gene, gus, was used for random mutagenesis of the bacterial genome. An acid-sensitive mutant, named BT119, was isolated and had the following differential features with respect to the wild-type strain: (i) inability to grow at pH </= 5.5; (ii) decreased survival at acid pH and in plant tissues; (iii) increased susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides; (iv) decreased virulence in chicory leaves and pear fruits; (v) reduced polygalacturonase production; and (vi) reduced ability to alkalinize chicory tissues after infection. The sequence of the interrupted gene was highly similar to the phoQ gene, which is involved in environmental sensing in several bacteria, such as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Erwinia carotovora, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli and thus, this designation was used for the E. chrysanthemi system. This gene was induced at low Mg(2+) concentrations and in planta. These results suggest that E. chrysanthemi PhoP-PhoQ system plays an important role in bacterial survival in plant tissues during the initial infection stages.

Pectate lyase gene expression and enzyme activity in ripening banana fruit

Two distinct cDNA clones showing sequence homology to higher-plant pectate lyase (Pel) genes were isolated from ripening banana fruits. The transcripts were detected only in fruit tissue and both were strongly ripening-related. Yeast transformation with the most highly expressed Pel clone produced a recombinant protein with pectate lyase activity, demonstrating that this sequence was likely to encode a pectate lyase protein in planta. An assay developed for measuring the action of the endogenous enzyme from banana pulp tissue revealed a significant increase in calcium-dependent pectate lyase activity during ripening. The enhanced levels of enzyme activity corresponded with an increase in soluble polyuronides from banana pulp.

Soft rot erwiniae: from genes to genomes

SUMMARY The soft rot erwiniae, Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica (Eca), E. carotovora ssp. carotovora (Ecc) and E. chrysanthemi (Ech) are major bacterial pathogens of potato and other crops world-wide. We currently understand much about how these bacteria attack plants and protect themselves against plant defences. However, the processes underlying the establishment of infection, differences in host range and their ability to survive when not causing disease, largely remain a mystery. This review will focus on our current knowledge of pathogenesis in these organisms and discuss how modern genomic approaches, including complete genome sequencing of Eca and Ech, may open the door to a new understanding of the potential subtlety and complexity of soft rot erwiniae and their interactions with plants.

TAXONOMY

The soft rot erwiniae are members of the Enterobacteriaceae, along with other plant pathogens such as Erwinia amylovora and human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. Although the genus name Erwinia is most often used to describe the group, an alternative genus name Pectobacterium was recently proposed for the soft rot species.

HOST RANGE

Ech mainly affects crops and other plants in tropical and subtropical regions and has a wide host range that includes potato and the important model host African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha). Ecc affects crops and other plants in subtropical and temperate regions and has probably the widest host range, which also includes potato. Eca, on the other hand, has a host range limited almost exclusively to potato in temperate regions only. Disease symptoms: Soft rot erwiniae cause general tissue maceration, termed soft rot disease, through the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes. Environmental factors such as temperature, low oxygen concentration and free water play an essential role in disease development. On potato, and possibly other plants, disease symptoms may differ, e.g. blackleg disease is associated more with Eca and Ech than with Ecc.

USEFUL WEBSITES

http://www.scri.sari.ac.uk/TiPP/Erwinia.htm, http://www.ahabs.wisc.edu:16080/ approximately pernalab/erwinia/index.htm, http://www.tigr.org/tdb/mdb/mdbinprogress.html, http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/E_carotovora/.

Analysis of genes expressed during rice-Magnaporthe grisea interactions

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis was applied to identify rice genes involved in defense responses against infection by the blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea and fungal genes involved in growth within the host during a compatible interaction. A total of 511 clones was sequenced from a cDNA library constructed from rice leaves (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare) infected with M. grisea strain 70-15 to generate 296 nonredundant ESTs. The sequences of 293 clones (57.3%) significantly matched National Center for Biotechnology Information database entries; 221 showed homologies with previously identified plant genes and 72 with fungal genes. Among the genes with assigned functions, 32.8% were associated with metabolism, 29.4% with cell/organism defense or pathogenicity, and 18.4% with gene/protein expression. cDNAs encoding a type I metallothionein (MTs-1) of rice and a homolog of glucose-repressible gene 1 (GRG1) of Neurospora crassa were the most abundant representatives of plant and fungal genes, comprising 2.9 and 1.6% of the total clones, respectively. The expression patterns of 10 ESTs, five each from rice and M. grisea, were analyzed. Five defense-related genes in rice, including four pathogenesis-related genes and MTs-1, were highly expressed during M. grisea infection. Expression of five stress-inducible or pathogenicity-related genes of the fungus, including two hydrophobin genes, was also induced during growth within the host. Further characterization of the genes represented in this study would be an aid in unraveling the mechanisms of pathogenicity of M. grisea and the defense responses of rice.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides pelB is an important virulence factor in avocado fruit-fungus interaction

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is an important pathogen of tropical and subtropical fruits. The C. gloeosporioides pelB gene was disrupted in the fungus via homologous recombination. Three independent isolates, GD-14, GD-23, and GD-29, did not produce or secrete pectate lyase B (PLB) and exhibited 25% lower pectate lyase (PL) and pectin lyase (PNL) activities and 15% higher polygalacturonase (PG) activity than the wild type. The PLB mutants exhibited no growth reduction on glucose, Na polypectate, or pectin as the sole carbon source at pH 3.8 or 6.0, except for a 15% reduction on pectin at pH 6.0. When pelB mutants were inoculated onto avocado fruits, however, a 36 to 45% reduction in estimated decay diameter was observed compared with the two controls, the wild type and undisrupted transformed isolate. In addition, these pelB mutants induced a significantly higher host phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity as well as the antifungal diene, which is indicative of higher host resistance. These results suggest that PLB is an important factor in the attack of C. gloeosporioides on avocado fruit, probably as a result of its virulence factor and role in the induction of host defense mechanisms.

Relative effects on virulence of mutations in the sap, pel, and hrp loci of Erwinia chrysanthemi

We constructed strains of Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 with multiple mutations involving three virulence systems in this bacterium, namely pel (coding for the major pectate lyases pelABCE), hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity), and sap (sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides). The relative effects on virulence of those mutations have been analyzed on potato tubers and chicory leaves. In potato tubers, the sap mutation (BT105) had a greater effect in the reduction of the virulence than the pel (CUCPB5006) and hrp (CUCPB5039) mutations. This reduction was similar to that observed in the pel-hrp double mutant (CUCPB5037). The analysis of the strains affected in Pel-Sap (BT106), Hrp-Sap (BT107), and Pel-Hrp-Sap (BT108) suggested that the effects of these mutations are additive. In chicory leaves, the mutation in the sap locus appeared to have a greater effect than in potato tubers. The competitive indices of strains BT105, UM1005 (Pel-), CUCPB5039, and CUCPB5037 have been estimated in vivo and in vitro. These results indicate that the mutation in the hrp locus can be complemented in vivo by coinfection, whereas the mutations in pel and sap cannot.

Expression of pectate lyase from Colletotrichum gloesosporioides in C. magna promotes pathogenicity

To test the contribution of pectate lyase (PL) to promoting fungal pathogenicity, a pectate lyase gene (pel) from the avocado pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, isolate Cg-14, was expressed in C. magna isolate L-2.5, a pathogen of cucurbits that causes minor symptoms in watermelon seedlings and avocado fruits. Isolate L-2.5 was transformed with pPCPH-1 containing hph-B as a selectable marker and the 4.1-kb genomic pel clone. Southern hybridization, with the 4.1-kb genomic pel clone or 2.13-kb hph-B cassette as probes, detected integration of pel in transformed C. magna isolates Cm-PL-3 and Cm-PL-10. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis with antibodies against Cg-14 PL detected a single PL secreted by L-2.5 at a molecular mass of 41.5 kDa, whereas the PL of C. gloeosporioides had a molecular mass of 39 kDa. When PL activity was measured 4 days after inoculation in pectolytic enzyme-inducing media (PEIM), transformed isolates Cm-PL-3 and Cm-PL-10 showed additive PL activity relative to both Cg-14 and L-2.5. Transformed isolates also showed additive maceration capabilities on avocado pericarp relative to the wild-type C. magna alone, but did not reach the maceration ability of C. gloeosporioides. However, more severe maceration and damping off developed in watermelon seedlings inoculated with the transformed isolates compared with the two wild-type isolates, which showed no symptom development on these seedlings during the same period. Results clearly show the contribution of a single pel to the pathogenic abilities of C. magna and suggest that PL is a pathogenicity factor required for the penetration and colonization of Colletotrichum species.

A two-component regulatory system, pehR-pehS, controls endopolygalacturonase production and virulence in the plant pathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

Genes coding for the main virulence determinants of the plant pathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, the plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, are under the coordinate control of global regulator systems including both positive and negative factors. In addition to this global control, some virulence determinants are subject to specific regulation. We have previously shown that mutations in the pehR locus result in reduced virulence and impaired production of one of these enzymes, an endopolygalacturonase (PehA). In contrast, these pehR strains produce essentially wild-type levels of other extracellular enzymes including pectate lyases and cellulases. In this work, we characterized the pehR locus and showed that the DNA sequence is composed of two genes, designated pehR and pehS, present in an operon. Mutations in either pehR or pehS caused a Peh-negative phenotype and resulted in reduced virulence on tobacco seedlings. Complementation experiments indicated that both genes are required for transcriptional activation of the endopolygalacturonase gene, pehA, as well as restoration of virulence. Structural characterization of the pehR-pehS operon demonstrated that the corresponding polypeptides are highly similar to the two-component transcriptional regulators PhoP-PhoQ of both Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Functional similarity of PehR-PehS with PhoP-PhoQ of E. coli and S. typhimurium was demonstrated by genetic complementation.

Production of pectate lyases and cellulases by Chryseomonas luteola strain MFCL0 depends on the growth temperature and the nature of the culture medium: evidence for two critical temperatures

Several extracellular enzymes that are responsible for plant tissue maceration were detected in culture supernatant of the psychrotrophic bacterium Chryseomonas luteola MFCL0. Isoelectrofocusing experiments showed that pectate lyase (PL) activity resulted from the cumulative action of three major isoenzymes, designated PLI, PLII, and PLIII. Cellulolytic activity was also detected in culture supernatants. These enzymes exhibited different behaviors with respect to growth temperature. PLII was not regulated by temperature, whereas PLI and PLIII were regulated similarly by growth temperature. Maximal levels of PLI and PLIII were produced at 14 degrees C when cells were grown in polygalacturonate-containing synthetic medium and at around 20 to 24 degrees C in nutrient broth. In contrast, thermoregulation of cellulolytic activity production differed from thermoregulation of PL. The level of cellulolytic activity was low in all media at temperatures up to 20 degrees C, and then it increased dramatically until the temperature was 28 degrees C, which is the optimal temperature for growth of C. luteola. Previously, we defined the critical temperature by using the modified Arrhenius equation to characterize bacterial behavior. This approach consists of monitoring changes in the maximal specific growth rate as a function of temperature. Our most striking result was the finding that the temperature at which maximum levels of PLI and PLIII were produced in two different media was the same as the critical temperature for growth observed in these two media.

PHYTOALEXINS: What Have We Learned After 60 Years?

One of the best and longest-studied defense response of plants to infection is the induced accumulation of antimicrobial, low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites known as phytoalexins. Since the phytoalexin hypothesis was first proposed in 1940, a role for these compounds in defense has been revealed through several experimental approaches. Support has come, for example, through studies on the rate of phytoalexins in relation to cessation of pathogen development, quantification of phytoalexins at the infection site, and relationship of pathogen virulence to the phytoalexin tolerance. Evidence in support of phytoalexins in resistance as well some recent advances in phytoalexin biosynthesis are reviewed. Criteria for evaluating a role for phytoalexins in disease resistance are also discussed.

Processing of the pectate lyase PelI by extracellular proteases of Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937

Erwinia chrysanthemi causes soft rot on various plants. The maceration of plant tissues is mainly due to the action of endopectate lyases. The E. chrysanthemi strain 3937 produces eight endopectate lyases (PelA, PelB, PelC, PelD, PelE, PelI, PelL and PelZ) that are secreted by the Out pathway. The necrotic response elicited by the wild-type E. chrysanthemi strain on tobacco leaves is due to an extracellular protein secreted by the Out machinery. Purification of the active factor revealed that it corresponds to a pectate lyase presenting immunological cross-reaction with PelI. Analysis of pelI and out mutants indicated that the necrosis-inducing pectate lyase results from a post-translational modification of PelI occurring extracellularly both in culture media and in planta. This modification consists of the cleavage of 97 N-terminal amino acids by the extracellular proteases of E. chrysanthemi. The enzymatic properties of the maturated form, PelI-3, are not, or only weakly, modified. However, this maturation gives rise to a small size and basic form that is active as a defence elicitor in plants.

Targeted mutants of Cochliobolus carbonum lacking the two major extracellular polygalacturonases

The filamentous fungus Cochliobolus carbonum produces endo-alpha 1,4-polygalacturonase (endoPG), exo-alpha 1,4-polygalacturonase (exoPG), and pectin methylesterase when grown in culture on pectin. Residual activity in a pgn1 mutant (lacking endoPG) was due to exoPG activity, and the responsible protein has now been purified. After chemical deglycosylation, the molecular mass of the purified protein decreased from greater than 60 to 45 kDa. The gene that encodes exoPG, PGX1, was isolated with PCR primers based on peptide sequences from the protein. The product of PGX1, Pgx1p, has a predicted molecular mass of 48 kDa, 12 potential N-glycosylation sites, and 61% amino acid identity to an exoPG from the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus tubingensis. Strains of C. carbonum mutated in PGX1 were constructed by targeted gene disruption and by gene replacement. Growth of pgx1 mutant strains on pectin was reduced by ca. 20%, and they were still pathogenic on maize. A double pgn1/pgx1 mutant strain was constructed by crossing. The double mutant grew as well as the pgx1 single mutant on pectin and was still pathogenic despite having less than 1% of total wild-type PG activity. Double mutants retained a small amount of PG activity with the same cation-exchange retention time as Pgn1p and also pectin methylesterase and a PG activity associated with the mycelium. Continued growth of the pgn1/pgx1 mutant on pectin could be due to one or more of these residual activities.

Pectate lyase PelI of Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 belongs to a new family

Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 secretes five major isoenzymes of pectate lyases encoded by the pel4, pelB, pelC, pelD, and pelE genes and a set of secondary pectate lyases, two of which, pelL and pelZ, have been already identified. We cloned the pelI gene, encoding a ninth pectate lyase of E. chrysanthemi 3937. The pelI reading frame is 1,035 bases long, corresponding to a protein of 344 amino acids including a typical amino-terminal signal sequence of 19 amino acids. The purified mature PelI protein has an isoelectric point of about 9 and an apparent molecular mass of 34 kDa. PelI has a preference for partially methyl esterified pectin and presents an endo-cleaving activity with an alkaline pH optimum and an absolute requirement for Ca2+ ions. PelI is an extracellular protein secreted by the Out secretory pathway of E. chrysanthemi. The PelI protein is very active in the maceration of plant tissues. A pelI mutant displayed reduced pathogenicity on chicory leaves, but its virulence did not appear to be affected on potato tubers or Saintpaulia ionantha plants. The pelI gene constitutes an independent transcriptional unit. As shown for the other pel genes, the transcription of pelI is dependent on various environmental conditions. It is induced by pectic catabolic products and affected by growth phase, oxygen limitation, temperature, nitrogen starvation, and catabolite repression. Regulation of pelI expression appeared to be dependent on the three repressors of pectinase synthesis, KdgR, PecS, and PecT, and on the global activator of sugar catabolism, cyclic AMP receptor protein. A functional KdgR binding site was identified close to the putative pelI promoter. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of PelI revealed high homology with a pectate lyase from Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (65% identity) and low homology with pectate lyases of the phytopathogenic fungus Nectria haematococca (Fusarium solani). This finding indicates that PelI belongs to pectate lyase class III. Using immunoblotting experiments, we detected PelI homologs in various strains of E. chrysanthemi and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora but not in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica.

Characterization of the pecT control region from Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937

Erwinia chrysanthemi synthesizes and secretes pectate lyases that attack components of the plant cell wall and, therefore, play a major role in the pathogenesis of soft rot disease. We isolated a new mutant (designated pec-1), by Tn5 mutagenesis, that displays weak pectate lyase production and decreased motility and mucoidicity. Maceration and pathogenicity tests done on different plant organs showed that the pec-1 strain displays a reduced virulence compared to that of the parental strain. The Tn5 insertion was localized between the pelL and the out loci and defines a new regulatory region. Sequencing of the pec-1::Tn5 insertion revealed that pec-1 is tightly linked to the pecT regulatory gene that also controls pectate lyase synthesis. Moreover, the pecT mutation is dominant over the pec-1 mutation, suggesting that these two loci are involved in the same regulatory network. We demonstrated, by Northern blot analysis, that the pec-1::Tn5 insertion provokes derepression of pecT transcription and defines a cis-acting element. Introduction of the pecT gene in trans of a pecT::uidA fusion induced a decrease of pecT::uidA transcription, indicating a negative autoregulation. Band shift experiments confirmed that the PecT repressor specifically interacts with the pecT regulatory region. We also demonstrated that the PecT protein interacts with the regulatory region of the pelD gene encoding a pectate lyase. Therefore, the abolition of the pecT autoregulation in the pec-1 mutant provokes an overproduction of the PecT repressor that is responsible for the decrease of pectate lyase synthesis. Mutagenesis of the pecT regulatory region revealed the presence of two sites in which insertions reproduced the pec-1 phenotype. This result suggests that pecT autoregulation requires the presence of two functional operator sites. From this study, we propose that the PecT repressor binds to these two sites, generating a loop that blocks pecT transcription.

Cloning, molecular characterization and expression pattern of a strawberry ripening-specific cDNA with sequence homology to pectate lyase from higher plants

A strawberry fruit cDNA showing sequence similarity to higher-plant pectate lyase genes has been isolated by differential screening of a strawberry fruit cDNA subtractive library. The cDNA contains a 396 amino acids open reading frame corresponding to a 44.8 kDa protein. The transcript is predominantly expressed in ripe fruits and was not detected at high levels in any other plant tissues. The removal of the achenes from unripe green fruits induced the expression of this putative pectate lyase gene. In common with other ripening related genes in strawberry, this induction was partially inhibited by treatment of de-achened fruit with the auxin NAA. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA indicates that in strawberry there is more than one putative pectate lyase gene. We propose that the ripe fruit expression of this strawberry gene with similarity to pectate lyases could be related to cell wall pectin degradation contributing to strawberry fruit softening.

Comparative analysis of the five major Erwinia chrysanthemi pectate lyases: enzyme characteristics and potential inhibitors

In Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937, pectate lyase activity mainly results from the cumulative action of five major isoenzymes, PelA to PelE. Comparison of their amino acid sequences revealed two families, PelB-C and PelA-D-E. Molecular cloning permitted expression of the different pel genes in Escherichia coli and the isolation of each Pel independently from the other isoenzymes. We used similar experimental conditions to overproduce and purify the five Pels in a one-step chromatography method. We analyzed some of the basic enzymatic properties of these five isoenzymes. PelA has a low specific activity compared to the other four enzymes. PelB and PelC have a high affinity for their substrate: about 10-fold higher than the enzymes of the PelA-D-E group. The optimum pH is more alkaline for PelB and PelC (about 9.2) than for PelA, PelD, and PelE (from 8 to 8.8). Below pH 7, activity was negligible for PelB and PelC, while PelA, PelD, and PelE retained 25 to 30% of their activities. The temperature optima were determined to be 50 degrees C for PelD and PelE, 55 degrees C for PelA, and 60 degrees C for PelB and PelC. Enzymes of the PelB-C group are more stable than those of the PelA-D-E group. Use of substrates presenting various degrees of methylation revealed that PelA, PelD, and PelE are active only for very low levels of methylation, while PelB and PelC are more active on partially methylated pectins (up to 22% for PelC and up to 45% for PelB). Pectate lyases have an absolute requirement for Ca2+ ions. For the five isoenzymes, maximal activity was obtained at a Ca2+ concentration of 0.1 mM. None of the tested cations (Ba2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Sr2+, Zn2+) can substitute for Ca2+. At a high concentration (1 mM), most of the divalent cations inhibited pectate lyase activity. In addition, we demonstrated that two compounds present in plant tissues, epicatechin and salicylic acid, inhibit the pectate lyases at a concentration of 0.2 mM.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and mutagenesis of a pel gene from Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachyrmans encoding a member of the Erwinia chrysanthemi pelADE family of pectate lyases

The pelS gene from Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans 859 was cloned by heterologous expression in nonpectolytic P. syringae pv. syringae BUVS1, using genomic DNA libraries constructed with two novel broad-host-range cosmid vectors, pCPP34 and pCPP47. Screening of P. syringae pv. syringae transconjugants for the ability to pit pectate media at pH 6.0 and 8.5 yielded several overlapping clones of the same DNA region. Ultrathin-layer isoelectric focusing gels, activity-stained with diagnostically buffered substrate overlays, revealed that this region encoded a single pectate lyase (PelS) with a pI of 9.4. pelS was subcloned from cosmid pCPP5020 and sequenced, revealing it to encode a member of the Erwinia chrysanthemi PelADE family, with highest similarity to Pseudomonas viridiflava PelV. A pelS probe hybridized at high stringency in DNA gel blots with total DNA from P. syringae pv. lachrymans strains 859 and Pla5, P. syringae pv. tabaci, P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, P. syringae pv. glycinea, P. fluorescens (marginalis), P. viridiflava, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, but not with P. syringae pv. pisi, P. syringae pv. syringae, P. syringae pv. tomato, P. syringae pv. papulans, E. chrysanthemi, or Ralstonia (Pseudomonas or Burkholderia) solanacearum. The PelS sequence revealed an N-terminal signal peptide, whose processing in Escherichia coli was confirmed by protein sequence analysis. PelS was similar to E. chrysanthemi PelE in its substrate preference and ability to reduce the viscosity of pectate and to macerate potato tuber tissue. A pelS:: omega Kmr mutation was marker-exchanged into P. syringae pv. lachrymans Pla5, pelS was also subcloned into the broad-host-range expression vector pML122 under control of the vector nptII promoter, and then transformed into P. syringae pv. lachrymans Pla5 to produce a strain overproducing PelS. Necrotic lesions developed in cotyledons following inoculation with all of the P. syringae pv. lachrymans Pla5 derivatives, regardless of their Pel phenotype. However, only cotyledons infected with pelS+ strains showed evidence of maceration and yielded Pel activity upon extraction. In contrast, pelS+ P. syringae pv. syringae BUVS1(pCPP5020) produced no symptoms in cucumber cotyledons. Thus, PelS in P. syringae pv. lachrymans appears to alter the final symptoms in infected cucumber cotyledons without contributing to pathogenicity or altering host range.

Regulation of pelZ, a gene of the pelB-pelC cluster encoding a new pectate lyase of Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937

The phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 produces five major and several secondary endo-pectate lyases encoded by the pel genes. Most of these genes are arranged in clusters on the bacterial chromosome. The genomic region surrounding the pelB-pelC cluster was supposed to be involved in the regulation of PelB and PelC synthesis. We demonstrated that the variation of pelB expression resulted from the titration of a regulatory protein by the gene adjacent to pelC. This gene was renamed pelZ since it encodes a protein of 420 amino acids with an endo-pectate lyase activity. Regulation of pelZ expression was investigated by using transcriptional fusions and a study of mRNA synthesis. Its transcription depends on different environmental conditions. It is induced in planta and in the presence of pectic catabolite products. This induction seems to be partially mediated by the KdgR protein but does not result from a direct interaction of KdgR with the pelZ 5' region. The transcription of pelZ leads to the synthesis of a monocistronic mRNA. However, the synthesis of a polycistronic mRNA from the pelC promoter, regulated by KdgR, is responsible for increased production of PelZ under inducing conditions. pelZ transcription is also controlled by pecT, which regulates some other pel genes, but it is independent of the pecS regulatory locus. The pelZ gene appears to be widespread in different strains of E. chrysanthemi. Moreover, a gene homologous to pelZ exists in Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica adjacent to the cluster containing the pectate lyase-encoding genes pel1, pel2, and pel3. This conservation could reflect a significant role of PelZ in the pectinolytic system of Erwiniae. We showed pelZ is not a predominant virulence factor of E. chrysanthemi but is involved in host specificity.

Cloning, disruption, and expression of two endo-beta 1, 4-xylanase genes, XYL2 and XYL3, from Cochliobolus carbonum

In culture, the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus carbonum, a pathogen of maize, makes three cationic xylanases, XYL1, which encodes the major endoxylanase (Xyl1), was earlier cloned and shown by gene disruption to encode the first and second peaks of xylanase activity (P. C. Apel, D. G. Panaccione, F. R. Holden, and J. D. Walton, Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 6:467-473, 1993). Two additional xylanase genes, XYL2 and XYL3, have now been cloned from C. carbonum. XYL2 and XYL3 are predicted to encode 22-kDa family G xylanases similar to Xyl1. Xyl2 and Xyl3 are 60% and 42% identical, respectively, to Xyl1, and Xyl2 and Xyl3 are 39% identical. XYL1 and XYL2 but not XYL3 mRNAs are present in C. carbonum grown in culture, and XYL1 and XYL3 but not XYL2 mRNAs are present in infected plants. Transformation-mediated gene disruption was used to construct strains mutated in XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3. Xyl1 accounts for most of the total xylanase activity in culture, and disruption of XYL2 or XYL3 does not result in the further loss of any xylanase activity. In particular, the third peak of cationic xylanase activity is still present in a xyl1 xyl2 xyl3 triple mutant, and therefore this xylanase must be encoded by yet a fourth xylanase gene. A minor protein of 22 kDa that can be detected immunologically in the xyl1 mutant disappears in the xyl2 mutant and is therefore proposed to be the product of XYL2. The single xylanase mutants were crossed with each other to obtain multiple xylanase disruptions within the same strain. Strains disrupted in combinations of two and in all three xylanases were obtained. The triple mutant grows at the same rate as the wild type on xylan and on maize cell walls. The triple mutant is still fully pathogenic on maize with regard to lesion size, morphology, and rate of lesion development.

Regulation of pectinolysis in Erwinia chrysanthemi

Erwinia chrysanthemi is an enterobacterium that causes various plant diseases. Its pathogenicity results from the secretion of pectinolytic enzymes responsible for the disorganization of the plant cell wall. The E. chrysanthemi strain 3937 produces two pectin methylesterases, at least seven pectate lyases, a polygalacturonase, and a pectin lyase. The extracellular degradation of the pectin leads to the formation of oligogalacturonides that are catabolized through an intracellular pathway. The pectinase genes are expressed from independent cistrons, and their transcription is favored by environmental conditions such as presence of pectin and plant extracts, stationary growth phase, low temperature, oxygen or iron limitation, and so on. Moreover, transcription of the pectin lyase gene responds to DNA-damaging agents. The differential expressions of individual pectinase genes presumably reflect their role during plant infection. The regulation of pel genes requires several regulatory systems, including the KdgR repressor, which mediates the induction of all the pectinolysis genes in the presence of pectin catabolites. KdgR also controls the genes necessary for pectinase secretion and other pectin-inducible genes not yet characterized. PecS, a cytoplasmic protein homologous to other transcriptional regulators, can bind in vitro to the regulatory regions of pectinase and cellulase genes. The PecT protein, a member of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators, represses the expression of some pectinase genes and also affects other metabolic pathways of the bacteria. Other proteins involved in global regulations, such as CRP or HNS, can bind to the regulatory regions of the pectinase genes and affect their transcription.