1
|
Böttner L, Malacrinò A, Schulze Gronover C, van Deenen N, Müller B, Xu S, Gershenzon J, Prüfer D, Huber M. Natural rubber reduces herbivory and alters the microbiome below ground. New Phytol 2023. [PMID: 36597727 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Laticifers are hypothesized to mediate both plant-herbivore and plant-microbe interactions. However, there is little evidence for this dual function. We investigated whether the major constituent of natural rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene, a phylogenetically widespread and economically important latex polymer, alters plant resistance and the root microbiome of the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz) under attack of a root herbivore, the larva of the May cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha). Rubber-depleted transgenic plants lost more shoot and root biomass upon herbivory than normal rubber content near-isogenic lines. Melolontha melolontha preferred to feed on artificial diet supplemented with rubber-depleted rather than normal rubber content latex. Likewise, adding purified cis-1,4-polyisoprene in ecologically relevant concentrations to diet deterred larval feeding and reduced larval weight gain. Metagenomics and metabarcoding revealed that abolishing biosynthesis of natural rubber alters the structure but not the diversity of the rhizosphere and root microbiota (ecto- and endophytes) and that these changes depended on M. melolontha damage. However, the assumption that rubber reduces microbial colonization or pathogen load is contradicted by four lines of evidence. Taken together, our data demonstrate that natural rubber biosynthesis reduces herbivory and alters the plant microbiota, which highlights the role of plant-specialized metabolites and secretory structures in shaping multitrophic interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Böttner
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Antonino Malacrinò
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Department of Agriculture, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, I-89122, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Christian Schulze Gronover
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, D-48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Nicole van Deenen
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Boje Müller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, D-48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Shuqing Xu
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jonathan Gershenzon
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Dirk Prüfer
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143, Münster, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, D-48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Meret Huber
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Unland K, Pütter KM, Vorwerk K, van Deenen N, Twyman RM, Prüfer D, Schulze Gronover C. Functional characterization of squalene synthase and squalene epoxidase in Taraxacum koksaghyz. Plant Direct 2018; 2:e00063. [PMID: 31245726 PMCID: PMC6508512 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The Russian dandelion Taraxacum koksaghyz produces high-value isoprenoids such as pentacyclic triterpenes and natural rubber in the latex of specialized cells known as laticifers. Squalene synthase (SQS) and squalene epoxidase (SQE) catalyze key steps in the biosynthesis of cyclic terpenoids, but neither enzyme has yet been characterized in T. koksaghyz. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of two genes (TkSQS1 and TkSQS2) encoding isoforms of SQS, and four genes (TkSQE1-4) encoding isoforms of SQE. Spatial expression analysis in different T. koksaghyz tissues confirmed that TkSQS1 and TkSQE1 are the latex-predominant isoforms, with highly similar mRNA expression profiles. The TkSQS1 and TkSQE1 proteins colocalized in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and their enzymatic functions were confirmed by in vitro activity assays and yeast complementation studies, respectively. The functions of TkSQS1 and TkSQE1 were further characterized in the latex of T. koksaghyz plants with depleted TkSQS1 or TkSQE1 mRNA levels, produced by RNA interference. Comprehensive expression analysis revealed the coregulation of TkSQS1 and TkSQE1, along with a downstream gene in the triterpene biosynthesis pathway encoding the oxidosqualene cyclase TkOSC1. This indicates that the coregulation of TkSQS1, TkSQE1, and TkOSC1 could be used to optimize the flux toward specific terpenoids during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Unland
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME)MuensterGermany
| | - Katharina M. Pütter
- Institute of Plant Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Kirsten Vorwerk
- Institute of Plant Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Nicole van Deenen
- Institute of Plant Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | | | - Dirk Prüfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME)MuensterGermany
- Institute of Plant Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | | |
Collapse
|