Projects per year
Abstract
Sedentary Plant-Parasitic Nematodes (PPNs) induce and maintain an intimate relationship with their host, stimulating cells adjacent to root vascular tissue to re-differentiate into unique and metabolically active "feeding sites". The interaction between PPNs and their host is mediated by nematode effectors. We describe the discovery of a large and diverse family of effector genes, encoding C-terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP) plant hormone mimics (RrCEPs), in the syncytia-forming plant-parasite Rotylenchulus reniformis. The particular attributes of RrCEPs distinguish them from all other CEPs, regardless of origin. Together with the distant phylogenetic relationship of R. reniformis to the only other CEP-encoding nematode genus identified to date (Meloidogyne), this suggests CEPs likely evolved de novo in R. reniformis. We have characterised the first member of this large gene family (RrCEP1), demonstrating its significant upregulation during the plant-nematode interaction and expression in the effector-producing pharyngeal gland cell. All internal CEP domains of multi-domain RrCEPs are followed by di-basic residues, suggesting a mechanism for cleavage. A synthetic peptide corresponding to RrCEP1 domain 1 is biologically active and capable of upregulating plant nitrate transporter (AtNRT2.1) expression, while simultaneously reducing primary root elongation. When a non-CEP containing, syncytia-forming PPN species (Heterodera schachtii) infects Arabidopsis in a CEP-rich environment a smaller feeding site is produced. We hypothesise that CEPs of R. reniformis represent a two-fold adaptation to sustained biotrophy in this species; 1) increasing host nitrate uptake while 2) limiting the size of the syncytial feeding site produced. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1265-1275 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Molecular Plant Pathology |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 6 Jun 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 7 Sept 2016 |
Keywords
- effector
- evolution
- plant-parasitic nematode
- plant peptide hormone
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Dive into the research topics of 'Functional C-terminally encoded plant peptide (CEP) hormone domains evolved de novo in the plant parasite Rotylenchulus reniformis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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A Synthetic Biology Approach to Develop Durable Disease Resistance in Crops (Anniversary Fellowship)
Birch, P. (Investigator) & Eves-van den Akker, S. (Investigator)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2/02/15 → 1/04/18
Project: Research
Datasets
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Data from: Functional C-terminally encoded peptide (CEP) plant hormone domains evolved de novo in the plant parasite Rotylenchulus reniformis
Eves-Van Den Akker, S. (Creator), Lilley, C. J. (Creator), Yusup, H. B. (Creator), Jones, J. T. (Creator) & Urwin, P. E. (Creator), Dryad, 13 Apr 2016
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.q8h75, https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.q8h75
Dataset