Journal Article

Diversity and activity of sugar transporters in nematode-induced root syncytia

Hess, Paul H., Szakasits, Dagmar, Grundler, Florian M. W., Daxböck-Horvath, Sabine, Blöchl, Andreas, van Bel, Aart J. E., Wieczorek, Krzysztof, Hofmann, Julia, Bohlmann, Holger

2009

Overview

The plant-parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii stimulates plant root cells to form syncytial feeding structures which synthesize all nutrients required for successful nematode development. Cellular re-arrangements and modified metabolism of the syncytia are accompanied by massive intra- and intercellular solute allocations. In this study the expression of all genes annotated as sugar transporters in the Arabidopsis Membrane Protein Library was investigated by Affymetrix gene chip analysis in young and fully developed syncytia compared with non-infected Arabidopsis thaliana roots. The expression of three highly up-regulated (STP12, MEX1, and GTP2) and three highly down-regulated genes (SFP1, STP7, and STP4) was analysed by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The most up-regulated gene (STP12) was chosen for further in-depth studies using in situ RT-PCR and a nematode development assay with a T-DNA insertion line revealing a significant reduction of male nematode development. The specific role of STP12 expression in syncytia of male juveniles compared with those of female juveniles was further shown by qRT-PCR. In order to provide evidence for sugar transporter activity across the plasma membrane of syncytia, fluorescence-labelled glucose was used and membrane potential recordings following the application of several sugars were performed. Analyses of soluble sugar pools revealed a highly specific composition in syncytia. The presented work demonstrates that sugar transporters are specifically expressed and active in syncytia, indicating a profound role in inter- and intracelluar transport processes.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press,Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subject: Animals / Arabidopsis / Arabidopsis - genetics / Arabidopsis - metabolism / Arabidopsis - parasitology / Arabidopsis Proteins / Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics / Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism / Arabidopsis thaliana / Biological and medical sciences / Electrophysiology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / gene chip / gene expression / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Genes / genetics / Giant cells / Giant Cells - metabolism / Giant Cells - parasitology / glucose / Heterodera schachtii / in situ RT-PCR / juveniles / Membrane potential / metabolism / Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Monosaccharide Transport Proteins - genetics / Monosaccharide Transport Proteins - metabolism / Nematoda / Nematoda - physiology / Nematodes / nutrients / parasitology / physiology / Plant cells / Plant Diseases / Plant Diseases - parasitology / Plant Roots / Plant Roots - genetics / Plant Roots - metabolism / Plant Roots - parasitology / Plants / plasma membrane / RESEARCH PAPER / Research Papers / Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction / roots / solutes / Sugar / sugar transporter / Sugars / Syncytia / syncytium / transfer DNA / Transport processes / transporters