Journal Article

The Fungal Pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa Has Genes Similar to Plant PR-1 That Are Highly Expressed during Its Interaction with Cacao

Vidal, Ramon O., Teixeira, Paulo J.P.L., Pereira, Gonçalo A.G., do Prado, Paula F.V., Baroni, Renata M., Mondego, Jorge M.C., Mieczkowski, Piotr, Thomazella, Daniela P.T., Reis, Osvaldo, Franco, Sulamita F.

2012

Overview

The widespread SCP/TAPS superfamily (SCP/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7) has multiple biological functions, including roles in the immune response of plants and animals, development of male reproductive tract in mammals, venom activity in insects and reptiles and host invasion by parasitic worms. Plant Pathogenesis Related 1 (PR-1) proteins belong to this superfamily and have been characterized as markers of induced defense against pathogens. This work presents the characterization of eleven genes homologous to plant PR-1 genes, designated as MpPR-1, which were identified in the genome of Moniliophthora perniciosa, a basidiomycete fungus responsible for causing the devastating witches' broom disease in cacao. We describe gene structure, protein alignment and modeling analyses of the MpPR-1 family. Additionally, the expression profiles of MpPR-1 genes were assessed by qPCR in different stages throughout the fungal life cycle. A specific expression pattern was verified for each member of the MpPR-1 family in the conditions analyzed. Interestingly, some of them were highly and specifically expressed during the interaction of the fungus with cacao, suggesting a role for the MpPR-1 proteins in the infective process of this pathogen. Hypothetical functions assigned to members of the MpPR-1 family include neutralization of plant defenses, antimicrobial activity to avoid competitors and fruiting body physiology. This study provides strong evidence on the importance of PR-1-like genes for fungal virulence on plants.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Agaricales - chemistry / Agaricales - genetics / Agaricales - physiology / Agriculture / Amino Acid Sequence / Antigens / Antimicrobial activity / Biology / Bursaphelenchus xylophilus / Cacao - chemistry / Cacao - genetics / Cacao - microbiology / Cloning / Fruit bodies / Fungal Proteins - chemistry / Fungal Proteins - genetics / Fungi / Fungi, Phytopathogenic / Gene expression / Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Genes / Genes, Fungal / Genes, Plant / Genetic aspects / Genomes / Genomics / Homology / Host plants / Host-Pathogen Interactions / Immune response / Immune system / Insects / Life cycle engineering / Life cycles / Meloidogyne incognita / Models, Molecular / Molecular Sequence Data / Moniliophthora perniciosa / Neutralization / Parasitic diseases / Pathogenesis / Pathogens / Physiological aspects / Plant diseases / Plant Diseases - microbiology / Plant Proteins - chemistry / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plants (botany) / Protein Conformation / Protein structure / Proteins / Reproductive system / Reptiles / Theobroma cacao / Venom / Virulence / Virulence (Microbiology) / Witches' broom