A Colletotrichum gloeosporioides-induced esterase gene of nonclimacteric pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit during ripening plays a role in resistance against fungal infection.
Ripe fruits of pepper (Capsicum annuum) are resistant to the anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, whereas unripe-mature fruits are susceptible. A pepper esterase gene (PepEST) that is highly expressed during an incompatible interaction between the ripe fruit of pepper and C. gloeosporioides was previously cloned. Deduced amino acid sequence of PepEST cDNA showed homology to both esterases and lipases, and contained -HGGGF- and -GXSXG- motifs and a catalytic triad. Inhibition of PepEST activity by a specific inhibitor of serine hydrolase demonstrated that a serine residue is critical for the enzyme activity. Expression of PepEST gene was fruit-specific in response to C. gloeosporioides inoculation, and up-regulated by wounding or jasmonic acid treatment during ripening. PepEST mRNA and protein was differentially accumulated in ripe vs. unripe fruit from 24 h after inoculation when C. gloeosporioides is invading into fruits. Immunochemical examination revealed that PepEST accumulation was localized in epidermal and cortical cell layers in infected ripe fruit, but rarely even in epidermal cells in infected unripe one. Over-expression of PepEST in transgenic Arabidopsis plants caused restriction of Alternaria brassicicola colonization by inhibition of spore production, resulting in enhanced resistance against A.brassicicola. These results suggest that PepEST is involved in the resistance of ripe fruit against C.gloeosporioides infection.
Ko
Moon Kyung
MK
Kumho Life and Environmental Science Laboratory, Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Buk-gu, Gwangju, Korea.
Jeon
Woong Bae
WB
Kim
Kwang Sang
KS
Lee
Hyun Hwa
HH
Seo
Hyo Hyoun
HH
Kim
Young Soon
YS
Oh
Boung-Jun
BJ
D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000528:Alternaria / Q000254:growth & development; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D002212:Capsicum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000254:growth & development*; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004950:Esterases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D054883:Oxylipins; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors
D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000040:Abscisic Acid; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D004950:Esterases; D020156:Salicylic Acid; C005073:ethephon