title: A comprehensive analysis of genes encoding small secreted proteins identifies candidate effectors in Melampsora larici-populina (poplar leaf rust).
abstract: The obligate biotrophic rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina is the most devastating and widespread pathogen of poplars. Studies over recent years have identified various small secreted proteins (SSP) from plant biotrophic filamentous pathogens and have highlighted their role as effectors in host-pathogen interactions. The recent analysis of the M. larici-populina genome sequence has revealed the presence of 1,184 SSP-encoding genes in this rust fungus. In the present study, the expression and evolutionary dynamics of these SSP were investigated to pinpoint the arsenal of putative effectors that could be involved in the interaction between the rust fungus and poplar. Similarity with effectors previously described in Melampsora spp., richness in cysteines, and organization in large families were extensively detailed and discussed. Positive selection analyses conducted over clusters of paralogous genes revealed fast-evolving candidate effectors. Transcript profiling of selected M. laricipopulina SSP showed a timely coordinated expression during leaf infection, and the accumulation of four candidate effectors in distinct rust infection structures was demonstrated by immunolocalization. This integrated and multifaceted approach helps to prioritize candidate effector genes for functional studies.
authors: Unité Mixte de Recherche 1136 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Nancy Université, Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, INRA Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France.
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Hacquard
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Joly
authors: Yao-Cheng
authors: YC
authors: Lin
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Tisserant
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Feau
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Delaruelle
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Legué
authors: Annegret
authors: A
authors: Kohler
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Tanguay
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Petre
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Frey
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Van de Peer
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Rouzé
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Martin
authors: Richard C
authors: RC
authors: Hamelin
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Duplessis
mesh_terms: D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D032107:Populus / Q000382:microbiology*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D012331:RNA, Fungal