title: Comparative structural and functional analysis of genes encoding pectin methylesterases in Phytophthora spp.
abstract: We have scanned the Phytophthora infestans, P. ramorum, and P. sojae genomes for the presence of putative pectin methylesterase genes and conducted a sequence analysis of all gene models found. We also searched for potential regulatory motifs in the promoter region of the proposed P. infestans models, and investigated the gene expression levels throughout the course of P. infestans infection on potato plants, using in planta and detached leaf assays. We found that genes located on contiguous chromosomal regions contain similar motifs in the promoter region, indicating the possibility of a shared regulatory mechanism. Results of our investigations also suggest that, during the pathogenicity process, the expression levels of some of the analyzed genes vary considerably when compared to basal expression observed in in vitro cultures of non-sporulating mycelium. These results were observed both in planta and in detached leaf assays.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, 29 Kunkel Hall, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mingora
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, 29 Kunkel Hall, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ewer
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, 29 Kunkel Hall, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA. Electronic address: elsgenomics@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ospina-Giraldo
mesh_terms: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D010802:Phylogeny; D010838:Phytophthora / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D032322:Solanum / Q000382:microbiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022323:pectinesterase
keywords: CAZy enzymes; Cell wall-degrading enzymes; Pectin methylesterases; Phytophthora genome; Phytophthora infestans; Potato; Solanum tuberosum