Transgenic plants that express the phytoplasma effector SAP11 show altered phosphate starvation and defense responses.
Phytoplasmas have the smallest genome among bacteria and lack many essential genes required for biosynthetic and metabolic functions, making them unculturable, phloem-limited plant pathogens. In this study, we observed that transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) expressing the secreted Aster Yellows phytoplasma strain Witches' Broom protein11 shows an altered root architecture, similarly to the disease symptoms of phytoplasma-infected plants, by forming hairy roots. This morphological change is paralleled by an accumulation of cellular phosphate (Pi) and an increase in the expression levels of Pi starvation-induced genes and microRNAs. In addition to the Pi starvation responses, we found that secreted Aster Yellows phytoplasma strain Witches' Broom protein11 suppresses salicylic acid-mediated defense responses and enhances the growth of a bacterial pathogen. These results contribute to an improved understanding of the role of phytoplasma effector SAP11 and provide new insights for understanding the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions.
Institute of Biochemistry , National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
Yen-Ting
YT
Lu
Meng-Ying
MY
Li
Kai-Tan
KT
Cheng
Choon Meng
CM
Tan
Li-Wen
LW
Su
Wei-Yi
WY
Lin
Hsien-Tzung
HT
Shih
Tzyy-Jen
TJ
Chiou
Jun-Yi
JY
Yang
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D010710:Phosphates / Q000172:deficiency*; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D057865:Plant Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D000872:Anthocyanins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010710:Phosphates; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D012333:RNA, Messenger