Syntaxin 31 functions in Glycine max resistance to the plant parasitic nematode Heterodera glycines.
A Glycine max syntaxin 31 homolog (Gm-SYP38) was identified as being expressed in nematode-induced feeding structures known as syncytia undergoing an incompatible interaction with the plant parasitic nematode Heterodera glycines. The observed Gm-SYP38 expression was consistent with prior gene expression analyses that identified the alpha soluble NSF attachment protein (Gm-α-SNAP) resistance gene because homologs of these genes physically interact and function together in other genetic systems. Syntaxin 31 is a protein that resides on the cis face of the Golgi apparatus and binds α-SNAP-like proteins, but has no known role in resistance. Experiments presented here show Gm-α-SNAP overexpression induces Gm-SYP38 transcription. Overexpression of Gm-SYP38 rescues G. max [Williams 82/PI 518671], genetically rhg1 (-/-), by suppressing H. glycines parasitism. In contrast, Gm-SYP38 RNAi in the rhg1 (+/+) genotype G. max [Peking/PI 548402] increases susceptibility. Gm-α-SNAP and Gm-SYP38 overexpression induce the transcriptional activity of the cytoplasmic receptor-like kinase BOTRYTIS INDUCED KINASE 1 (Gm-BIK1-6) which is a family of defense proteins known to anchor to membranes through a 5' MGXXXS/T(R) N-myristoylation sequence. Gm-BIK1-6 had been identified previously by RNA-seq experiments as expressed in syncytia undergoing an incompatible reaction. Gm-BIK1-6 overexpression rescues the resistant phenotype. In contrast, Gm-BIK1-6 RNAi increases parasitism. The analysis demonstrates a role for syntaxin 31-like genes in resistance that until now was not known.
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA, srp268@msstate.edu.
Shankar R
SR
Pant
Prachi D
PD
Matsye
Brant T
BT
McNeece
Keshav
K
Sharma
Aparna
A
Krishnavajhala
Gary W
GW
Lawrence
Vincent P
VP
Klink
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D009348:Nematoda / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*
D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins