title: Overexpression of the carbohydrate binding module of strawberry expansin2 in Arabidopsis thaliana modifies plant growth and cell wall metabolism.
abstract: Several cell wall enzymes are carbohydrate active enzymes that contain a putative Carbohydrate Binding Module (CBM) in their structures. The main function of these non-catalitic modules is to facilitate the interaction between the enzyme and its substrate. Expansins are non-hydrolytic proteins present in the cell wall, and their structure includes a CBM in the C-terminal that bind to cell wall polymers such as cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectins. We studied the ability of the Expansin2 CBM (CBMFaEXP2) from strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa, Duch) to modify the cell wall of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants overexpressing CBMFaEXP2 were characterized phenotypically and biochemically. Transgenic plants were taller than wild type, possibly owing to a faster growth of the main stem. Cell walls of CBMFaEXP2-expressing plants were thicker and contained higher amount of pectins. Lower activity of a set of enzymes involved in cell wall degradation (PG, β-Gal, β-Xyl) was found, and the expression of the corresponding genes (AtPG, Atβ-Gal, Atβ-Xyl5) was reduced also. In addition, a decrease in the expression of two A. thaliana Expansin genes (AtEXP5 and AtEXP8) was observed. Transgenic plants were more resistant to Botrytis cinerea infection than wild type, possibly as a consequence of higher cell wall integrity. Our results support the hypothesis that the overexpression of a putative CBM is able to modify plant cell wall structure leading to modulation of wall loosening and plant growth. These findings might offer a tool to controlling physiological processes where cell wall disassembly is relevant, such as fruit softening.
authors.affiliation: IIB-INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, Camino de Circunvalación Laguna, Km 8, (B7130IWA) Chascomús, Pcia, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cristina F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Natalia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.forename: Franco R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Civello
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D020171:Botrytis / Q000502:physiology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D048429:Cell Size; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D031985:Fragaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development / Q000235:genetics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D021381:Protein Transport; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C095825:expansin protein, plant; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
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