title: A Secreted Effector Protein of Ustilago maydis Guides Maize Leaf Cells to Form Tumors.
abstract: The biotrophic smut fungus Ustilago maydis infects all aerial organs of maize (Zea mays) and induces tumors in the plant tissues. U. maydis deploys many effector proteins to manipulate its host. Previously, deletion analysis demonstrated that several effectors have important functions in inducing tumor expansion specifically in maize leaves. Here, we present the functional characterization of the effector See1 (Seedling efficient effector1). See1 is required for the reactivation of plant DNA synthesis, which is crucial for tumor progression in leaf cells. By contrast, See1 does not affect tumor formation in immature tassel floral tissues, where maize cell proliferation occurs independent of fungal infection. See1 interacts with a maize homolog of SGT1 (Suppressor of G2 allele of skp1), a factor acting in cell cycle progression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and an important component of plant and human innate immunity. See1 interferes with the MAPK-triggered phosphorylation of maize SGT1 at a monocot-specific phosphorylation site. We propose that See1 interferes with SGT1 activity, resulting in both modulation of immune responses and reactivation of DNA synthesis in leaf cells. This identifies See1 as a fungal effector that directly and specifically contributes to the formation of leaf tumors in maize.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, D-35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Amey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Redkar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoser
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, D-35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.affiliation: Baylor University, Center for Microscopy and Imaging, Waco, Texas 76798.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zechmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krzymowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Walbot
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, D-35043 Marburg, Germany Botanical Institute and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany g.doehlemann@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doehlemann
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010941:Plant Tumors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins