Elicitin-Induced Distal Systemic Resistance in Plants is Mediated Through the Protein-Protein Interactions Influenced by Selected Lysine Residues

Investor logo
Investor logo

Warning

This publication doesn't include Faculty of Economics and Administration. It includes Faculty of Science. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

UHLÍKOVÁ Hana OBOŘIL Michal KLEMPOVÁ Jitka ŠEDO Ondrej ZDRÁHAL Zbyněk KAŠPAROVSKÝ Tomáš SKLÁDAL Petr LOCHMAN Jan

Year of publication 2016
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Frontiers in Plant Science
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00059
Field Biochemistry
Keywords cryptogein; lysine residues; resistance; movement; dimerization; lipid transfer proteins
Description Elicitins are a family of small proteins with sterol-binding activity that are secreted by Phytophthora and Pythium sp. classified as oomycete PAMPs. Although alpha- and beta-elicitins bind with the same affinity to one high affinity binding site on the plasma membrane, beta-elicitins (possessing 6-7 lysine residues) are generally 50- to 100-fold more active at inducing distal HR and systemic resistance than the alpha-isoforms (with only 1-3 lysine residues). To examine the role of lysine residues in elicitin biological activity, we employed site-directed mutagenesis to prepare a series of beta-elicitin cryptogein variants with mutations on specific lysine residues. In contrast to direct infiltration of protein into leaves, application to the stern revealed a rough correlation between protein's charge and biological activity, resulting in protection against Phytophthora parasitica. A detailed analysis of proteins' movement in plants showed no substantial differences in distribution through phloem indicating differences in consequent apoplastic or symplastic transport. In this process, an important role of homodimer formation together with the ability to form a heterodimer with potential partner represented by endogenous plants LTPs is suggested. Our work demonstrates a key role of selected lysine residues in these interactions and stresses the importance of processes preceding elicitin recognition responsible for induction of distal systemic resistance.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.