Adhesion Pad Formation and the Involvement of Cutinase and Esterases in the Attachment of Uredospores to the Host Cuticle

Abstract

We have investigated the basis of adhesion of uredospores of the obligately parasitic rust fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae to leaves of its broad bean host. Upon contact with an aqueous environment, spores form a structure that we have termed an adhesion pad. The adhesion pad is formed by both living and autoclaved spores, but only adhesion pads formed by living spores adhered to the cuticle of leaves of the host plant. Treatment of living spores with the serine-esterase inhibitor diisopropyl fluorophosphate prevented the adhesion of the pad to the leaf surface, suggesting a functional role for esterase or cutinase in the process of adhesion. A cutinase and two nonspecific serine-esterases were found to be localized on the surface of spores. These enzymes were released rapidly from the spore surface upon contact with an aqueous environment. The addition of the cutinase and the nonspecific esterases to autoclaved spores restored their ability to adhere to the host cuticle. Thus, whereas pad formation appears to be a passive response to the aqueous environment, the actual adhesion of pads to the host cuticle appears to depend on the cutinase and esterases associated with the spore surface. These results suggest a new role for cutinases and serine-esterases in the fungal infection process.