XopD SUMO protease affects host transcription, promotes pathogen growth, and delays symptom development in xanthomonas-infected tomato leaves

Plant Cell. 2008 Jul;20(7):1915-29. doi: 10.1105/tpc.108.058529. Epub 2008 Jul 29.

Abstract

We demonstrate that XopD, a type III effector from Xanthomonas campestris pathovar vesicatoria (Xcv), suppresses symptom production during the late stages of infection in susceptible tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves. XopD-dependent delay of tissue degeneration correlates with reduced chlorophyll loss, reduced salicylic acid levels, and changes in the mRNA abundance of senescence- and defense-associated genes despite high pathogen titers. Subsequent structure-function analyses led to the discovery that XopD is a DNA binding protein that alters host transcription. XopD contains a putative helix-loop-helix domain required for DNA binding and two conserved ERF-associated amphiphilic motifs required to repress salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-induced gene transcription in planta. Taken together, these data reveal that XopD is a unique virulence factor in Xcv that alters host transcription, promotes pathogen multiplication, and delays the onset of leaf chlorosis and necrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Immunoblotting
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Plant Diseases / genetics
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Salicylic Acid / metabolism
  • Solanum lycopersicum / genetics
  • Solanum lycopersicum / metabolism
  • Solanum lycopersicum / microbiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Xanthomonas / genetics
  • Xanthomonas / metabolism
  • Xanthomonas / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Chlorophyll
  • Salicylic Acid

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF043085
  • GENBANK/AM039952
  • GENBANK/AY600438