PR-1 genes in Phytophthora: new genes in plant-pathogen interaction interface?

• Grant number: 21/10130-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Maurício Costa Mondego
• Grantee: Jorge Maurício Costa Mondego
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Flávia Rodrigues Alves Patrício

Abstract

Phytophthora is a genus of oomycetes whose vast majority of species is phytopathogenic. Among these we can highlight Phytophthora parasitica and Phytophtora palmivora; the first more generalist, causing disease in citrus and other species and the second more specialist, causing brown rot in cacao. Knowledge about the mechanisms of infection of this genus has increased significantly in recent years, mainly in the cataloging of genes that participate in the interaction with the plant host, as well as in the development of these oomycetes. A family of proteins widely studied in plant-pathogen interactions is known as PR-1 proteins. First characterized in plans, these proteins are part of a superfamily known as CAP or SCP-TAPS, which includes proteins from a series of eukaryotes, from plants, through fungi to metazoans. In addition to being described in eukaryotes, PR-1 proteins have also been characterized in bacteria, being included in a subfamily known as bacterial CAP. In order to look for evidence of the presence of PR-1 proteins in Phytophthora, we performed searches in their genomes using eukaryotic and bacterial PR-1 proteins as baits, and interestingly we found a greater similarity with bacterial PR-1. Knowing the importance of these proteins in plant-pathogen interaction, this project aims to identify PR-1 proteins in P. parasitica and P. palmivora, phylogenetic analysis of these proteins in the genus Phytophthora, analysis of gene expression during infection in susceptible and resistant citrus to P. parasitica and in cacao plantlets susceptible to P. palmivora, and evaluation of expression in the development of oomycetes and in different concentrations of sterol in the growth medium. In addition, we will carry out agroinfiltration experiments in order to assess whether PR-1 proteins are involved in the pathogenicity of Phytophthora. (AU)