Characterization of protein-protein interactions between Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri PthA and Citrus sinensis proteins

• Grant number: 07/06686-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2008
• End date: January 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Celso Eduardo Benedetti
• Grantee: Celso Eduardo Benedetti
• Host Institution: Associação Brasileira de Tecnologia de Luz Síncrotron (ABTLuS). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Citrus canker disease, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), affects most citrus species and represents a major threat to the Brazilian citriculture. The disease is easily disseminated by rain and stormy weather. Plants are infected through natural openings or wounds in the surface of leaves, stems and fruits. Once inside plant tissues, the bacteria use a type 3 secretion system to inject effectors proteins into the plant cell. These effectors proteins, including PthAs, alter transcription of the cell host to the benefit of the pathogen, leading to the development of cancer lesions, characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia. A number of studies have shown that members of the AvrBs3/PthA family function as transcriptional factors in plant cells. To elucidate how PthA activates transcription and to establish its molecular mode of action, a two-hybrid approach was used to identify host proteins that interact with PthA and that could play a role in the development of citrus canker. Among the Citrus sinensis proteins identified, we selected for further studies a cyclophilin, an HSP70-interacting protein and an ubiquity conjugating enzyme variant-2, involved in protein folding. In addition, we plan to characterize the interaction between PthA with an auxin response factor, a translin and an high-mobility group protein, all involved in transcription and implicated in the control of cell division. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOMINGUES, MARIANE NORONHA; DE SOUZA, TIAGO ANTONIO; CERNADAS, RAUL ANDRES; PEIXOTO DE OLIVEIRA, MARIA LUIZA; DOCENA, CASSIA; FARAH, CHUCK SHAKER; BENEDETTI, CELSO EDUARDO. The Xanthomonas citri effector protein PthA interacts with citrus proteins involved in nuclear transport, protein folding and ubiquitination associated with DNA repair. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, v. 11, n. 5, p. 663-675, SEP 2010. (07/06686-0, 00/10266-8, 98/14138-2)