Molecular and functional characterization of proteins potentially related to the phytopatogenicity of biofilm-forming bacteria Xylella fastidiosa

• Grant number: 12/51580-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Anete Pereira de Souza
• Grantee: Anete Pereira de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the sequencing of the genome of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c strain, there was a large increase in information related to their physiology and pathogenesis, but many of the proteins identified in the analysis of its genome does not have predicted functions and are classified as either hypothetical protein of unknown function . Thus, this project aims to assess the biological functions of proteins identified in sequencing projects to elucidate the pathogenic processes. Therefore, this study aims to characterize functionally seven proteins named: ycjZ (ORF Xf1480) operon system toxin-antitoxin (Xf2162, Xf2163 2), Tolc (ORF Xf2255) VirJ (ORF Xf Xf0617 and 2329) and VapD (ORF Xfb0051). The first show high similarity to members of the family of LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTR), which participates in the regulation of genes involved in cell division, the quorum sense, in biofilm formation, and virulence in response to oxidative stress. The other six proteins are inserted in different metabolic processes, but no less important, such as formation of efflux pump (Tolc) system, type IV secretion of macromolecules and horizontal transfer of DNA (ACVB) and proteins that respond to variations in temperature (VapD). Functional characterization include the production of antibodies for each target protein, followed by immunodetection during different stages of biofilm formation of X. fastidiosa. Additionally, protein expression is also quantified using the technique of qRT-PCR using plants infected oranges that exhibit chiorosis, while the structural characterization tests will be understood by Circular Dichroism (CD), and Exclusion Chromatography Molecular Weight. This study opens a new perspective for understanding the biological role of these proteins in biofilm development and pathogenicity of X. fastidiosa and contribute to recent studies of global gene expression by microarray, performed by the group of APTA Citrus Center (IAC / Cordeirópolis). (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(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)

SANTOS, CLELTON A.; JANISSEN, RICHARD; TOLEDO, MARCELO A. S.; BELOTI, LILIAN L.; AZZONI, ADRIANO R.; COTTA, MONICA A.; SOUZA, METE P.. Characterization of the TolB-Pal trans-envelope complex from Xylella fastidiosa reveals a dynamic and coordinated protein expression profile during the biofilm development process. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS, v. 1854, n. 10, A, p. 1372-1381, OCT 2015. (12/51580-4)

MENDES, JULIANO S.; SANTIAGO, ANDRE DA S.; TOLEDO, MARCELO A. S.; ROSSELLI-MURAI, LUCIANA K.; FAVARO, MARIANNA T. P.; SANTOS, CLELTON A.; HORTA, MARIA AUGUSTA C.; CRUCELLO, ALINE; BELOTI, LILIAN L.; ROMERO, FABIAN; et al. VapD in Xylella fastidiosa Is a Thermostable Protein with Ribonuclease Activity. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 12, DEC 22 2015. (12/51580-4)

SANTIAGO, ANDRE S.; SANTOS, CLELTON A.; MENDES, JULIANO S.; TOLEDO, MARCELO A. S.; BELOTI, LILIAN L.; SOUZA, ALESSANDRA A.; SOUZA, ANETE P.. Characterization of the LysR-type transcriptional regulator YcjZ-like from Xylella fastidiosa overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Protein Expression and Purification, v. 113, p. 72-78, SEP 2015. (12/51580-4)

LEHNER, BENJAMIN A. E.; BENZ, DOMINIK; MOSHKALEV, STANISLAV A.; MEYER, ANNE S.; COTTA, MONICA A.; JANISSEN, RICHARD. Biocompatible Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Densely Functionalized with Biologically Active Molecules for Biosensing Applications. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS, v. 4, n. 8, p. 8334-8342, AUG 27 2021. (10/51748-7, 10/18107-8, 13/02300-1, 15/16611-4, 12/51580-4)

PEREIRA MACHADO, AGNES THIANE; BARRETO FONSECA, EMANUELLA MARIA; DOS REIS, MARCELO AUGUSTO; SARAIVA, ANTONIO MARCOS; DOS SANTOS, CLELTON APARECIDO; SZYMANSKI DE TOLEDO, MARCELO AUGUSTO; POLIKARPOV, IGOR; DE SOUZA, ANETE PEREIRA; APARICIO, RICARDO; IULEK, JORGE. Conformational variability of the stationary phase survival protein E from Xylella fastidiosa revealed by X-ray crystallography, small-angle X ray scattering studies, and normal mode analysis. PROTEINS-STRUCTURE FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, v. 85, n. 10, p. 1931-1943, OCT 2017. (12/51580-4, 11/15792-4)

MENDES, JULIANO S.; SANTIAGO, ANDRE S.; TOLEDO, MARCELO A. S.; HORTA, MARIA A. C.; DE SOUZA, ALESSANDRA A.; TASIC, LJUBICA; DE SOUZA, ANETE P.. In vitro Determination of Extracellular Proteins from Xylella fastidiosa. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 7, DEC 26 2016. (12/51580-4)

SANTOS, CLELTON A.; JANISSEN, RICHARD; TOLEDO, MARCELO A. S.; BELOTI, LILIAN L.; AZZONI, ADRIANO R.; COTTA, MONICA A.; SOUZA, METE P.. Characterization of the TolB-Pal trans-envelope complex from Xylella fastidiosa reveals a dynamic and coordinated protein expression profile during the biofilm development process. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS, v. 1854, n. 10, p. 10-pg., 2015-10-01. (12/51580-4)