A nematode venom allergen protein interacts with a cathepsin-like cysteine protease in the host and is required for plant parasitism

J. Lozano, R.H.P. Wilbers, P. Gawronski, M. van Agtmaal, H.A. Overmars, J. van t Klooster, P.J.G.M. de Wit, A. Goverse, J. Bakker, G. Smant

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingAbstract

Abstract

Animal and plant parasitic nematodes have the capability to remain within the host for a long time. To do so, they have evolved immunoevasive and immunosuppressive strategies. Secretory proteins produced in the esophageal glands of parasitic nematodes likely include suppressors of plant innate
immunity. A venom allergen protein from Globodera rostochiensis (Gr-vap1) was identified, by cDNA-AFLP, as being strongly up-regulated in invasive J2s. In situ
hybridization microscopy showed specific expression of Gr-vap1 in the subventral esophageal glands. Gr-vap1 codes for a secretory protein, including a single SCP/CAP domain. Temporal expression analysis of Gr-vap1 in different
developmental stages revealed up-regulation in the motile J2s and adult males. Knocking-down Gr-vap1 expression, by RNA interference, significantly reduced the infectivity of nematodes on host plants. Protein interaction studies using Gr-vap1 and a tomato root cDNA library, in a yeast-two-hybrid screening,
resulted in the identification of various interacting host proteins associated with plant immunity. A pull-down assay confirmed the physical interaction of Gr-vap1 with Rcr3, an extracellular cathepsin-like cysteine protease from tomato. Others have shown that Rrc3 is required for disease resistance to fungi and
oomycetes in plants. However, heterologous expression of nematode VAPs in Arabidopsis thaliana causes enhanced susceptibility towards diverse plant pathogens. We hypothesize that VAPs are important modulators of innate immunity and as such interfere with different host defense response pathways.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationISMPMI International Congress abstracts, Quebec City, Canada, 19-23 July 2009
Place of PublicationQuebec
PublisherInternational Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventXIV International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec City, Canada -
Duration: 19 Jul 200923 Jul 2009

Conference

ConferenceXIV International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec City, Canada
Period19/07/0923/07/09

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