Abstract
Cladosporium fulvum is a biotrophic pathogen that causes leaf
mould of tomato. So far, ten effector proteins have been
identified from this fungus including avirulence (Avrs: Avr2,
Avr4, Avr4E and Avr9) and extracellular proteins (Ecps: Ecp1,
Ecp2, Ecp4, Ecp5, Ecp6 and Ecp7). Also many cognate Cf (for
C. fulvum) resistance proteins have been identified that mediate
recognition of Avrs and Ecps and subsequent defense
signaling. Although demonstrated for only a few, all Avrs and
Ecps are assumed to be virulence factors. Avr2 is an inhibitor
of apoplastic plant cysteine proteases and Avr4 is a
chitin-binding protein that protects chitin present in the cell
walls of the fungus against the deleterious effects of plant
chitinases during infection. Ecp6 contains
carbohydrate/chitin-binding LysM domains that are supposed
to bind chitin fragments released from fungal cell walls during
infection and prevent them to cause chitin receptor-mediated
induction of basal defense responses. Recently we have sequenced the genome of race 0-Wag of C. fulvum that enabled us to perform comparative genome analyses with other sequenced members of the plant pathogenic Dothideomycetes. Surprisingly, so far the genome of C. fulvum is most homologous to Mycosphaerella fijiensis the causal agent of Black Sigatoka, a devastating fungal disease of the monocot banana. We have now identified for the first time, homologues of the C. fulvum Avr4, Ecp2 and Ecp6 effectors in Dothideomycetes, including M. fijiensis, M. graminicola, Cercospora nicotianae and C. beticola. Recently, we have tested whether these proteins are functional homologues of the three C. fulvum effectors. We will report on the most recent results that have been obtained from these studies.
mould of tomato. So far, ten effector proteins have been
identified from this fungus including avirulence (Avrs: Avr2,
Avr4, Avr4E and Avr9) and extracellular proteins (Ecps: Ecp1,
Ecp2, Ecp4, Ecp5, Ecp6 and Ecp7). Also many cognate Cf (for
C. fulvum) resistance proteins have been identified that mediate
recognition of Avrs and Ecps and subsequent defense
signaling. Although demonstrated for only a few, all Avrs and
Ecps are assumed to be virulence factors. Avr2 is an inhibitor
of apoplastic plant cysteine proteases and Avr4 is a
chitin-binding protein that protects chitin present in the cell
walls of the fungus against the deleterious effects of plant
chitinases during infection. Ecp6 contains
carbohydrate/chitin-binding LysM domains that are supposed
to bind chitin fragments released from fungal cell walls during
infection and prevent them to cause chitin receptor-mediated
induction of basal defense responses. Recently we have sequenced the genome of race 0-Wag of C. fulvum that enabled us to perform comparative genome analyses with other sequenced members of the plant pathogenic Dothideomycetes. Surprisingly, so far the genome of C. fulvum is most homologous to Mycosphaerella fijiensis the causal agent of Black Sigatoka, a devastating fungal disease of the monocot banana. We have now identified for the first time, homologues of the C. fulvum Avr4, Ecp2 and Ecp6 effectors in Dothideomycetes, including M. fijiensis, M. graminicola, Cercospora nicotianae and C. beticola. Recently, we have tested whether these proteins are functional homologues of the three C. fulvum effectors. We will report on the most recent results that have been obtained from these studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | ISMPMI International Congress abstracts, Quebec City, Canada, 19-23 July 2009 |
| Publisher | International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Event | XIV International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec City, Canada - Duration: 19 Jul 2009 → 23 Jul 2009 |
Conference/symposium
| Conference/symposium | XIV International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec City, Canada |
|---|---|
| Period | 19/07/09 → 23/07/09 |