Biology subjects

Domazakis, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Domazakis, E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

ELR is a true pattern recognition receptor that associates with elicitins from diverse Phytophthora species

The first layer of plant immunity against pathogens is mediated by cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize pathogen molecules in the apoplast. Several pairs of PRRs and their matching extracellular ligands have been described but, in many cases, actual evidence for ligand binding by the PRR is lacking. The receptor-like protein ELR from Solanum microdontum, which triggers cell death upon co-expression with elicitins of various Phytophthora species and enhances resistance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, was previously identified as the elicitin receptor by forward genetic screenings employing the INF1 elicitin of P. infestans. In this study, we investigated whether ELR associates with INF1 and other elicitins that are secreted by diverse Phytophthora spp. We performed in planta and in vitro co-immunoprecipitation of ELR with several affinity-tagged elicitins, as well as in planta transient co-expression assays. We found that ELR physically interacts with the class I elicitins INF1 and ParA1, from P. infestans and Phytophthora parasitica, respectively, which is in line with their ability to cause cell death when co-expressed with ELR in potato. Together, we demonstrate that ELR is a genuine PRR that binds elicitins of Phytophthora species.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2016

Verticillium dahliae LysM effectors differentially contribute to virulence on plant hosts

Chitin-binding LysM effectors contribute to virulence of various plant pathogenic fungi that are causal agents of foliar diseases. Here, we report on LysM effectors of the soil-borne fungal vascular wilt pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Comparative genomics revealed three core LysM effectors that are conserved in a collection of V. dahliae strains. Remarkably, and in contrast to the previously studied LysM effectors of other plant pathogens, no expression of core LysM effectors was monitored in planta in a taxonomically diverse panel of host plants. Moreover, targeted deletion of the individual LysM effector genes in V. dahliae strain JR2 did not compromise virulence in infections on Arabidopsis, tomato or Nicotiana benthamiana. Interestingly, an additional lineage-specific LysM effector is encoded in the genome of V. dahliae strain VdLs17 but not in any other V. dahliae strain sequenced to date. Remarkably, this lineage-specific effector is expressed in planta and contributes to virulence of V. dahliae strain VdLs17 on tomato, but not on Arabidopsis or on N. benthamiana. Functional analysis revealed that this LysM effector binds chitin, is able to suppress chitin-induced immune responses, and protects fungal hyphae against hydrolysis by plant hydrolytic enzymes. Thus, in contrast to the core LysM effectors of V. dahliae, this lineage-specific LysM effector of strain VdLs17 contributes to virulence in planta.

plant biology↗