Verticillium dahliae secreted protein Vd424Y is required for full virulence, targets the nucleus of plant cells, and induces cell death

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms are responsible for a variety of diseases affecting plants. Despite the wide range of defence strategies that plants have developed to trigger immune responses, pathogenic microorganisms still represent a serious threat to agriculture. These defence strategies include pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-triggered immunity (PTI), a process through which PAMPs are recognized by plasma membrane-bound receptors located at the cell surface, inducing primary defence response (Akira et al., 2006). This process can be suppressed by pathogen-delivered effector proteins, which can also cause infections (Houterman et al., 2008;

Predication of the Effector Proteins Secreted by Fusarium sacchari Using Genomic Analysis and Heterogenous Expression

“…One of the common families identified in the CSEPs was the hydrolase family. Proteins in the hydrolase family have been confirmed to be effectors [59,60]. These proteins are involved in fungal growth and development processes, including spore germination [61], hyphal growth and branching emergence [62], and basidiomycete fruiting and development [63].…”

Identification and Functional Analysis of a Novel Hydrophobic Protein VdHP1 from Verticillium dahliae

“…The V. dahliae fungus releases or secretes nearly 800 proteins ( 42 ). Effector Vd424Y triggered cell death and was necessary for pathogenicity in V. dahiae ( 43 ). Among other fungi, Aspergillus oryzae could tolerate ion stress, maintain cell wall integrity and virulence due to the regulation of A. oryzae CRZ1 gene ( 44 ).…”

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Secretome Responsible for Host Adaptation of the Legume Root Pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches

“…Xylanases are involved in the degradation of plant hemicellulose, and GH11 has been reported to participate in increasing the virulence of certain phytopathogenic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea or M. oryzae [105,106]. Interestingly, the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae secretes a GH11(Vd424Y), essential for virulence, that targets the plant nucleus rather than the cell wall, suggesting an unknown function for fungal GH11 during host infection [107]. GH11s are not functionally characterized in oomycetes, but their presence in the 'non-core' secretome of A. euteiches in combination with GH62 (α-l-arabinofuranosidases) from the core secretome, probably provides improved access to the xylan backbone of plant hemicellulose, as reported for fungi [108].…”