Significance of Cuscutain, a cysteine protease from Cuscuta reflexa, in host-parasite interactions

Abstract

Background Plant infestation with parasitic weeds like Cuscuta reflexa induces morphological as well as biochemical changes in the host and the parasite. These modifications could be caused by a change in protein or gene activity. Using a comparative macroarray approach Cuscuta genes specifically upregulated at the host attachment site were identified. Results One of the infestation specific Cuscuta genes encodes a cysteine protease. The protein and its intrinsic inhibitory peptide were heterologously expressed, purified and biochemically characterized. The haustoria specific enzyme was named cuscutain in accordance with similar proteins from other plants, e.g. papaya. The role of cuscutain and its inhibitor during the host parasite interaction was studied by external application of an inhibitor suspension, which induced a significant reduction of successful infection events. Conclusions The study provides new information about molecular events during the parasitic plant - host interaction. Inhibition of cuscutain cysteine proteinase could provide means for antagonizing parasitic plants.

Altered Gene Expression Profiles of Wheat Genotypes against Fusarium Head Blight

“…The DON concentration at 3 and 7 dai was 10.3 ppm and 43.5 ppm, respectively. The concentration is considerably high compared to a previous study [ 8 ]. One reason might be the methodology difference, where we have used high precision LC-MS/MS, whereas ELISA was used in the other study.…”

“…The study was conducted using three bread wheat genotypes. Nobeokabouzu-komugi (Nobeokabouzu) is a Japanese landrace cultivar showing high resistance to FHB and mycotoxin contamination [ 8 ]. Sumai 3 is a Chinese variety that possesses type I and II resistance [ 29 , 30 ], and Gamenya is a highly susceptible variety [ 14 ].…”

“…Sumai 3, a Chinese resistant wheat cultivar, is known to carry stable Quantitative Traits Loci (QTLs) for type I and II resistance that have been well-validated and are highly reproducible [ 6 , 7 ]. Japanese cultivar Nobeokabouzu-komugi (hereafter, Nobeokabouzu) is also an important source of high FHB resistance, particularly for low levels of mycotoxin contamination [ 8 ]. However, the study and utilization of Nobeokabouzu has not included the examination of its resistance genes.…”

Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Core Parasitism Genes and Suggest Gene Duplication and Repurposing as Sources of Structural Novelty

“…Although not in the family of Orobanchaceae, experimental characterization also supports the role of two parasitism genes in Cuscuta : One encoding a cysteine protease in the stem parasite, Cuscuta reflexa ( Bleischwitz et al 2010 ), and a SHOOT MERISTEMLESS-Like ( STM ) gene in C . pentagona ( Alakonya et al 2012 ).…”

Parasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta and their interaction with susceptible and resistant host plants

“…The small RNAs successfully moved from the host into the C. pentagona haustoria, where they interfered with haustoria growth and consequently inhibited haustorium development, so reducing the infection ( Alakonya et al, 2012 ). Further useful and promising strategies might include the control of parasitic enzymes essential for the Cuscuta infection process, such as blocking the infestation-specific cysteine protease Cuscutain by external application of its intrinsic inhibitor peptide in high excess ( Bleischwitz et al, 2010 ). While promising, these approaches require improvement and optimization to reach the standards of agronomical application.…”