Plants rely on complex blends of constitutive and dynamically produced specialized metabolites to mediate beneficial ecological interactions and protect against biotic attack. One such class of ...metabolites are terpenoids, a large and structurally diverse class of molecules shown to play significant defensive and developmental roles in numerous plant species. Despite this, terpenoids have only recently been recognized as significant contributors to pest resistance in maize (Zea mays), a globally important agricultural crop. The current review details recent advances in our understanding of biochemical structures, pathways and functional roles of maize terpenoids. Dependent upon the lines examined, maize can harbor more than 30 terpene synthases, underlying the inherent diversity of maize terpene defense systems. Part of this defensive arsenal is the inducible production of volatile bouquets that include monoterpenes, homoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which often function in indirect defense by enabling the attraction of parasitoids and predators. More recently discovered are a subset of sesquiterpene and diterpene hydrocarbon olefins modified by cytochrome P450s to produce non-volatile end-products such kauralexins, zealexins, dolabralexins and ß-costic acid. These non-volatile terpenoid phytoalexins often provide effective defense against both microbial and insect pests via direct antimicrobial and anti-feedant activity. The diversity and promiscuity of maize terpene synthases, coupled with a variety of secondary modifications, results in elaborate defensive layers whose identities, regulation and precise functions are continuing to be elucidated.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Plants are vulnerable to disease through pathogen manipulation of phytohormone levels, which otherwise regulate development, abiotic, and biotic responses. Here, we show that the wheat pathogen ...Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa elevates expression of the host gene encoding 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (TaNCED-5BS), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of the phytohormone abscisic acid and a component of a major abiotic stress-response pathway, to promote disease susceptibility. Gene induction is mediated by a type III transcription activator-like effector. The induction of TaNCED-5BS results in elevated abscisic acid levels, reduced host transpiration and water loss, enhanced spread of bacteria in infected leaves, and decreased expression of the central defense gene TaNPR1. The results represent an appropriation of host physiology by a bacterial virulence effector.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Salmonella enterica is ubiquitous in the plant environment, persisting in the face of UV stress, plant defense responses, desiccation, and nutrient limitation. These fluctuating conditions of the ...leaf surface result in S. enterica population decline. Biomultipliers, such as the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas hortorum pv. gardneri (Xhg), alter the phyllosphere to the benefit of S. enterica. Specific Xhg-dependent changes to this niche that promote S. enterica persistence remain unclear, and this work focuses on identifying factors that lead to increased S. enterica survival on leaves. Here, we show that the Xhg transcription activator-like effector AvrHah1 is both necessary and sufficient for increased survival of S. enterica on tomato leaves. An Xhg avrHah1 mutant fails to influence S. enterica survival while addition of avrHah1 to X. vesicatoria provides a gain of function. Our results indicate that although Xhg stimulates a robust immune response from the plant, AvrHah1 is not required for these effects. In addition, we demonstrate that cellular leakage that occurs during disease is independent of AvrHah1. Investigation of the interaction between S. enterica, Xhg, and the plant host provides information regarding how an inhospitable environment changes during infection and can be transformed into a habitable niche.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Bacterial-fungal interactions are pervasive in the rhizosphere. While an increasing number of endohyphal bacteria have been identified, little is known about their ecology and impact on the ...associated fungal hosts and the surrounding environment. In this study, we characterized the genome of an
sp. Crenshaw (En-Cren), which was isolated from the generalist fungal pathogen
and examined the genetic potential of the bacterium with regard to the phenotypic traits associated with the fungus. Overall, the En-Cren genome size was typical for members of the genus and was capable of free-living growth. The genome was 4.6 MB in size, and no plasmids were detected. Several prophage regions and genomic islands were identified that harbor unique genes in comparison with phylogenetically closely related
spp. Type VI secretion system and cyanate assimilation genes were identified from the bacterium, while some common heavy metal resistance genes were absent. En-Cren contains the key genes for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and phenylacetic acid (PAA) biosynthesis, and produces IAA and PAA
, which may impact the ecology or pathogenicity of the fungal pathogen
. En-Cren was observed to move along hyphae of
and on other basidiomycetes and ascomycetes in culture. The bacterial flagellum is essential for hyphal movement, while other pathways and genes may also be involved.IMPORTANCEThe genome characterization and comparative genomics analysis of
sp. Crenshaw provided the foundation and resources for a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of this endohyphal bacteria in the rhizosphere. The ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid and phenylacetic acid may provide new angles to study the impact of phytohormones during the plant-pathogen interactions. The hitchhiking behavior of the bacterium on a diverse group of fungi, while inhibiting the growth of some others, revealed new areas of bacterial-fungal signaling and interaction, which have yet to be explored.
Abstract
Prenylated quinones are membrane-associated metabolites that serve as vital electron carriers for respiration and photosynthesis. The UbiE (EC 2.1.1.201)/MenG (EC 2.1.1.163) ...C-methyltransferases catalyze pivotal ring methylations in the biosynthetic pathways of many of these quinones. In a puzzling evolutionary pattern, prokaryotic and eukaryotic UbiE/MenG homologs segregate into 2 clades. Clade 1 members occur universally in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, excluding cyanobacteria, and include mitochondrial COQ5 enzymes required for ubiquinone biosynthesis; Clade 2 members are specific to cyanobacteria and plastids. Functional complementation of an Escherichia coli ubiE/menG mutant indicated that Clade 1 members display activity with both demethylbenzoquinols and demethylnaphthoquinols, independently of the quinone profile of their original taxa, while Clade 2 members have evolved strict substrate specificity for demethylnaphthoquinols. Expression of the gene-encoding bifunctional Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) COQ5 in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis or its retargeting to Arabidopsis plastids resulted in synthesis of a methylated variant of plastoquinone-9 that does not occur in nature. Accumulation of methylplastoquinone-9 was acutely cytotoxic, leading to the emergence of suppressor mutations in Synechocystis and seedling lethality in Arabidopsis. These data demonstrate that in cyanobacteria and plastids, co-occurrence of phylloquinone and plastoquinone-9 has driven the evolution of monofunctional demethylnaphthoquinol methyltransferases and explains why plants cannot capture the intrinsic bifunctionality of UbiE/MenG to simultaneously synthesize their respiratory and photosynthetic quinones.
The co-occurrence of phylloquinone and plastoquinone-9 in cyanobacteria and plastids drove the emergence of monofunctional naphthoquinol methyltransferases.
Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) is a vital respiratory cofactor and liposoluble antioxidant. Studies have shown that plants derive approximately a quarter of 4-hydroxybenzoate, which serves as the direct ...ring precursor of ubiquinone, from the catabolism of kaempferol. Biochemical and genetic evidence suggests that the release of 4-hydroxybenzoate from kaempferol is catalyzed by heme-dependent peroxidases and that 3-O-glycosylations of kaempferol act as a negative regulator of this process. These findings not only represent an atypical instance of primary metabolite being derived from specialized metabolism but also raise the question as to whether ubiquinone contributes to the ROS scavenging and signaling functions already established for flavonols.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To grow and thrive plants must be able to adapt to both adverse environmental conditions and attack by a variety of pests. Elucidating the sophisticated mechanisms plants have developed to achieve ...this has been the focus of many studies. What is less well understood is how plants respond when faced with multiple stressors simultaneously. In this study, we assess the response of Zea mays (maize) to the combinatorial stress of flooding and infestation with the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm). This combined stress leads to elevated production of the defence hormone salicylic acid, which does not occur in the individual stresses, and the resultant salicylic acid‐dependent increase in S. frugiperda resistance. Remodelling of phenylpropanoid pathways also occurs in response to this combinatorial stress leading to increased production of the anti‐insect C‐glycosyl flavones (maysins) and the herbivore‐induced volatile phenolics, benzyl acetate, and phenethyl acetate. Furthermore, changes in cellular redox status also occur, as indicated by reductions in peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. These data suggest that metabolite changes important for flooding tolerance and anti‐insect defence may act both additively and synergistically to provide extra protection to the plant.
Flooding stress in Zea mays leads to a salicylic acid‐dependent increase in resistance to the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda. This combinatorial stress results in phenylpropanoid remodelling, changes in maysin and herbivore‐induced volatile production, and altered cellular redox status.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Main conclusion
Linolenic acid produced by the ω-3 fatty acid desaturase MSD3 in sorghum is used for insect-induced jasmonic acid production and is important for resistance against
Spodoptera ...frugiperda
.
Jasmonic acid (JA) is a phytohormone that regulates both plant development and stress responses. In sorghum (
Sorghum bicolor
), the ω-3 fatty acid desaturase Multiseeded3 (MSD3) and the 13-lipoxygenase Multiseeded2 (MSD2) are important for producing JA to regulate panicle development and spikelet fertility, but their function in plant defense remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether these genes are important for the production of JA in response to herbivory by the insect pest
Spodoptera frugiperda
. Compared to wild-type controls, the
msd3
mutant accumulated less JA in leaves of both infested and uninfested plants
,
revealing that MSD3 is involved in stress-induced JA production. In contrast, herbivore-induced JA production in the
msd2
mutant was indistinguishable from wild type, indicating that MSD2 does not function in herbivore-induced JA production. An increase of
S. frugiperda
growth was observed on both the
msd3
and
msd2
mutants, hinting at roles for both JA and additional oxylipins in sorghum’s defense responses.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Phylloquinone is a prenylated naphthoquinone that is synthesized exclusively by plants, green algae, and some species of cyanobacteria, where it serves as a vital electron carrier in photosystem I ...and as an electron acceptor for the formation of protein disulfide bonds.
In humans and other vertebrates, phylloquinone plays the role of a vitamin (vitamin K1) that is required for blood coagulation and bone and vascular metabolism. Phylloquinone from green leafy vegetables and vegetable oil represents the major dietary source of vitamin K for humans.
In recent years, reverse genetics and biochemical approaches using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have shown that phylloquinone biosynthesis in plants involves paralogous and multifunctional enzymes, a compartmentation of the corresponding pathway in plastids and peroxisomes, and trafficking of some biosynthetic intermediates within plastids themselves. Furthermore, phylloquinone biosynthetic intermediates create crucial metabolic branch-points with other plastid-synthesized metabolites such as chlorophylls, tocopherols and salicylate.
This review presents an update on recent studies of the central role of plastids in the biosynthesis of phylloquinone, in particular on the discovery of novel enzymatic steps that are likely paradigms for phylloquinone and menaquinone (vitamin K2)-synthesizing organisms alike.
Fall armyworm (
Spodoptera frugiperda
) is a major global pest of many crops, including maize (
Zea mays
). This insect is known to use host plant-derived volatile organic compounds to locate ...suitable hosts during both its adult and larval stages, yet the function of individual compounds remains mostly enigmatic. In this study, we use a combination of volatile profiling, electrophysiological assays, pair-wise choice behavioral assays, and chemical supplementation treatments to identify and assess specific compounds from maize that influence
S. frugiperda
host location. Our findings reveal that methyl salicylate and (
E
)-alpha-bergamotene are oviposition attractants for adult moths but do not impact larval behavior. While geranyl acetate can act as an oviposition attractant or repellent depending on the host volatile context and (
E
)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) is an oviposition deterrent. These compounds can also be attractive to the larvae when applied to specific maize inbreds. These data show that
S. frugiperda
uses different plant volatile cues for host location in its adult and larval stage and that the background volatile context that specific volatiles are perceived in, alters their impact as behavioral cues.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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