SP-LL-37, human antimicrobial peptide, enhances disease resistance in transgenic rice

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 10;12(3):e0172936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172936. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Human LL-37 is a multifunctional antimicrobial peptide of cathelicidin family. It has been shown in recent studies that it can serve as a host's defense against influenza A virus. We now demonstrate in this study how signal peptide LL-37 (SP-LL-37) can be used in rice resistance against bacterial leaf blight and blast. We synthesized LL-37 peptide and subcloned in a recombinant pPZP vector with pGD1 as promoter. SP-LL-37 was introduced into rice plants by Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Stable expression of SP-LL-37 in transgenic rice plants was confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA analyses. Subcellular localization of SP-LL-37-GFP fusion protein showed evidently in intercellular space. Our data on testing for resistance to bacterial leaf blight and blast revealed that the transgenic lines are highly resistant compared to its wildtype. Our results suggest that LL-37 can be further explored to improve wide-spectrum resistance to biotic stress in rice.

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium / genetics
  • Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / analysis
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cathelicidins
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Disease Resistance / drug effects*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Oryza / metabolism*
  • Plant Diseases / prevention & control
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • DNA
  • Cathelicidins

Grants and funding

This work was carried out with the support of “the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (Project No. PJ01124501)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.