Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase increases tightly-bound xyloglucan and chain number but decreases chain length contributing to the defense response that Glycine max has to Heterodera glycines

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 14;16(1):e0244305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244305. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The Glycine max xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (EC 2.4.1.207), GmXTH43, has been identified through RNA sequencing of RNA isolated through laser microdissection of Heterodera glycines-parasitized root cells (syncytia) undergoing the process of defense. Experiments reveal that genetically increasing XTH43 transcript abundance in the H. glycines-susceptible genotype G. max[Williams 82/PI 518671] decreases parasitism. Experiments presented here show decreasing XTH43 transcript abundance through RNA interference (RNAi) in the H. glycines-resistant G. max[Peking/PI 548402] increases susceptibility, but it is unclear what role XTH43 performs. The experiments presented here show XTH43 overexpression decreases the relative length of xyloglucan (XyG) chains, however, there is an increase in the amount of those shorter chains. In contrast, XTH43 RNAi increases XyG chain length. The experiments show that XTH43 has the capability to function, when increased in its expression, to limit XyG chain extension. This outcome would likely impair the ability of the cell wall to expand. Consequently, XTH43 could provide an enzymatically-driven capability to the cell that would allow it to limit the ability of parasitic nematodes like H. glycines to develop a feeding structure that, otherwise, would facilitate parasitism. The experiments presented here provide experimentally-based proof that XTHs can function in ways that could be viewed as being able to limit the expansion of the cell wall.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Glucans / chemistry
  • Glucans / metabolism*
  • Glycine max / enzymology
  • Glycine max / genetics
  • Glycine max / parasitology*
  • Glycosyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plant Roots / parasitology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / enzymology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Tylenchida / physiology*
  • Xylans / chemistry
  • Xylans / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucans
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Xylans
  • xyloglucan
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • xyloglucan endotransglycosylase

Grants and funding

[Funding was provided by the Department of Biological Sciences in the form of Teaching Assistantships to PMN, URL: https://www.biology.msstate.edu/. Additional funding was kindly provided by the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board grant number grant number 18-2013 to VK, URL: https://www.mssoy.org. Additional funding was also kindly provided by the College of Arts and Sciences, Mississippi State University, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)-2018-1], URL: https://www.cas.msstate.edu/] to VK.