The protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b enhances susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans and senescence in potato

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 10;17(10):e0275844. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275844. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2A (PP2A) are involved in several physiological responses in plants, playing important roles in developmental programs, stress responses and hormone signaling. Six PP2A catalytic subunits (StPP2Ac) were identified in cultivated potato. Transgenic potato plants constitutively overexpressing the catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b (StPP2Ac2b-OE) were developed to determine its physiological roles. The response of StPP2Ac2b-OE plants to the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight, was evaluated. We found that overexpression of StPP2Ac2b enhances susceptibility to the pathogen. Further bioinformatics, biochemical, and molecular analyses revealed that StPP2Ac2b positively regulates developmental and pathogen-induced senescence, and that P. infestans infection promotes senescence, most likely through induction of StPP2Ac2b expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalytic Domain
  • Disease Resistance
  • Hormones
  • Phytophthora infestans* / physiology
  • Plant Diseases / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / genetics
  • Serine
  • Solanum tuberosum* / genetics
  • Threonine

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Threonine
  • Serine
  • Protein Phosphatase 2

Grants and funding

DAC PIP2015-2017 1220150100415CO Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas https://www.conicet.gov.ar/ DAC PICT2017-0052 Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica https://www.argentina.gob.ar/ciencia/agencia The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.