A nematode effector inhibits plant immunity by preventing cytosolic free Ca2+ rise

Bin Guo; Borong Lin; Qiuling Huang; Zhiwen Li; Kan Zhuo; Jinling Liao

doi:10.1111/pce.14406

A nematode effector inhibits plant immunity by preventing cytosolic free Ca²⁺ rise

Plant Cell Environ. 2022 Oct;45(10):3070-3085. doi: 10.1111/pce.14406. Epub 2022 Aug 4.

Authors

Bin Guo^{1

2}, Borong Lin^{1

2}, Qiuling Huang^{1

2}, Zhiwen Li^{1

2}, Kan Zhuo^{1

2}, Jinling Liao^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Plant Nematology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
² Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Guangdong Vocational College of Ecological Engineering, Guangzhou, China.

PMID: 35880644
DOI: 10.1111/pce.14406

Abstract

The Meloidogyne enterolobii effector MeTCTP is a member of the translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) family, involved in M. enterolobii parasitism. In this study, we found that MeTCTP forms homodimers and, in this form, binds calcium ions (Ca²⁺ ). At the same time, Ca²⁺ could induce homodimerization of MeTCTP. We further identified that MeTCTP inhibits the increase of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺ ]_cyt ) in plant cells and suppresses plant immune responses. This includes suppression of reactive oxygen species burst and cell necrosis, further promoting M. enterolobii parasitism. Our results have elucidated that the effector MeTCTP can directly target Ca²⁺ by its homodimeric form and prevent [Ca²⁺ ]_cyt rise in plant roots, revealing a novel mechanism utilized by plant pathogens to suppress plant immunity.

Keywords: Meloidogyne enterolobii; calcium ion binding; homodimerization; plant immunity suppression; translationally controlled tumour protein.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytosol
Plant Diseases*
Plant Immunity
Plant Roots
Tylenchoidea*