1. Molecular characteristics and functional analysis of the β‐1,4‐endoglucanase <italic>Bm‐eng‐1</italic> gene of <italic>Bursaphelenchus mucronatus</italic> (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae).
- Author
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Wang, J. C., Zeng, Q. W., Zhou, L. F., and Chen, F. M.
- Subjects
PINE tree diseases & pests ,BURSAPHELENCHUS ,GENE expression in plants ,GLUCANASES ,VIRULENCE of nematodes - Abstract
Summary: The pine nematode
Bursaphelenchus mucronatus has been associated with pine wilt in China. This work was intended to investigate the role of the pathogenicity‐related β‐1,4‐endoglucanase gene ofB. mucronatus in the infection of pines. In this study, the full‐length cDNA of theBm‐eng‐1 gene was cloned and characterized from aB. mucronatus isolate. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that theBm‐eng‐1 gene ofB. mucronatus may be acquired from fungi through horizontal gene transfer. The function of the gene was demonstrated using RNA interference. RNA interference indicated thatBm‐eng‐1 was involved in the dispersal, reproductive ability and pathogenicity ofB. mucronatus . In situ hybridization showed thatBm‐eng‐1 was specifically expressed in the oesophageal gland ofB. mucronatus . Furthermore, to investigate the relation between β‐1,4‐endoglucanase activities and virulence of different isolates, the β‐1,4‐endoglucanase activities and the expression levels ofBm‐eng‐1 were detected in sixB. mucronatus isolates with different virulence. β‐1,4‐Endoglucanase activity was generally higher in pathogenic isolates than in non‐pathogenic isolates, and theBm‐eng‐1 expression levels in different isolates were positively correlated with the β‐1,4‐endoglucanase activity. These findings suggested that β‐1,4‐endoglucanase plays important roles in the pathogenic process ofB. mucronatus , and the differential expression of the gene may underlie the different activity levels of β‐1,4‐endoglucanase, subsequently influencing variations in virulence ofB. mucronatus isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2018
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