1. Breaking the DNA-binding code of Ralstonia solanacearum TAL effectors provides new possibilities to generate plant resistance genes against bacterial wilt disease.
- Author
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de Lange O, Schreiber T, Schandry N, Radeck J, Braun KH, Koszinowski J, Heuer H, Strauß A, and Lahaye T
- Subjects
- Amino Acid Sequence, Bacterial Proteins chemistry, Base Sequence, Cell Nucleus metabolism, Genes, Reporter genetics, Host Specificity genetics, Molecular Sequence Data, Plant Diseases immunology, Polymorphism, Genetic, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Binding, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Protein Transport, Subcellular Fractions metabolism, Nicotiana genetics, Nicotiana immunology, Nicotiana microbiology, Transcriptional Activation genetics, Bacterial Proteins metabolism, DNA, Bacterial metabolism, Disease Resistance genetics, Genes, Plant genetics, Plant Diseases genetics, Plant Diseases microbiology, Ralstonia solanacearum metabolism
- Abstract
Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating bacterial phytopathogen with a broad host range. Ralstonia solanacearum injected effector proteins (Rips) are key to the successful invasion of host plants. We have characterized Brg11(hrpB-regulated 11), the first identified member of a class of Rips with high sequence similarity to the transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors of Xanthomonas spp., collectively termed RipTALs. Fluorescence microscopy of in planta expressed RipTALs showed nuclear localization. Domain swaps between Brg11 and Xanthomonas TAL effector (TALE) AvrBs3 (avirulence protein triggering Bs3 resistance) showed the functional interchangeability of DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains. PCR was used to determine the sequence of brg11 homologs from strains infecting phylogenetically diverse host plants. Brg11 localizes to the nucleus and activates promoters containing a matching effector-binding element (EBE). Brg11 and homologs preferentially activate promoters containing EBEs with a 5' terminal guanine, contrasting with the TALE preference for a 5' thymine. Brg11 and other RipTALs probably promote disease through the transcriptional activation of host genes. Brg11 and the majority of homologs identified in this study were shown to activate similar or identical target sequences, in contrast to TALEs, which generally show highly diverse target preferences. This information provides new options for the engineering of plants resistant to R. solanacearum., (© 2013 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2013 New Phytologist Trust.)
- Published
- 2013
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