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Amoozadeh S, Johnston J, Meisrimler CN. Exploiting Structural Modelling Tools to Explore Host-Translocated Effector Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12962. [PMID: 34884778 PMCID: PMC8657640 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oomycete and fungal interactions with plants can be neutral, symbiotic or pathogenic with different impact on plant health and fitness. Both fungi and oomycetes can generate so-called effector proteins in order to successfully colonize the host plant. These proteins modify stress pathways, developmental processes and the innate immune system to the microbes' benefit, with a very different outcome for the plant. Investigating the biological and functional roles of effectors during plant-microbe interactions are accessible through bioinformatics and experimental approaches. The next generation protein modeling software RoseTTafold and AlphaFold2 have made significant progress in defining the 3D-structure of proteins by utilizing novel machine-learning algorithms using amino acid sequences as their only input. As these two methods rely on super computers, Google Colabfold alternatives have received significant attention, making the approaches more accessible to users. Here, we focus on current structural biology, sequence motif and domain knowledge of effector proteins from filamentous microbes and discuss the broader use of novel modelling strategies, namely AlphaFold2 and RoseTTafold, in the field of effector biology. Finally, we compare the original programs and their Colab versions to assess current strengths, ease of access, limitations and future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahel Amoozadeh
- School of Biological Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand;
| | - Jodie Johnston
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand;
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Mukhi N, Gorenkin D, Banfield MJ. Exploring folds, evolution and host interactions: understanding effector structure/function in disease and immunity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:326-333. [PMID: 32239533 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in plant pathology, broadening our understanding of how pathogens colonize their hosts. To manipulate host cell physiology and subvert plant immune responses, pathogens secrete an array of effector proteins. A co-evolutionary arms-race drives the pathogen to constantly reinvent its effector repertoire to undermine plant immunity. In turn, hosts develop novel immune receptors to maintain effector recognition and mount defences. Understanding how effectors promote disease and how they are perceived by the plant's defence network persist as major subjects in the study of plant-pathogen interactions. Here, we focus on recent advances (over roughly the last two years) in understanding structure/function relationships in effectors from bacteria and filamentous plant pathogens. Structure/function studies of bacterial effectors frequently uncover diverse catalytic activities, while structure-informed similarity searches have enabled cataloguing of filamentous pathogen effectors. We also suggest how such advances have informed the study of plant-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitika Mukhi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Danylo Gorenkin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Mark J Banfield
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Zhang P, Jia Y, Shi J, Chen C, Ye W, Wang Y, Ma W, Qiao Y. The WY domain in the Phytophthora effector PSR1 is required for infection and RNA silencing suppression activity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:839-852. [PMID: 30963588 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora pathogens manipulate host innate immunity by secreting numerous RxLR effectors, thereby facilitating pathogen colonization. Predicted single and tandem repeats of WY domains are the most prominent C-terminal motifs conserved across the Phytophthora RxLR superfamily. However, the functions of individual WY domains in effectors remain poorly understood. The Phytophthora sojae effector PSR1 promotes infection by suppressing small RNA biogenesis in plant hosts. We identified one single WY domain following the RxLR motif in PSR1. This domain was required for RNA silencing suppression activity and infection in Nicotiana benthamiana, Arabidopsis and soybean. Mutations of the conserved residues in the WY domain did not affect the subcellular localization of PSR1 but abolished its effect on plant development and resistance to viral and Phytophthora pathogens. This is at least in part due to decreased protein stability of the PSR1 mutants in planta. The identification of the WY domain in PSR1 allows predicts that a family of PSR1-like effectors also possess RNA silencing suppression activity. Mutation of the conserved residues in two members of this family, PpPSR1L from P. parasitica and PcPSR1L from P. capsici, perturbed their biological functions, indicating that the WY domain is critical in Phytophthora PSR1 and PSR1-like effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Yijuan Jia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Jinxia Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Wenbo Ma
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Yongli Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
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Liu L, Xu L, Jia Q, Pan R, Oelmüller R, Zhang W, Wu C. Arms race: diverse effector proteins with conserved motifs. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2019; 14:1557008. [PMID: 30621489 PMCID: PMC6351098 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2018.1557008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Effector proteins play important roles in the infection by pathogenic oomycetes and fungi or the colonization by endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi. They are either translocated into the host plant cells via specific translocation mechanisms and function in the host's cytoplasm or nucleus, or they reside in the apoplast of the plant cells and act at the extracellular host-microbe interface. Many effector proteins possess conserved motifs (such as the RXLR, CRN, LysM, RGD, DELD, EAR, RYWT, Y/F/WXC or CFEM motifs) localized in their N- or C-terminal regions. Analysis of the functions of effector proteins, especially so-called "core effectors", is crucial for the understanding of pathogenicity/symbiosis mechanisms and plant defense strategies, and helps to develop breeding strategies for pathogen-resistant cultivars, and to increase crop yield and quality as well as abiotic stress resistance. This review summarizes current knowledge about these effector proteins with the conversed motifs and their involvement in pathogenic or mutualistic plant/fungal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Liu
- College of Horticulture & Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Le Xu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry/Research Center of Crop Stresses Resistance Technologies, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Qie Jia
- College of Horticulture & Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Rui Pan
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry/Research Center of Crop Stresses Resistance Technologies, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Ralf Oelmüller
- Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Faculty of Biological Science, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Wenying Zhang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry/Research Center of Crop Stresses Resistance Technologies, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- CONTACT Wenying Zhang Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry/Research Center of Crop Stresses Resistance Technologies, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China; Chu Wu College of Horticulture & Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Chu Wu
- College of Horticulture & Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Institute of Plant Ecology and Environmental Restoration, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
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