Proteomic analysis of Herbaspirillum seropedicae cultivated in the presence of sugar cane extract

Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain HRC54 expression profile in response to sugarcane apoplastic fluid

Bacterial transcriptome profiling in the presence of plant fluids or extracts during microbial growth may provide relevant information on plant-bacteria interactions. Here, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to determine the transcriptomic profile of Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain HRC54 at the early stages of response to sugarcane apoplastic fluid. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed using the DESeq2 and edgeR packages, followed by functional annotation using Blast2GO and gene ontology enrichment analysis using the COG and KEGG databases. After 2 h of sugarcane apoplastic fluid addition to the H. seropedicae HRC54 culture, respectively, 44 and 45 genes were upregulated and downregulated. These genes were enriched in bacterial metabolism (e.g., oxidoreductase and transferase), ABC transporters, motility, secretion systems, and signal transduction. RNA-Seq expression profiles of 12 genes identified in data analyses were verified by RT-qPCR. The results suggested that H. seropedicae HRC54 recognized sugarcane apoplastic fluid as the host signal, and some DEGs were closely involved at the early stages of the establishment of plant-bacteria interactions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02848-y.

Arabidopsis thaliana exudates induce growth and proteomic changes in Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus

Background

Plants interact with a variety of microorganisms during their life cycle, among which beneficial bacteria deserve special attention. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a beneficial bacterium able to fix nitrogen and promote plant growth. Despite its biotechnological potential, the mechanisms regulating the interaction between G. diazotrophicus and host plants remain unclear.

Methods

We analyzed the response of G. diazotrophicus to cocultivation with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Bacterial growth in response to cocultivation and plant exudates was analyzed. Through comparative proteomic analysis, G. diazotrophicus proteins regulated during cocultivation were investigated. Finally, the role of some up-accumulated proteins in the response G. diazotrophicus to cocultivation was analyzed by reverse genetics, using insertion mutants.

Results

Our results revealed the induction of bacterial growth in response to cocultivation. Comparative proteomic analysis identified 450 bacterial proteins, with 39 up-accumulated, and 12 down-accumulated in response to cocultivation. Among the up-accumulated pathways, the metabolism of pentoses and protein synthesis were highlighted. Proteins potentially relevant to bacterial growth response such as ABC-F-Etta, ClpX, Zwf, MetE, AcnA, IlvC, and AccC were also increased. Reverse genetics analysis, using insertion mutants, revealed that the lack of ABC-F-Etta and AccC proteins severely affects G. diazotrophicus response to cocultivation. Our data demonstrated that specific mechanisms are activated in the bacterial response to plant exudates, indicating the essential role of “ribosomal activity” and “fatty acid biosynthesis” in such a process. This is the first study to demonstrate the participation of EttA and AccC proteins in plant-bacteria interactions, and open new perspectives for understanding the initial steps of such associations.

Tissue specificity and differential effects on in vitro plant growth of single bacterial endophytes isolated from the roots, leaves and rhizospheric soil of Echinacea purpurea

BACKGROUND

Echinacea-endophyte interaction might affect plant secondary metabolites content and influence bacterial colonization specificity and plant growth, but the underlying mechanisms need deepening. An in vitro model, in which E. purpurea axenic plants as host species and E. angustifolia and Nicotiana tabacum as non-host species inoculated with single endophytes isolated from stem/leaf, root and rhizospheric soil, were used to investigate bacterial colonization.

RESULTS

Colonization analysis showed that bacteria tended to reach tissues from which they were originally isolated (tissue-specificity) in host plants but not in non-host ones (species-specificity). Primary root elongation inhibition as well as the promotion of the growth of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia plants were observed and related to endophyte-produced indole-3-Acetic Acid. Bacteria-secreted substances affected plant physiology probably interacting with plant regulators. Plant metabolites played an important role in controlling the endophyte growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed in vitro infection model could be, generally used to identify novel bioactive compounds and/or to select specific endophytes contributing to the host metabolism properties.

Sugarcane apoplast fluid modulates the global transcriptional profile of the diazotrophic bacteria Paraburkholderia tropica strain Ppe8

The stalk apoplast fluid of sugarcane contains different sugars, organic acids and amino acids that may supply the demand for carbohydrates by endophytic bacteria including diazotrophs P. tropica (syn. B. tropica) strain Ppe8, isolated from sugarcane, is part of the bacterial consortium recommended as inoculant to sugarcane. However, little information has been accumulated regarding this plant-bacterium interaction considering that it colonizes internal sugarcane tissues. Here, we made use of the RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis to study the influence of sugarcane stalk apoplast fluid on Ppe8 gene expression. The bacterium was grown in JMV liquid medium (100 ml), divided equally and then supplemented with 50 ml of fresh JMV medium or 50 ml of apoplast fluid extracted from sugarcane variety RB867515. Total RNA was extracted 2 hours later, the rRNAs were depleted and mRNAs used to construct libraries to sequence the fragments using Ion Torrent technology. The mapping and statistical analysis were carried out with CLC Genomics Workbench software. The RNA-seq data was validated by RT-qPCR using the reference genes fliP1, paaF, and groL. The data analysis showed that 544 genes were repressed and 153 genes were induced in the presence of apoplast fluid. Genes that induce plant defense responses, genes related to chemotaxis and movements were repressed in the presence of apoplast fluid, indicating that strain Ppe8 recognizes the apoplast fluid as a plant component. The expression of genes involved in bacterial metabolism was regulated (up and down), suggesting that the metabolism of strain Ppe8 is modulated by the apoplast fluid. These results suggest that Ppe8 alters its gene expression pattern in the presence of apoplast fluid mainly in order to use compounds present in the fluid as well as to avoid the induction of plant defense mechanisms. This is a pioneer study showing the role played by the sugarcane apoplast fluid on the global modulation of genes in P. tropica strain Ppe8.

Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans, a mild pathogen impairs growth of rice by augmenting ethylene levels

Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans decreases growth of rice. Inoculation of rice with H. rubrisubalbicans increased the ACCO mRNA levels and ethylene production. The H. rubrisubalbicans rice interactions were further characterized by proteomic approach. Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans is a well-known growth-promoting rhizobacteria that can also act as a mild phyto-pathogen. During colonisation of rice, RT-qPCR analyses showed that H. rubrisubalbicans up-regulates the methionine recycling pathway as well as phyto-siderophore synthesis genes. mRNA levels of ACC oxidase and ethylene levels also increased in rice roots but inoculation with H. rubrisubalbicans impaired growth of the rice plant. A proteomic approach was used to identify proteins specifically modulated by H. rubrisubalbicans in rice and amongst the differentially expressed proteins a V-ATPase and a 14-3-3 protein were down-regulated. Several proteins of H. rubrisubalbicans were identified, including the type VI secretion system effector Hcp1, suggesting that protein secretion play a role colonisation in rice. Finally, the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, a primary scavenger of endogenous hydrogen peroxide was also identified. Monitoring the levels of reactive oxygen species in the epiphytic bacteria by flow cytometry revealed that H. rubrisubalbicans is subjected to oxidative stress, suggesting that the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase is an important regulator of redox homeostasis in plant-bacteria interactions.

Validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis in Herbaspirillum seropedicae

The RT-qPCR technique needs a validated set of reference genes for ensuring the consistency of the results from the gene expression. Expression stabilities for 9 genes from Herbaspirillum seropedicae, strain HRC54, grown with different carbon sources were calculated using geNorm and NormFinder, and the gene rpoA showed the best stability values.

Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7 displays an endophytic lifestyle in cultivated cereals and enhances yield in barley

Pseudomonas fluorescens PICF7, an indigenous inhabitant of olive roots, displays an endophytic lifestyle in this woody crop and exerts biocontrol against the fungal phytopathogen Verticillium dahliae Here we report microscopy evidence that the strain PICF7 is also able to colonize and persist on or in wheat and barley root tissues. Root colonization of both cereal species followed a similar pattern to that previously reported in olive, including inner colonization of the root hairs. This demonstrates that strain PICF7 can colonize root systems of distant botanical species. Barley plants germinated from PICF7-treated seeds showed enhanced vegetative growth. Moreover, significant increases in the number of grains (up to 19.5%) and grain weight (up to 20.5%) per plant were scored in this species. In contrast, growth and yield were not significantly affected in wheat plants by the presence of PICF7. Proteomics analysis of the root systems revealed that different proteins were exclusively found depending on the presence or absence of PICF7 and only one protein with hydrogen ion transmembrane transporter activity was exclusively found in both PICF7-inoculated barley and wheat plants but not in the controls.

RNA-seq transcriptional profiling of Herbaspirillum seropedicae colonizing wheat (Triticum aestivum) roots

Herbaspirillum seropedicae is a diazotrophic and endophytic bacterium that associates with economically important grasses promoting plant growth and increasing productivity. To identify genes related to bacterial ability to colonize plants, wheat seedlings growing hydroponically in Hoagland's medium were inoculated with H. seropedicae and incubated for 3 days. Total mRNA from the bacteria present in the root surface and in the plant medium were purified, depleted from rRNA and used for RNA-seq profiling. RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to confirm regulation of selected genes. Comparison of RNA profile of root attached and planktonic bacteria revealed extensive metabolic adaptations to the epiphytic life style. These adaptations include expression of specific adhesins and cell wall re-modeling to attach to the root. Additionally, the metabolism was adapted to the microxic environment and nitrogen-fixation genes were expressed. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis was activated, and PHB granules were stored as observed by microscopy. Genes related to plant growth promotion, such as auxin production were expressed. Many ABC transporter genes were regulated in the bacteria attached to the roots. The results provide new insights into the adaptation of H. seropedicae to the interaction with the plant.

Genome wide transcriptional profiling of Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1 grown in the presence of naringenin

Herbaspirillum seropedicae is a diazotrophic bacterium which associates endophytically with economically important gramineae. Flavonoids such as naringenin have been shown to have an effect on the interaction between H. seropedicae and its host plants. We used a high-throughput sequencing based method (RNA-Seq) to access the influence of naringenin on the whole transcriptome profile of H. seropedicae. Three hundred and four genes were downregulated and seventy seven were upregulated by naringenin. Data analysis revealed that genes related to bacterial flagella biosynthesis, chemotaxis and biosynthesis of peptidoglycan were repressed by naringenin. Moreover, genes involved in aromatic metabolism and multidrug transport efllux were actived.

Plant-Influenced Gene Expression in the Rice Endophyte Burkholderia kururiensis M130

Burkholderia kururiensis M130 is one of the few rice endophytic diazotrophic bacteria identified thus far which is able to enhance growth of rice. To date, very little is known of how strain M130 and other endophytes enter and colonize plants. Here, we identified genes of strain M130 that are differentially regulated in the presence of rice plant extract. A genetic screening of a promoter probe transposon mutant genome bank and RNAseq analysis were performed. The screening of 10,100 insertions of the genomic transposon reporter library resulted in the isolation of 61 insertions displaying differential expression in response to rice macerate. The RNAseq results validated this screen and indicated that this endophytic bacterium undergoes major changes in the presence of plant extract regulating 27.7% of its open reading frames. A large number of differentially expressed genes encode membrane transporters and secretion systems, indicating that the exchange of molecules is an important aspect of bacterial endophytic growth. Genes related to motility, chemotaxis, and adhesion were also overrepresented, further suggesting plant–bacteria interaction. This work highlights the potential close signaling taking place between plants and bacteria and helps us to begin to understand the adaptation of an endophyte in planta.

Buffet hypothesis for microbial nutrition at the rhizosphere

An emphasis is made on the diversity of nutrients that rhizosphere bacteria may encounter derived from roots, soil, decaying organic matter, seeds, or the microbial community. This nutrient diversity may be considered analogous to a buffet and is contrasting to the hypothesis of oligotrophy at the rhizosphere. Different rhizosphere bacteria may have preferences for some substrates and this would allow a complex community to be established at the rhizosphere. To profit from diverse nutrients, root-associated bacteria should have large degrading capabilities and many transporters (seemingly inducible) that may be encoded in a significant proportion of the large genomes that root-associated bacteria have. Rhizosphere microbes may have a tendency to evolve toward generalists. We propose that many genes with unknown function may encode enzymes that participate in degrading diverse rhizosphere substrates. Knowledge of bacterial genes required for nutrition at the rhizosphere will help to make better use of bacteria as plant-growth promoters in agriculture.