Distribution and biological role of the oligopeptide-binding protein (OppA) in Xanthomonas species

Abstract

In this study we investigated the prevalence of the oppA gene, encoding the oligopeptide binding protein (OppA) of the major bacterial oligopeptide uptake system (Opp), in different species of the genus Xanthomonas. The oppA gene was detected in two Xanthomonas axonopodis strains among eight tested Xanthomonas species. The generation of an isogenic oppA-knockout derivative of the Xac 306 strain, showed that the OppA protein neither plays a relevant role in oligopeptide uptake nor contributes to the infectivity and multiplication of the bacterial strain in leaves of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia). Taken together these results suggest that the oppA gene has a recent evolutionary history in the genus and does not contribute in the physiology or pathogenesis of X. axonopodis.

The citrus plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri has a dual polyamine-binding protein

“…Production of xanthan gum polysaccharide [ 2 , 3 ] induction of adhesins [ 4 , 5 ] and type III and IV effector proteins are some of the many mechanisms involved in the infection and pathogenesis [ 6 , 7 ]. The relationship between ATP-Binding Cassette systems (ABC transporters) and physiological processes has been largely demonstrated in bacteria and also in Xanthomonas genus [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] ]. Proteomics analyses made from leaf extracts from plants infected with X. citri revealed that more than 20% of the ABC transporters from X. citri were expressed under infection and pathogenesis [ 13 , 14 ].…”