Anti-fungal activity of maize silk proteins and role of chitinases in<i>Aspergillus flavus</i>resistance

Peethambaran, Bela; Hawkins, Leigh K.; Windham, Gary L.; Williams, W. Paul; Luthe, Dawn S.

doi:10.3109/15569540903402874

Cited by 31 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Then, cell lysates were incubated with nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose beads (Qiagen) overnight at 4°C, and the expressed proteins were eluted with the elution buffer containing 250 mM imidazole, 300 mM sodium chloride, and 50 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate. The chitinase enzyme assay was performed with the eluted proteins as described earlier (Peethambaran et al, 2009 …”

Section: Pr4 and Endochitinase A Purification And Activity Assaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Turnabout Is Fair Play: Herbivory-Induced Plant Chitinases Excreted in Fall Armyworm Frass Suppress Herbivore Defenses in Maize

et al. 2016

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The perception of herbivory by plants is known to be triggered by the deposition of insect-derived factors such as saliva and oral secretions, oviposition materials, and even feces. Such insect-derived materials harbor chemical cues that may elicit herbivore and/or pathogen-induced defenses in plants. Several insect-derived molecules that trigger herbivore-induced defenses in plants are known; however, insect-derived molecules suppressing them are largely unknown. In this study, we identified two plant chitinases from fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larval frass that suppress herbivore defenses while simultaneously inducing pathogen defenses in maize (Zea mays). Fall armyworm larvae feed in enclosed whorls of maize plants, where frass accumulates over extended periods of time in close proximity to damaged leaf tissue. Our study shows that maize chitinases, Pr4 and Endochitinase A, are induced during herbivory and subsequently deposited on the host with the feces. These plant chitinases mediate the suppression of herbivore-induced defenses, thereby increasing the performance of the insect on the host. Pr4 and Endochitinase A also trigger the antagonistic pathogen defense pathway in maize and suppress fungal pathogen growth on maize leaves. Frass-induced suppression of herbivore defenses by deposition of the plant-derived chitinases Pr4 and Endochitinase A is a unique way an insect can co-opt the plant's defense proteins for its own benefit. It is also a phenomenon unlike the induction of herbivore defenses by insect oral secretions in most host-herbivore systems.

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Section: Pr4 and Endochitinase A Purification And Activity Assaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Turnabout Is Fair Play: Herbivory-Induced Plant Chitinases Excreted in Fall Armyworm Frass Suppress Herbivore Defenses in Maize

et al. 2016

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“…Similar validation studies continue with gene or protein sequences identified by means other than the genetics, genomics, and proteomics methods described above. These include reports in the literature of antifungal properties in other organisms, such as the -1,3-glucanase gene (confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on A. flavus growth in maize callus by [63]), other chitinases (see section below; [33,55,64]), and the maize ribosomal inactivating protein (RIP; [65]). …”

Section: Other Aflatoxin Resistance Candidate Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chitinases and related hydrolases have been shown to limit the infection and colonization of maize by A. flavus [55,63,64,79,80]. Tissue-specific expression of potent chitinases may be one approach for building resistant maize.…”

Section: Seeing the Big Picture In A Flavus And Aflatoxin Resistancementioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxin Resistance in Maize: What Have We Learned Lately?

Warburton

Williams

2014

Advances in Botany

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Aflatoxin contamination of maize grain is a huge economic and health problem, causing death and increased disease burden in much of the developing world and income loss in the developed world. Despite the gravity of the problem, deployable solutions are still being sought. In the past 15 years, much progress has been made in creating resistant maize inbred lines; mapping of genetic factors associated with resistance; and identifying possible resistance mechanisms. This review highlights this progress, most of which has occurred since the last time a review was published on this topic. Many of the needs highlighted in the last reviews have been addressed, and several solutions, taken together, can now greatly reduce the aflatoxin problem in maize grain. Continued research will soon lead to further solutions, which promise to further reduce and even eliminate the problem completely.

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“…Given the relationship of the rachis to kernels, these results confirm findings of a previous investigation [47], which demonstrated levels of proteins in resistant versus susceptible kernels was a primary factor that determined kernel genetic resistance to aflatoxin contamination. Another study was conducted to identify proteins in maize silks that may be contributing to resistance against A. flavus infection/colonization [76]. Antifungal bioassays were performed using silk extracts from two aflatoxin-resistant and two-susceptible inbred lines.…”

Section: Proteomic Studies Of Rachis and Silk Tissuementioning

confidence: 99%