A Conserved Basal Transcription Factor Is Required for the Function of Diverse TAL Effectors in Multiple Plant Hosts.

ABSTRACT: Many Xanthomonas bacteria use transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins to activate plant disease susceptibility (S) genes, and this activation contributes to disease. We recently reported that rice basal transcription factor IIA gamma subunit, OsTFIIA?5, is hijacked by TALE-carrying Xanthomonas oryzae infecting the plants. However, whether TFIIA?s are also involved in TALE-carrying Xanthomonas-caused diseases in other plants is unknown. Here, molecular and genetic approaches were used to investigate the role of TFIIA?s in other plants. We found that TFIIA?s are also used by TALE-carrying Xanthomonas to cause disease in other plants. The TALEs of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc) causing canker in citrus and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) causing bacterial spot in pepper and tomato interacted with corresponding host TFIIA?s as in rice. Transcriptionally suppressing TFIIA? led to resistance to Xcc in citrus and Xcv in pepper and tomato. The 39th residue of OsTFIIA?5 and citrus CsTFIIA? is vital for TALE-dependent induction of plant S genes. As mutated OsTFIIA?5V 39E, CsTFIIA?V 39E, pepper CaTFIIA?V 39E, and tomato SlTFIIA?V 39E also did not interact with TALEs to prevent disease. These results suggest that TALE-carrying bacteria share a common mechanism for infecting plants. Using TFIIA?V 39E-type mutation could be a general strategy for improving resistance to TALE-carrying pathogens in crops.

SUBMITTER: Huang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5681966 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature