Open AccessPectin Methylesterase Is Induced in Arabidopsis upon Infection and Is Necessary for a Successful Colonization by Necrotrophic Pathogens
Author(s) -
Alessandro Raiola,
Vincenzo Lionetti,
Ibrahim Elmaghraby,
Peter Immerzeel,
Ewa J. Mellerowicz,
Giovanni E. Salvi,
Felice Cervone,
Daniela Bellincampi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
molecular plant-microbe interactions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.565
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1943-7706
pISSN - 0894-0282
DOI - 10.1094/mpmi-07-10-0157
Subject(s) - pectin , pectobacterium carotovorum , botrytis cinerea , pectinesterase , colonization , microbiology and biotechnology , arabidopsis , pectinase , enzyme , pectate lyase , biology , botrytis , chemistry , biochemistry , pathogen , mutant , botany , gene
The ability of bacterial or fungal necrotrophs to produce enzymes capable of degrading pectin is often related to a successful initiation of the infective process. Pectin is synthesized in a highly methylesterified form and is subsequently de-esterified in muro by pectin methylesterase. De-esterification makes pectin more susceptible to the degradation by pectic enzymes such as endopolygalacturonases (endoPG) and pectate lyases secreted by necrotrophic pathogens during the first stages of infection. We show that, upon infection, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Botrytis cinerea induce in Arabidopsis a rapid expression of AtPME3 that acts as a susceptibility factor and is required for the initial colonization of the host tissue.