Open AccessThe fungal-specific β-glucan-binding lectin FGB1 alters cell-wall composition and suppresses glucan-triggered immunity in plants
Author(s) -
Stephan Wawra,
Philipp Fesel,
Heidi Widmer,
Malte Timm,
Jürgen Seibel,
Lisa Leson,
Leona Kesseler,
Robin Nostadt,
Magdalena Hilbert,
Gregor Langen,
Alga Zuccaro
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nature communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.559
H-Index - 365
ISSN - 2041-1723
DOI - 10.1038/ncomms13188
Subject(s) - glucan , cell wall , innate immune system , lectin , biochemistry , c type lectin , isothermal titration calorimetry , beta glucan , biology , oxylipin , arabidopsis , nicotiana benthamiana , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biophysics , gene , receptor , mutant
β-glucans are well-known modulators of the immune system in mammals but little is known about β-glucan triggered immunity in planta . Here we show by isothermal titration calorimetry, circular dichroism spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that the FGB1 gene from the root endophyte Piriformospora indica encodes for a secreted fungal-specific β-glucan-binding lectin with dual function. This lectin has the potential to both alter fungal cell wall composition and properties, and to efficiently suppress β-glucan-triggered immunity in different plant hosts, such as Arabidopsis , barley and Nicotiana benthamiana . Our results hint at the existence of fungal effectors that deregulate innate sensing of β-glucan in plants.