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Pep‐13, a plant defense‐inducing pathogen‐associated pattern from Phytophthora transglutaminases
Author(s) -
Brunner Frédéric,
Rosahl Sabine,
Lee Justin,
Rudd Jason J.,
Geiler Carola,
Kauppinen Sakari,
Rasmussen Grethe,
Scheel Dierk,
Nürnberger Thorsten
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdf667
Subject(s) - biology , elicitor , phytophthora , innate immune system , pathogen associated molecular pattern , pathogen , hypersensitive response , tissue transglutaminase , plant defense against herbivory , defence mechanisms , microbiology and biotechnology , host (biology) , phytophthora sojae , pattern recognition receptor , oomycete , immune system , immunity , botany , genetics , plant disease resistance , biochemistry , gene , enzyme
Innate immunity, an ancient form of defense against microbial infection, is well described for animals and is also suggested to be important for plants. Discrimination from self is achieved through receptors that recognize pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) not found in the host. PAMPs are evolutionarily conserved structures which are functionally important and, thus, not subject to frequent mutation. Here we report that the previously described peptide elicitor of defense responses in parsley, Pep‐13, constitutes a surface‐exposed fragment within a novel calcium‐dependent cell wall transglutaminase (TGase) from Phytophthora sojae . TGase transcripts and TGase activity are detectable in all Phytophthora species analyzed, among which are some of the most destructive plant pathogens. Mutational analysis within Pep‐13 identified the same amino acids indispensable for both TGase and defense‐eliciting activity. Pep‐13, conserved among Phytophthora TGases, activates defense in parsley and potato, suggesting its function as a genus‐specific recognition determinant for the activation of plant defense in host and non‐host plants. In summary, plants may recognize PAMPs with characteristics resembling those known to trigger innate immune responses in animals.