Open AccessSlyA regulates phytotoxin production and virulence in Dickeya zeae EC1
Author(s) -
Zhou JiaNuan,
Zhang HaiBao,
Lv MingFa,
Chen YuFan,
Liao LiSheng,
Cheng YingYing,
Liu ShiYin,
Chen ShaoHua,
He Fei,
Cui ZiNing,
Jiang ZiDe,
Chang ChangQing,
Zhang LianHui
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12376
Subject(s) - virulence , biology , biofilm , swarming motility , quorum sensing , pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence factor , phytotoxin , mutant , transcription factor , motility , phenotype , gene , genetics , bacteria , toxin
Summary Dickeya zeae is a causal agent of rice root rot disease. The pathogen is known to produce a range of virulence factors, including phytotoxic zeamines and extracellular enzymes, but the mechanisms of virulence regulation remain vague. In this study, we identified a SlyA/MarR family transcription factor SlyA in D. zeae strain EC1. Disruption of slyA significantly decreased zeamine production, enhanced swimming and swarming motility, reduced biofilm formation and significantly decreased pathogenicity on rice. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis confirmed the role of SlyA in transcriptional modulation of a range of genes associated with bacterial virulence. In trans expression of slyA in expI mutants recovered the phenotypes of motility and biofilm formation, suggesting that SlyA is downstream of the acylhomoserine lactone‐mediated quorum sensing pathway. Taken together, the findings from this study unveil a key transcriptional regulatory factor involved in the modulation of virulence factor production and overall pathogenicity of D. zeae EC1.