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A novel nematode effector suppresses plant immunity by activating host reactive oxygen species‐scavenging system
Author(s) -
Lin Borong,
Zhuo Kan,
Chen Shiyan,
Hu Lili,
Sun Longhua,
Wang Xiaohong,
Zhang LianHui,
Liao Jinling
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13701
Subject(s) - reactive oxygen species , effector , nematode , scavenging , host (biology) , biology , plant immunity , immunity , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , botany , immune system , immunology , biochemistry , arabidopsis , gene , antioxidant , mutant
Summary Evidence is emerging that plant‐parasitic nematodes can secrete effectors to interfere with the host immune response, but it remains unknown how these effectors can conquer host immune responses. Here, we depict a novel effector, Mj TTL 5, that could suppress plant immune response. Immunolocalization and transcriptional analyses showed that Mj TTL 5 is expressed specifically within the subventral gland of Meloidogyne javanica and up‐regulated in the early parasitic stage of the nematode. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing Mj TTL 5 were significantly more susceptible to M. javanica infection than wild‐type plants, and vice versa, in planta silencing of Mj TTL 5 substantially increased plant resistance to M. javanica . Yeast two‐hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescent complementation assays showed that Mj TTL 5 interacts specifically with Arabidopsis ferredoxin : thioredoxin reductase catalytic subunit (At FTR c), a key component of host antioxidant system. The expression of At FTR c is induced by the infection of M. javanica . Interaction between At FTR c and Mj TTL could drastically increase host reactive oxygen species‐scavenging activity, and result in suppression of plant basal defenses and attenuation of host resistance to the nematode infection. Our results demonstrate that the host ferredoxin : thioredoxin system can be exploited cunningly by M. javanica , revealing a novel mechanism utilized by plant–parasitic nematodes to subjugate plant innate immunity and thereby promoting parasitism.