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The novel cyst nematode effector protein 30D08 targets host nuclear functions to alter gene expression in feeding sites
Author(s) -
Verma Anju,
Lee Chris,
Morriss Stephanie,
Odu Fiona,
Kenning Charlotte,
Rizzo Nancy,
Spollen William G.,
Lin Marriam,
McRae Amanda G.,
Givan Scott A.,
Hewezi Tarek,
Hussey Richard,
Davis Eric L.,
Baum Thomas J.,
Mitchum Melissa G.
Publication year - 2018
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.15179
Subject(s) - effector , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , rna splicing , nematode , gene expression , alternative splicing , mutant , genetics , transcription (linguistics) , rna binding protein , soybean cyst nematode , rna , messenger rna , ecology , linguistics , philosophy
Summary Cyst nematodes deliver effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes and establish a metabolically hyperactive feeding site. The novel 30D08 effector protein is produced in the dorsal gland of parasitic juveniles, but its function has remained unknown. We demonstrate that expression of 30D08 contributes to nematode parasitism, the protein is packaged into secretory granules and it is targeted to the plant nucleus where it interacts with SMU 2 (homolog of suppressor of mec‐8 and unc‐52 2 ), an auxiliary spliceosomal protein. We show that SMU2 is expressed in feeding sites and an smu2 mutant is less susceptible to nematode infection. In Arabidopsis expressing 30D08 under the SMU2 promoter, several genes were found to be alternatively spliced and the most abundant functional classes represented among differentially expressed genes were involved in RNA processing, transcription and binding, as well as in development, and hormone and secondary metabolism, representing key cellular processes known to be important for feeding site formation. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the 30D08 effector is secreted from the nematode and targeted to the plant nucleus where its interaction with a host auxiliary spliceosomal protein may alter the pre‐ mRNA splicing and expression of a subset of genes important for feeding site formation.