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The WY domain in the Phytophthora effector PSR 1 is required for infection and RNA silencing suppression activity
Author(s) -
Zhang Peng,
Jia Yijuan,
Shi Jinxia,
Chen Chen,
Ye Wenwu,
Wang Yuanchao,
Ma Wenbo,
Qiao Yongli
Publication year - 2019
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.15836
Subject(s) - effector , biology , phytophthora , nicotiana benthamiana , phytophthora capsici , rna silencing , gene silencing , arabidopsis , rna , genetics , phytophthora sojae , rna interference , rna induced silencing complex , microbiology and biotechnology , oomycete , mutant , pathogen , virus , gene , botany
SummaryPhytophthora pathogens manipulate host innate immunity by secreting numerous Rx LR effectors, thereby facilitating pathogen colonization. Predicted single and tandem repeats of WY domains are the most prominent C‐terminal motifs conserved across the Phytophthora Rx LR superfamily. However, the functions of individual WY domains in effectors remain poorly understood. The Phytophthora sojae effector PSR 1 promotes infection by suppressing small RNA biogenesis in plant hosts. We identified one single WY domain following the Rx LR motif in PSR 1. This domain was required for RNA silencing suppression activity and infection in Nicotiana benthamiana , Arabidopsis and soybean. Mutations of the conserved residues in the WY domain did not affect the subcellular localization of PSR 1 but abolished its effect on plant development and resistance to viral and Phytophthora pathogens. This is at least in part due to decreased protein stability of the PSR 1 mutants in planta . The identification of the WY domain in PSR 1 allows predicts that a family of PSR 1‐like effectors also possess RNA silencing suppression activity. Mutation of the conserved residues in two members of this family, Pp PSR 1L from P. parasitica and Pc PSR 1L from P. capsici , perturbed their biological functions, indicating that the WY domain is critical in Phytophthora PSR 1 and PSR 1‐like effectors.