BACKGROUND: Plant pathogenesis related-1 (PR-1) proteins belong to the CAP superfamily and have been characterized as markers of induced defense against pathogens. Moniliophthora perniciosa and Moniliophthora roreri are hemibiotrophic fungi that respectively cause the witches' broom disease and frosty pod rot in Theobroma cacao. Interestingly, a large number of plant PR-1-like genes are present in the genomes of both species and many are up-regulated during the biotrophic interaction. In this study, we investigated the evolution of PR-1 proteins from 22 genomes of Moniliophthora isolates and 16 other Agaricales species, performing genomic investigation, phylogenetic reconstruction, positive selection search and gene expression analysis. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed conserved PR-1 genes (PR-1a, b, d, j), shared by many Agaricales saprotrophic species, that have diversified in new PR-1 genes putatively related to pathogenicity in Moniliophthora (PR-1f, g, h, i), as well as in recent specialization cases within M. perniciosa biotypes (PR-1c, k, l) and M. roreri (PR-1n). PR-1 families in Moniliophthora with higher evolutionary rates exhibit induced expression in the biotrophic interaction and positive selection clues, supporting the hypothesis that these proteins accumulated adaptive changes in response to host-pathogen arms race. Furthermore, although previous work showed that MpPR-1 can detoxify plant antifungal compounds in yeast, we found that in the presence of eugenol M. perniciosa differentially expresses only MpPR-1e, k, d, of which two are not linked to pathogenicity, suggesting that detoxification might not be the main function of most MpPR-1. CONCLUSIONS: Based on analyses of genomic and expression data, we provided evidence that the evolution of PR-1 in Moniliophthora was adaptive and potentially related to the emergence of the parasitic lifestyle in this genus. Additionally, we also discuss how fungal PR-1 proteins could have adapted from basal conserved functions to possible roles in fungal pathogenesis.
BACKGROUND: Plant pathogenesis related-1 (PR-1) proteins belong to the CAP superfamily and have been characterized as markers of induced defense against pathogens. Moniliophthora perniciosa and Moniliophthora roreri are hemibiotrophic fungi that respectively cause the witches' broom disease and frosty pod rot in Theobroma cacao. Interestingly, a large number of plant PR-1-like genes are present in the genomes of both species and many are up-regulated during the biotrophic interaction. In this study, we investigated the evolution of PR-1 proteins from 22 genomes of Moniliophthora isolates and 16 other Agaricales species, performing genomic investigation, phylogenetic reconstruction, positive selection search and gene expression analysis. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed conserved PR-1 genes (PR-1a, b, d, j), shared by many Agaricales saprotrophic species, that have diversified in new PR-1 genes putatively related to pathogenicity in Moniliophthora (PR-1f, g, h, i), as well as in recent specialization cases within M. perniciosa biotypes (PR-1c, k, l) and M. roreri (PR-1n). PR-1 families in Moniliophthora with higher evolutionary rates exhibit induced expression in the biotrophic interaction and positive selection clues, supporting the hypothesis that these proteins accumulated adaptive changes in response to host-pathogen arms race. Furthermore, although previous work showed that MpPR-1 can detoxify plant antifungal compounds in yeast, we found that in the presence of eugenolM. perniciosa differentially expresses only MpPR-1e, k, d, of which two are not linked to pathogenicity, suggesting that detoxification might not be the main function of most MpPR-1. CONCLUSIONS: Based on analyses of genomic and expression data, we provided evidence that the evolution of PR-1 in Moniliophthora was adaptive and potentially related to the emergence of the parasitic lifestyle in this genus. Additionally, we also discuss how fungal PR-1 proteins could have adapted from basal conserved functions to possible roles in fungal pathogenesis.
Authors: C Cantacessi; B E Campbell; A Visser; P Geldhof; M J Nolan; A J Nisbet; J B Matthews; A Loukas; A Hofmann; D Otranto; P W Sternberg; R B Gasser Journal: Biotechnol Adv Date: 2009-02-21 Impact factor: 14.227
Authors: Oluwatoyin A Asojo; Gaddam Goud; Kajari Dhar; Alex Loukas; Bin Zhan; Vehid Deumic; Sen Liu; Gloria E O Borgstahl; Peter J Hotez Journal: J Mol Biol Date: 2005-01-12 Impact factor: 5.469
Authors: Rafael C Prados-Rosales; Raquel Roldán-Rodríguez; Carolina Serena; Manuel S López-Berges; Josep Guarro; Álvaro Martínez-del-Pozo; Antonio Di Pietro Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2012-05-02 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: Jose L Lozano-Torres; Ruud H P Wilbers; Sonja Warmerdam; Anna Finkers-Tomczak; Amalia Diaz-Granados; Casper C van Schaik; Johannes Helder; Jaap Bakker; Aska Goverse; Arjen Schots; Geert Smant Journal: PLoS Pathog Date: 2014-12-11 Impact factor: 6.823
Authors: Iain W Chalmers; Andrew J McArdle; Richard Mr Coulson; Marissa A Wagner; Ralf Schmid; Hirohisa Hirai; Karl F Hoffmann Journal: BMC Genomics Date: 2008-02-23 Impact factor: 3.969