Gabré Kemp

The grapevine polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (VvPGIP1) reduces Botrytis cinerea susceptibility in transgenic tobacco and differentially inhibits fungal polygalacturonases

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) selectively inhibit polygalacturonases (PGs) secreted by invading plant pathogenic fungi. PGIPs display differential inhibition towards PGs from different fungi, also towards different isoforms of PGs originating from a specific pathogen. Recently, a PGIP-encoding gene from Vitis vinifera (Vvpgip1) was isolated and characterised. PGIP purified from grapevine was shown to inhibit crude polygalacturonase extracts from Botrytis cinerea, but this inhibitory activity has not yet been linked conclusively to the activity of the Vvpgip1 gene product. Here we use a transgenic over-expression approach to show that the PGIP encoded by the Vvpgip1 gene is active against PGs of B. cinerea and that over-expression of this gene in transgenic tobacco confers a reduced susceptibility to infection by this pathogen. A calculated reduction in disease susceptibility of 47–69% was observed for a homogeneous group of transgenic lines that was statistically clearly separated from untransformed control plants following infection with Botrytis over a 15-day-period. VvPGIP1 was subsequently purified from transgenic tobacco and used to study the specific inhibition profile of individual PGs from Botrytis and Aspergillus. The heterologously expressed and purified VvPGIP1 selectively inhibited PGs from both A. niger and B.␣cinerea, including BcPG1, a PG from B. cinerea that has previously been shown to be essential for virulence and symptom development. Altogether our data confirm the antifungal nature of the VvPGIP1, and the in vitro inhibition data suggest at least in part, that the VvPGIP1 contributed to the observed reduction in disease symptoms by inhibiting the macerating action of certain Botrytis PGs in planta. The ability to correlate inhibition profiles to individual PGs provides a more comprehensive analysis of PGIPs as antifungal genes with biotechnological potential, and adds to our understanding of the importance of PGIP:PG interactions during disease and symptom development in plants.

A polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein from grapevine reduces the symptoms of the endopolygalacturonase BcPG2 from Botrytis cinerea in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves without any evidence for in vitro interaction

Six endopolygalacturonases from Botrytis cinerea (BcPG1 to BcPG6) as well as mutated forms of BcPG1 and BcPG2 were expressed transiently in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana using agroinfiltration. Expression of BcPG1, BcPG2, BcPG4, BcPG5, and mutant BcPG1-D203A caused symptoms, whereas BcPG3, BcPG6, and mutant BcPG2-D192A caused no symptoms. Expression of BcPG2 caused the most severe symptoms, including wilting and necrosis. BcPG2 previously has been shown to be essential for B. cinerea virulence. The in vivo effect of this enzyme and the inhibition by a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) was examined by coexpressing Bcpg2 and the Vvpgipl gene from Vitis vinifera in N. benthamiana. Coinfiltration resulted in a substantial reduction of the symptoms inflicted by the activity of BcPG2 in planta, as evidenced by quantifying the variable chlorophyll fluorescence yield. In vitro, however, no interaction between pure VvPGIP1 and pure BcPG2 was detected. Specifically, VvPGIP1 neither inhibited BcPG2 activity nor altered the degradation profile of polygalacturonic acid by BcPG2. Furthermore, using surface plasmon resonance technology, no physical interaction between VvPGIP1 and BcPG2 was detected in vitro. The data suggest that the in planta environment provided a context to support the interaction between BcPG2 and VvPGIP1, leading to a reduction in symptom development, whereas neither of the in vitro assays detected any interaction between these proteins.

Isolation of a Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Protein (PGIP) from Wheat

Evidence for the presence of a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) from a monocotyledonous cereal is presented. A 40.3-kDa PGIP that was closely associated with the cell wall was acetone-extracted and purified from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves and stems. Wheat PGIP exhibited a highly selective inhibitory activity against endopolygalacturonase (EPG) from various fungi. Of nine EPG tested, wheat PGIP only inhibited EPG from Cochliobolus sativus, a pathogen of the tribe Poaceae. A short N-terminal amino acid sequence of wheat PGIP shows no similarity to any other characterized PGIP.

Analysis of commercial proanthocyanidins. Part 3: the chemical composition of wattle (Acacia mearnsii) bark extract.

Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) bark extract is an important renewable industrial source of natural polymers for leather tanning and adhesive manufacturing. The wattle bark proanthocyanidin oligomers have 5-deoxy extender units that render the interflavanyl bonds resistant to acid catalysed hydrolysis and their composition cannot be determined via conventional thiolysis. We combined established phyto- and synthetic chemistry perspectives with an electrospray mass spectrometry investigation to establish that the flavan-3-ol based oligomers consist of a starter unit which is either catechin or gallocatechin, angularly bonded to fisetinidol or predominantly robinetinidol extender units.

Effect of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on prostaglandin E2 production by Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis biofilms

Arachidonic acid (AA) is released from infected host cells during Candida albicans infection and may serve as carbon source for yeast growth and as precursor for the production of biologically active eicosanoids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by C. albicans. However, the mechanism involved in this production is still unclear. Therefore, it was of interest to investigate the effect of different arachidonic acid metabolism inhibitors on PGE2 production by biofilms of C. albicans and the closely related C. dubliniensis. This was done by growing Candida biofilms in the presence of AA as well as cytochrome P450 (CYP), multicopper oxidase, cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors. The concentration of PGE2 was determined by a monoclonal PGE2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and verified with LCMS/MS. The results obtained indicate the ability of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis biofilms to produce PGE2 from exogenous AA. The use of different inhibitors suggested that CYPs and multicopper oxidases are involved in PGE2 production by these Candida biofilms.

Nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the acetylation state of histones H3 and H4 in stationary phase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BackgroundThe involvement of histone acetylation in facilitating gene expression is well-established, particularly in the case of histones H3 and H4. It was previously shown in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that gene expression was significantly down-regulated and chromatin more condensed in stationary phase compared to exponential phase. We were therefore interested in establishing the acetylation state of histone H3 and H4 in stationary and in exponential phase, since the regulation of this modification could contribute to transcriptional shut-down and chromatin compaction during semi-quiescence.ResultsWe made use of nano-spray tandem mass spectrometry to perform a precursor ion scan to detect an m/z 126 immonium ion, diagnostic of an Nε-acetylated lysine residue that allowed unambiguous identification of acetylated as opposed to tri-methylated lysine. The fragmentation spectra of peptides thus identified were searched with Mascot against the Swiss-Prot database, and the y-ion and b-ion fragmentation series subsequently analyzed for mass shifts compatible with acetylated lysine residues. We found that K9, K14 and K36 of histone H3 and K12 and K16 of histone H4 were acetylated in exponential phase (bulk histones), but could not detect these modifications in histones isolated from stationary phase cells at the sensitivity level of the mass spectrometer. The corresponding un-acetylated peptides were, however, observed. A significantly higher level of acetylation of these residues in exponential phase was confirmed by immuno-blotting.ConclusionH4K16 acetylation was previously shown to disrupt formation of condensed chromatin in vitro. We propose that de-acetylation of H4K16 allowed formation of condensed chromatin in stationary phase, and that acetylation of H3K9, H3K14, H3K36, and H4K12 reflected the active transcriptional state of the yeast genome in exponential phase.

SPR and differential proteolysis/MS provide further insight into the interaction between PGIP2 and EPGs.

By using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, the kinetics of the interaction of various fungal endopolygalacturonases (EPGs) (13 EPGs) with Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) PGIP2 was carried out to determine whether or not there is any interaction between polygalacturonases-inhibiting protein (PGIP) and EPG. The effect of polygalacturonic acid (PGA) on these interactions was also evaluated. The results show that all EPGs evaluated bind to PGIP2, except for AnPGb and the strength of the interaction depends on the EPG/PGIP2 pairing. Further, the presence of PGA has a moderate to strong effect on the EPG/PGIP2 interaction and the strength of the effect is dependent on the exact EPG/PGIP2 pairing. The differences in affinity in the absence and presence of PGA, suggest a certain level of cooperativity. These results indicate a three-component complex similar to that observed for the heparin-ATIII-thrombin, the FGF-FGFR-heparin, or the hedgehog-interference hedgehog-heparan complexes. This data points to an architecture in which the inhibitor binds at a location distant from the substrate binding site. Furthermore, we applied differential proteolysis mass spectrometry (DPMS) to study the location of the binding site between EPG and PGIP2. DPMS studies indicate that PGIP2 does not bind AnPGII, AnPGa, and AnPGc directly over the active site but instead binds on the face opposite to the active site, creating an allosteric interaction.

Recent Observations on the Specificity and Structural Conformation of the Polygalacturonase-Polygalacturonase Inhibiting Protein System

The interaction between fungal polygalacturonases (PGs) and plant cell wall proteins inhibitory to these pectin-degrading enzymes has been well established. By convention, these inhibitory proteins have been referred to as polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins or PGIPs, with the typical PG/PGIP interaction being characterized by high-affinity, reversibility, and a one:one stoichiometry. Different combinations of various PG and PGIP isoforms and/or glycoforms yield differential or combination-specific degrees of enzyme inhibition, with some PG/PGIP pairings producing enzyme inhibition of as much as 99%. Recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that in some instances, given certain combinations of PGIP isoforms with certain PGs, the rate of catalysis is actually increased beyond that characteristic of the enzyme alone. Clearly, this activation or enhancement of catalytic rate constitutes a deviation from the conventional inhibitory effect attributed to this class of plant cell wall protein, suggesting the need for a re-evaluation of the conventional moniker applied to PGIPs; suggestions include Polygalacturonase-Binding Protein and Polygalacturonase-Modulating Protein. Additional revelations concerning interactions of PG, polygalacturonic acid, and PGIP arose from structural conformation studies involving amide exchange-MS, pepsin cleavage, and UV fluorescence analysis when applied to PG alone, PG/oligogalacturonide complex and PG/oligogalacturonide/PGIP complex. Indications are that the substrate oligomer contacts the surface of the PG along the cleft of the β-barrel configuration predicted for PGs by X-ray structure and site-specific mutation studies. Evidence also supports a conformational change in the PG when bound to substrate, to the effect that the hydrogen bonding in the β-pleated sheet region on the side of the PG opposite to the substrate binding site is destabilized when the enzyme is bound to the substrate. When PGIP binds the PG/substrate complex, it appears to do so on the side opposite the binding site, resulting in apparent inhibition of the conformational change induced upon binding of substrate. These results, together with previously reported data, begin to point to a location for inhibitor interaction as well as to possible mechanisms for the non-competitive inhibition often attributed to this system.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces aspirin insensitive eicosanoids and contributes to the eicosanoid profile of polymicrobial biofilms with Candida albicans

The interaction of clinically relevant microorganisms is the focus of various studies, e.g. the interaction between the pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans, and the bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During infection both release arachidonic acid, which they can transform into eicosanoids. This study evaluated the production of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2α and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by biofilms of P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. The influence of co-incubation, acetylsalicylic acid and nordihydroguaiaretic acid on biofilm formation and eicosanoid production was evaluated. Acetylsalicylic acid decreased colony forming units of P. aeruginosa, but increased metabolic activity and eicosanoid production of the cells. In contrast to prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2a production by C. albicans was insensitive to acetylsalicylic acid, indicating that different enzymes are responsible for their production in this yeast. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibited biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa, however co-incubation provided protection against this inhibitor. Production of these eicosanoids could affect pathogen-clearance and infection dynamics and this previously uncharacterized facet of interaction could facilitate novel therapeutic intervention against polymicrobial infection.