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Cerato-platanins: elicitors and effectors.
Luigia Pazzagli1, Verena Seidl-Seiboth2, Mario Barsottini3
1Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Morgagni Street, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Summary
Cerato-platanins, cysteine-rich proteins from fungi, play roles in both pathogen virulence and beneficial plant defense. Their conserved nature and functions offer potential for crop protection strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Mycology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cerato-platanins are small, secreted, cysteine-rich proteins found in fungi.
- These proteins are linked to the virulence of plant pathogenic fungi.
- Recent findings show cerato-platanins in beneficial fungi like Trichoderma spp. can induce plant defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the occurrence of cerato-platanins across the fungal kingdom.
- To analyze their structure-function relationships and physiological roles.
- To discuss their potential application in crop protection.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review.
- Analysis of existing data on cerato-platanin distribution.
- Synthesis of information on structure, function, and roles in plant-pathogen interactions.
Main Results:
- Cerato-platanins are conserved across diverse fungal species.
- They exhibit dual roles: contributing to virulence in pathogens and defense induction in beneficial fungi.
- Structure-function analysis reveals conserved domains.
Conclusions:
- Cerato-platanins are key molecules in fungal-plant interactions.
- Understanding their roles can lead to novel crop protection strategies.
- Transgenic approaches and direct application as elicitors show promise for agricultural applications.
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