Regulators Involved in Dickeya solani Virulence, Genetic Conservation and Functional Variability
Marta Potrykus1, Małgorzata Golanowska1, Nicole Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat2
11 Department of Biotechnology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland.
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions : MPMI
|November 15, 2016
Summary
Dickeya solani, a potato pathogen, has virulence regulated by PecS, PecT, and KdgR proteins, similar to related species. Quorum sensing also plays a key role in its virulence on potato plants.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Bacteriology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bacteria from the genus Dickeya cause significant crop diseases.
- Dickeya solani is a major potato pathogen in Europe.
- Regulation of D. solani virulence factors is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of virulence in Dickeya solani.
- To characterize phenotypic differences among D. solani strains.
- To identify key regulatory genes and pathways influencing D. solani pathogenicity.
Main Methods:
- Genomic fingerprinting and phenotypic characterization of four D. solani strains.
- Construction and analysis of mutants with inactivated virulence regulatory genes (kdgR, pecS, pecT) and quorum sensing genes (expI, expR).
- Assessment of virulence factors including pectate lyase, cellulase, protease, and motility.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in potato virulence were observed among genetically similar D. solani strains.
- PecS, PecT, and KdgR were identified as negative regulators of virulence factors, with PecT being a major thermoregulator.
- Quorum sensing, mediated by ExpI and ExpR, was found to be crucial for D. solani virulence on potato.
Conclusions:
- The study elucidates the roles of key regulatory genes in D. solani virulence.
- PecT, PecS, and KdgR are important repressors of virulence factor synthesis.
- Quorum sensing significantly contributes to the pathogenicity of D. solani in potato.
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