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An Insect Salivary Sheath Protein Triggers Plant Resistance to Insects and Pathogens as a Conserved HAMP
Liangxuan Qi1, Jing Li2, Shuai Li1
1Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210014, China.
A plant immune protein, myosin, found in insect saliva triggers broad-spectrum resistance against pests and pathogens. This discovery enhances understanding of plant-herbivore interactions and pest management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant immunity
- Insect-plant interactions
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Plants detect herbivores via herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs) in saliva, activating immunity.
- The role of proteins in salivary sheaths of piercing-sucking insects in modulating plant defenses is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize HAMPs within the salivary sheath of the small brown planthopper (SBPH).
- To investigate the function of identified HAMPs in plant defense activation and insect performance.
Main Methods:
- Identification of myosin light chain 1-like (myosin) protein in SBPH salivary sheaths.
- Analysis of myosin's role in activating plant pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) via BAK1.
- Peptide mapping to identify the minimal immunogenic epitope (MP41).
- Assessing plant defense responses (jasmonic acid, H₂O₂ production) and insect performance.
Main Results:
- Myosin acts as a HAMP, eliciting BAK1-dependent PTI responses in plants.
- A specific peptide (MP41) from myosin functions as a minimal immunogenic epitope.
- Myosin and MP41 induce plant defenses, reducing planthopper performance and attracting natural enemies.
- Myosin expression in plants confers resistance to diverse pests and pathogens.
- Silencing myosin in SBPH disrupts salivary sheath formation and reduces feeding efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Myosin from SBPH salivary sheaths is a critical, unavoidable HAMP.
- Myosin triggers broad-spectrum plant resistance against insects, viruses, and fungi.
- This finding offers novel strategies for enhancing crop protection.
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