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Mutualist-pathogen co-colonization modulates phosphoinositide signatures at host intracellular interfaces
Alex Guyon1, Theresa Staps2, Lyne Badot3
1Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Cell Reports
|December 12, 2025
Summary
Plant root membranes change their phosphoinositide (PI) signatures during microbe interactions. Co-colonization dynamically remodeled these host membranes, altering interactions between pathogenic and mutualistic fungi.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Microbiology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Host membranes surrounding intracellular microbes are critical interfaces influencing plant-microbe interactions.
- Distinct phosphoinositide identities exist at pathogenic versus mutualistic interfaces, but their dynamic modulation during co-colonization is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether phosphoinositide signatures at host-microbe interfaces are modulated during co-colonization.
- To determine if these modulations influence the outcome of plant-microbe interactions.
Main Methods:
- Generated Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing biosensors for phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2).
- Imaged root colonization by pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora palmivora and mutualistic fungus Funneliformis mosseae.
- Analyzed phosphoinositide distribution at host-microbe interfaces during binary and co-colonization interactions.
Main Results:
- Distinct phosphoinositide patterns were observed in binary interactions: PI(4,5)P2 was tip-enriched at mutualist structures and evenly distributed around pathogen structures, while PI4P was absent from pathogen interfaces but present at mutualist interfaces.
- Co-colonization significantly altered host membrane identity, inducing PI4P recruitment at pathogen haustoria.
- This remodeling enhanced plant resistance to the pathogen P. palmivora.
Conclusions:
- Phosphoinositide signatures effectively distinguish pathogenic and mutualistic host-microbe interfaces.
- Host membrane phosphoinositide identities are dynamically remodeled during co-colonization.
- Dynamic remodeling of phosphoinositides likely plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of plant-microbe interactions.
Keywords:
CP: microbiologyCP: plantsNicotiana benthamianaPhytophthora palmivoraarbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosisextrahaustorial membraneperiarbuscular membranephospholipidsplant pathogenMore Related Videos
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