Characterization of an endopolygalacturonase Gene cppg1 from Phytopathogenic Fungus Chondrostereum purpureum

Chondrostereum purpureum, a phytopathogenic fungus, produces endopolygalacturonase (endoPG) which has been suggested to have a causal role in the silver-leaf symptom of apple trees. In this paper, we detected C. purpureurn-derived endoPG at the infection sites using ELISA with a polyclonal antibody against endoPG I. A gene encoding endoPG I and its homolog were also isolated from the C. purpureum genome. The endoPG I gene was designated as cppg1. The cppg1 gene is the first fungal endoPG gene reported in the Basidiomycetes. Received 31 May 2000/ Accepted in revised form 13 September 2000     

Polygalacturonase S31PG1 from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Geotrichum candidum</Emphasis> citrus race S31 expressed in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizosaccharomyces pombe</Emphasis> versus S31PG2 regarding soft rot on lemon fruit

Gene S31pg1, which encodes a polygalacturonase (PG), was previously isolated from citrus race S31 of Geotrichum candidum, the causal agent of citrus sour rot. We have now isolated and sequenced an additional PG gene, S31pg2, with 95% identity to S31pg1 in the mature proteins. To evaluate the contribution of the two PG genes in the development of citrus sour rot, each gene was expressed in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Both genes conferred PG activity to the yeast. Crude enzyme solutions containing S31PG1 severely degraded the albedo tissue of lemon peel, but those containing S31PG2 did not. Concentrated crude S31PG1 solutions also caused soft rot on lemon fruit, indicating that not S31PG2 but S31PG1 is an important pathogenicity factor in citrus sour rot. Next, the protopectinase (PP) activity of each PG was measured. Although S31PG1 and S31PG2 are highly homologous, S31PG1 had high PP activity, whereas S31PG2 had much lower activity. PG from G. candidum noncitrus race S63 (nonpathogenic to citrus fruits) was also assayed but did not have any PP activity at all. These results suggest that the different PP activities of the PGs are a key to the pathogenicity of G. candidum to lemon fruit.     

Isolation of a Protein Bound to Canker-forming Factor from Citrus Plant

Interaction analysis using affinity analysis (Affinity Sensors, Cambridge, UK) indicated the presence of proteins bound to Apl1, a virulence factor of Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri required for the formation of canker symptom on citrus, in the fraction 25–50% ammonium sulfate of citrus crude extracts. Three proteins of 25, 50 and 110-kD were eluted from an Apl1-affinity column. Western analysis revealed that Apl1 binds specifically to the 25-kD and 110-kD but not to the 50-kD protein. When crude extracts of soybean and of tobacco were applied to the Apl1-affinity column, only faint bands were detected. This result suggests that Apl1 targets exist specifically in citrus plants. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminal of the 25-kD protein was determined, and homology search analysis revealed that this sequence was almost identical to those commonly present in S-adenosyl-l-methionine : trans-caffeoyl-coenzyme A 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAMT) from several plants. This enzyme is specific to the substrate trans -caffeoyl-CoA and catalyzes the synthesis of trans-feruloyl-CoA for lignin formation. Received 4 November 1999/ Accepted in revised form 26 November 1999     

心叶烟NPR1基因全长cDNA序列的克隆及表达分析

 NPR1(non-expressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1)基因在拟南芥系统获得抗性中起着关键作用,可调控拟南芥植株广谱抗性的发生。本文报道了从心叶烟中克隆NPR1同源基因(NgNPR1)及其表达特性的研究结果。NgNPR1 cDNA全长2253 bp,编码588个氨基酸。将NgNPR1基因组全长与cDNA序列进行比对发现,NgNPR1基因组DNA含有4个外显子和3个内含子。Southern杂交分析表明,在心叶烟基因组中NgNPR1为单拷贝基因。采用绿色荧光蛋白在洋葱表皮瞬时表达的试验,证明了NgNPR1蛋白在水杨酸诱导时会从细胞质转运到细胞核中。Northern杂交分析发现,NgNPR1基因可以被与植物抗病相关的信号分子如水杨酸、茉莉酸甲酯、过氧化氢和乙烯所诱导。进一步研究发现,植物病原物如赤星病菌、青枯病菌和烟草花叶病毒对心叶烟植株的侵染也会使NgNPR1表达量增加。这些结果表明,NgNPR1基因在心叶烟植株抵御病原物侵染过程中可能起着重要作用。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1D新基因的克隆与特性

为扩充鳞翅目害虫杀虫基因资源,本研究从苏云金芽胞杆菌BN23-5中克隆得到一个新的cry基因,并对其进行鉴定和分析。该基因为一个完整的cry1D基因,全长3501 bp,编码1166个氨基酸残基。该氨基酸序列是一个新的Cry氨基酸序列,与Cry1Db1的同源性最高,为86%,命名为Cry1Dd1（登录号为KJ728844）。将该基因插入穿梭表达载体pSTK中,转入BT无晶体突变株HD73^-中进行表达。结果表明,cry1Dd1基因能在BT无晶体突变株中表达,并形成菱形伴孢晶体。SDS-PAGE验证其分子量为132.2 kD,与预测的大小相符。生物活性测定表明,Cry1Dd1晶体蛋白对小菜蛾的幼虫具有杀虫活性,LC₅₀为13.1 μg/mL;能明显抑制甜菜夜蛾幼虫的生长;但对棉铃虫幼虫没有杀虫活性。对cry1Dd1基因序列进行分析,cry1Dd1包含8个block保守区域,这和目前其他的cry基因相似;Cry1Dd1蛋白的活性区域为N端的37~593位氨基酸残基。