Glucuronoyl Esterase of Pathogenic Phanerochaete carnosa Induces Immune Responses in Aspen Independently of Its Enzymatic Activity.

ABSTRACT: Microbial enzymes expressed in plants add new functionalities but occasionally trigger undesirable immune responses. Phanerochaete carnosa glucuronoyl esterase (PcGCE) hydrolyses the bond between lignin and 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid substituent of glucuronoxylan. PcGCE constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis or hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) improved saccharification but also induced premature leaf senescence. To understand what triggered this senescence, we characterised PcGCE-expressing hybrid aspen by microscopy and omics approaches, supplemented by grafting and recombinant protein application experiments. PcGCE induced massive immune responses followed by senescence in the leaves. Expressing an inactive (PcGCE^S217A) enzyme has led to similar phenotypes, ex

SUBMITTER: Donev EN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12906814 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature