Pep1, a secreted effector protein of Ustilago maydis, is required for successful invasion of plant cells.

ABSTRACT: The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis causes smut disease in maize. Colonization of the host plant is initiated by direct penetration of cuticle and cell wall of maize epidermis cells. The invading hyphae are surrounded by the plant plasma membrane and proliferate within the plant tissue. We identified a novel secreted protein, termed Pep1, that is essential for penetration. Disruption mutants of pep1 are not affected in saprophytic growth and develop normal infection structures. However, Deltapep1 mutants arrest during penetration of the epidermal cell and elicit a strong plant defense response. Using Affymetrix maize arrays, we identified 116 plant genes which are differentially regulated in Deltapep1 compared to wild type infections. Most of these genes are related to plant defense. By in v

SUBMITTER: Doehlemann G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2631132 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature