A prophage-encoded nonclassical secretory protein of "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" induces a strong immune response in Nicotiana benthamiana and citrus.

ABSTRACT: Huanglongbing (HLB), associated with "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas), is a globally devastating plant disease. The highly reduced genome of CLas encodes a number of secretory proteins. The conserved prophage-encoded protein AGH17470 is herein identified as a nonclassical secretory protein. We confirmed that the N-terminal and C-terminal sequences jointly determine the secretion of AGH17470. The transient expression of AGH17470 protein in Nicotiana benthamiana caused hypersensitive response (HR) cell death in infiltrated leaves and systemically infected leaves as well as the dwarfing of the entire plant, suggesting that AGH17470 is involved in the plant immune response, growth, and development. Overexpression of AGH17470 in N. benthamiana and citrus plants up-regulated the transc

SUBMITTER: Du J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9190977 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature