The Endoplasmic Reticulum Is a Key Battleground between Phytoplasma Aggression and Host Plant Defense.

Cells

Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.

Published: August 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • * In tomato plants infected by potato purple top (PPT) phytoplasmas, abnormal protein accumulation and structural disruptions in the ER were observed, indicating that the infection induces ER stress.
  • * Activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) can help reduce phytoplasma levels in plants, suggesting that enhancing this response could be a potential strategy for managing phytoplasma-related diseases.

Article Abstract

Phytoplasmas are intracellular plant pathogens that heavily rely on host cell nutrients for survival and propagation due to their limited ability to synthesize essential substrates. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which plays a vital role in various cellular processes, including lipid and protein biosynthesis, is an attractive target for numerous intracellular pathogens to exploit. This study investigated the impact of potato purple top (PPT) phytoplasma infection on the ER in tomato plants. Abnormal accumulation of ER-resident proteins, disrupted ER network structures, and formation of protein aggregates in the phloem were observed using confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, indicating a phytoplasma-infection-induced disturbance in ER homeostasis. The colocalization of phytoplasmas with the accumulated ER-resident proteins suggests an association between ER stress, unfolded protein response (UPR) induction, and phytoplasma infection and colonization, with the ER stress response likely contributing to the host plant's defense mechanisms. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed a negative correlation between ER stress/UPR activation and PPT phytoplasma titer, implying the involvement of UPR in curbing phytoplasma proliferation. Inducing ER stress and activating the UPR pathway effectively decreased phytoplasma titer, while suppressing the ER-resident protein, binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) increased phytoplasma titer. These results highlight the ER as an intracellular battleground where phytoplasmas exploit host components for survival and multiplication, while host plants deploy defense mechanisms to counteract the invasion. Understanding the intricate interactions between phytoplasmas and plant hosts at the subcellular level, particularly within the ER, provides valuable insights for developing new strategies to control phytoplasma diseases.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10453741PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells12162110DOI Listing

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