Pectin Methylesterase Is Induced in Arabidopsis upon Infection and Is Necessary for a Successful Colonization by Necrotrophic Pathogens

Abstract

The ability of bacterial or fungal necrotrophs to produce enzymes capable of degrading pectin is often related to a successful initiation of the infective process. Pectin is synthesized in a highly methylesterified form and is subsequently de-esterified in muro by pectin methylesterase. De-esterification makes pectin more susceptible to the degradation by pectic enzymes such as endopolygalacturonases (endoPG) and pectate lyases secreted by necrotrophic pathogens during the first stages of infection. We show that, upon infection, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Botrytis cinerea induce in Arabidopsis a rapid expression of AtPME3 that acts as a susceptibility factor and is required for the initial colonization of the host tissue.

Published in

Molecular plant-microbe interactions
2011, volume: 24, number: 4, pages: 432-440
Publisher: AMER PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOC

SLU Authors

• Immerzeel, Peter

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mellerowicz, Ewa

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-07-10-0157

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/59224