Carboxypeptidase inhibitors from Solanaceae as a new subclass of pathogenesis related peptide aiming biotechnological targets for plant defense

Background: Plant protease inhibitors play a crucial role in inhibiting proteases produced by phytopathogens and exhibiting inhibitory effects on nematodes, fungi, and insects, making them promising candidates for crop protection. Specifically, carboxypeptidase inhibitors, a subset of proteinase inhibitors, have been extensively studied in potato and tomato of Solanaceae plant family. However, further research is needed to fully understand the functions and biotechnological potential of those inhibitors in plants. This work aimed to in silico characterize carboxypeptidase inhibitors from Solanaceae as potential antimicrobial and defense agents focused on biotechnological targets.Methods: The methodology employed involved search in UniProt, PDB, KNOTTIN, NCBI, and MEROPS databases for solanaceous carboxypeptidase inhibitors, phylogenetic relationships and conservation patterns analyzes using MEGA-X software and Clustal Omega/MView tools, physicochemical properties and antimicrobial potential prediction using ProtParam, ToxinPred, iAMPred, and APD3 tools, and structural features prediction using PSIPRED.Results and discussion: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies on Solanaceae carboxypeptidase inhibitors and their activities against pathogens. The selected studies were reviewed and the main findings compiled. The characterization of Solanaceae carboxypeptidase inhibitors proposed for the first time the global sequence consensus motif CXXXCXXXXDCXXXXXCXXC, shedding light on carboxypeptidase inhibitors distribution, sequence variability, and conservation patterns. Phylogenetic analysis showed evolutionary relationships within the Solanaceae family, particularly in Capsicum, Nicotiana, and Solanum genera. Physicochemical characteristics of those peptides indicated their similarity to antimicrobial peptides. Predicted secondary structures exhibited variations, suggesting a broad spectrum of action, and studies had been demonstrated their activities against various pathogens.Conclusion: Carboxypeptidase inhibitors are being proposed here as a new subclass of PR-6 pathogenesis-related proteins, which will aid in a focused understanding of their functional roles in plant defense mechanisms. These findings confirm the Solanaceae carboxypeptidase inhibitors potential as defense agents and highlight opportunities for their biotechnological applications in pathogen control

Induction of systemic resistance in tomato by the autochthonous phylloplane resident Bacillus cereus

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar se o mecanismo de indução de resistência é responsável pela capacidade de um isolado bacteriano residente no filoplano (Bacillus cereus), obtido de plantas sadias de tomateiro, em controlar diversas doenças da cultura. A fim de investigar o modo de ação envolvido no controle, foi utilizado um isolado de Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato como patógeno desafiador. A ausência do mecanismo de antibiose contra o patógeno, o aumento significativo dos níveis de peroxidases em plantas expostas ao antagonista e submetidas à inoculação do patógeno desafiador, assim como a sistemicidade da proteção, são evidências que sugerem que o mecanismo de biocontrole em questão se refere à indução de resistência sistêmica (IRS).The objective of this work was to verify if the induced resistance mechanism is responsible for the capacity of a phylloplane resident bacteria (Bacillus cereus), isolated from healthy tomato plants, to control several diseases of this crop. A strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato was used as the challenging pathogen. The absence of direct antibiosis of the antagonist against the pathogen, the significant increase in peroxidases activity in tomato plants exposed to the antagonist and then inoculated with the challenging pathogen, as well as the character of the protection, are evidences wich suggest that biocontrol efficiency presented by the antagonist in previous works might be due to induced systemic resistance (ISR)

Enzimas marcadoras de indução de resistência diferencialmente reguladas em soja resistente e suscetível à ferrugem-asiática-da-soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio de enzimas marcadoras, a indução de resistência à ferrugem-asiática-da-soja em genótipos de soja contrastantes quanto à suscetibilidade a Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Aproteína total e as atividades de cinco enzimas marcadoras da indução de resistência (lipoxigenases, peroxidases, fenilalanina amônia-liase, quitinases e β-1, 3-glucanases) foram avaliadas em extratos de folhas de plantas de soja dos genótipos Embrapa 48 (suscetível) e PI 561356 (resistente), submetidas à inoculação ou não com o patógeno. Foram observadas respostas de defesa discrepantes entre os dois genótipos e entre os tempos de coleta (12, 72 e 168 horas após inoculação). A resposta de indução dessas enzimas assemelha-se à defesa bifásica, para Embrapa 48, e é consistente com o observado para outros patossistemas. No entanto, o genótipo PI 561356 respondeu com diminuição da concentração de proteína total e das atividades enzimáticas, o que indica redução do metabolismo geral das plantas infectadas. Há um importante mecanismo de resistência do genótipo PI 561356, ainda não relatado, embasado em vias que envolvem essas enzimas marcadoras e em mecanismos que utilizam menor concentração de proteínas, como os de via metabólica de resposta em cascata.The objective of this work was to evaluate induced resistance to Asian soybean rust by means of enzyme activities in soybean genotypes contrasting as to their susceptibility to Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Total protein and the activities of five induced resistance marker enzymes (lipoxygenases, peroxidases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chitinases and β-1, 3-glucanases) were evaluated in leaf extracts of soybean plants of the genotypes Embrapa 48 (susceptible) and PI 561356 (resistant), inoculated or not with the pathogen. Discrepant defense responses were obtained between the two genotypes and among the leaf harvest times (12, 72, and 168 hours after inoculation). The induction response of these enzymes resembles the biphasic defense in Embrapa 48 and is consistent with that observed in other pathological systems. However, the genotype PI 561356 responded with a decrease in total protein concentration and in enzymatic activities, indicating a general reduction in the metabolism of the infected plants. There is an important mechanism of resistance for the genotype PI 561356, not yet reported, which is grounded on the metabolic ways involving these induced resistance marker enzymes and on the mechanisms that use lower concentrations of total protein, such as the ones with metabolic pathways in response cascade

Differentially regulated induced resistance marker enzymes in soybean genotypes resistant and susceptible to Asian soybean rust

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio de enzimas marcadoras, a indução de resistência à ferrugem‑asiática‑da‑soja em genótipos de soja contrastantes quanto à suscetibilidade a Phakopsora pachyrhizi. A proteína total e as atividades de cinco enzimas marcadoras da indução de resistência (lipoxigenases, peroxidases, fenilalanina amônia‑liase, quitinases e β‑1,3‑glucanases) foram avaliadas em extratos de folhas de plantas de soja dos genótipos Embrapa 48 (suscetível) e PI 561356 (resistente), submetidas à inoculação ou não com o patógeno. Foram observadas respostas de defesa discrepantes entre os dois genótipos e entre os tempos de coleta (12, 72 e 168 horas após inoculação). A resposta de indução dessas enzimas assemelha-se à defesa bifásica, para Embrapa 48, e é consistente com o observado para outros patossistemas. No entanto, o genótipo PI 561356 respondeu com diminuição da concentração de proteína total e das atividades enzimáticas, o que indica reduçãodo metabolismo geral das plantas infectadas. Há um importante mecanismo de resistência do genótipo PI 561356, ainda não relatado, embasado em vias que envolvem essas enzimas marcadoras e em mecanismos que utilizam menor concentração de proteínas, como os de via metabólica de resposta em cascata.The objective of this work was to evaluate induced resistance to Asian soybean rust by means of enzymeactivities in soybean genotypes contrasting as to their susceptibility to Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Total protein and the activities of five induced resistance marker enzymes (lipoxygenases, peroxidases, phenylalanine ammonia‑lyase, chitinases and β‑1,3‑glucanases) were evaluated in leaf extracts of soybean plants of the genotypes Embrapa 48 (susceptible) and PI 561356 (resistant), inoculated or not with the pathogen. Discrepant defense responses were obtained between the two genotypes and among the leaf harvest times (12, 72, and 168 hours after inoculation). The induction response of these enzymes resembles the biphasic defense in Embrapa 48 and is consistent with that observed in other pathological systems. However, the genotype PI 561356 responded with a decrease in total protein concentration and in enzymatic activities, indicating a general reduction in the metabolism of the infected plants. There is an important mechanism of resistance for the genotype PI 561356, not yet reported, which is grounded on the metabolic ways involving these induced resistance marker enzymes and on the mechanisms that use lower concentrations of total protein, such as the ones with metabolic pathways in response cascade

Proteomic analysis of Aedes aegypti midgut during post-embryonic development and of the female mosquitoes fed different diets

In this work we analyzed protein expression in the Aedes aegypti midgut during the larval (fourth instar, L4), pupal, and adult stages [including newly emerged (NE), sugar-fed (SF) and blood-fed (BF) females]. Two-dimensional electrophoresis showed 13 spots in the midgut of larvae, 95 in the midgut of pupae, 90 in the midgut of NE, and 76 in the midgut of SF or BF females. In the larval midguts, high serpin expression was noted, while in the pupae, protein abundance was lower than in the NE, SF, and BF females. The spots related to proteins linked to energy production, protein metabolism, signaling, and transport were highly expressed in the NE stage, while spots related proteins involved in translation were abundant in SF and BF females. The differential abundance of proteins in the midgut of A. aegypti at different developmental stages supports the necessity for midgut development during immature stage followed by the necessity of proteins related to digestion in adults

Cyclic AMP and low molecular weight effector(s) present in yeast extract are involved in pectin lyase production by Penicillium griseoroseum cultured on glucose.

Pectin lyase (PL) induction by organic and inorganic components of yeast extract (YE) was evaluated in Penicillium griseoroseum, cultured in a mineral medium containing sucrose, by determining PL activity (A235) and mycelial growth (mycelial dry weight). The lowest YE concentration that promoted significant PL induction without acting as a carbon source for the fungus corresponded to 0.0075%. Neither calcined YE nor a nutrient solution containing micronutrients induced PL production, indicating that the inducer was an organic compound. Vitamins, phospholipid components, amino acids, and nitrogenous bases were tested in place of YE and promoted no significant PL induction. A PL inducer compound was found to be soluble in the nucleotide fraction obtained during extraction of YE. The inducer was shown to be a thermostable polar substance dialyzable at 2000 Daltons, hydrolyzable by HCl, and activated by boiling for up to 60 min. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) exogenously added to the culture medium at 5 and 10 mM was capable of inducing PL in P. griseoroseum grown on sucrose, suggesting that at least one compound may be present in YE acting in a cooperative fashion for the maintenance of high levels of cAMP into the cell. PL activity and the level of cAMP inside the fungal cells increased after the addition of YE to the culture medium, suggesting the participation of this messenger in this enzyme’s synthesis

Cyclic AMP and low molecular weight effector(s) present in yeast extract are involved in pectin lyase production by Penicillium griseoroseum cultured on sucrose

Pectin lyase (PL) induction by organic and inorganic components of yeast extract (YE) was evaluated in Penicillum griseoroseum, cultured in a mineral medium containing sucrose, by determining PL activity (A 235) and mycelial growth (mycelial dry weight). The lowest YE concentration that promoted significant PL induction without acting as a carbon source for the fungus corresponded to 0.0075%. Neither calcined YE nor a nutrient solution containing micronutrients induced PL production, indicating that the inducer was an organic compound. Vitamins, phospholipid components, amino acids, and nitrogenous bases were tested in place of YE and promoted no significant PL induction. APL inducer compound was found to be soluble in the nucleotide fraction obtained during extraction of YE. The inducer was shown to be a thermostable polar substance dialyzable at 2000 Daltons, hydrolyzable by HCl, and activated by boiling for up to 60 min. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) exogenously added to the culture medium at 5 and 10 mM was capable of inducing PL in P. griseoroseum grown on sucrose, suggesting that at least one compound may be present in YE acting in a cooperative fashion for the maintenance of high levels of cAMP in to the cell. PL activity and the level of cAMP inside the fungal cells increased after the addition of YE to the culture medium, suggesting the participation of this messenger in this enzyme's synthesis

Concentração de proteína solúvel por bradford revela diferenças no metabolismo de plantas de ora-pro-nobis em diferentes doses de nitrogênio

O ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) é um alimento rico em proteínas, muito utilizado no meio rural e com importância crescente na indústria de alimentos e farmacológica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a concentração de proteínas pelos métodos de Bradford e Kjeldahl, em folhas de plantas de ora-pro-nobis submetidas a diferentes doses de adubação nitrogenada, comparando estes métodos. As folhas das plantas de ora-pro-nobis adubadas com diferentes doses de N (0, 50, 100, 200 e 400 kg de N/ha) foram coletadas aos 423 dias após o plantio (DAP). Para o método de Bradford, as folhas foram trituradas com nitrogênio líquido e maceradas em Tris-HCl 50 mM, pH 7,0, o homogenato centrifugado e a proteína solúvel determinada no sobrenadante. Para avaliar o perfil proteico, as amostras dos diferentes tratamentos foram separadas por SDS-Tricina-PAGE 14%. O método de Kjeldahl tradicional foi realizado usando-se o fator de correção 6,25. Os resultados por ambos os métodos indicaram que houve alterações nas concentrações e composição de proteínas presentes em função da disponibilidade de N no solo. A proteína total por Kjeldahl aumentou até a dose de 100 kg de N/ha, e a proteína solúvel por Bradford aumentou nas doses de N entre 50 e 200 kg/ha. Pelo SDS-Tricina-PAGE, verificou-se aumento da intensidade das bandas consonante com o método de Bradford. Estes resultados sugerem que a avaliação de proteínas solúveis pelo método de Bradford permite detectar diferenças no metabolismo das plantas de ora-pro-nobis, expressando informações biológicas relevantes para estudos fisiológicos e nutricionais.Ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) is a protein-enriched food, widely used in rural communities, presenting increasing importance in the food and pharmaceutics industries. The aim of this study was to determine the protein concentration by the Bradford and Kjeldahl methods in plant leaves of ora-pro-nobis under different nitrogen fertilizer levels, comparing these methods. Leaves of ora-pro-nobis from plants fertilized with different nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg N/ha) were harvested at 423 days after planting (DAP). For the method of Bradford, the leaves were grounded in liquid nitrogen and macerated in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.0, the homogenate was centrifuged and the soluble proteins were determined in the supernatant. To evaluate the protein profile, samples of the different treatments were separated by 14% SDS-Tricine-PAGE. The traditional method of Kjeldahl was performed using the correction factor 6.25. For both methods, the results indicated that there were changes in the concentration and composition of proteins present for different availability of N in the soil. The total protein by Kjeldahl increased up to the level of 100 kg N/ha, and the soluble protein by Bradford increased in N levels between 50 and 200 kg/ha. By SDS-Tricine-PAGE, there was an increase in intensity of bands in line with the Bradford method results. These results suggest that the evaluation of the soluble protein by the Bradford method allows assessing differences in the metabolism of ora-pro-nobis plants, expressing biological information that was relevant to physiological and nutritional studies

Plantas de pimentão submetidas à injúria mecânica modificam a expressão de proteínas em plantas vizinhas não injuriadas

DOI: não consta, por isso foi disponibilizado o link de acesso.A proteômica avalia eventos biológicos por análise das proteínas expressas em células ou tecidos em situações fisiológicas diferentes. Na proteômica de plantas, visando manter padrões de cultivo, plantas tratadas e não tratadas são muitas vezes cultivadas no mesmo ambiente, sem considerar alterações por plantas tratadas sobre a expressão de proteínas de plantas não tratadas. O objetivo desse trabalho foi, por proteômica, avaliar a expressão diferencial de proteínas em folhas de plantas de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L. ́Magali R‘) não-feridas (não-tratadas) e feridas (tratadas) por injúria mecânica, quando cultivadas ou não próximas fisicamente. Aos 40 dias após o plantio, parte das plantas foi submetida à injúria por ferimentos nas folhas totalmente expandidas (feridas, F), e parte foi reservada como plantas não-feridas, ou cultivadas perto das plantas F (NFP, a 0,15 m) ou cultivadas longe das plantas F (NFL, a 10 m). As folhas das plantas NFP e NFL foram coletadas às 12, 48 e 168 h após ferimentos das plantas F, e os extratos NFL e NFP foram analisados por eletroforese bidimensional (2-DE). Os perfis proteicos foram comparados por Image Master, e as proteínas identificadas usando espectrometria de massas. Houve menor concentração de proteína em extratos de NFP 12 h; em 48 h e 168 h, a proteína foi semelhante entre NFL e NFP. Por 2-DE, não houve diferenças significativas entre NFP e NFL 12 h, porém para NFP 48 h foi observada maior expressão de proteínas envolvidas na defesa de plantas. Para NFP 168 h, houve aumento da expressão de proteínas envolvidas no metabolismo normal. Esses resultados indicam ter havido respostas de defesa das plantas NFP, decorrentes da proximidade do cultivo dessas plantas com as plantas F, possivelmente por ação de voláteis. Coloca-se assim a importância da escolha das condições de cultivo dos tratamentos-controle, não apenas para análises proteômicas.Proteomics evaluates biological events by analysis of the expression of proteins in cells or tissues under different physiological situations. For plant proteomics, in order to maintain similar cultivation conditions, treated and non-treated plants are generally cultivated under the same environment without considering changes by the treated plants in protein expression of non-treated neighboring plants. The aim of this work was, by proteomics, assess the differential expression of proteins in non-wounded (non-treated) and wounded (treated) leaves of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Magali R’) by mechanical injury, when plants were grown physically nearby or not. At 40 days of cultivation, some plants were wounded by mechanical injury in all expanded leaves (wounds, F), some plants were maintained as non-injured plants, or being grown near to F plants (NFP, 0.15 m ) or being grown away from F (NFL, 10 m). NFP and NFL plant leaves were harvested at 12, 48, and 168 h after injury of F plants, and the NFL and NFP extracts were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). The protein profiles were compared using Image Master and the proteins were identified using mass spectrometry. NFP 12 h extract presented a lower protein concentration; for 48 h and 168 h, the protein was similar for NFL and NFP. For 2-DE, no significant difference was observed between NFP 12 h and NFL 12 h. However, NFP 48 h showed a higher expression of proteins involved in plant defense. For NFP 168 h, an increased expression of proteins involved in normal metabolism was detected. These results indicated that defense responses were developed by NFP plants considering the proximity of non-wounded plants from wounded plants during cultivation, with volatile compounds involvement. In this sense, it should be emphasized the importance of the choice of the growth conditions for the control-treatments, not only for proteomics