Plant immunity suppression by an exo-β-1,3-glucanase and an elongation factor 1α of the rice blast fungus

Hang Liu, Xunli Lu, Mengfei Li, Zhiqin Lun, Xia Yan, Changfa Yin, Guixin Yuan, Xingbin Wang, Ning Liu, Di Liu, Mian Wu, Ziluolong Luo, Yan Zhang, Vijai Bhadauria, Jun Yang, Nicholas J. Talbot, You Liang Peng

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Abstract

Fungal cell walls undergo continual remodeling that generates β-1,3-glucan fragments as products of endo-glycosyl hydrolases (GHs), which can be recognized as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and trigger plant immune responses. How fungal pathogens suppress those responses is often poorly understood. Here, we study mechanisms underlying the suppression of β-1,3-glucan-triggered plant immunity by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. We show that an exo-β-1,3-glucanase of the GH17 family, named Ebg1, is important for fungal cell wall integrity and virulence of M. oryzae. Ebg1 can hydrolyze β-1,3-glucan and laminarin into glucose, thus suppressing β-1,3-glucan-triggered plant immunity. However, in addition, Ebg1 seems to act as a PAMP, independent of its hydrolase activity. This Ebg1-induced immunity appears to be dampened by the secretion of an elongation factor 1 alpha protein (EF1α), which interacts and co-localizes with Ebg1 in the apoplast. Future work is needed to understand the mechanisms behind Ebg1-induced immunity and its suppression by EF1α.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5491
JournalNature Communications
Volume14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2023

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