Phospholipase D in Phytophthora infestans and its role in zoospore encystment.

Abstract

We show that differentiation of zoospores of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans into cysts, a process called encystment, was triggered by both phosphatidic acid (PA) and the G-protein activator mastoparan. Mastoparan induced the accumulation of PA, indicating that encystment by mastoparan most likely acts through PA. Likewise, mechanical agitation of zoospores, which often is used to induce synchronized encystment, resulted in increased levels of PA. The levels of diacylglycerolpyrophosphate (DGPP), the phosphorylation product of PA, increased simultaneously. Also in cysts, sporangiospores, and mycelium, mastoparan induced increases in the levels of PA and DGPP. Using an in vivo assay for phospholipase D (PLD) activity, it was shown that the mastoparan-induced increase in PA was due to a stimulation of the activity of this enzyme. Phospholipase C in combination with diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase activity also can generate PA, but activation of these enzymes by mastoparan was not detected under conditions selected to highlight 32P-PA production via DAG kinase. Primary and secondary butanol, which, like mastoparan, have been reported to activate G-proteins, also stimulated PLD activity, whereas the inactive tertiary isomer did not. Similarly, encystment was induced by n- and sec-butanol but not by tert-butanol. Together, these results show that Phytophthora infestans contains a mastoparan- and butanol-inducible PLD pathway and strongly indicate that PLD is involved in zoospore encystment. The role of G-proteins in this process is discussed.

• Authors: Maita Latijnhouwers, Teun Munnik, Francine Govers
• Journal: Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI (Mol Plant Microbe Interact) Vol. 15 Issue 9 Pg. 939-46 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 0894-0282 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12236600 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Butanols
• Diphosphates
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Peptides
• Phosphatidic Acids
• Phospholipids
• Phosphorus Radioisotopes
• Wasp Venoms
• diacylglycerol pyrophosphate
• Ethanol
• mastoparan
• Diacylglycerol Kinase
• Phospholipase D
• Glycerol

Topics

• Butanols (pharmacology)
• Diacylglycerol Kinase (metabolism)
• Diphosphates (metabolism)
• Ethanol (pharmacology)
• Glycerol (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Peptides
• Phosphatidic Acids (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Phospholipase D (drug effects, metabolism)
• Phospholipids (isolation & purification, metabolism)
• Phosphorus Radioisotopes (metabolism)
• Phytophthora (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism)
• Spores, Fungal (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism)
• Wasp Venoms (pharmacology)