Inhibition of polyamine oxidase activity affects tumor development during the maize-Ustilago maydis interaction.

Abstract

Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic plant pathogenic fungus that leads to tumor development in the aerial tissues of its host, Zea mays. These tumors are the result of cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and are accompanied by the reprograming of primary and secondary metabolism of infected plants. Up to now, little is known regarding key plant actors and their role in tumor development during the interaction with U. maydis. Polyamines are small aliphatic amines that regulate plant growth, development and stress responses. In a previous study, we found substantial increases of polyamine levels in tumors. In the present work, we describe the maize polyamine oxidase (PAO) gene family, its contribution to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and its possible role in tumor development induced by U. maydis. Histochemical analysis revealed that chlorotic lesions and maize tumors induced by U. maydis accumulate H2O2 to significant levels. Maize plants inoculated with U. maydis and treated with the PAO inhibitor 1,8-diaminooctane exhibit a notable reduction of H2O2 accumulation in infected tissues and a significant drop in PAO activity. This treatment also reduced disease symptoms in infected plants. Finally, among six maize PAO genes only the ZmPAO1, which encodes an extracellular enzyme, is up-regulated in tumors. Our data suggest that H2O2 produced through PA catabolism by ZmPAO1 plays an important role in tumor development during the maize-U. maydis interaction.

• Authors: Francisco Ignacio Jasso-Robles, Juan Francisco Jiménez-Bremont, Alicia Becerra-Flora, Margarita Juárez-Montiel, María Elisa Gonzalez, Fernando Luis Pieckenstain, Ramón Fernando García de la Cruz, Margarita Rodríguez-Kessler
• Journal: Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB (Plant Physiol Biochem) Vol. 102 Pg. 115-24 (May 2016) ISSN: 1873-2690 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 26926794 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Plant Proteins
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors

Topics

• Host-Pathogen Interactions (physiology)
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors (biosynthesis)
• Plant Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Plant Tumors (microbiology)
• Ustilago (physiology)
• Zea mays (enzymology, microbiology)
• Polyamine Oxidase