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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356155
Research Project: Integrated Disease Management of Exotic and Emerging Plant Diseases of Horticultural Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Expansion and divergence of Argonaute genes in the Oomycete genus Phytophthora

Author
item BOLLMAN, STEPHANIE - Oregon State University
item Press, Caroline
item TYLER, BRETT - Oregon State University
item Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik

Submitted to: Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2018
Publication Date: 11/30/2018
Citation: Bollman, S.R., Press, C.M., Tyler, B.M., Grunwald, N.J. 2018. Expansion and divergence of Argonaute genes in the Oomycete genus Phytophthora. Frontiers in Microbiology. 9:2841. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02841.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02841

Interpretive Summary: Gene expression can be modified via RNA interference in eukaryotes. RNA interference affects many cellular processes. In the oomycete genus Phytophthora, research on the small RNA machinery and function has started to reveal potential roles in the pathogen, but much is still unknown. We examined a class of genes invovled in RNA interference called Argonaute (AGO), to gain a clearer understanding of the evolution of this well-conserved protein family. We identified AGO genes across many representative oomycete species. We demonstrate variable expression levels of AGO genes and identified a conserved tandem duplication of AGO homologs. This work provides novel insights into the evolution of RNA interference in oomycetes.

Technical Abstract: Modulation of gene expression through RNA interference is well conserved in eukaryotes and is involved in many cellular processes. In the oomycete Phytophthora, research on the small RNA machinery and function has started to reveal potential roles in the pathogen, but much is still unknown. We examined Argonaute (AGO) homologs within oomycetes, especially among Phytophthora species, to gain a clearer understanding of the evolution of this well-conserved protein family. We identified AGO homologs across many representative oomycete and stramenopile species, and annotated representative homologs in P. sojae. Furthermore, we demonstrate variable expression levels of all identified AGO homologs in comparison to previously identified Dicer-like (DCL) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) homologs. Our phylogenetic analysis further refines the relationship of the AGO homologs in oomycetes and identifies a conserved tandem duplication of AGO homologs in a subset of Phytophthora species.