The Verticillium dahliae secreted protein VdCE11 contributes to virulence by promoting accumulation and activity of the cotton aspartic protease GhAP1

Authors: LI, CHI - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University; QIN, JUN - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University; HUANG, YINGQI - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University; SHANG, WENJING - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University; CHEN, JIEYIN - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Klosterman, Steven; SUBBARAO, KRISHNA - University Of California; HU, XIAOPING - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University

Submitted to: Microbiology Spectrum
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/4/2023
Publication Date: 1/19/2023
Citation: Li, C., Qin, J., Huang, Y., Shang, W., Chen, J., Klosterman, S.J., Subbarao, K.V., Hu, X. 2023. The Verticillium dahliae secreted protein VdCE11 contributes to virulence by promoting accumulation and activity of the cotton aspartic protease GhAP1. Microbiology Spectrum. 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03547-22.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03547-22

Interpretive Summary: Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne plant pathogenic fungus that penetrates plant roots, invades the water conducting tissue and causes disease symptoms of chlorosis and wilt, collectively known as Verticillium wilt. Studies of specific proteins from V. dahliae that have been identified as interacting with its host plant have provided valuable tools to aid in Verticillium wilt research and its management. In this study, we characterized the role of one such protein, named VdCE11, in V. dahliae-plant interactions. We demonstrate that VdCE11 causes localized cell death to limit pathogen spread and induction of other plant defenses, including expression of defense-related genes. We further identified that VdCE11 interacts with a specific enzyme protein from cotton to promote virulence. This work advances our understanding of specific proteins from V. dahliae and the host that regulate plant immunity.

Technical Abstract: Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne plant fungal pathogen that causes Verticillium wilt, a disease that reduces the yields of many economically important crops. Despite its worldwide distribution and harmful impacts, much remains unknown regarding how the numerous effectors of V. dahliae modulate plant immunity. Here, we identified the intracellular effector VdCE11 that induces cell death and defense responses in Nicotiana benthamiana to counter leaf pathogens such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. VdCE11 also contributes to the virulence of V. dahliae in cotton and Arabidopsis. Yeast two-hybrid library screening and immunoprecipitation revealed that VdCE11 interacts physically with the cotton aspartic protease GhAP1. GhAP1 and its Arabidopsis homolog AtAP1 are negative regulators of plant immunity, since disruption of either increased the resistance of cotton or Arabidopsis to V. dahliae. Further, VdCE11 plays a role in promoting the accumulation of the AP1 proteins and increasing its hydrolase activity. Taken together, these results indicate a novel mechanism regulating virulence whereby the secreted effector VdCE11 increases cotton susceptibility to V. dahliae by promoting the accumulation and activity of GhAP1.