RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: NEP1-like proteins (NLPs) are a novel family of microbial elicitors of plant necrosis. Some NLPs induce a hypersensitive-like response in dicot plants though the basis for this response remains unclear. In addition, the spatial structure and the role of these highly conserved proteins are not known. RESULTS: We predict a 3d-structure for the beta-rich section of the NLPs based on alignments, prediction tools and molecular dynamics. We calculated a consensus sequence from 42 NLPs proteins, predicted its secondary structure and obtained a high quality alignment of this structure and conserved residues with the two Cupin superfamily motifs. The conserved sequence GHRHDWE and several common residues, especially some conserved histidines, in NLPs match closely the two cupin motifs. Besides other common residues shared by dicot Auxin-Binding Proteins (ABPs) and NLPs, an additional conserved histidine found in all dicot ABPs was also found in all NLPs at the same position. CONCLUSION: We propose that the necrosis inducing protein class belongs to the Cupin superfamily. Based on the 3d-structure, we are proposing some possible functions for the NLPs.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Plantas/química , Secuencias de Aminoácidos , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Intervalos de Confianza , Secuencia de Consenso , Cisteína/química , Glicosilación , Modelos Moleculares , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Estructura Molecular , Estructura Secundaria de Proteína , Alineación de Secuencia , Análisis de Secuencia de ProteínaRESUMEN
Nep1-like proteins (NLPs) are a novel family of microbial elicitors of plant necrosis that induce a hypersensitive-like response in dicot plants. The spatial structure and role of these proteins are yet unknown. In a paper published in BMC Plant Biology (2008; 8:50) we have proposed that the core region of Nep1-like proteins (NLPs) belong to the Cupin superfamily. Based on what is known about the Cupin superfamily, in this addendum to the paper we discuss how NLPs could form oligomers.