Identification of potassium phosphite responsive miRNAs and their targets in potato.

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small single strand non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, either by translational inhibition or mRNA degradation based on the extent of complementarity between the miRNA and its target mRNAs. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important horticultural crop in Argentina. Achieving an integrated control of diseases is crucial for this crop, where frequent agrochemical applications, particularly fungicides, are carried out. A promising strategy is based on promoting induced resistance through the application of environmentally friendly compounds such as phosphites, inorganic salts of phosphorous acid. The use of phosphites in disease control management has proven to be effective. Although the mechanisms underlying their effect remain unclear, we postulated that miRNAs could be involved. Therefore we performed next generation sequencing (NGS) in potato leaves treated and non treated with potassium phosphite (KPhi). We identified 25 miRNAs that were expressed differentially, 14 already annotated in miRBase and 11 mapped to the potato genome as potential new miRNAs. A prediction of miRNA targets showed genes related to pathogen resistance, transcription factors, and oxidative stress. We also analyzed in silico stress and phytohormone responsive cis-acting elements on differentially expressed pre miRNAs. Despite the fact that some of the differentially expressed miRNAs have been already identified, this is to our knowledge the first report identifying miRNAs responsive to a biocompatible stress resistance inducer such as potassium phosphite, in plants. Further characterization of these miRNAs and their target genes might help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying KPhi-induced resistance.

Optimization of fibrinogenolytic activity of Solanum tuberosum subtilisin-like protease (StSBTc-3) by response surface methodology.

The aim of this study was to optimize in vitro conditions to enhance fibrinogenolytic activity of Solanum tuberosum subtilisin-like protease (StSBTc-3). The effects of StSTBc-3 concentration (0.2-5 µM), pH value (6-10) and temperature (35-50 °C) on fibrinogenolytic activity were studied through response surface methodology (RSM). We obtained a model that predicts the response accurately. The relationship between enzyme concentration and fibrinogenolytic activity was linear, while the main effect from pH and temperature on the response was quadratic. From the RSM generated model the optimum pH was 8 and the optimum temperature was 43 °C, while higher concentrations of enzyme produce higher activities. Under optimum conditions there were no statistically significant differences between the experimental responses and the ones predicted from the model. This model also predicts the activity under physiological conditions. These results confirm that StSTBc-3 is a good candidate to be considered for therapeutic uses. The generated model will be useful for biotechnological purposes.

Transgenic expression of plant-specific insert of potato aspartic proteases (StAP-PSI) confers enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The plant-specific insert of Solanum tuberosum aspartic proteases (StAP-PSI) has high structural similarity with NK-lysin and granulysin, two saposin-like proteins (SAPLIPs) with antimicrobial activity. Recombinant StAP-PSI and some SAPLIPs show antimicrobial activity against pathogens that affect human and plants. In this work, we transformed Arabidopsis thaliana plants with StAP-PSI encoding sequence with its corresponding signal peptide under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Results obtained show that StAP-PSI significantly enhances Arabidopsis resistance against Botrytis cinerea infection. StAP-PSI is secreted into the leaf apoplast and acts directly against pathogens; thereby complementing plant innate immune responses. Data obtained from real-time PCR assays show that the constitutive expression of StAP-PSI induces the expression of genes that regulate jasmonic acid signalling pathway, such as PDF1.2, in response to infection due to necrotrophic pathogens. On the other hand, according to the data described for other antimicrobial peptides, the presence of the StAP-PSI protein in the apoplast of A. thaliana leaves is responsible for the expression of salicylic acid-associated genes, such as PR-1, irrespective of infection with B. cinerea. These results indicate that the increased resistance demonstrated by A. thaliana plants that constitutively express StAP-PSI owing to B. cinerea infection compared to the wild-type plants is a consequence of two factors, i.e., the antifungal activity of StAP-PSI and the overexpression of A. thaliana defense genes induced by the constitutive expression of StAP-PSI. We suggest that the use of this protein would help in minimizing the ecological and health risks that arise from the use of pesticides. We suggest that the use of this protein would help in minimizing the ecological and health risks that arise from the spreading of resistance of agriculturally important pathogens.

Fibrin(ogen)olytic and antiplatelet activities of a subtilisin-like protease from Solanum tuberosum (StSBTc-3).

Plant serine proteases have been widely used in food science and technology as well as in medicine. In this sense, several plant serine proteases have been proposed as potential anti-coagulants and anti-platelet agents. Previously, we have reported the purification and identification of a plant serine protease from Solanum tuberosum leaves. This potato enzyme, named as StSBTc-3, has a molecular weight of 72 kDa and it was characterized as a subtilisin like protease. In this work we determine and characterize the biochemical and medicinal properties of StSBTc-3. Results obtained show that, like the reported to other plant serine proteases, StSBTc-3 is able to degrade all chains of human fibrinogen and to produces fibrin clot lysis in a dose dependent manner. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzes ß subunit followed by partially hydrolyzed α and γ subunits of human fibrinogen. Assays performed to determine StSBTc-3 substrate specificity using oxidized insulin ß-chain as substrate, show seven cleavage sites: Asn3-Gln4; Cys7-Gly8; Glu13-Ala14; Leu15-Tyr16; Tyr16-Leu17; Arg22-Gly23 and Phe25-Tyr26, all of them were previously reported for other serine proteases with fibrinogenolytic activity. The maximum StSBTc-3 fibrinogenolytic activity was determined at pH 8.0 and at 37 C. Additionally, we demonstrate that StSBTc-3 is able to inhibit platelet aggregation and is unable to exert cytotoxic activity on human erythrocytes in vitro at all concentrations assayed. These results suggest that StSBTc-3 could be evaluated as a new agent to be used in the treatment of thromboembolic disorders such as strokes, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

DEVDase activity is induced in potato leaves during Phytophthora infestans infection.

Programmed cell death (PCD) occurs in plants, animals and several branches of unicellular eukaryotes as a part of developmental and/or defense processes. Caspase proteases are universal mediators of animal apoptosis, a type of PCD. In plants, there are not animal caspase homologs; therefore, the characterization of caspase-like activities is of considerable importance to our understanding of PCD in plants. Here we report for the first time the involvement of caspase-3-like activity in the resistance mechanism of potato to Phytophthora infestans infection. We showed that disease development in infected potato leaves is dependent of caspase-3-like activity. Unlike plant DEVDases previously reported, this DEVDase activity was sensitive to the serine protease inhibitor PMSF. As reported for other subtilisin- like proteases with caspase activity, potato DEVDase activity was mainly localized in the apoplast. We demonstrated that in total protein extract DEVDase activity accounts for a 60% of serine proteases; however, this percentage increases to 100% in the apoplast. Additionally, this caspase-3-like activity is constitutively expressed in the apoplast of potato leaves. Total DEVDase activity is induced only in potato cultivars with high field resistance to P. infestans. These results show that potato caspase-3-like protease could constitute a tool in the potato defense mechanisms resulting in partial resistance, although further assays would be necessary in order to elucidate its role.

Potassium phosphite primes defense responses in potato against Phytophthora infestans.

Although phosphite is widely used to protect plants from pathogenic oomycetes on a wide range of horticultural crops, the molecular mechanisms behind phosphite induced resistance are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of potassium phosphite (KPhi) on potato plant defense responses to infection with Phytophtora infestans (Pi). Pathogen development was severely restricted and there was also an important decrease in lesion size in infected KPhi-treated leaves. We demonstrated that KPhi primed hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion production in potato leaves at 12 h post-inoculation with Pi. Moreover, the KPhi-treated leaves showed an increased and earlier callose deposition as compared with water-treated plants, beginning 48 h after inoculation. In contrast, callose deposition was not detected in water-treated leaves until 72 h after inoculation. In addition, we carried out RNA gel blot analysis of genes implicated in the responses mediated by salicylic (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). To this end, we examined the temporal expression pattern of StNPR1 and StWRKY1, two transcription factors related to SA pathway, and StPR1 and StIPII, marker genes related to SA and JA pathways, respectively. The expression of StNPR1 and StWRKY1 was enhanced in response to KPhi treatment. In contrast, StIPII was down regulated in both KPhi- and water-treated leaves, until 48 h after infection with Pi, suggesting that the regulation of this gene could be independent of the KPhi treatment. Our results indicate that KPhi primes the plant for an earlier and more intense response to infection and that SA would mediate this response.

Molecular characterization of a potato MAP kinase transcriptionally regulated by multiple environmental stresses.

The MAPK cascade is an evolutionary conserved signaling pathway that links external stimuli with cellular responses. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a DNA fragment corresponding to a Solanum tuberosum MAPK, StMPK1, was isolated. StMPK1 amino acid sequence displayed over 90% identity with tomato MPK1 (LeMPK1) and tobacco SIPK. Southern blot analysis indicated that the gene encoding StMPK1 is present in a single copy in the potato genome. StMPK1 mRNA levels differentially accumulated in potato tuber in response to wounding and to wounding plus Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii. Transcript accumulation after infection was transient and started earlier than what was observed in wounded tubers. StMPK1 mRNA levels also increased in potato tuber after 24 h of treatment with jasmonic acid (JA) and abscicic acid (ABA), but not in response to ethylene or salicylic acid. In addition, StMPK1 transcript levels increased after a heat-shock treatment at 42 degrees C. The results suggest that StMPK1 may participate in the cellular responses against multiple environmental stimuli in potato tubers.

Phosphorylation of a member of the MBF1 transcriptional co-activator family, StMBF1, is stimulated in potato cell suspensions upon fungal elicitor challenge.

StMBF1 (Solanum tuberosum multiprotein bridging factor 1) is a plant member of the MBF1 family of transcriptional co-activators. Previously, it has been described as being up-regulated at the transcriptional level by fungal and abiotic stress. To understand whether StMBF1 is also regulated at the post-translational level, in vitro as well as in vivo phosphorylation assays were performed. StMBF1 is phosphorylated under both experimental conditions and [(32)P] incorporation into StMBF1 increases after treatment of potato cells with hyphal cell wall components (HWC) derived from Phytophthora infestans. The StMBF1-phosphorylating activity is strongly inhibited by the calcium-chelator EGTA and partially inhibited by calmodulin antagonists. Using bacterial purified StMBF1 as a substrate, a 57 kDa calcium-dependent protein kinase (p57) that is able to phosphorylate StMBF1 was detected. The StMBF1 kinase activity of p57 was higher in elicited than in non-treated cells. The role of the elicitor-dependent phosphorylation of StMBF1 is discussed.