Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Meng, Fanli; Li, Yongxia; Liu, Zhenkai; Wang, Xuan; Feng, Yuqian; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Xingyao

doi:10.3390/ijms21030982

Open AccessArticle

Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

by

Fanli Meng

^1,2

,

Yongxia Li

^1,2,*,

Zhenkai Liu

^1,2,

Xuan Wang

^1,2,

Yuqian Feng

^1,2,

Wei Zhang

^1,2

and

Xingyao Zhang

^1,2

¹

Laboratory of Forest Pathogen Integrated Biology, Research Institute of Forestry New Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

²

Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(3), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030982

Submission received: 9 December 2019 / Revised: 23 January 2020 / Accepted: 29 January 2020 / Published: 1 February 2020

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)

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Abstract

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a nematode species that has damaged pine trees worldwide, but its pathogenesis has not been fully characterized. α-pinene helps protect host species during the early B. xylophilus infection and colonization stages. In this study, we identified potential molecular mimicry proteins based on a comparative transcriptomic analysis of B. xylophilus. The expression levels of three genes encoding secreted B. xylophilus proteins were influenced by α-pinene. We cloned one gene encoding a thaumatin-like protein, Bx-tlp-2 (accession number MK000287), and another gene encoding a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, Bx-cpi (accession number MK000288). Additionally, α-pinene appeared to induce Bx-tlp-1 expression, but had the opposite effect on Bx-cpi expression. An analysis of the expression of the potential molecular mimicry proteins in B. xylophilus infecting pine trees revealed that the α-pinene content was consistent with the expression levels of Bx-tlp-1 (Bx-cpi) and Pm-tlp (Pm-cpi) over time. Thus, these genes likely have important roles contributing to the infection of pine species by B. xylophilus. The results of this study may be relevant for future investigations of the functions of Bx-tlp-1, Bx-tlp-2 and Bx-cpi, which may provide a point to explore the relationship between B. xylophilus and host pines.

Keywords: pine wood nematode; molecular mimicry proteins; α-pinene

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MDPI and ACS Style

Meng, F.; Li, Y.; Liu, Z.; Wang, X.; Feng, Y.; Zhang, W.; Zhang, X. Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030982

AMA Style

Meng F, Li Y, Liu Z, Wang X, Feng Y, Zhang W, Zhang X. Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21(3):982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030982

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meng, Fanli, Yongxia Li, Zhenkai Liu, Xuan Wang, Yuqian Feng, Wei Zhang, and Xingyao Zhang. 2020. "Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 3: 982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030982

APA Style

Meng, F., Li, Y., Liu, Z., Wang, X., Feng, Y., Zhang, W., & Zhang, X. (2020). Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(3), 982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030982

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Potential Molecular Mimicry Proteins Responsive to α-pinene in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

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