Partial proteome of the corynetoxin-producing Gram-positive bacterium, Rathayibacter toxicus

Authors: FENNESSEY, CHRISTINE - National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH); McMahon, Michael - Mike; Sechler, Aaron; KAISER, JACLYN - University Of Texas; Garrett, Wesley; Tancos, Matthew; Luster, Douglas - Doug; Rogers, Elizabeth; Schneider, William

Submitted to: Proteomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/19/2017
Publication Date: 2/26/2018
Citation: Fennessey, C.M., McMahon, M.B., Sechler, A.J., Kaiser, J., Garrett, W.M., Tancos, M.A., Luster, D.G., Rogers, E.E., Schneider, W.L. 2018. Partial proteome of the corynetoxin-producing Gram-positive bacterium, Rathayibacter toxicus. Proteomics. 18:1700350. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201700350.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201700350

Interpretive Summary: Rathayibacter toxicus is a bacterium that is the causative agent of annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) in Australia, a disease that causes devastating losses in the Australian livestock industry. R. toxicus exhibits a complex life cycle, using a nematode to carry it up to the seed head of a grass plant, where it infests the developing grass seed. We analyzed proteins present in R. toxicus to obtain a more complete understanding of the biology of this organism and develop a detection system for the bacterium. A total of 323 unique R. toxicus proteins were identified, including those with roles in metabolism and pathogenicity. The identification of potential protein targets will lead to the development of diagnostic assays to detect and identify this high-priority pathogen in seed and forage imports.

Technical Abstract: Rathayibacter toxicus is a Gram-positive bacterium that is the causative agent of annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT), a disease that causes devastating losses in the Australian livestock industry. R. toxicus exhibits a complex life cycle, using the nematode Anguina funesta as a physical vector to carry it up to the seed head of the host plant. ARGT is caused by a tunicamycin-like corynetoxin that is produced in R. toxicus-infected seed galls. We analyzed protein expression in R. toxicus under stationary growth phase conditions to obtain a more complete understanding of the biology of this organism and identify potential targets for immunoassay development. A total of 323 unique proteins were identified, including those with putative roles in secondary metabolism and pathogenicity. The proteome analysis for this complex phytopathogenic Gram-positive bacterium will facilitate in the characterization of proteins necessary for host colonization and toxin production, and assist in the development of diagnostic assays. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004238.