The expression and sequence analysis of MdMATE52 in apple roots during activation of defense against Pythium ultimum infection

Authors: Zhu, Yanmin; Ortiz Uriarte, Bianca; Rainbow, Jordan; ZHOU, ZHE - Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2024
Publication Date: 11/15/2024
Citation: Zhu, Y., Ortiz Uriarte, B.P., Rainbow, J.L., Zhou, Z. 2024. The expression and sequence analysis of MdMATE52 in apple roots during activation of defense against Pythium ultimum infection. Horticulturae. 10(11). Article 1204. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111204.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111204

Interpretive Summary: With our primary focus to understand the molecular regulation of disease resistance traits in apple roots, using infection from a necrotrophic oomycete pathogen Pythium ultimum as a model pathosystem, we have conducted a series of transcriptome analyses in recent years. Several candidate genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, transport of secondary metabolites and lignin formation were identified with putative connection with root resistance performance. MdMATE52 gene, which encodes a MATE transporter, was selected as a target because it shows differential expression between a resistant and a susceptible apple rootstock genotype in response to P. ultimum infection. In this study, the sequence features of MdMATE52 and its expression patterns in apple roots during defense activation to P. ultimum infection were investigated. The cis elements at promoter region and sequence variations within coding regions of MdMATE52 were compared among several resistant and susceptible apple rootstock genotypes as well as various Malus species analyzed. Our results suggested minimal but clearly identifiable sequence variations may contribute to the genotype-specific expression and function of MdMATE52. The findings from this study gained essential information facilitating the design for future experiments, such as site-specific mutation and Crispr-based genome editing to define the regulation mechanisms of MdMATE52 and function during defense activation in apple root.

Technical Abstract: To understand the molecular regulation of host defense responses in the pathosystem between apple roots and a necrotrophic oomycete pathogen Pythium ultimum, a series of transcriptome analyses have revealed a multi-phase and multi-layer defense tactic in apple root tissues. Among the most notable transcriptome changes during defense activation in apple roots, upregulation of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, transport of secondary metabolites and lignin formation appeared to be the key defense themes which may crucially impact the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions. From our transcriptome datasets, the MdMATE52 gene, which encodes a MATE transporter, was shown to be differentially expressed between a resistant and a susceptible apple rootstock genotype in response to P. ultimum infection. The cis elements at promoter region and sequence variations within coding regions of MdMATE52 were compared among several resistant and susceptible apple rootstock genotypes as well as various Malus species. The stronger upregulated expression patterns of MdMATE52 appear to be correlated with the observed resistance traits among various genotypes. Our results suggested minimal but clearly identifiable sequence variations may contribute to the genotype-specific expression and function of MdMATE52. The findings from this study should facilitate the future experiments such as site-specific mutation and Crispr-based genome editing to define the regulation mechanisms of MdMATE52 and function during defense activation in apple root.