SlyA regulates phytotoxin production and virulence in Dickeya zeae EC1. (8th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Jia‐Nuan; Zhang, Hai‐Bao; Lv, Ming‐Fa; Chen, Yu‐Fan; Liao, Li‐Sheng; Cheng, Ying‐Ying; Liu, Shi‐Yin; Chen, Shao‐Hua; He, Fei; Cui, Zi‐Ning; Jiang, Zi‐De; Chang, Chang‐Qing; Zhang, Lian‐Hui
• Is Part Of: Molecular plant pathology. Volume 17:Number 9(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1398
• Page End: 1408
• Publication Date: 2016-05-08
• Subjects: D. zeae -- regulation -- rice foot rot -- SlyA -- zeamines; Plant diseases -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; Plant-pathogen relationships -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 571.936
• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12376
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-6722

Abstract

Summary: Dickeya zeae is a causal agent of rice root rot disease. The pathogen is known to produce a range of virulence factors, including phytotoxic zeamines and extracellular enzymes, but the mechanisms of virulence regulation remain vague. In this study, we identified a SlyA/MarR family transcription factor SlyA in D. zeae strain EC1. Disruption of slyA significantly decreased zeamine production, enhanced swimming and swarming motility, reduced biofilm formation and significantly decreased pathogenicity on rice. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis confirmed the role of SlyA in transcriptional modulation of a range of genes associated with bacterial virulence. In trans expression of slyA in expI mutants recovered the phenotypes of motility and biofilm formation, suggesting that SlyA is downstream of the acylhomoserine lactone‐mediated quorum sensing pathway. Taken together, the findings from this study unveil a key transcriptional regulatory factor involved in the modulation of virulence factor production and overall pathogenicity of D. zeae EC1.