Macromolecule exchange in Cuscuta–host plant interactions. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Gunjune; Westwood, James H
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in plant biology. Volume 26(2015)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Plant molecular biology -- Periodicals; 571.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2015.05.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-5266

Abstract

Highlights: Cuscuta forms a continuous symplastic system with its hosts. mRNAs are exchanged between host plants and Cuscuta in a bidirectional fashion. RNA silencing signals are transmitted and function from hosts to Cuscuta . Transcriptomics approaches are providing new insights into Cuscuta –host interactions. Abstract : Cuscuta species (dodders) are parasitic plants that are able to grow on many different host plants and can be destructive to crops. The connections between Cuscuta and its hosts allow movement of not only water and small nutrients, but also macromolecules including mRNA, proteins and viruses. Recent studies show that RNAs move bidirectionally between hosts and parasites and involve a large number of different genes. Although the function of mobile mRNAs has not been demonstrated in this system, small RNAs are also transmitted and a silencing construct expressed in hosts is able to affect expression of the target gene in the parasite. High throughput sequencing of host–parasite associations has the potential to greatly accelerate understanding of this remarkable interaction.