A Genomic and Transcriptomic Overview of MATE, ABC, and MFS Transporters in Citrus sinensis Interaction with Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.

Maria H M Julião,Saura R Silva,Alessandro M Varani,Jesus A Ferro

doi:10.3390/plants9060794

Maria H M Julião, Saura R Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060794

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Abstract

The multi-antimicrobial extrusion (MATE), ATP-binding cassette (ABC), and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) are the main plant transporters families, playing an essential role in the membrane-trafficking network and plant-defense mechanism. The citrus canker type A (CC), is a devastating disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac), affecting all citrus species. In this work, we performed an in silico analysis of genes and transcripts from MATE, ABC, and MFS families to infer the role of membrane transporters in Citrus-Xac interaction. Using as reference, the available Citrus sinensis genome and the citrus reference transcriptome from CitrusKB database, 67 MATE, 91 MFS, and 143 ABC genes and 82 MATE, 139 MFS, and 226 ABC transcripts were identified and classified into subfamilies. Duplications, alternative-splicing, and potentially non-transcribed transporters’ genes were revealed. Interestingly, MATE I and ABC G subfamilies appear differently regulated during Xac infection. Furthermore, Citrus spp. showing distinct levels of CC susceptibility exhibited different sets of transporters transcripts, supporting dissimilar molecular patterns of membrane transporters in Citrus-Xac interaction. According to our findings, 4 MATE, 10 ABC, and 3 MFS are potentially related to plant-defense mechanisms. Overall, this work provides an extensive analysis of MATE, ABC, and MFS transporters’ in Citrus-Xac interaction, bringing new insights on membrane transporters in plant-pathogen interactions.

Highlights

Plant-pathogen interactions result in macro and microscopic changes in the host plant, involving a wide range of morphological, biochemical, genetic, and molecular processes [1,2,3,4]
A total of 67 multi-antimicrobial extrusion (MATE), 143 ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC), and 91 major facilitator superfamily (MFS) genes were identified in the C. sinensis genome
CsMATE correspond to tandem duplicates, while the dispersed genes correspond to the majority of CsABC genes, and the CsMFS show the same distribution of tandem and dispersed genes (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Plant-pathogen interactions result in macro and microscopic changes in the host plant, involving a wide range of morphological, biochemical, genetic, and molecular processes [1,2,3,4]. The defense-related processes triggered by plants during the interaction are fast and targeted to counter-attack the pathogen to maintain the cellular homeostasis [5]. The Xac infects the Citrus spp. tissues through the penetration in stomatal pores or wounds made by thorns and insects [7]. The symptoms of infection start like high injuries soaked with water and evolve until it forms the cankers, reaching plant defoliation, and premature fall of fruits [7]. Distinct susceptibility levels to CC across Citrus spp. were observed [8], reflecting a complex array of plant-pathogen interaction and defense-response mechanisms [9]

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