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MtTdp1α-depleted Medicago truncatula plants show reduced cuticle permeability and altered expression of defense genes

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The link between the MtTdp1α (tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase) gene, involved in the repair of DNA topoisomerase I mediated DNA damage, and the plant defense response has been investigated in MtTdp1α-depleted Medicago truncatula transgenic lines obtained by intron-spliced hairpin RNA approach, compared to the control line (CTRL, empty vector). Reduction of cuticle permeability highlighted by chlorophyll efflux assays positively correlated with the level of MtTdp1α gene silencing. The increased cuticle thickness was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, which revealed an apparent expansion of the epicuticular waxes deposited on the outer surface. RNA-Seq analysis, carried out in the MtTdp1α-depleted plants, revealed the different expression of resistance (R) genes, PAMP (pathogen-associated-molecular pattern) triggered immunity (PTI) genes and transcription factors (TFs) involved in the regulation of the plant defense response.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

bZIP:

basic leucine ZIPper

C2H2:

cysteine2-histidine2

CC:

coiled coil

CTRL:

control line

HR:

hypersensitive response

LTP:

lipid transfer protein

NBS-LRR:

nucleotide binding site-leucine-reach repeat

PAMP:

pathogen-associated-molecular pattern

PTI:

PAMP triggered immunity

PR:

pathogenesis related

R:

resistance

Tdp:

tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase

TEM:

transmission electron microscopy

TFs:

transcription factors

topo I:

DNA topoisomerase I

ZFP:

zinc finger protein

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Author information

Author notes

  1. M. Donà

    Present address: Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), A-1030, Vienna, Austria

  2. S. Araujo

    Present address: Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘L. Spallanzani’, IT-27100, Pavia, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, IT-27100, Pavia, Italy

    M. Donà, M. E. Sabatini, M. Biggiogera, D. Carbonera & A. Balestrazzi

  2. CRA, Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero-Casearie, IT-29600, Lodi, Italy

    M. Confalonieri & G. Giraffa

  3. Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, IT-37134, Verona, Italy

    A. Minio & M. Delledonne

  4. Plant Cell Biotechnology Laboratory, ITQB-UNL, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal

    S. Araujo

Authors
  1. M. Donà
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  2. M. E. Sabatini
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  3. M. Biggiogera
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  4. M. Confalonieri
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  5. A. Minio
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  6. M. Delledonne
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  7. G. Giraffa
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  8. D. Carbonera
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  10. A. Balestrazzi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Balestrazzi.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Agricultural Research Council (C.R.A.) and the University of Pavia. S.A. has been awarded by a Research Contract (Recruited Foreign Scientist) funded by the CARIPLO Foundation within the Regione Lombardia/Cariplo integrated project ‘Advanced Priming Technologies for the Lombardy Agro-Seed Industry-PRIMTECH’ (Action 3, Code 2013-1727). ITQB-UNL acknowledges funding from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, throughout the research unit GREEN-it "Bioresources for Sustainability" (UID/Multi/04551/2013).

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Donà, M., Sabatini, M.E., Biggiogera, M. et al. MtTdp1α-depleted Medicago truncatula plants show reduced cuticle permeability and altered expression of defense genes. Biol Plant 61, 192–196 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0664-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0664-9

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