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Genes Encoding Hevein-Like Antimicrobial Peptides from Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski

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Abstract

Earlier, we discovered a gene family encoding hevein-like antimicrobial peptides (WAMP) in the highly resistant wheat species Triticum kiharae Dorof. et Migusch. and related species of the Triticum and Aegilops genera. These peptides suppress growth and development of fungi and bacteria by inhibition of secreted metalloproteinases of the pathogens. In this study, we analyzed wamp homologs in the wild cereal Elytrigia repens Desv. ex Nevski, which is an invasive weed. The wamp homologs were isolated by PCR with E. repens genomic DNA or cDNA and primers specific to the wheat wamp genes. The nucleotide sequences of three novel E. repenswamp genes encoding the precursors of the antimicrobial peptides named ERAMP-1, ERAMP-2 and ERAMP-3 were determined. The mature peptide regions of the precursors differed in single amino acid substitutions. It was shown that ERAMP-2 and ERAMP-3 have valine at position 34 affecting the degree of fungal proteinase inhibition, which has not been found in other WAMP homologs. To elucidate the role of the valine residue in the E. repens peptide antifungal activity, the recombinant peptide was expressed in E. coli and its antifungal activity was assayed against a range of phytopathogenic fungi belonging to ascomycetes. The peptide was more active than the wheat WAMP-1 peptide against three of four tested fungi infecting cereals and other plant species. The results obtained contribute to our knowledge of the biodiversity of wamp genes in Poaceae. In addition, they expand our understanding of the repertoire of defensive genes in E. repens responsible for its enhanced pathogen resistance.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 15-29-02480) in the part of analysis of biodiversity of hevein-type peptides in E. repens and by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 16-16-00032) in the part of antimicrobial assays of recombinant peptides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    M. P. Slezina, T. V. Korostyleva, A. A. Slavokhotova, E. A. Istomina, V. A. Pukhalskij & T. I. Odintsova

  2. All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, 143050, Bolshie Vyazemy,, Moscow oblast, Russia

    L. A. Shcherbakova

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  1. M. P. Slezina
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  2. T. V. Korostyleva
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  3. A. A. Slavokhotova
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Correspondence to T. I. Odintsova.

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Slezina, M.P., Korostyleva, T.V., Slavokhotova, A.A. et al. Genes Encoding Hevein-Like Antimicrobial Peptides from Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski. Russ J Genet 54, 1152–1159 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795418100149

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