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The characterization of the soybean polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (Pgip) gene family reveals that a single member is responsible for the activity detected in soybean tissues

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Abstract

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins that inhibit fungal endopolygalacturonases (PGs). They are encoded by multigene families whose members show functional redundancy and subfunctionalization for recognition of fungal PGs. In order to expand the information on the structure and functional features of legume PGIP, we have isolated and characterized four members of the soybean Pgip gene family and determined the properties of the encoded protein products. Sequence analysis showed that these genes form two clusters: one cluster of about 5 kbp containing Gmpgip1 and Gmpgip2, and the other containing Gmpgip3 and Gmpgip4 within a 60 kb fragment of a separate BAC clone. Sequence diversification of the four members resides mainly in the xxLxLxx region that includes residues forming the β-sheet B1. When compared with other legume Pgip genes, Gmpgip3 groups with the bean genes Pvpgip1 and Pvpgip2, suggesting that these genes are closer to the ancestral gene. At the protein level, only GmPGIP3 shows the capability to inhibit fungal PGs. The spectrum of inhibition of GmPGIP3 against eight different fungal PGs mirrors that of the PGIP purified from soybean tissues and is similar to that of the bean PvPGIP2, one of the most efficient inhibitors so far characterized. We also report that the four Gmpgip genes are differentially regulated after wounding or during infection with the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Following fungal infection Gmpgip3 is up regulated promptly, while Gmpgip2 is delayed.

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Abbreviations

PG:

Endopolygalacturonase

PGIP:

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein

OGs:

Oligogalacturonides

LRR:

Leucine-rich repeat

PVX:

Potato virus X

BAC:

Bacterial artificial chromosome

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

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Acknowledgements

Research supported by MIUR (Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca; grants PRIN [Programmi di Ricerca Scientifica di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale] 2002 and FIRB [Fondo per gli Investimenti della Ricerca di Base] 2001) and by the European Community (grant QLK1-2000-00811). The authors wish to thank Drs. Donal O’ Sullivan (National Institute of Agriculture Botany, Cambridge, UK) and Paul Wiley (Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK) for critical review of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. C. Capodicasa

    Present address: ENEA, BIOTEC GEN, C.R. Casaccia, 301, Roma, V. Anguillarese, Italy

  2. P. Tosi

    Present address: Rothamsted Research, A15 2JQ, Herts, Harpenden, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Agrobiologia e Agrochimica, Università della Tuscia, via San Camillo De Lellis, s.n.c, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    R. D’Ovidio, S. Roberti, M. Di Giovanni, C. Capodicasa, M. Melaragni & P. Tosi

  2. Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, sez. Patologia Vegetale, Università di Padova, viale dell’Università, 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy

    L. Sella & F. Favaron

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  1. R. D’Ovidio
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Correspondence to R. D’Ovidio.

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D’Ovidio, R., Roberti, S., Di Giovanni, M. et al. The characterization of the soybean polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (Pgip) gene family reveals that a single member is responsible for the activity detected in soybean tissues. Planta 224, 633–645 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0235-y

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