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flp-32 Ligand/Receptor Silencing Phenocopy Faster Plant Pathogenic Nematodes
PLoS Pathogens
  • Louise E. Atkinson, Queen's University Belfast
  • Michael Stevenson, Queen's University Belfast
  • Ciaran J. McCoy, Queen's University Belfast
  • Nikki J. Marks, Queen's University Belfast
  • Colin Fleming, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
  • Mostafa Zamanian, McGill University
  • Timothy A. Day, Iowa State University
  • Michael J. Kimber, Iowa State University
  • Aaron G. MAule, Queen's University Belfast
  • Angela Mousley, Queen's University Belfast
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
2-28-2013
DOI
10.1371/journal.ppat.1003169
Abstract

Restrictions on nematicide usage underscore the need for novel control strategies for plant pathogenic nematodes such as Globodera pallida (potato cyst nematode) that impose a significant economic burden on plant cultivation activities. The nematode neuropeptide signalling system is an attractive resource for novel control targets as it plays a critical role in sensory and motor functions. The FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) form the largest and most diverse family of neuropeptides in invertebrates, and are structurally conserved across nematode species, highlighting the utility of the FLPergic system as a broad-spectrum control target. flp-32 is expressed widely across nematode species. This study investigates the role offlp-32 in G. pallida and shows that: (i) Gp-flp-32 encodes the peptide AMRNALVRFamide; (ii)Gp-flp-32 is expressed in the brain and ventral nerve cord of G. pallida; (iii) migration rate increases in Gp-flp-32-silenced worms; (iv) the ability of G. pallida to infect potato plant root systems is enhanced in Gp-flp-32-silenced worms; (v) a novel putative Gp-flp-32 receptor (Gp-flp-32R) is expressed in G. pallida; and, (vi) Gp-flp-32R-silenced worms also display an increase in migration rate. This work demonstrates that Gp-flp-32 plays an intrinsic role in the modulation of locomotory behaviour in G. pallida and putatively interacts with at least one novel G-protein coupled receptor (Gp-flp-32R). This is the first functional characterisation of a parasitic nematode FLP-GPCR.

Comments

This article is from PLoS Pathog 9(2): e1003169. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003169. Posted with permission.

Rights
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Copyright Owner
2013
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Louise E. Atkinson, Michael Stevenson, Ciaran J. McCoy, Nikki J. Marks, et al.. "flp-32 Ligand/Receptor Silencing Phenocopy Faster Plant Pathogenic Nematodes" PLoS Pathogens Vol. 9 Iss. 2 (2013) p. e1003169
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael-kimber/9/