Multiple calmodulin-like proteins in Arabidopsis are induced by insect-derived (Spodoptera littoralis) oral secretion

In plant cells, diverse environmental changes often induce transient elevation in the intracellular calcium concentrations, which are involved in signaling pathways leading to the respective cellular reactions. Therefore, these calcium elevations need to be deciphered into specific downstream responses. Calmodulin-like-proteins (CMLs) are calcium-sensing proteins present only in higher plants. They are involved in signaling processes induced by both abiotic as well as biotic stress factors. However, the role of CMLs in the interaction of plants with herbivorous insects is almost unknown. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana a number of CMLs genes (CML9, 11,12,16,17 and 23) are upregulated due to treatments with oral secretion of larvae of the herbivorous insect Spodoptera littoralis. We identified that these genes belong to two groups that respond with different kinetics to the treatment with oral secretion. Our data indicate that signaling networks involving multiple CMLs very likely have important functions in plant defense against insect herbivores, in addition to their involvement in many other stress-induced processes in plants.     

Effector proteins that modulate plant--insect interactions

Insect herbivores have highly diverse life cycles and feeding behaviors. They establish close interactions with their plant hosts and suppress plant defenses. Chewing herbivores evoke characteristic defense responses distinguishable from general mechanical damage. In addition, piercing-sucking hemipteran insects display typical feeding behavior that suggests active suppression of plant defense responses. Effectors that modulate plant defenses have been identified in the saliva of these insects. Tools for high-throughput effector identification and functional characterization have been developed. In addition, in some insect species it is possible to silence gene expression by RNAi. Together, this technological progress has enabled the identification of insect herbivore effectors and their targets that will lead to the development of novel strategies for pest resistances in plants.     

Identification by suppression subtractive hybridization of genes expressed in pear (Pyrus spp.) upon infestation with Cacopsylla pyri (Homoptera: Psyllidae)

The molecular interaction between pear tree (Pyrus spp.) and the phloem-feeding psylla Cacopsylla pyri (Linnaeus) was investigated through the construction and characterization of cDNA subtracted libraries. Genes expressed upon insect infestation were identified in the susceptible pear cultivar Bartlett and in the resistant selection NY10355. In both interactions, genes involved in the plant defense response were induced, confirming the observed similarity between the response to pathogens and to insects with piercing/sucking mouthparts. However, the two expression profiles were found to be different, with more genes involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stress being activated in the resistant plant than in the susceptible one. Further characterization of the identified genes could lead to the development of molecular markers associated with tolerance/resistance to pear psylla.     

Structural and functional characteristics of plant proteinase inhibitor-II (PI-II) family

Plant proteinase inhibitor-II (PI-II) proteins are one of the promising defensive proteins that helped the plants to resist against different kinds of unfavorable conditions. Different roles for PI-II have been suggested such as regulation of endogenous proteases, modulation of plant growth and developmental processes and mediating stress responses. The basic knowledge on genetic and molecular diversity of these proteins has provided significant insight into their gene structure and evolutionary relationships in various members of this family. Phylogenetic comparisons of these family genes in different plants suggested that the high rate of retention of gene duplication and inhibitory domain multiplication may have resulted in the expansion and functional diversification of these proteins. Currently, a large number of transgenic plants expressing PI-II genes are being developed for enhancing the defensive capabilities against insects, bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Much emphasis is yet to be given to exploit this ever expanding repertoire of genes for improving abiotic stress resistance in transgenic crops. This review presents an overview about the current knowledge on PI-II family genes, their multifunctional role in plant defense and physiology with their potential applications in biotechnology.