The role of a putative peroxisomal-targeted epoxide hydrolase of Nicotiana benthamiana in interactions with Colletotrichum destructivum, C. orbiculare or Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci

Motif analysis among 30 EH1 and EH2 epoxide hydrolases from Solanaceaeous plants showed differences primarily in the lid region around the catalytic site. Based on in silico models of 3D structures, EH1 proteins lack a catalytic triad because of the orientation of one of the conserved lid tyrosines, while the orientation of that tyrosine in EH2 proteins fomed a catalytic triad inside a hydrophobic tunnel. Two similar EH2 protein genes from Nicotiana benthamiana, NbEH2.1 and NbEH2.2, have a predicted peroxisomal targeting sequence, catalytic triad, and structural similarities to a potato cutin monomer-synthesizing epoxide hydrolase. NbEH2.1 expression increased with infections by the hemibiotrophs, Colletotrichum destructivum, Colletotrichum orbiculare or Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci only during their biotrophic phases, while there was only a slight increase during the hypersensitive response to P. syringae pv. tabaci (avrPto). In contrast, among the four pathogens, NbEH2.2 expression increased only in response to P. syringae pv. tabaci. Virus-induced gene silencing of NbEH2.1 significantly affected only the interaction with C. destructivum, resulting in a delay in the appearance of necrosis that may be related to its biotrophic phase being restricted to single epidermal cells, which is unique among these pathogens. These results differed from that of a previously reported EH1 gene of N. benthamiana for these interactions, demonstrating specialization among EH genes in basal resistance.