University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of BioSciences
  • School of BioSciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of BioSciences
  • School of BioSciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The C-terminal propeptide of a plant defensin confers cytoprotective and subcellular targeting functions

    Thumbnail
    Download
    Published version (1.379Mb)

    Citations
    Scopus
    Altmetric
    28
    Author
    Lay, FT; Poon, S; McKenna, JA; Connelly, AA; Barbeta, BL; McGinness, BS; Fox, JL; Daly, NL; Craik, DJ; Heath, RL; ...
    Date
    2014-02-05
    Source Title
    BMC Plant Biology
    Publisher
    BMC
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Huf, Angela; POON, SIMON; MCKENNA, JAMES; MCGINNESS, BRUCE; Fox, Jennifer; HEATH, ROBYN
    Affiliation
    School of BioSciences
    School of Botany
    Anatomy and Neuroscience
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Lay, F. T., Poon, S., McKenna, J. A., Connelly, A. A., Barbeta, B. L., McGinness, B. S., Fox, J. L., Daly, N. L., Craik, D. J., Heath, R. L. & Anderson, M. A. (2014). The C-terminal propeptide of a plant defensin confers cytoprotective and subcellular targeting functions. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY, 14 (1), https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-14-41.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/265710
    DOI
    10.1186/1471-2229-14-41
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: Plant defensins are small (45-54 amino acids), basic, cysteine-rich proteins that have a major role in innate immunity in plants. Many defensins are potent antifungal molecules and are being evaluated for their potential to create crop plants with sustainable disease resistance. Defensins are produced as precursor molecules which are directed into the secretory pathway and are divided into two classes based on the absence (class I) or presence (class II) of an acidic C-terminal propeptide (CTPP) of about 33 amino acids. The function of this CTPP had not been defined. RESULTS: By transgenically expressing the class II plant defensin NaD1 with and without its cognate CTPP we have demonstrated that NaD1 is phytotoxic to cotton plants when expressed without its CTPP. Transgenic cotton plants expressing constructs encoding the NaD1 precursor with the CTPP had the same morphology as non-transgenic plants but expression of NaD1 without the CTPP led to plants that were stunted, had crinkled leaves and were less viable. Immunofluorescence microscopy and transient expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-CTPP chimera were used to confirm that the CTPP is sufficient for vacuolar targeting. Finally circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy were used to show that the CTPP adopts a helical confirmation. CONCLUSIONS: In this report we have described the role of the CTPP on NaD1, a class II defensin from Nicotiana alata flowers. The CTPP of NaD1 is sufficient for vacuolar targeting and plays an important role in detoxification of the defensin as it moves through the plant secretory pathway. This work may have important implications for the use of defensins for disease protection in transgenic crops.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [53102]
    • Anatomy and Neuroscience - Research Publications [805]
    • School of Botany - Research Publications [83]
    • School of BioSciences - Research Publications [1508]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors