(Homo)glutathione Deficiency Impairs Root-knot Nematode Development in Medicago truncatula

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002471
• Publication Date: 2012-01-06T04:02:13Z
• Authors: Fabien Baldacci-C...; Christine Chang; Mickaël Maucourt; Catherine Deborde; Julie Hopkins; Philippe Lecomte; Stéphane Bernillon; Renaud Brouquisse; Annick Moing; Pierre Abad; Didier Hérouart; Alain Puppo; Bruno Favery; Pierre Frendo
• Keywords: Medicago truncatula; Root-knot nematode; Nematode infection

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are obligatory plant parasitic worms that establish and maintain an intimate relationship with their host plants. During a compatible interaction, RKN induce the redifferentiation of root cells into multinucleate hypertrophied giant essential for nematode growth reproduction. These metabolically active feeding constitute exclusive source nutrients nematode. Detailed analysis glutathione (GSH) homoglutathione (hGSH) metabolism demonstrated importance these compounds success infection in Medicago truncatula. We reported quantification GSH hGSH gene expression showing (h)GSH neoformed gall organs differs from uninfected roots. Depletion content impaired egg mass formation modified sex ratio. In addition, metabolomic analyses showed substantial modification starch γ-aminobutyrate malate glucose (h)GSH-depleted galls. Interestingly, modifications did not occur various results suggest have key role regulation cell metabolism. The discovery specific regulatory elements could lead to development new pest management strategies against nematodes.