A knockdown gene approach identifies an insect vector membrane protein with leucin-rich repeats as one of the receptors for the VmpA adhesin of flavescence dorée phytoplasma

• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1289100
• Publication Date: 2023-11-06T16:23:47Z
• Authors: Francesca Canuto; Sybille Duret; Marie-Pierre Dubrana; Stéphane Claverol; Sylvie Malembic-M...; Xavier Foissac; Nathalie Arricau-...
• Keywords: 570; Phytoplasma; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; LRR proteins; Membrane Proteins; VmpA; Microbiology; 630; QR1-502; Insect Vectors; protein-protein interaction; Hemiptera; Cellular and Infection Microbiology; RNAi; Euscelidius variegatus; phytoplasma; Animals; Staphylococcal Protein A; Adhesins, Bacterial; Plant Diseases

Introduction The adhesion of flavescence dorée phytoplasma to the midgut epithelium cells their insect vectors is partially mediated by variable membrane protein A (VmpA), an adhesin which shows lectin properties. In order identify receptor for VmpA, we identified Euscelidius variegatus cell proteins interacting with recombinant VmpA-His 6 . Methods E. were mass spectrometry analysis VmpA- complexes formed upon in vitro interaction assays. To assess impact VmpA binding, reduced expression candidate genes on culture dsRNA-mediated RNAi. effect gene knockdown binding was measured capacity bind VmpA-coated fluorescent beads. Results and discussion There 13 possessing potential N-glycosylation sites predicted transmembrane domains selected. decrease unknown leucine-rich repeat (uk1_LRR) correlated decreased beads cells. uk1_LRR more expressed digestive tubes than salivary glands could be implicated early stages infection following phytoplasmas ingestion