What the study found
The study found that the stripe rust fungal effector PstCFEM2 promotes wheat susceptibility by manipulating host apoplastic acidification, which is the acidification of the space outside plant cells. It identified the wheat plasma membrane H+-ATPase TaHA2 as a key regulator of apoplastic pH and defense responses.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings reveal a mechanism by which pathogens promote infection by subverting host pH regulation. They also say the study provides a theoretical framework for engineering disease resistance through manipulation of susceptibility genes.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined how a Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici effector affects wheat pH regulation and immunity. They tested TaHA2 function in wheat, used CRISPR-Cas9 to inactivate TaHA2, and investigated how the wheat kinase TaCIPK9 and the fungal effector PstCFEM2 interact with TaHA2.
What worked and what didn't
Overexpression of TaHA2 exacerbated apoplastic acidification and increased susceptibility to Pst infection. In contrast, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated inactivation of TaHA2 conferred broad-spectrum resistance against multiple rust pathogens without compromising agronomic traits.
What to keep in mind
The available abstract does not describe detailed experimental limits or caveats beyond the scope of the reported system. The findings are specific to wheat and rust pathogens in the context described in the study.
Key points
- PstCFEM2, a stripe rust fungal effector, promotes wheat susceptibility by manipulating apoplastic acidification.
- TaHA2 was identified as a key regulator of apoplastic pH and defense responses in wheat.
- TaCIPK9 phosphorylates TaHA2 at Ser-933 and suppresses TaHA2 activity.
- PstCFEM2 binds the C-terminus of TaHA2 and disrupts TaCIPK9-mediated phosphorylation.
- CRISPR-Cas9 inactivation of TaHA2 conferred broad-spectrum resistance against multiple rust pathogens without compromising agronomic traits.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- PstCFEM2 promotes wheat susceptibility by activating TaHA2
- Authors:
- Yanqin Zhang, Shuangyuan Guo, Longhui Yu, Yi Lin, Haoshan Liu, Xueling Huang, Chunlei Tang, Xiaojie Wang, Zhensheng Kang, Xinmei Zhang
- Institutions:
- North West Agriculture and Forestry University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-01
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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