Potato Snakin-1: an antimicrobial player of the trade-off between host defense and development

ALMASIA, NATALIA INÉS; NAHIRÑAK, VANESA; HOPP, H. ESTEBAN; VAZQUEZ-ROVERE, CECILIA

PLANT CELL REPORTS

SPRINGER

Año: 2020

0721-7714

Snakin-1 (SN1) from potato is a cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide with high evolutionary conservation. It has 63 aminoacid residues, 12 of which are cysteines capable of forming six disulfide bonds. SN1 localizes in the plasma membrane, andit is present mainly in tissues associated with active growth and cell division. SN1 is active in vitro against bacteria, fungus,yeasts, and even animal/human pathogens. It was demonstrated that it also confers in vivo protection against commerciallyrelevant pathogens in overexpressing potato, wheat, and lettuce plants. Although researchers have demonstrated SN1 candisrupt the membranes of E. coli, its integral antimicrobial mechanism remains unknown. It is likely that broad-spectrumantimicrobial activity is a combined outcome of membrane disruption and inhibition of intracellular functions. Besides,in potato, partial SN1 silencing affects cell division, leaf metabolism, and cell wall composition, thus revealing additionalroles in growth and development. Its silencing also affects reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS scavenger levels. Thisfinding indicates its participation in redox balance. Moreover, SN1 alters hormone levels, suggesting its involvement in thecomplex hormonal crosstalk. Altogether, SN1 has the potential to integrate development and defense signals directly and/or indirectly by modulating protein activity, modifying hormone balance and/or participating in redox regulation. Evidencesupports a paramount role to SN1 in the mechanism underlying growth and immunity balance. Furthermore, SN1 may be apromising candidate in preservation, and pharmaceutical or agricultural biotechnology applications.