Abstract
Snakin-1 (SN1) from potato is a cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide with high evolutionary conservation. It has 63 amino acid residues, 12 of which are cysteines capable of forming six disulfide bonds. SN1 localizes in the plasma membrane, and it 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 commercially relevant pathogens in overexpressing potato, wheat, and lettuce plants. Although researchers have demonstrated SN1 can disrupt the membranes of E. coli, its integral antimicrobial mechanism remains unknown. It is likely that broad-spectrum antimicrobial 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 additional roles in growth and development. Its silencing also affects reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS scavenger levels. This finding indicates its participation in redox balance. Moreover, SN1 alters hormone levels, suggesting its involvement in the complex 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. Evidence supports a paramount role to SN1 in the mechanism underlying growth and immunity balance. Furthermore, SN1 may be a promising candidate in preservation, and pharmaceutical or agricultural biotechnology applications.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This research was supported by PICT 2016-1444 and PICT 2017-2878 (FONCyT) and by INTA grants. We thank Julia Sabio Y Garcia for her invaluable English assistance.
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NIA conceived, performed the literature search, and wrote the manuscript. VN investigated, performed data analysis, and contributed to modify the manuscript. HEH discussed the results, and CVR designed, critically revised, and supervised this work. All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
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Almasia, N.I., Nahirñak, V., Hopp, H.E. et al. Potato Snakin-1: an antimicrobial player of the trade-off between host defense and development. Plant Cell Rep 39, 839–849 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02557-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02557-5