Publications

4713

ABSTRACT Methylglyoxal (MG) is a cytotoxic, nonenzymatic by-product of glycolysis that readily glycates proteins and DNA, resulting in carbonyl stress. Glyoxalase I and II (GloA and GloB) sequentially convert MG into d -lactic acid using glutathione (GSH) as a cofactor. The glyoxalase system is essential for the mitigation of MG-induced carbonyl stress, preventing subsequent cell death, and recycling GSH for maintenance of cellular redox poise. All pathogenic liberibacters identified to date are uncultured, including “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,” a psyllid endosymbiont and causal agent of the severely damaging citrus disease “huanglongbing.” In silico analysis revealed the absence of gloA in “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” and all other pathogenic liberibacters. Both gloA and gloB are present in Liberibacter crescens , the only liberibacter that has been cultured. L. crescens GloA was functional in a heterologous host. Marker interruption of gloA in L. crescens appeared to be lethal. Key glycolytic enzymes were either missing or significantly downregulated in “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” compared to (cultured) L. crescens . Marker interruption of sut , a sucrose transporter gene in L. crescens , decreased its ability to take up exogenously supplied sucrose in culture. “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” lacks a homologous sugar transporter but has a functional ATP/ADP translocase, enabling it to thrive both in psyllids and in the sugar-rich citrus phloem by (i) avoiding sucrose uptake, (ii) avoiding MG generation via glycolysis, and (iii) directly importing ATP from the host cell. MG detoxification enzymes appear to be predictive of “ Candidatus ” status for many uncultured pathogenic and environmental bacteria. IMPORTANCE Discovered more than 100 years ago, the glyoxalase system is thought to be present across all domains of life and fundamental to cellular growth and viability. The glyoxalase system protects against carbonyl stress caused by methylglyoxal (MG), a highly reactive, mutagenic and cytotoxic compound that is nonenzymatically formed as a by-product of glycolysis. The uncultured alphaproteobacterium “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” is a well-adapted endosymbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, which transmits the severely damaging citrus disease “huanglongbing.” “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” lacks a functional glyoxalase pathway. We report here that the bacterium is able to thrive both in psyllids and in the sugar-rich citrus phloem by (i) avoiding sucrose uptake, (ii) avoiding (significant) MG generation via glycolysis, and (iii) directly importing ATP from the host cell. We hypothesize that failure to culture “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” is at least partly due to its dependence on host cells for both ATP and MG detoxification.

Specific scopeThis Standard describes a national regulatory control system for Bactericera cockerelli and the bacterial pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ the cause of zebra chip disease in potato. The scope is as follows: Exclusion from the EPPO region of B. cockerelli an efficient vector of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ within solanaceous crops (e.g. potato, tomato) Eradication of incursions of B. cockerelli Exclusion from the EPPO region of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes A and B. Although reference will only be made to haplotypes A and B, the Standard would also apply to new non‐European haplotypes of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ which may have different host ranges, or which may be vectored more efficiently by psyllids which are widespread in the region. The reduction of the risk of spreading ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes C, D and E to potato production systems and potatoes being moved within the EPPO region may be recommended in future when more information is available but is not covered in this Standard.Specific approvalFirst approved in 2017‐09.