The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection

Throughout their life cycle, pathogens are challenged by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and must deploy defence mechanisms against oxidative damage. Environmental stressors such as ultraviolet radiation and desiccation induce intracellular ROS production. Moreover, during pathogen colonisation, plant...

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Authors: Corral, Jordi; Rocafort, Mercedes; Ripa, Maria-belén; Vandecaveye, Agustina; Pezzoni, Magdalena; Invernon, Alicia; Coll, Núria S.; Valls i Matheu, Marc; Orellano, Elena
Format: Article
Status:Published version
Publication date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/227137
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227137
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Microorganismes patògens
Esforç i tensió
Plantes
Pathogenic microorganisms
Strains and stresses
Plants
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author Corral, Jordi
author2 Rocafort, Mercedes
Ripa, Maria-belén
Vandecaveye, Agustina
Pezzoni, Magdalena
Invernon, Alicia
Coll, Núria S.
Valls i Matheu, Marc
Orellano, Elena
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_browse Coll, Núria S.
Corral, Jordi
Invernon, Alicia
Orellano, Elena
Pezzoni, Magdalena
Ripa, Maria-belén
Rocafort, Mercedes
Valls i Matheu, Marc
Vandecaveye, Agustina
author_facet Corral, Jordi
Rocafort, Mercedes
Ripa, Maria-belén
Vandecaveye, Agustina
Pezzoni, Magdalena
Invernon, Alicia
Coll, Núria S.
Valls i Matheu, Marc
Orellano, Elena
author_role author
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
description Throughout their life cycle, pathogens are challenged by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and must deploy defence mechanisms against oxidative damage. Environmental stressors such as ultraviolet radiation and desiccation induce intracellular ROS production. Moreover, during pathogen colonisation, plant hosts initiate an oxidative burst, leading to the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Catalases mitigate ROS toxicity by catalysing the breakdown of H2O2 into water and oxygen. In this study, we explored the roles of the monofunctional catalase (KatE) and the bifunctional catalase-peroxidase (KatG) in the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum during both environmental stress conditions and in planta colonisation stages. Our results demonstrate that both catalases are critical for surviving ROS, with KatG having a more preponderant role. Plant pathogenicity assays show that catalases are not required for virulence although they are important for bacterial fitness in the apoplast. In contrast, we prove that both catalases are vital for R. solanacearum response to oxidative stress in the external environment. KatG was indispensable for survival in soil, as well as for enduring ultraviolet radiation and desiccation exposure. Our findings reveal that the primary function of R. solanacearum catalases is to counteract ROS generated by environmental stressors rather than host-derived oxidative defences. This research identifies specific environmental stressors that these catalases combat during pathogen survival. These insights pave the way for future strategies targeting catalase activity to control bacterial wilt disease.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
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institution Universidad de Barcelona
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
oai_identifier_str oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/227137
publishDate 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Nature Publishing Group
publisherStr Nature Publishing Group
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
spelling The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection Corral, Jordi Rocafort, Mercedes Ripa, Maria-belén Vandecaveye, Agustina Pezzoni, Magdalena Invernon, Alicia Coll, Núria S. Valls i Matheu, Marc Orellano, Elena Microorganismes patògens Esforç i tensió Plantes Pathogenic microorganisms Strains and stresses Plants Throughout their life cycle, pathogens are challenged by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and must deploy defence mechanisms against oxidative damage. Environmental stressors such as ultraviolet radiation and desiccation induce intracellular ROS production. Moreover, during pathogen colonisation, plant hosts initiate an oxidative burst, leading to the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Catalases mitigate ROS toxicity by catalysing the breakdown of H2O2 into water and oxygen. In this study, we explored the roles of the monofunctional catalase (KatE) and the bifunctional catalase-peroxidase (KatG) in the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum during both environmental stress conditions and in planta colonisation stages. Our results demonstrate that both catalases are critical for surviving ROS, with KatG having a more preponderant role. Plant pathogenicity assays show that catalases are not required for virulence although they are important for bacterial fitness in the apoplast. In contrast, we prove that both catalases are vital for R. solanacearum response to oxidative stress in the external environment. KatG was indispensable for survival in soil, as well as for enduring ultraviolet radiation and desiccation exposure. Our findings reveal that the primary function of R. solanacearum catalases is to counteract ROS generated by environmental stressors rather than host-derived oxidative defences. This research identifies specific environmental stressors that these catalases combat during pathogen survival. These insights pave the way for future strategies targeting catalase activity to control bacterial wilt disease. Nature Publishing Group https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227137
spellingShingle The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
Corral, Jordi
Microorganismes patògens
Esforç i tensió
Plantes
Pathogenic microorganisms
Strains and stresses
Plants
status_str publishedVersion
title The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
title_full The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
title_fullStr The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
title_full_unstemmed The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
title_short The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
title_sort The Ralstonia solanacearum catalase-peroxidase KatG is crucial to survive environmental stresses and also plays a role in plant infection
topic Microorganismes patògens
Esforç i tensió
Plantes
Pathogenic microorganisms
Strains and stresses
Plants
topic_facet Microorganismes patògens
Esforç i tensió
Plantes
Pathogenic microorganisms
Strains and stresses
Plants
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227137