I. Stergiopoulos : ABC transporters, pathogenesis and multidrug resistance

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20 Jan 2003 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Website: http://www.gcw.nl/dissertations/
Promotor: prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit (Phytopathology - Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
Co Promotor: dr.ir. M.A. de Waard

 ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are membrane proteins that utilise the energy derived from the hydrolysis of ATP to drive the transport of compounds over biological membranes. ABC transporters can play an essential role in multidrug resistance of cells to chemically unrelated compounds. In plant pathogenic fungi these transporters may act as virulence factors if they mediate secretion of virulence factors or provide protection against plant defence compounds during pathogenesis. The present study is focused on cloning ABC transporter genes from the plant pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph state Septoria tritici), the causal agent of septoria tritici blotch of wheat, and the analysis of their function in pathogenesis, protection against natural and synthetic toxic compounds, and resistance to azole fungicides in laboratory-generated mutants and field isolates of the fungus. Our results demonstrate that ABC transporters from M. graminicola can have a number of important functions in this fungus. They can act as virulence factors for this pathogen, provide protection against natural and synthetic toxic compounds, and account for base-line sensitivity and fungicide resistance of the fungus to azole fungicides.
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