Caracterização do elemento transponível Boto em Moniliophthora perniciosa, agente causal da vassoura-de-bruxa no cacaueiro (Theobroma cacao) / Characterization of the transposable element Boto in Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witche s broom disease in cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao).

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The hemibiothrophic basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witche s broom disease in cocoa (Theobroma cacao), presents different transposable elements in its genome. A transposable element of Class II belonging to the super-family PIF/Harbinger, named Boto, had been partially characterized in previous studies. The element Boto, as well as other elements PIF/Harbinger, presents two ORFs (ORF 1 and ORF 2). OFR 2 codifies the transposase while ORF 1 codifies one protein which function is unknown. The aim of this work was to prove the Boto element activity and characterize the ORF 1. For assure the activity of the transposable element Boto in the genome of M pernicious was carried out the evaluation of the integration profile in isolates resultants of sexual cycle. Three of such isolates showed variation in the copy number of transposable element Boto, proving Boto activity. Furthermore, PCR reactions were carried out for detection of insertion sites of this element in different isolates. Among the 28 isolates used in this experiment, 14 showed amplification products with expected size. The products of amplification of two isolates, randomly chosen, were cloned and sequenced. The analysis of the obtained sequences showed that in both isolated sequenced the element Boto did not transpose for the insertion site analyzed in the M. perniciosa genome. It proves the activity of this element in the genome of M. perciciosa, because, in the isolated used as reference for this study, the Boto element was inserted in that position. In the in silico analysis of the ORF 1 sequence, the presence of two possible introns was verified, one containing 55 pb and another 48 pb. This sequence codifies a protein of 422 amino acids residues. To demonstrate the presence of the two introns, experiments of RT-PCR were carried out using two oligonucleotides groups. Amplified products obtained, when cDNA was used as template of PCR reaction, were cloned and sequenced, being confirmed the position and the size of the two predicted introns. Analysis of RT-PCR also showed that this ORF is expressed even in normal conditions of cultivation of the fungi, what is important for activity of this element, since other studies showed that the expression of this ORF is fundamental to the transposition of elements PIF/Harbinger. The results of this work showed that Boto is active in the M. perniciosa genome and it can have an important role as generating agent of genetic variability in this phytopathogen. It is worth to emphasize that this is the first description of an element of the superfamily PIF/Harbinger that presents two introns in ORF 1.

ASSUNTO(S)

moniliophthora perniciosa pif/harbinger boto elemento transponível microbiologia agricola transposable element boto pif/harbinger moniliophthora perniciosa

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