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Poster

Session: Session 1 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-190 - Molecular mechanism and functional diversity of NEP1-like proteins in plant pathogenesis

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
09:55 - 11:30  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Microbial infection strategies (pathogens & non-pathogens)

    Presenting Author(s)

  • GG

    Giacomo Giuliari

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
    Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

    • Author(s)

  • DG

    Dietmar Geiger

    Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
    Wurzburg, Bayern, Germany

  • RR

    Rob Roelfsema

    Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
    Wurzburg, Bayern, Germany

  • PD

    Petra Dietrich

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
    Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

  • LZ

    Lisha Zhang

    Dr
    University of Tübingen
    Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

  • TN

    Thorsten Nuernberger

    University of Tü​bingen
    Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

  • IA

    Isabell Albert

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
    Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

Many phytopathogenic fungi, oomycetes and bacteria with a necrotrophic lifestyle produce NLPs (NEP1-Like Proteins). NLP gene families can comprise up to 80 genes per organism. NLPs are often secreted into the apoplast of host plants, where they cause necrosis and thereby act as virulence-promoting toxins. This is achieved by binding of NLPs to plant-specific glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs) in the plasma membrane's outer layer, followed by membrane rupture and cytolysis. Structural similarities with Actinoporins, pore-forming toxins from marine invertebrates, suggest that NLPs also form pores. However, the exact molecular mechanism of NLP cytolysis is unclear.We investigate how NLPs interact with membranes and influence host cells. We focus on whether they form oligomers and pores after binding to GIPCs, similar to actinoporins, to cause cytolysis. Expanded NLP gene families often occur in pathogen species with a diverse host spectrum. Potentially, pathogens evolved specialized NLPs for different host lipids. To study the biological relevance and compare their functional behaviors, we examine various NLPs from Phytophthora sojae, Phytophthora capsici, and Verticillium dahliae under different conditions. We aim to identify the potential functional diversification among various NLP variants.