Proteína PR-4 de pimenteira-do-reino (piper nigrum l.): expressão heteróloga em sistema bacteriano e avaliação funcional

Abstract

Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are plant proteins that are induced in response to pathogen attack. PR proteins are grouped into 17 independent families, PR-1 to PR-17. Antifungal and enzymatic activities have been described for some of these proteins. Among them, the PR-4 family comprises class I and II of plant chitinases. cDNA clone that encode a PR-4 of the class II, designated as PnPR-4, was previously isolated, in others studies, from Piper nigrum L. (black pepper). This is an important crop for Brazil, mainly in Pará state, however its production has decreased because root rot (Fusariose) disease caused by fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. Piperis. In this study, PnPR-4 cDNA clone was used for production of the recombinant protein, named PnPR-4, by bacterial expression system. Open Read Frame (ORF) of the PnPR-4 protein, was amplified from the cDNA clone by PCR assays, then ORF was linked in the expression vector pET-29(a) and introduced, by eletroporation, into E. coli Rosetta (DE3). The production of target protein, in transformed cells, was induced by 1 mM IPTG, at 37°C for 5h. After production, enzymatic activity of recombinant PnPR-4 was evaluated by Detection of Chitinase Activity after Gel Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide. Activity was evaluated in pH: 5.0 and pH: 7.8 for showing the stability of the recombinant protein. Molecular mass of Recombinant protein, PnPR-4, was 13.5kDa, according with others PR-4 produced by heterologous expression in bacterial system. In assay of enzymatic activity, PnPR-4 presented chitinolytic activity, both in pH: 5.0 or 7.8. This is a characteristic of plant quitinases, activity in a broad range of pHs. Where, optimal activity occurs between pH: 3.0 and 5.0. For PnPR-4, the optimal pH was 5.0, however in pH: 7.8 the recombinant protein had activity, demonstrating the stability of enzyme. These results showing that bacterial system of heterologous expression is effective for production of the recombinant protein PnPR-4, that it is an enzyme with chitinolytic activity and highly stable. Thus, PnPR-4, is now, a new enzyme which can be used in plant biotechnology in the combat against plant's pathogenic fungi.