Biology subjects

Montes-Serey, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Montes-Serey, C..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A co-proteomic view of metabolite-specific interactions in the Botrytis cinerea-Arabidopsis pathosystem

To successfully infect their myriad hosts, generalist plant pathogens must tolerate a vast arsenal of plant specialized defense metabolites. To understand how host-specific metabolites influence plant-generalist pathogen interactions, we conducted a co-proteomic analysis of both Arabidopsis thaliana and Botrytis cinerea proteomes from the same samples during early infection. The Arabidopsis proteomic responses to Botrytis center around induction and suppression of defense metabolite pathways, particularly camalexin and glucosinolates. Several Botrytis proteins involved in key virulence pathways were induced within 32-48 hours, including potential defense metabolite detoxification proteins. Co-proteomic analysis using a panel of Arabidopsis genotypes with differing glucosinolate profiles revealed that disruptions to the glucosinolate pathway had broad changes on the Arabidopsis proteome, and that Botrytis induces specific proteins in response to presence/absence of Arabidopsis defense metabolites. Among the proteins that were induced quickly on infection and linked to the presence of glucosinolates, we validated a novel isothiocyanate hydrolase in Botrytis, BcSaxA, that catabolizes isothiocyanates in vitro. Gene expression data further indicated BcSaxA is expressed only in dicot hosts containing isothiocyanates. Our study describes a highly dynamic host proteome during infection with Botrytis and elucidates metabolite-specific infection strategies for a generalist pathogen.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Dynamic ASK1 proximity networks uncover SCF-dependent and noncanonical roles in ABA and drought adaptation

Plants rely on rapid proteome remodeling to withstand fluctuating environmental conditions, yet how the ubiquitin system dynamically coordinates these multilayered responses remains unclear. Here we define the in vivo proximity interactome of ARABIDOPSIS SKP1-LIKE 1 (ASK1), the core adaptor of SCF ubiquitin ligases, under acute abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and prolonged drought. TurboID-based proximity labeling coupled with quantitative proteomics revealed that ASK1 assembles highly condition-specific protein networks, distinguishing canonical SCF modules from broader noncanonical associations with transcriptional, chromatin, translational, vesicle-trafficking, and proteostasis machinery. Acute ABA exposure rapidly recruits F-box proteins and ABA-responsive transcription factors while engaging ribosomal and chromatin modules, whereas drought drives ASK1 into expanded proteostasis and stress-signaling assemblies, including chaperone-cochaperone systems, transcriptional repressors, and autophagy-endomembrane components. Global proteomics shows that ASK1 overexpression enhances accumulation of drought-protective and ABA-responsive proteins while repressing immune and ROS-scavenging pathways, indicating a shift in resource allocation. Together, these results describe ASK1 as a multifunctional proteostasis and signaling hub that integrates SCF-dependent and SCF-independent pathways to coordinate transcriptional, translational, and proteolytic reprogramming during plant adaptation to stress.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Regulatory architecture of disease resistance in maize revealed by multi-omic systems genetics

Complex traits such as disease resistance have been traditionally studied using quantitative genetics. Here, we use systems genetics to integrate disease severity and multi-omic quantitate trait loci (QTL) to uncover biological networks underlying interaction with northern leaf blight (NLB), a yield-limiting disease of corn. Specifically, we integrated transcriptome, (phospho)proteome, and metabolome measurements to map molecular QTL and build predictive regulatory networks following NLB infection. These inferred networks identified a critical signaling module that was genetically validated comprised of a kinase termed NLB SUSCEPTIBLE KINASE 1, a bHLH transcription factor, and the lignin biosynthesis enzyme BROWN MIDRIB 2. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of high-throughput mapping of genetic determinants of gene- product levels and demonstrates the power of systems genetics to identify upstream regulatory genes that confer resistance to NLB that can inform future strategies for crop protection.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Improved Super-Resolution Ribosome Profiling Revealed Prevalent Translation of Upstream ORFs and Small ORFs in Arabidopsis

A crucial step in functional genomics is identifying actively translated open reading frames (ORFs) that link biological functions. The challenge lies in identifying short ORFs, as they are greatly impacted by data quality and depth. Here, we improved the coverage of super-resolution Ribo-seq in Arabidopsis, revealing uncharacterized translation events in nucleus-, chloroplast-, and mitochondria-encoded genes. We identified 7,751 unconventional translation events, including 6,996 upstream ORFs (uORFs) and 209 downstream ORFs on annotated protein-coding genes, as well as 546 ncORFs on presumed non-coding RNAs. Proteomics data confirmed the production of stable proteins from some of the unannotated translation events. We present evidence of active translation on primary transcripts of tasiRNAs (TAS1-4) and microRNAs (pri-miR163, pri-miR169), and periodic ribosome stalling supporting co-translational decay. Additionally, we developed a method for identifying extremely short uORFs, including 370 minimum uORF (AUG-stop), and 2,984 tiny uORFs (2-10 aa), as well as 681 uORFs that overlap with each other. Remarkably, these short uORFs exhibit strong translational repression as longer uORFs. We also systematically discovered 594 uORFs regulated by alternative splicing, suggesting widespread isoform-specific translational control. Finally, these prevalent uORFs are associated with numerous important pathways. In summary, our improved Arabidopsis translational landscape provides valuable resources to study gene expression regulation.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

A soybean rust effector protease suppresses host immunity and cleaves a 3-deoxy-7-phosphoheptulonate synthase

The devastating soybean rust (SBR) pathogen, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, encodes many secreted proteins, but only two have been functionally characterized for their roles in rust virulence. Here, we demonstrate that transient expression of P. pachyrhizi effector candidate 15 (PpEC15), an aspartic protease, leads to enhanced bacterial growth in planta, suppression of callose deposition, reduced expression of plant defense-related marker genes and suppression of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Stable expression of PpEC15 in soybean suppresses PAMP-induced ROS production and enhances bacterial growth, indicating that, collectively, PpEC15 suppresses host and non-host innate immune responses. Yeast-two-hybrid and proximity labeling identified putative PpEC15 interacting partners including a peptide-chain release factor (PCRF), a NAC83 (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factor, and a DAHP (3-deoxy-7-phosphoheptulonate) synthase. We further show that PpEC15 can cleave DAHP but does not cleave PCRF or NAC83. Virus-induced gene silencing of NAC83, PCRF and DAHP altered PAMP-induced ROS production and salicylic acid production, indicating that these proteins may be involved in immune signaling. Collectively, our data show that PpEC15 is conserved across P. pachyrhizi isolates and other economically important rust species and is involved in the suppression of plant basal defense responses. Understanding the role of PpEC15 in P. pachyrhizi virulence will provide a foundation for designing targeted intervention strategies to generate rust-resistant crops.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Plasmodesmata-located proteins regulate plasmodesmal function at specific cell interfaces in Arabidopsis

Plasmodesmata (PD) are membrane-lined channels connecting adjoining plant cells. PD control symplasmic intercellular communication by allowing molecules to move between cells. Plant polysaccharide callose ({beta}-1,3-glucan) is deposited at PD, affecting plasmodesmal function; however, the regulation of PD at different cell interfaces is largely unknown. This study discovered that two PD-located proteins, PDLP5 and PDLP6, are expressed in non-overlapping cell types. The constitutive expression of PDLP5 and PDLP6 results in the overaccumulation of PD callose at different cell interfaces and starch hyperaccumulation in different cell types within mature leaves. Using a proximity labeling approach, we identified sucrose synthase 6 (SUS6) as a functional partner of PDLP6. We further demonstrated that PDLP6 physically and genetically interacts with SUS6. In addition, callose synthase 7 (CalS7) interacts with both SUS6 and PDLP6 and is required for PDLP6s function. We propose that PDLP6-SUS6-CalS7 forms a callose synthase complex in the vasculature to regulate the plasmodesmal function.

plant biology↗