Integrated metabolomic, lipidomic and proteomic analysis define the
metabolic changes occurring in curled areas in leaves with leaf peach
curl disease
Abstract
Peach Leaf Curl Disease, caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans,
is characterized by reddish hypertrophic and hyperplasic leaf areas. To
comprehend the biochemical imbalances caused by the disease an
integrated approach including metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics and
complementary biochemical techniques was undertaken. Symptomatic and
asymptomatic areas were dissected from leaves with increasing extension
of the disease. A differential metabolic behaviour was identified in
symptomatic areas with respect to either asymptomatic areas or healthy
leaves. Symptomatic areas showed an altered chloroplastic functioning
and composition which differs from the typical senescence process and
includes decrease in the photosynthetic machinery, alteration in
plastidic lipids, and decreased starch, carotenoid and chlorophyll
biosynthesis. In symptomatic areas, alteration in redox-homeostasis
proteins and in triacylglycerols content, peroxidation and double bond
index were observed. Proteomic data revealed induction of host enzymes
involved in auxin and jasmonate biosynthesis together with up-regulation
of phenylpropanoid and mevalonate pathways and down-regulation of the
plastidic methylerythritol phosphate route. Amino acid pools were
affected, with up-regulation of proteins involved in asparagine
synthesis. Overall, we conclude that curled areas exhibited a metabolic
shift towards functioning as a sink tissue importing sugars and
producing energy through fermentation and respiration and reductive
power via the pentose phosphate route.