Control of plant defense mechanisms and fire blight pathogenesis through the regulation of 6-thioguanine biosynthesis in erwinia amylovora

Fire blight is a devastating disease of Rosaceae plants, such as apple and pear trees. It is characterized by necrosis of plant tissue, caused by the phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The plant pathogen produces the well-known antimetabolite 6-thioguanine (6TG), which plays a key role in fire blight pathogenesis. Here we report that YcfR, a member of the LTTR family, is a major regulator of 6TG biosynthesis in E. amylovora. Inactivation of the regulator gene (ycfR) led to dramatically decreased 6TG production. Infection assays with apple plants (Malus domestica cultivar Holsteiner Cox) and cell cultures of Sorbus aucuparia (mountain ash, rowan) revealed abortive fire blight pathogenesis and reduced plant response (biphenyl and dibenzofuran phytoalexin production). In the presence of the ΔycfR mutant, apple trees were capable of activating the abscission machinery to remove infected tissue. In addition to unveiling the regulation of 6TG biosynthesis in a major plant pathogen, we demonstrate for the first time that this antimetabolite plays a pivotal role in dysregulating the plant response to infection. Blight relief: Analysis of the regulation of 6-thioguanine (6TG) biosynthesis in the pathogen Erwinia amylovora sheds new light on the pathogenesis of fire blight. Surprisingly, at low 6TG titers, apple trees are capable of activating the abscission machinery to excise infected tissue and to dam further pathogen dissemination, thus preventing full infection of the tree.