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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2009, p. 2951-2957, Vol. 75, No. 9
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02613-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Striking Diversity of vmp1, a Variable Gene Encoding a Putative Membrane Protein of the Stolbur Phytoplasma{triangledown}

Agnès Cimerman,1,2 Davide Pacifico,3 Pascal Salar,1,2 Cristina Marzachì,3 and Xavier Foissac1,2*

UMR 1090 Génomique Diversité Pouvoir Pathogène, INRA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux BP 81, F-33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France,1 UMR 1090 Génomique Diversité Pouvoir Pathogène, Université Victor Ségalen Bordeaux 2, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux BP 81, F-33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France,2 Istituto di Virologia Vegetale, CNR Torino-Università degli Studi di Torino, Strada delle Cacce 73, I-10135 Turin, Italy3

Received 14 November 2008/ Accepted 25 February 2009

Studies of phytoplasma-insect vector interactions and epidemiological surveys of plant yellows associated with the stolbur phytoplasma (StolP) require the identification of relevant candidate genes and typing markers. A recent StolP genome survey identified a partial coding sequence, SR01H10, having no homologue in the "Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris" genome but sharing low similarity with a variable surface protein of animal mycoplasmas. The complete coding sequence and its genetic environment have been fully characterized by chromosome walking. The vmp1 gene encodes a protein of 557 amino acids predicted to possess a putative signal peptide and a potential C-terminal transmembrane domain. The mature 57.8-kDa VMP1 protein is likely to be anchored in the phytoplasma membrane with a large N-terminal hydrophilic part exposed to the phytoplasma cell surface. Southern blotting experiments detected multiple sequences homologous to vmp1 in the genomes of nine StolP isolates. vmp1 is variable in size, and eight different vmp1 RsaI restriction fragment length polymorphism types could be distinguished among 12 StolP isolates. Comparison of vmp1 sequences revealed that insertions in largest forms of the gene encode an additional copy of a repeated domain of 81 amino acids, while variations in 11-bp repeats led to gene disruption in two StolP isolates. vmp1 appeared to be much more variable than three housekeeping genes involved in protein translation, maturation, and secretion and may therefore be involved in phytoplasma-host interactions.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: UMR 1090 Génomique Diversité Pouvoir Pathogène, INRA, Université Victor Ségalen Bordeaux 2, 71 avenue Edouard Bourlaux BP 81, F-33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France. Phone: 33 557 122360. Fax: 33 557 122369. E-mail: foissac{at}bordeaux.inra.fr

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 6 March 2009.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2009, p. 2951-2957, Vol. 75, No. 9
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02613-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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