Effects of calcium-regulated autophagy on Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum in carrot psyllid midguts

Abstract

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) transmitted by the carrot psyllid, Bactericera trigonica causes carrot yellows in Israel, and has recently gained much importance due to the excessive economical loss. Understanding the interactions between CLso and the psyllid at the cellular level is fundamental for the disease management. Here, we demonstrate the role of calcium ATPase, cytosolic calcium and most importantly Beclin1 in regulating autophagy and its association with Liberibacter. Presence of CLso generates reactive oxygen species and induces the expression of the detoxification enzymes in the psyllid midguts. CLso also induces the expression of both sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (SERCA) and 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (ITPR) in the midguts, followed by high levels of calcium in the cytosol. Silencing these proteins individually disrupted the calcium levels in the cytosol leading to direct effects on autophagy and thus on Liberibacter. On the other hand, inhibiting Beclin1-phosphorylation through different calcium induced kinases altered the expression of autophagy and CLso abundance. This study establishes a direct correlation between cytosolic calcium levels, autophagy and CLso in the carrot psyllid midgut.