Probing strigolactone perception mechanisms with rationally designed small-molecule agonists stimulating germination of root parasitic weeds

Dawei Wang, Zhili Pang, Haiyang Yu, Benjamin Thiombiano, Aimee Walmsley, Shuyi Yu, Yingying Zhang, Tao Wei, Lu Liang, Jing Wang, Xin Wen, Harro J. Bouwmeester (), Ruifeng Yao () and Zhen Xi ()
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Dawei Wang: Nankai University
Zhili Pang: Nankai University
Haiyang Yu: Hunan University
Benjamin Thiombiano: University of Amsterdam
Aimee Walmsley: University of Amsterdam
Shuyi Yu: Nankai University
Yingying Zhang: Nankai University
Tao Wei: Nankai University
Lu Liang: Nankai University
Jing Wang: Peking University
Xin Wen: Nankai University
Harro J. Bouwmeester: University of Amsterdam
Ruifeng Yao: Hunan University
Zhen Xi: Nankai University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The development of potent strigolactone (SL) agonists as suicidal germination inducers could be a useful strategy for controlling root parasitic weeds, but uncertainty about the SL perception mechanism impedes real progress. Here we describe small-molecule agonists that efficiently stimulate Phelipanchce aegyptiaca, and Striga hermonthica, germination in concentrations as low as 10−8 to 10−17 M. We show that full efficiency of synthetic SL agonists in triggering signaling through the Striga SL receptor, ShHTL7, depends on the receptor-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction of the agonists. Additionally, we reveal that the stereochemistry of synthetic SL analogs affects the hydrolytic ability of ShHTL7 by influencing the probability of the privileged conformations of ShHTL7. Importantly, an alternative ShHTL7-mediated hydrolysis mechanism, proceeding via nucleophilic attack of the NE2 atom of H246 to the 2′C of the D-ring, is reported. Together, our findings provide insight into SL hydrolysis and structure-perception mechanisms, and potent suicide germination stimulants, which would contribute to the elimination of the noxious parasitic weeds.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31710-9

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