Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Synthetic Peptides: A Functional and Structural Analysis for Pathogen Resistance
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens poses a serious threat to human health and agriculture. Current antimicrobial strategies against phytopathogens are often ineffective, failing to ensure food security while contributing to environmental pollution. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative due to their broad-spectrum activity and potential for recombinant production. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial potential of two synthetic peptides, VR18 and KG18, against animal as well as plant phytopathogens. Both peptides showed selective binding to bacterial membranes, while exhibiting no toxicity or allergenicity in animal cells. Using solution-state NMR, we explored how their structure relates to their function in disrupting bacterial membranes. When expressed transgenically in Nicotiana tabacum, VR18 and KG18 conferred resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci-a significant plant pathogen-without interfering with the plant's normal stress responses or metabolic activity. These results underscore the potential of AMPs as a sustainable, in vivo alternative to traditional antimicrobials in agriculture and open the door to broader applications in managing phytopathogenic threats.
Authors
- Sanhita Roy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0407-8177)
- Anuradha Roy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5589-3019)
- Ranjit Biswas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4472-5743)
- Suman Chakrabarty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9461-0015)
- Rohit Das (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0111-0071)
- Humaira Ilyas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5784-9086)
- Dibakar Roy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7475-2470)
- Dibakar Sarkar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6269-750X)
- Sudipto Saha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9433-8894)
- Dulal Senapati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5002-4631)
- Dong‐Kuk Lee
- Karishma Biswas
- Indranil Biswas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9437-1974)
- Amaravadhi Harikishore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6552-1534)
- Anirban Bhunia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8752-2842)
- Pallob Kundu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4272-945X)
- Sudipta Mitra
- D. Son
Institutions
- Seoul National University of Science and Technology (KR)
- Bose Institute (IN)
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (IN)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- L V Prasad Eye Institute (IN)
- University of Kansas Medical Center (US)
- S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Plant Biotechnology Journal
- Published
- 2025-09-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70287
- Primary Topic
- Transgenic Plants and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Arthritis National Research Foundation
- Velux Stiftung
- National Research Foundation
- Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- Seoul National University
- Seoul National University of Science and Technology
- National University of Science and Technology
- Bose Institute
- Science and Engineering Research Board