In-silico study of protein-protein interactions in wheat blast using docking and molecular dynamics simulation approach

Abstract

Despite advancements in agricultural research and the introduction of modern biotechnological and farming techniques, food security remains a significant issue. Although the efforts of farmers to meet the demands of a growing population, many plant diseases caused by pathogens, through their effects on cell division and tissue growth, lead to the annual loss of countless food crops. The recently emerged wheat blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) poses a significant danger to worldwide wheat cultivation. The fungus is a highly varied lineage of the M. oryzae, responsible for causing rice blast disease. In spite of being a significant challenge to successful wheat production in South America since 1985, the underlying biology of the wheat blast pathogen is still not fully understood. The initial outbreak of the wheat blast in South Asia had a severe impact on wheat production, resulting in a complete loss of yield in affected fields. For the purpose of enhancing disease management, it’s vital to acquire a comprehensive comprehension of the infection biology of the fungus and its interaction with wheat plants on molecular levels. Host-pathogen protein interactions (HPIs) have the potential to reveal the pathogens’ mechanism for overcoming the host organism. The current study delves into the interactions between the host plant wheat and MoT through protein-protein interactions, molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamic simulations. This research uncovers the structural and functional basis of these proteins, leading to improved plant health and production.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• host-pathogen interaction
• protein-protein interaction
• wheat blast
• Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype triticum
• docking
• molecular dynamics simulation

Acknowledgments

During the period of study, Sneha Murmu was supported by a fellowship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Sunil Archak was supported by ICAR-National Fellow Project. Computational facilities provided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute are gratefully acknowledged.

Data availability statement

Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.