A knockdown gene approach identifies an insect vector membrane protein with Leucin Rich Repeats as one of the receptors for the VmpA adhesin of flavescence dorée phytoplasma

The adhesion of flavescence dorée phytoplasma to the midgut epithelium cells of their insect vectors is partially mediated by the Variable Membrane Protein A (VmpA), an adhesin which shows lectin properties. In order to identify the insect receptor for VmpA, we lokked for Euscelidius variegatus cells proteins interacting with recombinant VmpA-His6 by mass spectrometry analysis of VmpA-E. variegatus protein complexes formed upon in vitro interaction assays.