1
|
Zhu L, Long P, Hu M, Wang L, Shao Y, Cheng S, Dong X, He Y. Insight into selenium biofortification and the selenite metabolic mechanism of Monascus ruber M7. Food Chem 2024; 455:139740. [PMID: 38843715 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Monascus species are functional fermentation fungi with great potential for selenium (Se) supplementation. This study investigated the effects of Se bio-fortification on the growth, morphology, and biosynthesis of Monascus ruber M7. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the yield of orange and red Monascus pigments (MPs) in red yeast rice (RYR) by 38.52% and 36.57%, respectively, under 20 μg/mL of selenite pressure. Meanwhile, the production of citrinin (CIT), a mycotoxin, decreased from 244.47 μg/g to 175.01 μg/g. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant upregulation of twelve genes involved in MPs biosynthesis, specifically MpigE, MpigF, and MpigN, and downregulation of four genes (mrr3, mrr4, mrr7, and mrr8) associated with CIT biosynthesis. Additionally, three genes encoding cysteine synthase cysK (Log2FC = 1.6), methionine synthase metH (Log2FC = 2.2), and methionyl-tRNA synthetase metG (Log2FC = 1.8) in selenocompound metabolism showed significantly upregulated. These findings provide insights into Se biotransformation and metabolism in filamentous fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Zhu
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China; Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory for Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products, School of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China
| | - Pengcheng Long
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China
| | - Man Hu
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China
| | - Liling Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, PR China
| | - Yanchun Shao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Shuiyuan Cheng
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China
| | - Xingxing Dong
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China
| | - Yi He
- National R&D Center for Se-rich Agricultural Products Processing, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Deep Processing of Green Se-rich Agricultural Products, School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China; Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory for Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products, School of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tang M, Wang Y, Wang K, Zhou Y, Zhao E, Zhang H, Zhang M, Yu H, Zhao X, Li G. Codon Optimization Enables the Geneticin Resistance Gene to Be Applied Efficiently to the Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Botrytis cinerea. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:324. [PMID: 38276781 PMCID: PMC10821057 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea can infect almost all of the important horticultural crops and cause severe economic losses globally every year. Modifying candidate genes and studying the phenotypic changes are among the most effective ways to unravel the pathogenic mechanism of this crop killer. However, few effective positive selection markers are used for B. cinerea genetic transformation, which limits multiple modifications to the genome, especially genes involving redundant functions. Here, we optimized a geneticin resistance gene, BcNPTII, based on the codon usage preference of B. cinerea. We found that BcNPTII can greatly increase the transformation efficiency of B. cinerea under G418 selection, with approximately 30 times higher efficiency than that of NPTII, which is applied efficiently to transform Magnaporthe oryzae. Using the gene replacement method, we successfully knocked out the second gene BOT2, with BcNPTII as the selection marker, from the mutant ΔoahA, in which OAHA was first replaced by the hygromycin resistance gene HPH in a field strain. We obtained the double knockout mutant ΔoahA Δbot2. Our data show that the codon-optimized BcNPTII is an efficient positive selection marker for B. cinerea transformation and can be used for various genetic manipulations in B. cinerea, including field wild-type strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maoyao Tang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yangyizhou Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Kexin Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yuanhang Zhou
- Research Management Department, Changchun Academy of Forestry, Changchun 130021, China;
| | - Enshuang Zhao
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; (E.Z.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; (E.Z.); (H.Z.)
| | - Mingzhe Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Hang Yu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xi Zhao
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| | - Guihua Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (M.T.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (M.Z.); (H.Y.); (X.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qu S, Chi SD, He ZM. The Development of Aspergillus flavus and Biosynthesis of Aflatoxin B1 are Regulated by the Golgi-Localized Mn 2+ Transporter Pmr1. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:1276-1291. [PMID: 38179648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms rely on diverse ion transport and trace elements to sustain growth, development, and secondary metabolism. Manganese (Mn2+) is essential for various biological processes and plays a crucial role in the metabolism of human cells, plants, and yeast. In Aspergillus flavus, we confirmed that Pmr1 localized in cis- and medial-Golgi compartments was critical in facilitating Mn2+ transport, fungal growth, development, secondary metabolism, and glycosylation. In comparison to the wild type, the Δpmr1 mutant displayed heightened sensitivity to environmental stress, accompanied by inhibited synthesis of aflatoxin B1, kojic acid, and a substantial reduction in pathogenicity toward peanuts and maize. Interestingly, the addition of exogenous Mn2+ effectively rectified the developmental and secondary metabolic defects in the Δpmr1 mutant. However, Mn2+ supplement failed to restore the growth and development of the Δpmr1Δgdt1 double mutant, which indicated that the Gdt1 compensated for the functional deficiency of pmr1. In addition, our results showed that pmr1 knockout leads to an upregulation of O-glycosyl-N-acetylglucose (O-GlcNAc) and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), while Mn2+ supplementation can restore the glycosylation in A. flavus. Collectively, this study indicates that the pmr1 regulates Mn2+ via Golgi and maintains growth and metabolism functions of A. flavus through regulation of the glycosylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Su Qu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng-Da Chi
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhu-Mei He
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bose I. Gene Silencing via RNA Interference in Cryptococcus. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2775:91-106. [PMID: 38758313 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3722-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a molecular biology technique for silencing specific eukaryotic genes without altering the DNA sequence in the genome. The silencing effect occurs because of decreased levels of mRNA that then result in decreased protein levels for the gene. The specificity of the silencing is dependent upon the presence of sequence-specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that activates the cellular RNAi machinery. This chapter describes the process of silencing a specific target gene in Cryptococcus using a dual promoter vector. The plasmid, pIBB103, was designed with two convergent GAL7 promoters flanking a ura5 fragment that acts as a reporter for efficient RNAi. The target gene fragment is inserted between the promoters to be transcribed from both directions leading to the production of dsRNA in cells that activate the RNAi pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indrani Bose
- Department of Biology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang T, Liu J, Luo Y, Yu B, Kong X, Zheng P, Huang Z, Mao X, Yu J, Luo J, Yan H, He J. Combined effects of host genetics and diet on porcine intestinal fungi and their pathogenic genes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1192288. [PMID: 37822749 PMCID: PMC10563851 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1192288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
As research on gut microbes progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that a small family of microbiota--fungi, plays a crucial role in animal health. However, little is known about the fungal composition in the pig intestine, especially after a dietary fiber diet and hybrid genetics, and the changes in host pathogenicity-associated genes they carry. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of diet and genetics on the diversity and structure of porcine intestinal fungi and to describe, for the first time, the host pathogenicity-related genes carried by porcine intestinal fungi. Samples of colonic contents were collected for metagenomic analysis using a 3 × 2 parsing design, where three pig breeds (Taoyuan, Duroc, and crossbred Xiangcun) were fed high or low fiber diets (n = 10). In all samples, we identified a total of 281 identifiable fungal genera, with Ascomycota and Microsporidia being the most abundant fungi. Compared to Duroc pigs, Taoyuan and Xiangcun pigs had higher fungal richness. Interestingly, the fiber diet significantly reduced the abundance of the pathogenic fungus Mucor and significantly increased the abundance of the fiber digestion-associated fungus Neocallimastix. Pathogenic fungi exert their pathogenicity through the genes they carry that are associated with host pathogenicity. Therefore, we obtained 839 pathogenicity genes carried by the spectrum of fungi in the pig intestine by comparing the PHI-base database. Our results showed that fungi in the colon of Taoyuan pigs carried the highest abundance of different classes of host pathogenicity-related genes, and the lowest in Duroc pigs. Specifically, Taoyuan pigs carried high abundance of animal pathogenicity-related genes (CaTUP1, CPAR2_106400, CaCDC35, Tfp1, CaMNT2), and CaTUP1 was the key gene for Candida pathogenicity. The intestinal fungal composition of crossbred Xiangcun pigs and the abundance of host pathogenicity-associated genes they carried exhibited a mixture of characteristics of Taoyuan and Duroc pigs. In conclusion, our results provide the first comprehensive report on the effects of dietary fiber and genetics on the composition of intestinal fungi and the host-associated pathogenicity genes they carry in pigs. These findings provide a reference for subsequent pig breeding and development of anti-pathogenic fungal drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiahao Liu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuheng Luo
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangfeng Kong
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiqing Huang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangbing Mao
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Junqiu Luo
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Yan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun He
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baruah D, Tamuli R. The cell functions of phospholipase C-1, Ca 2+/H + exchanger-1, and secretory phospholipase A 2 in tolerance to stress conditions and cellulose degradation in Neurospora crassa. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:327. [PMID: 37676310 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03662-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the cell functions of the Ca2+ signaling genes phospholipase C-1 (plc-1), Ca2+/H+ exchanger (cpe-1), and secretory phospholipase A2 (splA2) for stress responses and cellulose utilization in Neurospora crassa. The Δplc-1, Δcpe-1, and ΔsplA2 mutants displayed increased sensitivity to the alkaline pH and reduced survival during induced thermotolerance. The ΔsplA2 mutant also exhibited hypersensitivity to the DTT-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, increased microcrystalline cellulose utilization, increased protein secretion, and glucose accumulation in the culture supernatants. Moreover, the ΔsplA2 mutant could not grow on microcrystalline cellulose during ER stress. Furthermore, plc-1, cpe-1, and splA2 synthetically regulate the acquisition of thermotolerance induced by heat shock, responses to alkaline pH and ER stress, and utilization of cellulose and other alternate carbon sources in N. crassa. In addition, expression of the alkaline pH regulator, pac-3, and heat shock proteins, hsp60, and hsp80 was reduced in the Δplc-1, Δcpe-1, and ΔsplA2 single and double mutants. The expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR) markers grp-78 and pdi-1 was also significantly reduced in the mutants showing growth defect during ER stress. The increased cellulolytic activities of the ΔsplA2 and Δcpe-1; ΔsplA2 mutants were due to increased cbh-1, cbh-2, and endo-2 expression in N. crassa. Therefore, plc-1, cpe-1, and splA2 are involved in stress responses and cellulose utilization in N. crassa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darshana Baruah
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781 039, India
| | - Ranjan Tamuli
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781 039, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schalamun M, Molin EM, Schmoll M. RGS4 impacts carbohydrate and siderophore metabolism in Trichoderma reesei. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:372. [PMID: 37400774 PMCID: PMC10316542 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09467-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adaptation to complex, rapidly changing environments is crucial for evolutionary success of fungi. The heterotrimeric G-protein pathway belongs to the most important signaling cascades applied for this task. In Trichoderma reesei, enzyme production, growth and secondary metabolism are among the physiological traits influenced by the G-protein pathway in a light dependent manner. RESULTS Here, we investigated the function of the SNX/H-type regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) protein RGS4 of T. reesei. We show that RGS4 is involved in regulation of cellulase production, growth, asexual development and oxidative stress response in darkness as well as in osmotic stress response in the presence of sodium chloride, particularly in light. Transcriptome analysis revealed regulation of several ribosomal genes, six genes mutated in RutC30 as well as several genes encoding transcription factors and transporters. Importantly, RGS4 positively regulates the siderophore cluster responsible for fusarinine C biosynthesis in light. The respective deletion mutant shows altered growth on nutrient sources related to siderophore production such as ornithine or proline in a BIOLOG phenotype microarray assay. Additionally, growth on storage carbohydrates as well as several intermediates of the D-galactose and D-arabinose catabolic pathway is decreased, predominantly in light. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that RGS4 mainly operates in light and targets plant cell wall degradation, siderophore production and storage compound metabolism in T. reesei.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Schalamun
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Bioresources Unit, Center for Health & Bioresources, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln, 3430 Austria
| | - Eva Maria Molin
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Bioresources Unit, Center for Health & Bioresources, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln, 3430 Austria
| | - Monika Schmoll
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Bioresources Unit, Center for Health & Bioresources, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln, 3430 Austria
- Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Centre of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna, 1030 Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sharma RK, Patil SB, Jadhav AK, Karuppayil SM. Isothiocyanates as potential antifungal agents: a mini-review. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:673-679. [PMID: 37522244 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cruciferous vegetables and mustard oil are rich in the glucosinolate group of molecules. Isothiocyanates are an important group of glucosinolate derivatives. These derivatives have various bioactive properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antifungal, antiparasitic, herbicidal and antimutagenic activity. Previous studies indicate that regular intake of such vegetables may considerably reduce the incidence of various types of cancer. These studies have inspired studies where the bioactive agents of these plants have been isolated and explored for their therapeutic applications. The use of these bioactive compounds as antifungals could be a new therapeutic approach against human pathogenic fungi. Isothiocyanates have been studied for their antifungal activity and have the potential to be used for antifungal therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh K Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, DY Patil Medical College, DY Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur, Kasaba Bawada, Maharashtra, 416006, India
| | - Shivani B Patil
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, DY Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur, Kasaba Bawada, Maharashtra, 416006, India
| | - Ashwini K Jadhav
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, DY Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur, Kasaba Bawada, Maharashtra, 416006, India
| | - Sankunny M Karuppayil
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, DY Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur, Kasaba Bawada, Maharashtra, 416006, India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Yadav
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wildeman AS, Patel NK, Cormack BP, Culotta VC. The role of manganese in morphogenesis and pathogenesis of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011478. [PMID: 37363924 PMCID: PMC10328360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn are essential trace nutrients for all kingdoms of life, including microbial pathogens and their hosts. During infection, the mammalian host attempts to starve invading microbes of these micronutrients through responses collectively known as nutritional immunity. Nutritional immunity for Zn, Fe and Cu has been well documented for fungal infections; however Mn handling at the host-fungal pathogen interface remains largely unexplored. This work establishes the foundation of fungal resistance against Mn associated nutritional immunity through the characterization of NRAMP divalent metal transporters in the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Here, we identify C. albicans Smf12 and Smf13 as two NRAMP transporters required for cellular Mn accumulation. Single or combined smf12Δ/Δ and smf13Δ/Δ mutations result in a 10-80 fold reduction in cellular Mn with an additive effect of double mutations and no losses in cellular Cu, Fe or Zn. As a result of low cellular Mn, the mutants exhibit impaired activity of mitochondrial Mn-superoxide dismutase 2 (Sod2) and cytosolic Mn-Sod3 but no defects in cytosolic Cu/Zn-Sod1 activity. Mn is also required for activity of Golgi mannosyltransferases, and smf12Δ/Δ and smf13Δ/Δ mutants show a dramatic loss in cell surface phosphomannan and in glycosylation of proteins, including an intracellular acid phosphatase and a cell wall Cu-only Sod5 that is key for oxidative stress resistance. Importantly, smf12Δ/Δ and smf13Δ/Δ mutants are defective in formation of hyphal filaments, a deficiency rescuable by supplemental Mn. In a disseminated mouse model for candidiasis where kidney is the primary target tissue, we find a marked loss in total kidney Mn during fungal invasion, implying host restriction of Mn. In this model, smf12Δ/Δ and smf13Δ/Δ C. albicans mutants displayed a significant loss in virulence. These studies establish a role for Mn in Candida pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asia S Wildeman
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Naisargi K Patel
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brendan P Cormack
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Valeria C Culotta
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang ZH, Shen ZF, Wang JY, Cai YY, Li L, Liao J, Lu JP, Zhu XM, Lin FC, Liu XH. MoCbp7, a Novel Calcineurin B Subunit-Binding Protein, Is Involved in the Calcium Signaling Pathway and Regulates Fungal Development, Virulence, and ER Homeostasis in Magnaporthe oryzae. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9297. [PMID: 37298247 PMCID: PMC10252744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin, a key regulator of the calcium signaling pathway, is involved in calcium signal transduction and calcium ion homeostasis. Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating filamentous phytopathogenic fungus in rice, yet little is known about the function of the calcium signaling system. Here, we identified a novel calcineurin regulatory-subunit-binding protein, MoCbp7, which is highly conserved in filamentous fungi and was found to localize in the cytoplasm. Phenotypic analysis of the MoCBP7 gene deletion mutant (ΔMocbp7) showed that MoCbp7 influenced the growth, conidiation, appressorium formation, invasive growth, and virulence of M. oryzae. Some calcium-signaling-related genes, such as YVC1, VCX1, and RCN1, are expressed in a calcineurin/MoCbp7-dependent manner. Furthermore, MoCbp7 synergizes with calcineurin to regulate endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. Our research indicated that M. oryzae may have evolved a new calcium signaling regulatory network to adapt to its environment compared to the fungal model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zi-He Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zi-Fang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jing-Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying-Ying Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jian-Ping Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xue-Ming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Fu-Cheng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Components of TOR and MAP kinase signaling control chemotropism and pathogenicity in the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Microbiol Res 2023; 271:127361. [PMID: 36921400 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi can sense useful resources and hazards in their environment and direct growth of their hyphae accordingly. Chemotropism ensures access to nutrients, contact with other individuals (e.g., for mating), and interaction with hosts in the case of pathogens. Previous studies have revealed a complex chemotropic sensing landscape during host-pathogen interactions, but the underlying molecular machinery remains poorly characterized. Here we studied mechanisms controlling directed hyphal growth of the important plant-pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae towards different chemoattractants. We found that the homologs of the Rag GTPase Gtr1 and the GTPase-activating protein Tsc2, an activator and a repressor of the TOR kinase respectively, play important roles in hyphal chemotropism towards nutrients, plant-derived signals, and heterologous α-pheromone of Fusarium oxysporum. Furthermore, important roles of these regulators were identified in fungal development and pathogenicity. We also found that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Fus3 is required for chemotropism towards nutrients, while the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Ste2 and the MAPK Slt2 control chemosensing of plant-derived signals and α-pheromone. Our study establishes V. dahliae as a suitable model system for the analysis of fungal chemotropism and discovers new components of chemotropic signaling during growth and host-pathogen interactions of V. dahliae.
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang H, Gai Y, Zhao Y, Wang M, Ma Z. The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol pathways co-regulate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 190:105311. [PMID: 36740345 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathways play crucial roles in fungal development, pathogenicity, and in responses to various environmental stresses. However, interaction of these pathways in regulating fungicide sensitivity remains largely unknown in phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, we investigated the function of the calcium-calcineurin signalling pathway in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight. Inhibitors of Ca2+ and calcineurin enhanced antifungal activity of tebuconazole (an azole fungicide) against F. graminearum. Deletion of the putative downstream transcription factor FgCrz1 resulted in significantly increased sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole. FgCrz1-GFP was translocated to the nucleus upon tebuconazole treatment in a calcineurin-dependent manner. In addition, deletion of FgCrz1 increased the phosphorylation of FgHog1 in response to tebuconazole. Moreover, the calcium-calcineurin and HOG signalling pathways exhibited synergistic effect in regulating pathogenicity and sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole and multiple other stresses. RNA-seq data revealed that FgCrz1 regulated expression of a set of non-CYP51 genes that are associated with tebuconazole sensitivity, including multidrug transporters, membrane lipid biosynthesis and metabolism, and cell wall organization. Our findings demonstrate that the calcium-calcineurin and HOG pathways act coordinately to orchestrate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in F. graminearum, which may provide novel insights in management of Fusarium disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huiyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yunpeng Gai
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Minhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jiang Q, Li Y, Mao R, Bi Y, Liu Y, Zhang M, Li R, Yang Y, Prusky DB. AaCaMKs Positively Regulate Development, Infection Structure Differentiation and Pathogenicity in Alternaria alternata, Causal Agent of Pear Black Spot. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021381. [PMID: 36674895 PMCID: PMC9865007 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK), a key downstream target protein in the Ca2+ signaling pathway of eukaryotes, plays an important regulatory role in the growth, development and pathogenicity of plant fungi. Three AaCaMKs (AaCaMK1, AaCaMK2 and AaCaMK3) with conserved PKC_like superfamily domains, ATP binding sites and ACT sites have been cloned from Alternaria alternata, However, their regulatory mechanism in A. alternata remains unclear. In this study, the function of the AaCaMKs in the development, infection structure differentiation and pathogenicity of A. alternata was elucidated through targeted gene disruption. The single disruption of AaCaMKs had no impact on the vegetative growth and spore morphology but significantly influenced hyphae growth, sporulation, biomass accumulation and melanin biosynthesis. Further expression analysis revealed that the AaCaMKs were up-regulated during the infection structure differentiation of A. alternata on hydrophobic and pear wax substrates. In vitro and in vivo analysis further revealed that the deletion of a single AaCaMKs gene significantly reduced the A. alternata conidial germination, appressorium formation and infection hyphae formation. In addition, pharmacological analysis confirmed that the CaMK specific inhibitor, KN93, inhibited conidial germination and appressorium formation in A. alternata. Meanwhile, the AaCaMKs genes deficiency significantly reduced the A. alternata pathogenicity. These results demonstrate that AaCaMKs regulate the development, infection structure differentiation and pathogenicity of A. alternata and provide potential targets for new effective fungicides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Jiang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yongcai Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-931-763-1694
| | - Renyan Mao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yang Bi
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yongxiang Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Rong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yangyang Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Dov B. Prusky
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Maksimov IV, Shein MY, Burkhanova GF. RNA Interference in Plant Protection from Fungal and Oomycete Infection. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822100106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
|
16
|
Fu T, Park HH, Kim KS. Role of the cAMP signaling pathway in the dissemination and development on pepper fruit anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum scovillei. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1003195. [PMID: 36262188 PMCID: PMC9574036 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1003195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum scovillei causes severe anthracnose disease on the fruit of sweet pepper and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) worldwide. Understanding the biology of C. scovillei would improve the management of fruit anthracnose diseases. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway regulates diverse cellular and physiological processes in several foliar fungal pathogens. We investigated the roles of the cAMP signaling pathway in C. scovillei using pharmaceutical and genetic approaches. Exogenous cAMP was found to increase conidiation, appressorium formation, and anthracnose disease development in C. scovillei. CsAc1, CsCap1, and CsPdeH, which regulate the intracellular cAMP level, were deleted by homology-dependent gene replacement. Expectedly, the intracellular cAMP level was significantly decreased in ΔCsac1 and ΔCscap1 but increased in ΔCspdeh. All three deletion mutants exhibited serious defects in multiple fungal developments and pathogenicity, suggesting regulation of the intracellular cAMP level is important for C. scovillei. Notably, exogenous cAMP recovered the defect of ΔCsac1 in appressorium development, but not penetration, which was further recovered by adding CaCl2. This result suggests that CsAc1 is associated with both the cAMP and Ca2+ signaling pathways in C. scovillei. ΔCscap1 produced morphologically abnormal conidia with reduced tolerance to thermal stress. ΔCspdeh was completely defective in conidiation in C. scovillei, unlike other foliar pathogens. Taken together, these results demonstrate the importance of cAMP signaling in anthracnose disease caused by C. scovillei.
Collapse
|
17
|
Chun J, Ko YH, So KK, Cho SH, Kim DH. A fungal GPI-anchored protein gene functions as a virulence and antiviral factor. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111481. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
|
18
|
Jiang C, Wang H, Liu M, Wang L, Yang R, Wang P, Lu Z, Zhou Y, Zheng Z, Zhao G. Identification of chitin synthase activator in Aspergillus niger and its application in citric acid fermentation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:6993-7011. [PMID: 36149454 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12174-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthesis of citric acid (CA) using Aspergillus niger as a carrier is influenced by mycelium morphology, which is determined by the expression level of morphology-related genes. As a key component of the fungal cell wall, chitin content has an important effect on morphogenesis, and to investigate the effects of this on fermentation performance, we used RNA interference to knockdown chitin synthase C (CHSC) and chitin synthase activator (CHS3) to obtain the single-gene mutant strains A. niger chs3 and chsC and the double mutant A. niger chs3C. We found that the CA fermentation performance of the two single mutants was significantly better than that of the double mutant. The mutant A. niger chs3-4 exhibited CA production potential compared to that of the parent strain in scale-up fermentation; we determined certain characteristics of CA high-yielding strain fermentation pellets. In addition, when chsC alone was silenced, there was very little change in chs3 mRNA levels, whereas those of chsC were significantly reduced when only chs3 was silenced. As this may be because of a synergistic effect between chsC and chs3, and we speculated that the latent activation target of CHS3 is CHSC, our results confirmed this hypothesis. This study is the first application of a separation and combination silence strategy of chitin synthase and chitin synthase activator in the morphology of A. niger CA fermentation. Furthermore, it provides new insights into the method for the morphological study of A. niger fermentation and the interaction of homologous genes. KEY POINTS: • The function of chitin synthase C (chsC) and chitin synthase activator (chs3) is tightly interrelated. • Mycelial morphology was optimized by knockdown of CHS3, resulting in the overproduction of citric acid. • The separation and combination silence strategies are promising tools for the interaction of homologous housekeeping genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunxu Jiang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Wang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Menghan Liu
- COFCO Biotechnology Co, Ltd. No. 1, Zhongliang Avenue, Bengbu Anhui, 233010, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruwen Yang
- COFCO Biotechnology Co, Ltd. No. 1, Zhongliang Avenue, Bengbu Anhui, 233010, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongmei Lu
- COFCO Biotechnology Co, Ltd. No. 1, Zhongliang Avenue, Bengbu Anhui, 233010, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Zhou
- COFCO Biotechnology Co, Ltd. No. 1, Zhongliang Avenue, Bengbu Anhui, 233010, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhiming Zheng
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Genhai Zhao
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Comprehensive Laboratory Building, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 350 Shushanhu Road, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei Anhui, 230031, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wu C, Guo Z, Zhang M, Chen H, Peng M, Abubakar YS, Zheng H, Yun Y, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zhou J. Golgi-localized calcium/manganese transporters FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 regulate fungal development and virulence by maintaining Ca 2+ and Mn 2+ homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4623-4640. [PMID: 35837846 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium and manganese transporters play important roles in regulating Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis in cells, which is necessary for the normal physiological activities of eukaryotes. Gdt1 and Pmr1 function as calcium/manganese transporters in the Golgi apparatus. However, the functions of Gdt1 and Pmr1 have not been previously characterized in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Here, we identified and characterized the biological functions of FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 in F. graminearum. Our study shows that FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 are both localized to the cis- and medial-Golgi. Disruption of FgGdt1 or FgPmr1 in F. graminearum caused serious defects in vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual development and significantly decreased virulence in wheat but increased deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Importantly, FgGdt1 is involved in Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis and the severe phenotypic defects of the ΔFggdt1 mutant were largely due to loss of FgGdt1 function in Mn2+ transportation. FgGdt1-mCherry colocalizes with FgPmr1-GFP at the Golgi, and FgGDT1 exerts its biological function upstream of FgPMR1. Taken together, our results collectively demonstrate that the cis- and medial-Golgi-localized proteins FgGdt1 and FgPmr1 regulate Ca2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis of the Golgi apparatus, and this function is important in modulating the growth, development, DON biosynthesis and pathogenicity of F. graminearum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Congxian Wu
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhongkun Guo
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meiru Zhang
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huilin Chen
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minghui Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
He S, Huang Y, Sun Y, Liu B, Wang S, Xuan Y, Gao Z. The Secreted Ribonuclease SRE1 Contributes to Setosphaeria turcica Virulence and Activates Plant Immunity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:941991. [PMID: 35875548 PMCID: PMC9304870 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.941991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During the plant infection process, pathogens can secrete several effectors. Some of the effectors are well-known for their roles in regulating plant immunity and promoting successful pathogen colonization. However, there are few studies on the ribonuclease (RNase) effectors secreted by fungi. In the present study, we discovered a secretable RNase (SRE1) in the secretome of Setosphaeria turcica that was significantly upregulated during the early stages of S. turcica infection in maize. Knockdown of SRE1 significantly reduced the virulence of S. turcica. SRE1 can induce cell death in maize and Nicotiana benthamiana. However, unlike the conventional hypersensitive response (HR) caused by other effectors, SRE1 is not dependent on its signal peptide (SP) or plant receptor kinases (such as BAK1 and SOBIR1). SRE1-induced cell death depends upon its enzymatic activity and the N-terminal β-hairpin structure. SRE1 relies on its N-terminal β-hairpin structure to enter cells, and then degrades plant's RNA through its catalytic activity causing cytotoxic effects. Additionally, SRE1 enhances N. benthamiana's resistance to pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. In summary, SRE1 promotes the virulence of S. turcica, inducing plant cell death and activating plant immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shidao He
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yufei Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanqiu Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Suna Wang
- College of Landscape and Ecological Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Yuanhu Xuan
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zenggui Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Zenggui Gao
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Liu C, Liu T, Lv Z, Qin M, Qu Z, Zhang Z, Li F, Chen D, Zhang X, Chen XL, Shen M. A Calcineurin Regulator MoRCN1 Is Important for Asexual Development, Stress Response, and Plant Infection of Magnaporthe oryzae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:925645. [PMID: 35783935 PMCID: PMC9244802 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.925645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway plays a key role in the development and virulence of plant pathogenic fungi, but the regulation of this signaling pathway is still not clear. In this study, we identified a calcineurin regulator MoRCN1 in the plant pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and found it is important for virulence by regulating the calcineurin pathway. MoRCN1 deletion mutants were severely decreased in colony growth and conidia formation. More importantly, the deletion of MoRCN1 led to a significant reduction in virulence due to defects in appressorium formation and invasive growth. The ΔMorcn1 mutants were more sensitive to different stresses and induced host ROS accumulation, suggesting a role of MoRCN1 in stress adaptation. We found that MoRCN1 directly interacted with the calcineurin catalytic subunit MoCNA and affected its protein stability, which was therefore important for regulating the calcineurin pathway. Transcriptome analysis showed that MoRCN1 significantly activated 491 genes and suppressed 337 genes in response to calcium ion, partially overlapped with the MoCRZ1-bound genes. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that MoRCN1-regulated genes were enriched in stress adaptation, lipid metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, reflecting a function of MoRCN1 in host cell adaptation. Altogether, these results suggest MoRCN1 functions as a regulator of the calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway for fungal development and infection of host cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, College of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tiangu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziwei Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengyuan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiguang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Deng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinrong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mi Shen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, College of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Vasselli JG, Shaw BD. Fungal spore attachment to substrata. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
23
|
Kurian SM, Lichius A, Read ND. Ca2+ Signalling Differentially Regulates Germ-Tube Formation and Cell Fusion in Fusarium oxysporum. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8010090. [PMID: 35050029 PMCID: PMC8780837 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum is an important plant pathogen and an emerging opportunistic human pathogen. Germination of conidial spores and their fusion via conidial anastomosis tubes (CATs) are significant events during colony establishment in culture and on host plants and, hence, very likely on human epithelia. CAT fusion exhibited by conidial germlings of Fusarium species has been postulated to facilitate mitotic recombination, leading to heterokaryon formation and strains with varied genotypes and potentially increased virulence. Ca2+ signalling is key to many of the important physiological processes in filamentous fungi. Here, we tested pharmacological agents with defined modes of action in modulation of the mammalian Ca2+ signalling machinery for their effect on germination and CAT-mediated cell fusion in F. oxysporum. We found various drug-specific and dose-dependent effects. Inhibition of calcineurin by FK506 or cyclosporin A, as well as chelation of extracellular Ca2+ by BAPTA, exclusively inhibit CAT induction but not germ-tube formation. On the other hand, inhibition of Ca2+ channels by verapamil, calmodulin inhibition by calmidazolium, and inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uniporters by RU360 inhibited both CAT induction and germ-tube formation. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of mammalian sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA), partially inhibited CAT induction but had no effect on germ-tube formation. These results provide initial evidence for morphologically defining roles of Ca2+-signalling components in the early developmental stages of F. oxysporum colony establishment—most notably, the indication that calcium ions act as self-signalling molecules in this process. Our findings contribute an important first step towards the identification of Ca2+ inhibitors with fungas-specific effects that could be exploited for the treatment of infected plants and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smija M. Kurian
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK;
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexander Lichius
- Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Nick D. Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Yu PL, Rollins JA. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway perturbs autophagy and plays important roles in development and virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:20-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
25
|
A Histone Deacetylase, Magnaporthe oryzae RPD3, Regulates Reproduction and Pathogenic Development in the Rice Blast Fungus. mBio 2021; 12:e0260021. [PMID: 34781734 PMCID: PMC8593672 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02600-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylation and deacetylation of histones are key epigenetic mechanisms for gene regulation in response to environmental stimuli. RPD3 is a well-conserved class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) that is involved in diverse biological processes. Here, we investigated the roles of the Magnaporthe oryzaeRPD3 (MoRPD3) gene, an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeRpd3, during development and pathogenesis in the model plant-pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. We demonstrated that the MoRPD3 gene is able to functionally complement the yeast Rpd3 deletion mutant despite the C-terminal extension of the MoRPD3 protein. MoRPD3 localizes primarily to the nuclei of vegetative hyphae, asexual spores, and invasive hyphae. Deletion of MoRPD3 appears to be lethal. Depletion of MoRPD3 transcripts via gene silencing (MoRPD3kd, where “kd” stands for “knockdown”) has opposing effects on asexual and sexual reproduction. Although conidial germination and appressorium formation rates of the mutants were almost comparable to those of the wild type, in-depth analysis revealed that the appressoria of mutants are smaller than those of the wild type. Furthermore, the MoRPD3kd strain shows a significant reduction in pathogenicity, which can be attributed to the delay in appressorium-mediated penetration and impaired invasive growth. Interestingly, MoRPD3 does not regulate potassium transporters, as shown for Rpd3 of S. cerevisiae. However, it functioned in association with the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase pathway, resulting in the dependency of appressorium formation on hydrophilic surfaces and on TOR’s inhibition by MoRPD3. Taken together, our results uncovered distinct and evolutionarily conserved roles of MoRPD3 in regulating fungal reproduction, infection-specific development, and virulence.
Collapse
|
26
|
The NADPH Oxidase A of Verticillium dahliae Is Essential for Pathogenicity, Normal Development, and Stress Tolerance, and It Interacts with Yap1 to Regulate Redox Homeostasis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090740. [PMID: 34575778 PMCID: PMC8468606 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of redox homeostasis is vital for aerobic organisms and particularly relevant to plant pathogens. A balance is required between their endogenous ROS production, which is important for their development and pathogenicity, and host-derived oxidative stress. Endogenous ROS in fungi are generated by membrane-bound NADPH oxidase (NOX) complexes and the mitochondrial respiratory chain, while transcription factor Yap1 is a major regulator of the antioxidant response. Here, we investigated the roles of NoxA and Yap1 in fundamental biological processes of the important plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Deletion of noxA impaired growth and morphogenesis, compromised formation of hyphopodia, diminished penetration ability and pathogenicity, increased sensitivity against antifungal agents, and dysregulated expression of antioxidant genes. On the other hand, deletion of yap1 resulted in defects in conidial and microsclerotia formation, increased sensitivity against oxidative stress, and down-regulated antioxidant genes. Localized accumulation of ROS was observed before conidial fusion and during the heterokaryon incompatibility reaction upon nonself fusion. The frequency of inviable fusions was not affected by the deletion of Yap1. Analysis of a double knockout mutant revealed an epistatic relationship between noxA and yap1. Our results collectively reveal instrumental roles of NoxA and ROS homeostasis in the biology of V. dahliae.
Collapse
|
27
|
Vangalis V, Likhotkin I, Knop M, Typas MA, Papaioannou IA. Starvation-induced cell fusion and heterokaryosis frequently escape imperfect allorecognition systems in an asexual fungal pathogen. BMC Biol 2021; 19:169. [PMID: 34429100 PMCID: PMC8385987 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01101-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Asexual fungi include important pathogens of plants and other organisms, and their effective management requires understanding of their evolutionary dynamics. Genetic recombination is critical for adaptability and could be achieved via heterokaryosis — the co-existence of genetically different nuclei in a cell resulting from fusion of non-self spores or hyphae — and the parasexual cycle in the absence of sexual reproduction. Fusion between different strains and establishment of viable heterokaryons are believed to be rare due to non-self recognition systems. Here, we investigate the extent and mechanisms of cell fusion and heterokaryosis in the important asexual plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Results We used live-cell imaging and genetic complementation assays of tagged V. dahliae strains to analyze the extent of non-self vegetative fusion, heterokaryotic cell fate, and nuclear behavior. An efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated system was developed to investigate the involvement of autophagy in heterokaryosis. Under starvation, non-self fusion of germinating spores occurs frequently regardless of the previously assessed vegetative compatibility of the partners. Supposedly “incompatible” fusions often establish viable heterokaryotic cells and mosaic mycelia, where nuclei can engage in fusion or transfer of genetic material. The molecular machinery of autophagy has a protective function against the destruction of “incompatible” heterokaryons. Conclusions We demonstrate an imperfect function of somatic incompatibility systems in V. dahliae. These systems frequently tolerate the establishment of heterokaryons and potentially the initiation of the parasexual cycle even between strains that were previously regarded as “incompatible.” Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01101-5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Vangalis
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilya Likhotkin
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Knop
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Milton A Typas
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang S, Liang H, Wei Y, Zhang P, Dang Y, Li G, Zhang SH. Alternative Splicing of MoPTEN Is Important for Growth and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:715773. [PMID: 34335554 PMCID: PMC8322540 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.715773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Human PTEN, a dual-phosphatase tumor suppressor, is frequently dysregulated by alternative splicing. Fungi harbor PTEN homologs, but alternative splicing of fungal PTENs has not been reported as far as we know. Here, we described an alternative splicing case in the PTEN homolog of Magnaporthe oryzae (MoPTEN). Two splice variants of MoPTEN were detected and identified, which are resulted from an intron retention and exclusion (MoPTEN-1/2). Both proteins were different in lipid and protein phosphatase activity and in expression patterns. The MoPTEN deletion mutant (ΔMoPTEN) showed the defects in conidiation, appressorium formation, and pathogenesis. ΔMoPTEN could be completely restored by MoPTEN, but rescued partially by MoPTEN-1 in the defect of conidium and appressorium formation, and by MoPTEN-2 in the defect of invasive development. Assays to assess sensitivity to oxidative stress reveal the involvement of MoPTEN-2 in scavenging exogenous and host-derived H2O2. Taken together, MoPTEN undergoes alternative splicing, and both variants cooperatively contribute to conidium and appressorium development, and invasive hyphae growth in plant cells, revealing a novel disease development pathway in M. oryzae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaowei Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hao Liang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Wei
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Center for Extreme-Environmental Microorganisms, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Penghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuejia Dang
- Center for Extreme-Environmental Microorganisms, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guihua Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shi-Hong Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Center for Extreme-Environmental Microorganisms, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ko YH, Chun J, Kim DH. Functional Analysis of an Essential GSP1/Ran Ortholog Gene, CpRan1, from the Chestnut Blight Fungus Cryphonectria parasitica Using a Heterokaryon. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7050332. [PMID: 33923059 PMCID: PMC8146580 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional analysis of a GSP1/Ran ortholog, CpRan1, from Cryphonectria parasitica was conducted. Genotype analysis revealed that the putative CpRan1-null mutant was a heterokaryotic transformant harboring two different types of nuclei, one with the wild-type CpRan1 allele and the other with the CpRan1-null mutant allele. The mycelial growth and colony morphology of the heterokaryotic transformant was normal. Microscopic analysis of the resulting conidia (aseptate and monokaryotic asexual spores) demonstrated that although normal germinating spores were observed from conidia harboring a nucleus with the wild-type CpRan1 allele, a number of residual conidia that did not germinate existed. Complementation analysis using protoplasts from the heterokaryon with the wild-type CpRan1 allele confirmed that the CpRan1 gene is essential to C. parasitica. Complementation analysis using the various CpRan1 chimera constructs allowed us to perform a functional analysis of essential amino acids of the CpRan1. Among the four suggested essential amino acids, Lys-97 for ubiquitination was determined to not be an essential residue. Moreover, the CpRan1-null mutant allele was successfully complemented with mouse Ran gene, which suggested that the biological function of Ran gene is evolutionary conserved and that our heterokaryon rescue can be applied for the functional analysis of heterologous genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dae-Hyuk Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-63-270-3440; Fax: +82-63-270-4312
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Dzurendova S, Zimmermann B, Kohler A, Reitzel K, Nielsen UG, Dupuy--Galet BX, Leivers S, Horn SJ, Shapaval V. Calcium Affects Polyphosphate and Lipid Accumulation in Mucoromycota Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040300. [PMID: 33920847 PMCID: PMC8071181 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium controls important processes in fungal metabolism, such as hyphae growth, cell wall synthesis, and stress tolerance. Recently, it was reported that calcium affects polyphosphate and lipid accumulation in fungi. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of calcium on the accumulation of lipids and polyphosphate for six oleaginous Mucoromycota fungi grown under different phosphorus/pH conditions. A Duetz microtiter plate system (Duetz MTPS) was used for the cultivation. The compositional profile of the microbial biomass was recorded using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the high throughput screening extension (FTIR-HTS). Lipid content and fatty acid profiles were determined using gas chromatography (GC). Cellular phosphorus was determined using assay-based UV-Vis spectroscopy, and accumulated phosphates were characterized using solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glucose consumption was estimated by FTIR-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR). Overall, the data indicated that calcium availability enhances polyphosphate accumulation in Mucoromycota fungi, while calcium deficiency increases lipid production, especially under acidic conditions (pH 2-3) caused by the phosphorus limitation. In addition, it was observed that under acidic conditions, calcium deficiency leads to increase in carotenoid production. It can be concluded that calcium availability can be used as an optimization parameter in fungal fermentation processes to enhance the production of lipids or polyphosphates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Dzurendova
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Drøbakveien 31, 1433 Ås, Norway; (B.Z.); (A.K.); (B.X.D.--G.); (V.S.)
- Correspondence: or
| | - Boris Zimmermann
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Drøbakveien 31, 1433 Ås, Norway; (B.Z.); (A.K.); (B.X.D.--G.); (V.S.)
| | - Achim Kohler
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Drøbakveien 31, 1433 Ås, Norway; (B.Z.); (A.K.); (B.X.D.--G.); (V.S.)
| | - Kasper Reitzel
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark;
| | - Ulla Gro Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark;
| | - Benjamin Xavier Dupuy--Galet
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Drøbakveien 31, 1433 Ås, Norway; (B.Z.); (A.K.); (B.X.D.--G.); (V.S.)
| | - Shaun Leivers
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Christian Magnus Falsens vei 1, 1433 Ås, Norway; (S.L.); (S.J.H.)
| | - Svein Jarle Horn
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Christian Magnus Falsens vei 1, 1433 Ås, Norway; (S.L.); (S.J.H.)
| | - Volha Shapaval
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Drøbakveien 31, 1433 Ås, Norway; (B.Z.); (A.K.); (B.X.D.--G.); (V.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
CgEnd3 Regulates Endocytosis, Appressorium Formation, and Virulence in the Poplar Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084029. [PMID: 33919762 PMCID: PMC8103510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The hemibiotrophic ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the causal agent of anthracnose on numerous plants, and it causes considerable economic losses worldwide. Endocytosis is an essential cellular process in eukaryotic cells, but its roles in C. gloeosporioides remain unknown. In our study, we identified an endocytosis-related protein, CgEnd3, and knocked it out via polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation. The lack of CgEnd3 resulted in severe defects in endocytosis. C. gloeosporioides infects its host through a specialized structure called appressorium, and ΔCgEnd3 showed deficient appressorium formation, melanization, turgor pressure accumulation, penetration ability of appressorium, cellophane membrane penetration, and pathogenicity. CgEnd3 also affected oxidant adaptation and the expression of core effectors during the early stage of infection. CgEnd3 contains one EF hand domain and four calcium ion-binding sites, and it is involved in calcium signaling. A lack of CgEnd3 changed the responses to cell-wall integrity agents and fungicide fludioxonil. However, CgEnd3 regulated appressorium formation and endocytosis in a calcium signaling-independent manner. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CgEnd3 plays pleiotropic roles in endocytosis, calcium signaling, cell-wall integrity, appressorium formation, penetration, and pathogenicity in C. gloeosporioides, and it suggests that CgEnd3 or endocytosis-related genes function as promising antifungal targets.
Collapse
|
32
|
RNA Interference Strategies for Future Management of Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Prospects and Challenges. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040650. [PMID: 33805521 PMCID: PMC8067263 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant pathogenic fungi are the largest group of disease-causing agents on crop plants and represent a persistent and significant threat to agriculture worldwide. Conventional approaches based on the use of pesticides raise social concern for the impact on the environment and human health and alternative control methods are urgently needed. The rapid improvement and extensive implementation of RNA interference (RNAi) technology for various model and non-model organisms has provided the initial framework to adapt this post-transcriptional gene silencing technology for the management of fungal pathogens. Recent studies showed that the exogenous application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules on plants targeting fungal growth and virulence-related genes provided disease attenuation of pathogens like Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Fusarium graminearum in different hosts. Such results highlight that the exogenous RNAi holds great potential for RNAi-mediated plant pathogenic fungal disease control. Production of dsRNA can be possible by using either in-vitro or in-vivo synthesis. In this review, we describe exogenous RNAi involved in plant pathogenic fungi and discuss dsRNA production, formulation, and RNAi delivery methods. Potential challenges that are faced while developing a RNAi strategy for fungal pathogens, such as off-target and epigenetic effects, with their possible solutions are also discussed.
Collapse
|
33
|
Distinct Roles of Two DNA Methyltransferases from Cryphonectria parasitica in Fungal Virulence, Responses to Hypovirus Infection, and Viral Clearance. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.02890-20. [PMID: 33563819 PMCID: PMC8545091 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02890-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Two DNA methyltransferase (DNMTase) genes from Cryphonectria parasitica have been previously identified as CpDmt1 and CpDmt2, which are orthologous to rid and dim-2 of Neurospora crassa, respectively. While global changes in DNA methylation have been associated with fungal sectorization and CpDmt1 but not CpDmt2 has been implicated in the sporadic sectorization, the present study continues to investigate the biological functions of both DNMTase genes. Transcription of both DNMTases is regulated in response to infection with the Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1-EP713). CpDmt1 is upregulated and CpDmt2 is downregulated by CHV1 infection. Conidium production and response to heat stress are affected only by mutation of CpDmt1, not by CpDmt2 mutation. Significant changes in virulence are observed in opposite directions; i.e., the CpDmt1-null mutant is hypervirulent, while the CpDmt2-null mutant is hypovirulent. Compared to the CHV1-infected wild type, CHV1-transferred single and double mutants show severe growth retardation: the colony size is less than 10% that of the parental virus-free null mutants, and their titers of transferred CHV1 are higher than that of the wild type, implying that no defect in viral replication occurs. However, as cultivation proceeds, spontaneous viral clearance is observed in hypovirus-infected colonies of the null mutants, which has never been reported in this fungus-virus interaction. This study demonstrates that both DNMTases are significant factors in fungal development and virulence. Each fungal DNMTase affects fungal biology in both common and separate ways. In addition, both genes are essential to the antiviral responses, including viral clearance which depends on their mutations.
Collapse
|
34
|
Kuo CC, Lin YC, Chen LH, Lin MY, Shih MC, Lee MH. CaNRT2.1 Is Required for Nitrate but Not Nitrite Uptake in Chili Pepper Pathogen Colletotrichum acutatum. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:613674. [PMID: 33469454 PMCID: PMC7813687 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.613674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chili peppers are an important food additive used in spicy cuisines worldwide. However, the yield and quality of chilis are threatened by anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. Despite the impact of C. acutatum on chili production, the genes involved in fungal development and pathogenicity in this species have not been well characterized. In this study, through T-DNA insertional mutagenesis, we identified a mutant strain termed B7, which is defective for the growth of C. acutatum on a minimal nutrient medium. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that a large fragment DNA (19.8 kb) is deleted from the B7 genome, thus resulting in the deletion of three genes, including CaGpiP1 encoding a glycosylphosphatidyl-inisotol (GPI)-anchored protein, CaNRT2.1 encoding a membrane-bound nitrate/nitrite transporter, and CaRQH1 encoding a RecQ helicase protein. In addition, T-DNA is inserted upstream of the CaHP1 gene encoding a hypothetical protein. Functional characterization of CaGpiP1, CaNRT2.1, and CaHP1 by targeted gene disruption and bioassays indicated that CaNRT2.1 is responsible for the growth-defective phenotype of B7. Both B7 and CaNRT2.1 mutant strains cannot utilize nitrate as nitrogen sources, thus restraining the fungal growth on a minimal nutrient medium. In addition to CaNRT2.1, our results showed that CaGpiP1 is a cell wall-associated GPI-anchored protein. However, after investigating the functions of CaGpiP1 and CaHP1 in fungal pathogenicity, growth, development and stress tolerance, we were unable to uncover the roles of these two genes in C. acutatum. Collectively, in this study, our results identify the growth-defective strain B7 via T-DNA insertion and reveal the critical role of CaNRT2.1 in nitrate transportation for the fungal growth of C. acutatum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chi Kuo
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chu Lin
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hung Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Yi Lin
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Che Shih
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academic Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Miin-Huey Lee
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
The Destructive Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea-Insights from Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110923. [PMID: 33171745 PMCID: PMC7695001 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens affecting numerous plant hosts, including many important crop species. As a molecularly under-studied organism, its genome was only sequenced at the beginning of this century and it was recently updated with improved gene annotation and completeness. In this review, we summarize key molecular studies on B. cinerea developmental and pathogenesis processes, specifically on genes studied comprehensively with mutant analysis. Analyses of these studies have unveiled key genes in the biological processes of this pathogen, including hyphal growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation, pathogenicity and melanization. In addition, our synthesis has uncovered gaps in the present knowledge regarding development and virulence mechanisms. We hope this review will serve to enhance the knowledge of the biological mechanisms behind this notorious fungal pathogen.
Collapse
|
36
|
Yu FY, Chiu CM, Lee YZ, Lee SJ, Chou CM, You BJ, Hsieh DK, Lee MR, Lee MH, Bostock RM. Polyketide Synthase Gene Expression in Relation to Chloromonilicin and Melanin Production in Monilinia fructicola. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2020; 110:1465-1475. [PMID: 32286920 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-20-0059-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Monilinia fructicola is a fungal pathogen of worldwide significance that causes brown rot of stone fruits. There are only few reports related to the production of biologically active polyketides by this pathogen. In this study, we examined an atypical M. fructicola strain TW5-4 that shows strong antimicrobial activity against various plant pathogens. TW5-4 also displays sparse growth in culture, low virulence, and higher levels of melanin compared with its albino mutant, TW5-4WM, and a wild-type strain Mf13-81. Antifungal compounds were extracted from TW5-4 and purified by thin-layer chromatography following visualization with an on-the-chromatogram inhibition assay. The principal antifungal compound was identified by linear ion trap mass spectrometry, high-resolution electro-spray ionization mass spectrometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analyses as the polyketide chloromonilicin. Multiple M. fructicola polyketide synthase (PKS) sequences were then cloned by degenerate PCR and inverse PCR. Sequence analyses support presence of a 10-member PKS gene family in the M. fructicola genome. Analyses of PKS gene expression found no strong correlation between chloromonilicin production in culture and transcript levels of any of the PKS gene family members in mycelium of strains TW5-4, TW5-4WM, and Mf13-81. However, MfPKS12, a homolog of BcPKS12 involved in biosynthesis of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin in Botrytis cinerea, was strongly expressed in mycelia of TW5-4 and Mf13-81. An MfPKS12-silenced mutant accumulated significantly less melanin in mycelia, had lower resistance to polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress, and displayed reduced virulence on nectarine fruit. The results suggest that DHN-melanin is required for tolerance to osmotic stress and full virulence in M. fructicola.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Yi Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Min Chiu
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Yue-Zhi Lee
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
| | - Shiow-Ju Lee
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ming Chou
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan (deceased 18 September 2017)
| | - Bang-Jau You
- School of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Dai-Keng Hsieh
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Maw-Rong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Miin-Huey Lee
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Richard M Bostock
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) is a universal signalling molecule of life. The Ca2+ signalling is an evolutionarily conserved process from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Ca2+ at high concentration is deleterious to the cell; therefore, cell maintains a low resting level of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c). The resting [Ca2+]c is tightly regulated, and a transient increase of the [Ca2+]c initiates a signalling cascade in the cell. Ca2+ signalling plays an essential role in various processes, including growth, development, reproduction, tolerance to stress conditions, and virulence in fungi. In this review, we describe the evolutionary aspects of Ca2+ signalling and cell functions of major Ca2+ signalling proteins in different fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avishek Roy
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Ajeet Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Darshana Baruah
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Ranjan Tamuli
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Deng S, Yao C, Zhang X, Jia Z, Shan C, Luo X, Lin L. Involvement of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Verticillium dahliae in cell morphogenesis, stress responses, and host infection. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:648-660. [PMID: 32540188 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP, EC 2.7.7.9) is an essential enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi, the UGP gene is indispensable for normal cell development, polysaccharide synthesis, and stress response. However, the function of the UGP homolog in plant pathogenic fungi has been rarely explored during pathogenesis. In this study, we characterize a UGP homolog named VdUGP from Verticillium dahliae, a soil-borne fungus that causes plant vascular wilt. In comparison with wild-type strain V07DF2 and complementation strains, the VdUGP knocked down mutant 24C9 exhibited sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate (perturbing membrane integrity) and high sodium chloride concentration (high osmotic pressure stress). More than 25 % of the conidia of the mutant developed into short and swollen hypha and formed hyperbranching and compact colonies. The mutant exhibited decreased virulence on cotton and tobacco seedlings. Further investigation determined that the germination of the mutant spores was significantly delayed compared with the wild-type strain on the host roots. RNA-seq analysis revealed that a considerable number of genes encoding secreted proteins and carbohydrate-active enzymes were significantly downregulated in the mutant at an early stage of infection compared with those of the wild-type strain. RNA-seq data indicated that mutation affected many Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways both in the pathogen and in the inoculated plants at the infection stage. These alterations of the mutant in cultural phenotypes, virulence, and gene expression profiles clearly indicated that VdUGP played important roles in fungal cell morphogenesis, stress responses, and host infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Deng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China.
| | - Chuanfei Yao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China.
| | - Zhaozhao Jia
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China.
| | - Chenyang Shan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China; Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Luo
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China; Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Ling Lin
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongling street NO.50, Nanjing, 210014, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lu Y, Sun J, Gao Y, Liu K, Yuan M, Gao W, Wang F, Fu D, Chen N, Xiao S, Xue C. The key iron assimilation genes ClFTR1, ClNPS6 were crucial for virulence of Curvularia lunata via initiating its appressorium formation and virulence factors. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:613-627. [PMID: 32452607 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Iron is virtually an essential nutrient for all organisms, to understand how iron contributes to virulence of plant pathogenic fungi, we identified ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 in maize pathogen Curvularia lunata (Cochliobolus lunatus) in this study. Disruption of ClNPS6 significantly impaired siderophore biosynthesis. ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 did mediate oxidative stress but had no significant impact on vegetative growth, conidiation, cell wall integrity and sexual reproduction. Conidial germination delayed and appressoria formation reduced in ΔClftr1 comparing with wild type (WT) CX-3. Genes responsible for conidial germination, appressoria formation, non-host selective toxin biosynthesis and cell wall degrading enzymes were also downregulated in the transcriptome of ΔClftr1 and ΔClnps6 compared with WT. The conidial development, toxin biosynthesis and polygalacturonase activity were impaired in the mutant strains with ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 deletion during their infection to maize. ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 were upregulated expression at 12-24 and 48-120 hpi in WT respectively. ClFTR1 positively regulated conidial germination, appressoria formation in the biotrophy-specific phase. ClNPS6 positively regulates non-host selective toxin biosynthesis and cell wall degrading enzyme activity in the necrotrophy-specific phase. Our results indicated that ClFTR1 and ClNPS6 were key genes of pathogen known to conidia development and virulence factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Lu
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Jiaying Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Yibo Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Kexin Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Mingyue Yuan
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Weida Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Fen Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Dandan Fu
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Nan Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Shuqin Xiao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| | - Chunsheng Xue
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Malavia D, Gow NAR, Usher J. Advances in Molecular Tools and In Vivo Models for the Study of Human Fungal Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E803. [PMID: 32466582 PMCID: PMC7356103 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi represent an increasing infectious disease threat to humans, especially with an increasing challenge of antifungal drug resistance. Over the decades, numerous tools have been developed to expedite the study of pathogenicity, initiation of disease, drug resistance and host-pathogen interactions. In this review, we highlight advances that have been made in the use of molecular tools using CRISPR technologies, RNA interference and transposon targeted mutagenesis. We also discuss the use of animal models in modelling disease of human fungal pathogens, focusing on zebrafish, the silkworm, Galleria mellonella and the murine model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jane Usher
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (N.A.R.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Functional analysis of an essential Ran-binding protein gene, CpRbp1, from the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica using heterokaryon rescue. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8111. [PMID: 32415177 PMCID: PMC7229160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65036-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A Ran binding protein (RanBP) homolog, CpRbp1, from Cryphonectria parasitica, has been identified as a protein that is affected by hypovirus infection or tannic acid supplementation. In this study, functional analyses of CpRbp1 were performed by constructing a knockout mutant and analyzing the resulting heterokaryon. Transformation-mediated gene replacement resulted in two putative CpRbp1-null mutants and genotype analyses identified these two mutants as heterokaryotic transformants consisting of two types of nuclei, one with the wild-type CpRbp1 allele and another with the CpRbp1-null mutant allele. Although stable mycelial growth of the heterokaryotic transformant was observed on selective medium containing hygromycin B, neither germination nor growth of the resulting conidia, which were single-cell monokaryotic progeny, was observed on the medium. In trans complementation of heterokaryons using a full-length wild-type allele of the CpRbp1 gene resulted in complemented transformants. These transformants sporulated single-cell monokaryotic conidia that were able to grow on media selective for replacing and/or complementing markers. These results clearly indicate that CpRbp1 is an essential gene, and heterokaryons allowed the fungus to maintain lethal CpRbp1-null mutant nuclei. Moreover, in trans complementation of heterokaryons using chimeric structures of the CpRbp1 gene allowed for analysis of its functional domains, which was previously hampered due to the lethality of the gene. In addition, in trans complementation using heterologous RanBP genes from Aspergillus nidulans was successful, suggesting that the function of RanBP is conserved during evolution. Furthermore, in trans complementation allowed for functional analyses of lethal orthologs. This study demonstrates that our fungal heterokaryon system can be applied effectively to determine whether a gene of interest is essential, perform functional analyses of a lethal gene, and analyze corresponding heterologous genes.
Collapse
|
42
|
Li Y, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Cao Y, Li J, Luo L. Allyl Isothiocyanate (AITC) Triggered Toxicity and FsYvc1 (a STRPC Family Member) Responded Sense in Fusarium solani. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:870. [PMID: 32477298 PMCID: PMC7235336 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product used as a food additive. Due to its strong volatility and broad biological activity, AITC is considered as a bio-fumigant to control soil-borne fungal diseases in agriculture, creating an urgent need for evaluation of the antifungal activity of AITC. Here we study the effect of AITC on Fusarium solani growth and explore the molecular mechanisms. The results indicated that AITC causes rapid inhibition of F. solani after 5 min, hyphal deformity, and electrolyte leakage. A yeast-like vacuolar transient receptor potential channel regulator (FsYvc1, a STRPC family member) was identified in F. solani that seems to play a role in this fungi AITC sensitivity. Genetic evidence suggests the gene FsYvc1 is involved in F. solani growth, development, and pathogenicity. Loss of FsYvc1 resulted in hypersensitivity of F. solani to AITC and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation ∼ 1.3 to 1.45- folds that of the wild type (WT), and no difference responses to CaCl2, NaCl, KCl, SDS, and Congo red when compared with WT. In addition, ΔFsYvc1-17 showed significantly reduced (∼ 1-fold) glutathione-S-transferase (GST) expression compared with the WT without AITC induction. Upon exposure to 4.8 μg/mL AITC for 3 h, the relative expression levels were ∼ 12–30 fold higher in both the WT and ΔFsYvc1-17. Nevertheless, no difference in GST expression level was observed between the WT and ΔFsYvc1-17. The current study provides novel insights into the toxicity mechanisms of AITC. Considering our results that show the key role of FsYvc1, we propose that it could act as a new molecular target for future fungicide development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingbin Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yixiang Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yongsong Cao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Laixin Luo
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jin Y, Zhao JH, Zhao P, Zhang T, Wang S, Guo HS. A fungal milRNA mediates epigenetic repression of a virulence gene in Verticillium dahliae. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 374:20180309. [PMID: 30967013 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MiRNAs in animals and plants play crucial roles in diverse developmental processes under both normal and stress conditions. miRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) identified in some fungi remain functionally uncharacterized. Here, we identified a number of milRNAs in Verticillium dahliae, a soil-borne fungal pathogen responsible for devastating wilt diseases in many crops. Accumulation of a V. dahliae milRNA1, named VdmilR1, was detected by RNA gel blotting. We show that the precursor gene VdMILR1 is transcribed by RNA polymerase II and is able to produce the mature VdmilR1, in a process independent of V. dahliae DCL (Dicer-like) and AGO (Argonaute) proteins. We found that an RNaseIII domain-containing protein, VdR3, is essential for V. dahliae and participates in VdmilR1 biogenesis. VdmilR1 targets a hypothetical protein-coding gene, VdHy1, at the 3'UTR for transcriptional repression through increased histone H3K9 methylation of VdHy1. Pathogenicity analysis reveals that VdHy1 is essential for fungal virulence. Together with the time difference in the expression patterns of VdmilR1 and VdHy1 during fungal infection in cotton plants, our findings identify a novel milRNA, VdmilR1, in V. dahliae synthesized by a noncanonical pathway that plays a regulatory role in pathogenicity and uncover an epigenetic mechanism for VdmilR1 in regulating a virulence target gene. This article is part of the theme issue 'Biotic signalling sheds light on smart pest management'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Jin
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Hua Zhao
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China
| | - Pan Zhao
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Zhang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Wang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China.,2 College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Shan Guo
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101 , People's Republic of China.,2 College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Huang W, Liu X, Zhou X, Wang X, Liu X, Liu H. Calcium Signaling Is Suppressed in Magnaporthe oryzae Conidia by Bacillus cereus HS24. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2020; 110:309-316. [PMID: 31556343 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-08-18-0311-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Rice yield is greatly reduced owing to rice blast, a polycyclic fungal disease caused by the ascomycete Magnaporthe oryzae. Previously, Bacillus cereus HS24, isolated from a rice farm, showed a strong antimicrobial effect toward M. oryzae. To better exploit it as a biocontrol agent, HS24 was studied for the mechanism that it uses to suppress rice blast. Conidium germination in M. oryzae was significantly inhibited by HS24, whereby inhibition reached 97.8% at the concentration of 107 CFU/ml. The transcription levels of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, PMC1, and CCH1, key genes involved in the M. oryzae Ca2+ signaling pathway, were significantly decreased in HS24-treated conidia at high concentration. The treatment of M. oryzae with the corresponding Ca2+ signaling pathway inhibitors KN-93, verapamil, and cyclopiazonic acid significantly reduced conidium germination. This inhibitory effect was found to be concentration dependent, similar to the HS24 treatment. We also found that HS24 was able to decrease the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in M. oryzae conidia significantly. The addition of exogenous Ca2+ did not diminish the inhibitory effect of HS24 on the reduction of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and the level of conidium germination. In conclusion, B. cereus HS24 at high concentration prevents extracellular Ca2+ from entering the conidia in M. oryzae, causes a significant reduction of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, and results in the inhibition of conidium germination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiang Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Nanjing Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xingyu Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Nanjing Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaosi Zhou
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Nanjing Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Construction Laboratory of Probiotics Preparation, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Nanjing Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hongxia Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Nanjing Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Lange M, Peiter E. Calcium Transport Proteins in Fungi: The Phylogenetic Diversity of Their Relevance for Growth, Virulence, and Stress Resistance. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3100. [PMID: 32047484 PMCID: PMC6997533 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The key players of calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and Ca2+ signal generation, which are Ca2+ channels, Ca2+/H+ antiporters, and Ca2+-ATPases, are present in all fungi. Their coordinated action maintains a low Ca2+ baseline, allows a fast increase in free Ca2+ concentration upon a stimulus, and terminates this Ca2+ elevation by an exponential decrease – hence forming a Ca2+ signal. In this respect, the Ca2+ signaling machinery is conserved in different fungi. However, does the similarity of the genetic inventory that shapes the Ca2+ peak imply that if “you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” in terms of physiological relevance? Individual studies have focused mostly on a single species, and mechanisms elucidated in few model organisms are usually extrapolated to other species. This mini-review focuses on the physiological relevance of the machinery that maintains Ca2+ homeostasis for growth, virulence, and stress responses. It reveals common and divergent functions of homologous proteins in different fungal species. In conclusion, for the physiological role of these Ca2+ transport proteins, “seen one,” in many cases, does not mean: “seen them all.”
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lange
- Plant Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Edgar Peiter
- Plant Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Hunt M, Banerjee S, Surana P, Liu M, Fuerst G, Mathioni S, Meyers BC, Nettleton D, Wise RP. Small RNA discovery in the interaction between barley and the powdery mildew pathogen. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:610. [PMID: 31345162 PMCID: PMC6657096 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5947-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plants encounter pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms on a nearly constant basis. Small RNAs such as siRNAs and miRNAs/milRNAs influence pathogen virulence and host defense responses. We exploited the biotrophic interaction between the powdery mildew fungus, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), and its diploid host plant, barley (Hordeum vulgare) to explore fungal and plant sRNAs expressed during Bgh infection of barley leaf epidermal cells. Results RNA was isolated from four fast-neutron immune-signaling mutants and their progenitor over a time course representing key stages of Bgh infection, including appressorium formation, penetration of epidermal cells, and development of haustorial feeding structures. The Cereal Introduction (CI) 16151 progenitor carries the resistance allele Mla6, while Bgh isolate 5874 harbors the AVRa6 avirulence effector, resulting in an incompatible interaction. Parallel Analysis of RNA Ends (PARE) was used to verify sRNAs with likely transcript targets in both barley and Bgh. Bgh sRNAs are predicted to regulate effectors, metabolic genes, and translation-related genes. Barley sRNAs are predicted to influence the accumulation of transcripts that encode auxin response factors, NAC transcription factors, homeodomain transcription factors, and several splicing factors. We also identified phasing small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) in barley that overlap transcripts that encode receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich domain proteins (NLRs). Conclusions These data suggest that Bgh sRNAs regulate gene expression in metabolism, translation-related, and pathogen effectors. PARE-validated targets of predicted Bgh milRNAs include both EKA (effectors homologous to AVRk1 and AVRa10) and CSEP (candidate secreted effector protein) families. We also identified barley phasiRNAs and miRNAs in response to Bgh infection. These include phasiRNA loci that overlap with a significant proportion of receptor-like kinases, suggesting an additional sRNA control mechanism may be active in barley leaves as opposed to predominant R-gene phasiRNA overlap in many eudicots. In addition, we identified conserved miRNAs, novel miRNA candidates, and barley genome mapped sRNAs that have PARE validated transcript targets in barley. The miRNA target transcripts are enriched in transcription factors, signaling-related proteins, and photosynthesis-related proteins. Together these results suggest both barley and Bgh control metabolism and infection-related responses via the specific accumulation and targeting of genes via sRNAs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5947-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt Hunt
- Interdepartmental Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.,Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Sagnik Banerjee
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.,Interdepartmental Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Priyanka Surana
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.,Interdepartmental Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Meiling Liu
- Interdepartmental Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.,Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Greg Fuerst
- Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Sandra Mathioni
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA.,Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri - Columbia, 52 Agriculture Lab, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Dan Nettleton
- Interdepartmental Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.,Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Roger P Wise
- Interdepartmental Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA. .,Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA. .,Interdepartmental Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA. .,Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Xu Q, Ye X, Ma X, Li H, Tang H, Tang Y, Liu Z. Engineering a peptide aptamer to target calmodulin for the inhibition of Magnaporthe oryzae. Fungal Biol 2019; 123:489-496. [PMID: 31196518 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To develop an antimicrobial agent for preventing the devasting damage caused by rice blast, a novel peptide aptamer was identified to interact with calmodulin (CaM) for the inhibition of the spore development in the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. A peptide aptamer designated as SNP-D4, consisted of the scaffold protein Staphylococcus aureus nuclease (SN) and an exposed surface loop of 16 random amino acids, was screened from the constructed peptide aptamer libraries by bacterial two-hybrid system using CaM of M. oryzae as the bait. The preliminary inhibition in the sporulation development was observed after treating with the crude extracts expressing SNP-D4. The inhibition efficacies of the purified SNP-D4 were quantified at the stages of conidial germination, germ tube elongation, and appressorium formation in M. oryzae. The binding affinity analysis revealed that SNP-D4 interacted with CaM at a dissociation constant (Kd) of about 20 μM. Moreover, the N-terminus of CaM was identified as the key binding region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xiang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Hongqian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yanqiong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Zhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Li B, Dong X, Zhao R, Kou R, Zheng X, Zhang H. The t-SNARE protein FgPep12, associated with FgVam7, is essential for ascospore discharge and plant infection by trafficking Ca2+ ATPase FgNeo1 between Golgi and endosome/vacuole in Fusarium graminearum. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007754. [PMID: 31067272 PMCID: PMC6527245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptors (SNAREs) play a crucial role in the development and virulence through mediation of membrane fusion and vesicle trafficking in pathogens. Our previous studies reported that the SNARE protein FgVam7 and its binding proteins FgVps39/41 are involved in vesicle trafficking and are important for vegetative growth, asexual/sexual development, deoxynivalenol production and virulence in the Fusarium head blight fungus Fusarium graminearum. Here, we identified and characterized another FgVam7 binding protein in F. graminearum, FgPep12, an ortholog of yeast t-SNARE Pep12 with both the SNARE and TM domains being essential for its localization and function. Deletion of FgPep12 caused defects in vegetative growth, conidiogenesis, deoxynivalenol production and virulence. Cytological observation revealed that FgPep12 localizes to the Golgi apparatus, late endosomes and vacuoles, and is necessary for transport from the vacuole to prevacuolar compartment. Further investigation revealed that both FgPep12 and FgVam7 are essential for ascospore discharge through interaction with and trafficking of the Ca2+ ATPase FgNeo1 between the Golgi and endosomal/vacuolar system. FgNeo1 has similar biological roles to FgPep12 and is required for ascospore discharge in F. graminearum. Together, these results provide solid evidence to help unravel the mechanisms underlying the manipulation of ascospore discharge and plant infection by SNARE proteins in F. graminearum. SNARE proteins which mediate fusion of transport vesicles with the correct target membrane, are essential components of vesicle trafficking machinery. Together with the cognate effectors, SNAREs coordinate the dynamics of trafficking pathway and determines the cargo proteins destination. Here, we found that SNARE protein FgPep12 is important for fungal development and virulence through its involvement in vesicle trafficking between the Golgi and endosomal/vacuolar system. We further provide multiple lines of evidence showing that SNARE proteins modulate development and ascospore discharge in pathogenic fungi. FgPep12, associated with FgVam7, is required for the trafficking of the Ca2+ ATPase FgNeo1 between the Golgi and endosomal/vacuolar system, thus controlling growth, asexual development, ascospore discharge and plant infection in F. graminearum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongchuan Kou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Jo M, So KK, Ko YH, Chun J, Kim JM, Kim DH. Characterization of a Hypovirus-Regulated Septin Cdc11 Ortholog, CpSep1, from the Chestnut Blight Fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2019; 32:286-295. [PMID: 30133338 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-18-0194-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We identified a protein spot showing downregulation in the presence of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 and tannic acid supplementation as a septin subunit with the highest homology to the Aspergillus nidulans aspA gene, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cdc11 gene. To analyze the functional role of this septin component (CpSep1), we constructed its null mutant and obtained a total of eight CpSep1-null mutants from 137 transformants. All CpSep1-null mutants showed retarded growth, with fewer aerial mycelia and intense pigmentation on plates of potato dextrose agar supplemented with L-methionine and biotin. When the marginal hyphae were examined, hyperbranching was observed in contrast to the wild type. The inhibition of colonial growth was partially recovered when the CpSep1-null mutants were cultured in the presence of the osmostabilizing sorbitol. Conidia production of the CpSep1-null mutants was significantly increased by at least 10-fold more. Interestingly, the conidial morphology of the CpSep1-null mutants changed to circular in contrast to the typical rod-shaped spores of the wild type, indicating a role of septin in the spore morphology of Cryphonectria parasitica. However, no differences in the germination process were observed. Virulence assays using excised chestnut bark, stromal pustule formation on chestnut stems, and apple inoculation indicated that the CpSep1 gene is important in pathogenicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myeongjin Jo
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 54896, Korea; and
| | - Kum-Kang So
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 54896, Korea; and
| | - Yo-Han Ko
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 54896, Korea; and
| | - Jeesun Chun
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 54896, Korea; and
| | - Jung-Mi Kim
- 2 Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Life Science and Natural Resources, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chonbuk 54538, Korea
| | - Dae-Hyuk Kim
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 54896, Korea; and
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Mid1 affects ion transport, cell wall integrity, and host penetration of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:1801-1810. [PMID: 30617534 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-09589-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Calcium signaling plays important roles in stress tolerance and virulence in fungi. Mid1, an accessory protein of Cch1 calcium channel, has been discussed in baker's yeast and some filamentous fungi. However, functions of the Mid1 gene in entomopathogenic fungi are not clear. In this study, the Mid1 gene was functionally characterized by deleting it in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum. The growth of the ΔMaMid1 mutant was similar as the wild type on normal growth medium, but inhibited by exogenous Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Li+, and calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Cation transportation-related genes were upregulated and intracellular calcium concentration was decreased in ΔMaMid1. Deletion of the MaMid1 gene impaired the tolerance to cell wall-disrupting agents but had no impact on heat or ultraviolet irradiation tolerance compared with the wild type. Bioassays showed that ΔMaMid1 had decreased virulence, with defects in the ability to penetrate the host cuticle. Compared with the wild type, appressorium formation on locust wings and fungal growth in the insect hemocoel were significantly decreased in the ΔMaMid1 mutant in a bioassay through topical inoculation. The phenotypes of ΔMaMid1 were fully restored in a complementation strain. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the MaMid1 affects intracellular ion homeostasis and contributes to virulence by affecting the initial penetration process in M. acridum.
Collapse
|