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Lv B, Zheng L, Liu H, Tang J, Hsiang T, Huang J. Use of Random T-DNA Mutagenesis in Identification of Gene UvPRO1, A Regulator of Conidiation, Stress Response, and Virulence in Ustilaginoidea virens. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:2086. [PMID: 28082958 PMCID: PMC5186764 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
False smut of rice, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke) Takahashi (teleomorph: Villosiclava virens), is one of the most important diseases affecting rice worldwide. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was used to identify functional genes in U. virens. In this study, we selected a single-copy insertion mutant T133 with deficiency in producing conidia by screening the T-DNA insertion mutant library of U. virens. The UvPRO1-deletion mutant was successfully obtained after cloning the targeted gene by analysis of the T-DNA insert site of mutant T133. Further research showed that the UvPRO1 mutant was reduced in growth rate and could not produce conidia in PSB medium, while sensitivities to sodium dodecyl sulfate, Congo red, and hyperosmotic stress increased. Moreover, the UvPRO1 deletion mutant hyphae could extend along the surface of spikelets at 1-3 dpi, but mycelia became shriveled and completely lost the ability to infect spikelets at 4 dpi. The relative expression level of UvPRO1 at 8 dpi was more than twice as high as that at 1-2 dpi. These results suggest that UvPRO1 plays a critical role in hyphal growth and conidiation, as well as in stress response and pathogenesis. These findings provide a novel mode of action for the PRO1 protein in fungi and improve the understanding of the function of UvPRO1 in the life cycle of U. virens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lv
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Jintian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, GuelphON, Canada
| | - Jinbin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
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Cations Optimization for Protein Enrichment in Rice Straw by Mixed Cultures of Neurospora crassa 14-8 and Candida utilis Using Response Surface Methodology. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2016; 182:804-817. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-016-2363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Abstract
Filamentous fungi have proven to be a better-suited model system than unicellular yeasts in analyses of cellular processes such as polarized growth, exocytosis, endocytosis, and cytoskeleton-based organelle traffic. For example, the filamentous fungus
Neurospora crassa develops a variety of cellular forms. Studying the molecular basis of these forms has led to a better, yet incipient, understanding of polarized growth. Polarity factors as well as Rho GTPases, septins, and a localized delivery of vesicles are the central elements described so far that participate in the shift from isotropic to polarized growth. The growth of the cell wall by apical biosynthesis and remodeling of polysaccharide components is a key process in hyphal morphogenesis. The coordinated action of motor proteins and Rab GTPases mediates the vesicular journey along the hyphae toward the apex, where the exocyst mediates vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane. Cytoplasmic microtubules and actin microfilaments serve as tracks for the transport of vesicular carriers as well as organelles in the tubular cell, contributing to polarization. In addition to exocytosis, endocytosis is required to set and maintain the apical polarity of the cell. Here, we summarize some of the most recent breakthroughs in hyphal morphogenesis and apical growth in
N. crassa and the emerging questions that we believe should be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - Leonora Martínez-Núñez
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
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Glucose Starvation Alters Heat Shock Response, Leading to Death of Wild Type Cells and Survival of MAP Kinase Signaling Mutant. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165980. [PMID: 27870869 PMCID: PMC5117620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A moderate heat shock induces Neurospora crassa to synthesize large quantities of heat shock proteins that are protective against higher, otherwise lethal temperatures. However, wild type cells do not survive when carbohydrate deprivation is added to heat shock. In contrast, a mutant strain defective in a stress-activated protein kinase does survive the combined stresses. In order to understand the basis for this difference in survival, we have determined the relative levels of detected proteins in the mutant and wild type strain during dual stress, and we have identified gene transcripts in both strains whose quantities change in response to heat shock or dual stress. These data and supportive experimental evidence point to reasons for survival of the mutant strain. By using alternative respiratory mechanisms, these cells experience less of the oxidative stress that proves damaging to wild type cells. Of central importance, mutant cells recycle limited resources during dual stress by undergoing autophagy, a process that we find utilized by both wild type and mutant cells during heat shock. Evidence points to inappropriate activation of TORC1, the central metabolic regulator, in wild type cells during dual stress, based upon behavior of an additional signaling mutant and inhibitor studies.
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105
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Gladyshev E, Kleckner N. Recombination-independent recognition of DNA homology for repeat-induced point mutation. Curr Genet 2016; 63:389-400. [PMID: 27628707 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Numerous cytogenetic observations have shown that homologous chromosomes (or individual chromosomal loci) can engage in specific pairing interactions in the apparent absence of DNA breakage and recombination, suggesting that canonical recombination-mediated mechanisms may not be the only option for sensing DNA/DNA homology. One proposed mechanism for such recombination-independent homology recognition involves direct contacts between intact double-stranded DNA molecules. The strongest in vivo evidence for the existence of such a mechanism is provided by the phenomena of homology-directed DNA modifications in fungi, known as repeat-induced point mutation (RIP, discovered in Neurospora crassa) and methylation-induced premeiotically (MIP, discovered in Ascobolus immersus). In principle, Neurospora RIP can detect the presence of gene-sized DNA duplications irrespectively of their origin, underlying nucleotide sequence, coding capacity or relative, as well as absolute positions in the genome. Once detected, both sequence copies are altered by numerous cytosine-to-thymine (C-to-T) mutations that extend specifically over the duplicated region. We have recently shown that Neurospora RIP does not require MEI-3, the only RecA/Rad51 protein in this organism, consistent with a recombination-independent mechanism. Using an ultra-sensitive assay for RIP mutation, we have defined additional features of this process. We have shown that RIP can detect short islands of homology of only three base-pairs as long as many such islands are arrayed with a periodicity of 11 or 12 base-pairs along a pair of DNA molecules. While the presence of perfect homology is advantageous, it is not required: chromosomal segments with overall sequence identity of only 35-36 % can still be recognized by RIP. Importantly, in order for this process to work efficiently, participating DNA molecules must be able to co-align along their lengths. Based on these findings, we have proposed a model, in which sequence homology is detected by direct interactions between slightly-extended double-stranded DNAs. As a next step, it will be important to determine if the uncovered principles also apply to other processes that involve recombination-independent interactions between homologous chromosomal loci in vivo as well as to protein-free DNA/DNA interactions that were recently observed under biologically relevant conditions in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Gladyshev
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Room NW140, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Nancy Kleckner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Room NW140, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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Sun Q, Jiang X, Pang L, Wang L, Li M. Functions of thga1 Gene in Trichoderma harzianum Based on Transcriptome Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:8329513. [PMID: 27672660 PMCID: PMC5031823 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8329513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Trichoderma spp. are important biocontrol filamentous fungi, which are widely used for their adaptability, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and various antagonistic mechanisms. In our previous studies, we cloned thga1 gene encoding GαI protein from Trichoderma harzianum Th-33. Its knockout mutant showed that the growth rate, conidial yield, cAMP level, antagonistic action, and hydrophobicity decreased. Therefore, Illumina RNA-seq technology (RNA-seq) was used to determine transcriptomic differences between the wild-type strain and thga1 mutant. A total of 888 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 427 upregulated and 461 downregulated genes. All DEGs were assigned to KEGG pathway databases, and 318 genes were annotated in 184 individual pathways. KEGG analysis revealed that these unigenes were significantly enriched in metabolism and degradation pathways. GO analysis suggested that the majority of DEGs were associated with catalytic activities and metabolism processes that encode carbohydrate-active enzymes, secondary metabolites, secreted proteins, or transcription factors. According to the functional annotation of these DEGs by KOG, the most abundant group was "secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism." Further studies for functional characterization of candidate genes and pathways reported in this paper are necessary to further define the G protein signaling system in T. harzianum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiliang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Li Pang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Lirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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107
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Kamei M, Yamashita K, Takahashi M, Fukumori F, Ichiishi A, Fujimura M. Involvement of MAK-1 and MAK-2 MAP kinases in cell wall integrity in Neurospora crassa. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 80:1843-52. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1189321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Among three MAPK disruptants of Neurospora crassa, Δmak-1 was sensitive and Δmak-2 was hypersensitive to micafungin, a beta-1,3-glucan synthase inhibitor, than the wild-type or Δos-2 strains. We identified six micafungin-inducible genes that are involved in cell wall integrity (CWI) and found that MAK-1 regulated the transcription of non-anchored cell wall protein gene, ncw-1, and the beta-1,3-endoglucanase gene, bgt-2, whereas MAK-2 controlled the expression of the glycosylhydrolase-like protein gene, gh76-5, and the C4-dicarboxylate transporter gene, tdt-1. Western blotting analysis revealed that, in the wild-type strain, MAK-1 was constitutively phosphorylated from conidial germination to hyphal development. In contrast, the phosphorylation of MAK-2 was growth phase-dependent, and micafungin induced the phosphorylation of unphosphorylated MAK-2. It should be noted that the phosphorylation of MAK-1 was virtually abolished in the Δmak-2 strain, but was significantly induced by micafungin, suggesting functional cross talk between MAK-1 and MAK-2 signalling pathway in CWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Kamei
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Toyo University, Oura-gun, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Fumiyasu Fukumori
- Faculty of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University, Oura-gun, Japan
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108
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Herold I, Yarden O. Regulation of Neurospora crassa cell wall remodeling via the cot-1 pathway is mediated by gul-1. Curr Genet 2016; 63:145-159. [PMID: 27363849 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0625-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Impairment of the Neurospora crassa Nuclear DBF2-related kinase-encoding gene cot-1 results in pleiotropic effects, including abnormally thick hyphal cell walls and septa. An increase in the transcript abundance of genes encoding chitin and glucan synthases and the chitinase gh18-5, but not the cell wall integrity pathway transcription factor rlm-1, accompany the phenotypic changes observed. Deletion of chs-5 or chs-7 in a cot-1 background results in a reduction of hyperbranching frequency characteristic of the cot-1 parent. gul-1 (a homologue of the yeast SSD1 gene) encodes a translational regulator and has been shown to partially suppress cot-1. We demonstrate that the high expression levels of the cell wall remodeling genes analyzed is curbed, and reaches near wild type levels, when gul-1 is inactivated. This is accompanied by morphological changes that include reduced cell wall thickness and restoration of normal chitin levels. We conclude that gul-1 is a mediator of cell wall remodeling within the cot-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Herold
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 7610000, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Oded Yarden
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 7610000, Rehovot, Israel.
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109
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Abstract
The eukaryotic filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa has proven to be a durable and dependable model system for the analysis of the cellular and molecular bases of circadian rhythms. Pioneering genetic analyses identified clock genes, and beginning with the cloning of frequency ( frq), work over the past 2 decades has revealed the molecular basis of a core circadian clock feedback loop that has illuminated our understanding of circadian oscillators in microbes, plants, and animals. In this transcription/translation-based feedback loop, a heterodimer of the White Collar-1 (WC-1) and WC-2 proteins acts both as the circadian photoreceptor and, in the dark, as a transcription factor that promotes the expression of the frq gene. FRQ dimerizes and feeds back to block the activity of its activators (making a negative feedback loop), as well as feeding forward to promote the synthesis of its activator, WC-1. Phosphorylation of FRQ by several kinases leads to its ubiquitination and turnover, releasing the WC-1/WC-2 dimer to reactivate frq expression and restart the circadian cycle. Light resetting of the clock can be understood through the rapid light induction of frq expression and temperature resetting through the influence of elevated temperaturesin driving higher levels of FRQ. Several FRQ- and WC-independent, noncircadian FRQ-less oscillators (FLOs) have been described, each of which appears to regulate aspects of Neurospora growth or development. Overall, the FRQ/white collar complex feedback loop appears to coordinate the circadian system through its activity to regulate downstream-target clock-controlled genes, either directly or via regulation of driven FLOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay C Dunlap
- Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hannover, NH 03755-3844, USA.
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The SEB-1 Transcription Factor Binds to the STRE Motif in Neurospora crassa and Regulates a Variety of Cellular Processes Including the Stress Response and Reserve Carbohydrate Metabolism. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:1327-43. [PMID: 26994287 PMCID: PMC4856084 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.028506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
When exposed to stress conditions, all cells induce mechanisms resulting in an attempt to adapt to stress that involve proteins which, once activated, trigger cell responses by modulating specific signaling pathways. In this work, using a combination of pulldown assays and mass spectrometry analyses, we identified the Neurospora crassa SEB-1 transcription factor that binds to the Stress Response Element (STRE) under heat stress. Orthologs of SEB-1 have been functionally characterized in a few filamentous fungi as being involved in stress responses; however, the molecular mechanisms mediated by this transcription factor may not be conserved. Here, we provide evidences for the involvement of N. crassa SEB-1 in multiple cellular processes, including response to heat, as well as osmotic and oxidative stress. The Δseb-1 strain displayed reduced growth under these conditions, and genes encoding stress-responsive proteins were differentially regulated in the Δseb-1 strain grown under the same conditions. In addition, the SEB-1-GFP protein translocated from the cytosol to the nucleus under heat, osmotic, and oxidative stress conditions. SEB-1 also regulates the metabolism of the reserve carbohydrates glycogen and trehalose under heat stress, suggesting an interconnection between metabolism control and this environmental condition. We demonstrated that SEB-1 binds in vivo to the promoters of genes encoding glycogen metabolism enzymes and regulates their expression. A genome-wide transcriptional profile of the Δseb-1 strain under heat stress was determined by RNA-seq, and a broad range of cellular processes was identified that suggests a role for SEB-1 as a protein interconnecting these mechanisms.
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111
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Su X, Schmitz G, Zhang M, Mackie RI, Cann IKO. Heterologous gene expression in filamentous fungi. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2016; 81:1-61. [PMID: 22958526 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394382-8.00001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are critical to production of many commercial enzymes and organic compounds. Fungal-based systems have several advantages over bacterial-based systems for protein production because high-level secretion of enzymes is a common trait of their decomposer lifestyle. Furthermore, in the large-scale production of recombinant proteins of eukaryotic origin, the filamentous fungi become the vehicle of choice due to critical processes shared in gene expression with other eukaryotic organisms. The complexity and relative dearth of understanding of the physiology of filamentous fungi, compared to bacteria, have hindered rapid development of these organisms as highly efficient factories for the production of heterologous proteins. In this review, we highlight several of the known benefits and challenges in using filamentous fungi (particularly Aspergillus spp., Trichoderma reesei, and Neurospora crassa) for the production of proteins, especially heterologous, nonfungal enzymes. We review various techniques commonly employed in recombinant protein production in the filamentous fungi, including transformation methods, selection of gene regulatory elements such as promoters, protein secretion factors such as the signal peptide, and optimization of coding sequence. We provide insights into current models of host genomic defenses such as repeat-induced point mutation and quelling. Furthermore, we examine the regulatory effects of transcript sequences, including introns and untranslated regions, pre-mRNA (messenger RNA) processing, transcript transport, and mRNA stability. We anticipate that this review will become a resource for researchers who aim at advancing the use of these fascinating organisms as protein production factories, for both academic and industrial purposes, and also for scientists with general interest in the biology of the filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Su
- Energy Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Equal contribution
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112
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Assessing the relevance of light for fungi: Implications and insights into the network of signal transmission. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2016; 76:27-78. [PMID: 21924971 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-387048-3.00002-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Light represents an important environmental cue, which provides information enabling fungi to prepare and react to the different ambient conditions between day and night. This adaptation requires both anticipation of the changing conditions, which is accomplished by daily rhythmicity of gene expression brought about by the circadian clock, and reaction to sudden illumination. Besides perception of the light signal, also integration of this signal with other environmental cues, most importantly nutrient availability, necessitates light-dependent regulation of signal transduction pathways and metabolic pathways. An influence of light and/or the circadian clock is known for the cAMP pathway, heterotrimeric G-protein signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinases, two-component phosphorelays, and Ca(2+) signaling. Moreover, also the target of rapamycin signaling pathway and reactive oxygen species as signal transducing elements are assumed to be connected to the light-response pathway. The interplay of the light-response pathway with signaling cascades results in light-dependent regulation of primary and secondary metabolism, morphology, development, biocontrol activity, and virulence. The frequent use of fungi in biotechnology as well as analysis of fungi in the artificial environment of a laboratory therefore requires careful consideration of still operative evolutionary heritage of these organisms. This review summarizes the diverse effects of light on fungi and the mechanisms they apply to deal both with the information content and with the harmful properties of light. Additionally, the implications of the reaction of fungi to light in a laboratory environment for experimental work and industrial applications are discussed.
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113
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Shao W, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Lv C, Ren W, Chen C. Involvement of BcStr2 in methionine biosynthesis, vegetative differentiation, multiple stress tolerance and virulence in Botrytis cinerea. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2016; 17:438-47. [PMID: 26176995 PMCID: PMC6638451 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Str2 gene encodes a cystathionine γ-synthase that is a key enzyme in methionine (Met) biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Met plays a critical role in protein synthesis and diverse cellular processes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In this study, we characterized the Str2 orthologue gene BcStr2 in Botrytis cinerea. The BcStr2 mutant was unable to grow on minimal medium (MM). In addition, conidia of the mutant were unable to germinate in water-agar medium within 15 h of incubation. Supplementation with 1 mm Met or 0.5 mg/mL homocysteine, but not 1 mm cysteine or 0.5 mg/mL glutathione, rescued the defect in mycelial growth of the BcStr2 deletion mutant. These results indicate that the enzyme encoded by BcStr2 is involved in the conversion of cysteine into homocysteine. The mutant exhibited decreased conidiation and impaired sclerotium development. In addition, the BcStr2 mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, cell wall-damaging agents and thermal stress. The mutant demonstrated dramatically decreased virulence on host plant tissues. All of the defects were restored by genetic complementation of the mutant with wild-type BcStr2. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that BcStr2 plays a critical role in the regulation of various cellular processes in B. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyong Shao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yalan Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Chiyuan Lv
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Weichao Ren
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Changjun Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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114
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De novo genome assembly and annotation of rice sheath rot fungus Sarocladium oryzae reveals genes involved in Helvolic acid and Cerulenin biosynthesis pathways. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:271. [PMID: 27036298 PMCID: PMC4815069 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2599-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sheath rot disease caused by Sarocladium oryzae is an emerging threat for rice cultivation at global level. However, limited information with respect to genomic resources and pathogenesis is a major setback to develop disease management strategies. Considering this fact, we sequenced the whole genome of highly virulent Sarocladium oryzae field isolate, Saro-13 with 82x sequence depth. Results The genome size of S. oryzae was 32.78 Mb with contig N50 18.07 Kb and 10526 protein coding genes. The functional annotation of protein coding genes revealed that S. oryzae genome has evolved with many expanded gene families of major super family, proteinases, zinc finger proteins, sugar transporters, dehydrogenases/reductases, cytochrome P450, WD domain G-beta repeat and FAD-binding proteins. Gene orthology analysis showed that around 79.80 % of S. oryzae genes were orthologous to other Ascomycetes fungi. The polyketide synthase dehydratase, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, amine oxidases, and aldehyde dehydrogenase family proteins were duplicated in larger proportion specifying the adaptive gene duplications to varying environmental conditions. Thirty-nine secondary metabolite gene clusters encoded for polyketide synthases, nonribosomal peptide synthase, and terpene cyclases. Protein homology based analysis indicated that nine putative candidate genes were found to be involved in helvolic acid biosynthesis pathway. The genes were arranged in cluster and structural organization of gene cluster was similar to helvolic acid biosynthesis cluster in Metarhizium anisophilae. Around 9.37 % of S. oryzae genes were identified as pathogenicity genes, which are experimentally proven in other phytopathogenic fungi and enlisted in pathogen-host interaction database. In addition, we also report 13212 simple sequences repeats (SSRs) which can be deployed in pathogen identification and population dynamic studies in near future. Conclusions Large set of pathogenicity determinants and putative genes involved in helvolic acid and cerulenin biosynthesis will have broader implications with respect to Sarocladium disease biology. This is the first genome sequencing report globally and the genomic resources developed from this study will have wider impact worldwide to understand Rice-Sarocladium interaction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2599-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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115
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de Man TJB, Stajich JE, Kubicek CP, Teiling C, Chenthamara K, Atanasova L, Druzhinina IS, Levenkova N, Birnbaum SSL, Barribeau SM, Bozick BA, Suen G, Currie CR, Gerardo NM. Small genome of the fungus Escovopsis weberi, a specialized disease agent of ant agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:3567-72. [PMID: 26976598 PMCID: PMC4822581 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1518501113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many microorganisms with specialized lifestyles have reduced genomes. This is best understood in beneficial bacterial symbioses, where partner fidelity facilitates loss of genes necessary for living independently. Specialized microbial pathogens may also exhibit gene loss relative to generalists. Here, we demonstrate that Escovopsis weberi, a fungal parasite of the crops of fungus-growing ants, has a reduced genome in terms of both size and gene content relative to closely related but less specialized fungi. Although primary metabolism genes have been retained, the E. weberi genome is depleted in carbohydrate active enzymes, which is consistent with reliance on a host with these functions. E. weberi has also lost genes considered necessary for sexual reproduction. Contrasting these losses, the genome encodes unique secondary metabolite biosynthesis clusters, some of which include genes that exhibit up-regulated expression during host attack. Thus, the specialized nature of the interaction between Escovopsis and ant agriculture is reflected in the parasite's genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom J B de Man
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Christian P Kubicek
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Komal Chenthamara
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lea Atanasova
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Irina S Druzhinina
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Seth M Barribeau
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322; Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858
| | | | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Cameron R Currie
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
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116
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The Fast-Evolving phy-2 Gene Modulates Sexual Development in Response to Light in the Model Fungus Neurospora crassa. mBio 2016; 7:e02148. [PMID: 26956589 PMCID: PMC4810495 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02148-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid responses to changes in incident light are critical to the guidance of behavior and development in most species. Phytochrome light receptors in particular play key roles in bacterial physiology and plant development, but their functions and regulation are less well understood in fungi. Nevertheless, genome-wide expression measurements provide key information that can guide experiments that reveal how genes respond to environmental signals and clarify their role in development. We performed functional genomic and phenotypic analyses of the two phytochromes in Neurospora crassa, a fungal model adapted to a postfire environment that experiences dramatically variable light conditions. Expression of phy-1 and phy-2 was low in early sexual development and in the case of phy-2 increased in late sexual development. Under light stimulation, strains with the phytochromes deleted exhibited increased expression of sexual development-related genes. Moreover, under red light, the phy-2 knockout strain commenced sexual development early. In the evolution of phytochromes within ascomycetes, at least two duplications have occurred, and the faster-evolving phy-2 gene has frequently been lost. Additionally, the three key cysteine sites that are critical for bacterial and plant phytochrome function are not conserved within fungal phy-2 homologs. Through the action of phytochromes, transitions between asexual and sexual reproduction are modulated by light level and light quality, presumably as an adaptation for fast asexual growth and initiation of sexual reproduction of N. crassa in exposed postfire ecosystems. Environmental signals, including light, play critical roles in regulating fungal growth and pathogenicity, and balance of asexual and sexual reproduction is critical in fungal pathogens’ incidence, virulence, and distribution. Red light sensing by phytochromes is well known to play critical roles in bacterial physiology and plant development. Homologs of phytochromes were first discovered in the fungal model Neurospora crassa and then subsequently in diverse other fungi, including many plant pathogens. Our study investigated the evolution of red light sensors in ascomycetes and confirmed—using the model fungus Neurospora crassa—their roles in modulating the asexual-sexual reproduction balance in fungi. Our findings also provide a key insight into one of the most poorly understood aspects of fungal biology, suggesting that further study of the function of phytochromes in fungi is critical to reveal the genetic basis of the asexual-sexual switch responsible for fungal growth and distribution, including diverse and destructive plant pathogens.
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Schmoll M, Dattenböck C, Carreras-Villaseñor N, Mendoza-Mendoza A, Tisch D, Alemán MI, Baker SE, Brown C, Cervantes-Badillo MG, Cetz-Chel J, Cristobal-Mondragon GR, Delaye L, Esquivel-Naranjo EU, Frischmann A, Gallardo-Negrete JDJ, García-Esquivel M, Gomez-Rodriguez EY, Greenwood DR, Hernández-Oñate M, Kruszewska JS, Lawry R, Mora-Montes HM, Muñoz-Centeno T, Nieto-Jacobo MF, Nogueira Lopez G, Olmedo-Monfil V, Osorio-Concepcion M, Piłsyk S, Pomraning KR, Rodriguez-Iglesias A, Rosales-Saavedra MT, Sánchez-Arreguín JA, Seidl-Seiboth V, Stewart A, Uresti-Rivera EE, Wang CL, Wang TF, Zeilinger S, Casas-Flores S, Herrera-Estrella A. The Genomes of Three Uneven Siblings: Footprints of the Lifestyles of Three Trichoderma Species. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2016; 80:205-327. [PMID: 26864432 PMCID: PMC4771370 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00040-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Trichoderma contains fungi with high relevance for humans, with applications in enzyme production for plant cell wall degradation and use in biocontrol. Here, we provide a broad, comprehensive overview of the genomic content of these species for "hot topic" research aspects, including CAZymes, transport, transcription factors, and development, along with a detailed analysis and annotation of less-studied topics, such as signal transduction, genome integrity, chromatin, photobiology, or lipid, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolism in T. reesei, T. atroviride, and T. virens, and we open up new perspectives to those topics discussed previously. In total, we covered more than 2,000 of the predicted 9,000 to 11,000 genes of each Trichoderma species discussed, which is >20% of the respective gene content. Additionally, we considered available transcriptome data for the annotated genes. Highlights of our analyses include overall carbohydrate cleavage preferences due to the different genomic contents and regulation of the respective genes. We found light regulation of many sulfur metabolic genes. Additionally, a new Golgi 1,2-mannosidase likely involved in N-linked glycosylation was detected, as were indications for the ability of Trichoderma spp. to generate hybrid galactose-containing N-linked glycans. The genomic inventory of effector proteins revealed numerous compounds unique to Trichoderma, and these warrant further investigation. We found interesting expansions in the Trichoderma genus in several signaling pathways, such as G-protein-coupled receptors, RAS GTPases, and casein kinases. A particularly interesting feature absolutely unique to T. atroviride is the duplication of the alternative sulfur amino acid synthesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Schmoll
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | - Christoph Dattenböck
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | | | | | - Doris Tisch
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Ivan Alemán
- Cinvestav, Department of Genetic Engineering, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Scott E Baker
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Christopher Brown
- University of Otago, Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - José Cetz-Chel
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Luis Delaye
- Cinvestav, Department of Genetic Engineering, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Alexa Frischmann
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Monica García-Esquivel
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - David R Greenwood
- The University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Miguel Hernández-Oñate
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Joanna S Kruszewska
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Laboratory of Fungal Glycobiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Lawry
- Lincoln University, Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sebastian Piłsyk
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Laboratory of Fungal Glycobiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kyle R Pomraning
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Aroa Rodriguez-Iglesias
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | | | | | - Verena Seidl-Seiboth
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Chih-Li Wang
- National Chung-Hsing University, Department of Plant Pathology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Fang Wang
- Academia Sinica, Institute of Molecular Biology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susanne Zeilinger
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria University of Innsbruck, Institute of Microbiology, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
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118
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The Renaissance of Neurospora crassa: How a Classical Model System is Used for Applied Research. Fungal Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27951-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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119
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120
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Basenko EY, Kamei M, Ji L, Schmitz RJ, Lewis ZA. The LSH/DDM1 Homolog MUS-30 Is Required for Genome Stability, but Not for DNA Methylation in Neurospora crassa. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1005790. [PMID: 26771905 PMCID: PMC4714748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
LSH/DDM1 enzymes are required for DNA methylation in higher eukaryotes and have poorly defined roles in genome maintenance in yeast, plants, and animals. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a tractable system that encodes a single LSH/DDM1 homolog (NCU06306). We report that the Neurospora LSH/DDM1 enzyme is encoded by mutagen sensitive-30 (mus-30), a locus identified in a genetic screen over 25 years ago. We show that MUS-30-deficient cells have normal DNA methylation, but are hypersensitive to DNA damaging agents. MUS-30 is a nuclear protein, consistent with its predicted role as a chromatin remodeling enzyme, and levels of MUS-30 are increased following DNA damage. MUS-30 co-purifies with Neurospora WDR76, a homolog of yeast Changed Mutation Rate-1 and mammalian WD40 repeat domain 76. Deletion of wdr76 rescued DNA damage-hypersensitivity of Δmus-30 strains, demonstrating that the MUS-30-WDR76 interaction is functionally important. DNA damage-sensitivity of Δmus-30 is partially suppressed by deletion of methyl adenine glycosylase-1, a component of the base excision repair machinery (BER); however, the rate of BER is not affected in Δmus-30 strains. We found that MUS-30-deficient cells are not defective for DSB repair, and we observed a negative genetic interaction between Δmus-30 and Δmei-3, the Neurospora RAD51 homolog required for homologous recombination. Together, our findings suggest that MUS-30, an LSH/DDM1 homolog, is required to prevent DNA damage arising from toxic base excision repair intermediates. Overall, our study provides important new information about the functions of the LSH/DDM1 family of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Y. Basenko
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Masayuki Kamei
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Lexiang Ji
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Zachary A. Lewis
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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121
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Reuveni E, Leshkowitz D, Yarden O. BioCloneDB: A Database Application to Manage DNA Sequence and Gene Expression Data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 4:277-80. [PMID: 16309345 DOI: 10.2165/00822942-200504040-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED BioCloneDB is a user-friendly database with a web interface to assist molecular genetics laboratories in managing a local repository of sequence information linked to DNA clones. This tool is designed to assist in high-throughput sequence and gene expression projects, providing a link between both types of information. The unique feature of the application is the automation of batch sequence annotation following BLAST((R)) searches, which is supported by easy-to-use web interfaces. Furthermore, any set of sequences can be annotated against any sequence database. This replaces the need to perform and analyse individual web BLAST((R)) searches or the need to learn how to produce batch searches and perform analysis in a UNIX((R)) operating system. BioCloneDB is open-source software that can be installed on Linux or UNIX((R)) operating systems. To test the application, we used 1400 expressed sequence tags obtained from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. The results were analysed and compared with published results and they show a significant change due to the accumulation of the data in the nr database (ftp://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/blast/db/). AVAILABILITY BioCloneDB is available for academic use along with documentation, screenshots, database scheme and readme files at http://bioclonedb.agri.huji.ac.il/ CONTACT Oded Yarden (Oded.Yarden@huji.ac.il).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Reuveni
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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122
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Global Analysis of Predicted G Protein-Coupled Receptor Genes in the Filamentous Fungus, Neurospora crassa. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:2729-43. [PMID: 26464358 PMCID: PMC4683645 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.020974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
G protein−coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate facets of growth, development, and environmental sensing in eukaryotes, including filamentous fungi. The largest predicted GPCR class in these organisms is the Pth11-related, with members similar to a protein required for disease in the plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. However, the Pth11-related class has not been functionally studied in any filamentous fungal species. Here, we analyze phenotypes in available mutants for 36 GPCR genes, including 20 Pth11-related, in the model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. We also investigate patterns of gene expression for all 43 predicted GPCR genes in available datasets. A total of 17 mutants (47%) possessed at least one growth or developmental phenotype. We identified 18 mutants (56%) with chemical sensitivity or nutritional phenotypes (11 uniquely), bringing the total number of mutants with at least one defect to 28 (78%), including 15 mutants (75%) in the Pth11-related class. Gene expression trends for GPCR genes correlated with the phenotypes observed for many mutants and also suggested overlapping functions for several groups of co-transcribed genes. Several members of the Pth11-related class have phenotypes and/or are differentially expressed on cellulose, suggesting a possible role for this gene family in plant cell wall sensing or utilization.
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123
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Characterization of a Novel Prevacuolar Compartment in Neurospora crassa. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2015; 14:1253-63. [PMID: 26453652 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00128-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Using confocal microscopy, we observed ring-like organelles, similar in size to nuclei, in the hyphal tip of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. These organelles contained a subset of vacuolar proteins. We hypothesize that they are novel prevacuolar compartments (PVCs). We examined the locations of several vacuolar enzymes and of fluorescent compounds that target the vacuole. Vacuolar membrane proteins, such as the vacuolar ATPase (VMA-1) and the polyphosphate polymerase (VTC-4), were observed in the PVCs. A pigment produced by adenine auxotrophs, used to visualize vacuoles, also accumulated in PVCs. Soluble enzymes of the vacuolar lumen, alkaline phosphatase and carboxypeptidase Y, were not observed in PVCs. The fluorescent molecule Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid diacetate, succinimidyl ester (carboxy-DFFDA) accumulated in vacuoles and in a subset of PVCs, suggesting maturation of PVCs from the tip to distal regions. Three of the nine Rab GTPases in N. crassa, RAB-2, RAB-4, and RAB-7, localized to the PVCs. RAB-2 and RAB-4, which have similar amino acid sequences, are present in filamentous fungi but not in yeasts, and no function has previously been reported for these Rab GTPases in fungi. PVCs are highly pleomorphic, producing tubular projections that subsequently become detached. Dynein and dynactin formed globular clusters enclosed inside the lumen of PVCs. The size, structure, dynamic behavior, and protein composition of the PVCs appear to be significantly different from those of the well-studied prevacuolar compartment of yeasts.
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124
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Jiang C, Xu JR, Liu H. Distinct cell cycle regulation during saprophytic and pathogenic growth in fungal pathogens. Curr Genet 2015; 62:185-9. [PMID: 26337287 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0515-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In a number of dimorphic and hemibiotrophic pathogens, cell cycle regulation has been shown to be important for morphological changes related to infectious growth or infection-related morphogenesis. However, the role of mitotic CDK kinase Cdc2, the key regulator of cell cycle, in pathogenic growth is not clear, because most fungal pathogens have a single CDC2 gene that is essential for cell cycle progression and viability. Interestingly, the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum has two CDC2 genes. Although CDC2A and CDC2B have redundant functions in vegetative growth and asexual production, only CDC2A is required for invasive growth and plant infection. In this study, we showed that Cdc2A and Cdc2B interacted with each other and may form homo- and heterodimers in vegetative hyphae. We also identified sequence and structural differences between Cdc2A and Cdc2B that may be related to their functional divergence. These results, together with earlier studies with cyclins, important for differentiation and infection in Candida albicans and Ustilago maydis, indicated that dimorphic and hemibiotrophic fungal pathogens may have stage-specific cyclin-CDK combinations or CDK targets during saprophytic and pathogenic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.,Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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125
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Wirsing L, Klawonn F, Sassen WA, Lünsdorf H, Probst C, Hust M, Mendel RR, Kruse T, Jänsch L. Linear Discriminant Analysis Identifies Mitochondrially Localized Proteins in Neurospora crassa. J Proteome Res 2015. [PMID: 26215788 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Besides their role as powerhouses, mitochondria play a pivotal role in the spatial organization of numerous enzymatic functions. They are connected to the ER, and many pathways are organized through the mitochondrial membranes. Thus, the precise definition of mitochondrial proteomes remains a challenging task. Here, we have established a proteomic strategy to accurately determine the mitochondrial localization of proteins from the fungal model organism Neurospora crassa. This strategy relies on both highly pure mitochondria as well as the quantitative monitoring of mitochondrial components along their consecutive enrichment. Pure intact mitochondria were obtained by a multistep approach combining differential and density Percoll (ultra) centrifugations. When compared with three other intermediate enrichment stages, peptide sequencing and quantitative profiling of pure mitochondrial fractions revealed prototypic regulatory profiles of per se mitochondrial components. These regulatory profiles constitute a distinct cluster defining the mitochondrial compartment and support linear discriminant analyses, which rationalized the annotation process. In total, this approach experimentally validated the mitochondrial localization of 512 proteins including 57 proteins that had not been reported for N. crassa before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisette Wirsing
- Cellular Proteomics Research Group, §Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Frank Klawonn
- Cellular Proteomics Research Group, §Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences , 38302 Wolfenbüttel, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lothar Jänsch
- Cellular Proteomics Research Group, §Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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126
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Montenegro-Montero A, Goity A, Larrondo LF. The bZIP Transcription Factor HAC-1 Is Involved in the Unfolded Protein Response and Is Necessary for Growth on Cellulose in Neurospora crassa. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131415. [PMID: 26132395 PMCID: PMC4488935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
High protein secretion capacity in filamentous fungi requires an extremely efficient system for protein synthesis, folding and transport. When the folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is exceeded, a pathway known as the unfolded protein response (UPR) is triggered, allowing cells to mitigate and cope with this stress. In yeast, this pathway relies on the transcription factor Hac1, which mediates the up-regulation of several genes required under these stressful conditions. In this work, we identified and characterized the ortholog of the yeast HAC1 gene in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. We show that its mRNA undergoes an ER stress-dependent splicing reaction, which in N. crassa removes a 23 nt intron and leads to a change in the open reading frame. By disrupting the N. crassa hac-1 gene, we determined it to be crucial for activating UPR and for proper growth in the presence of ER stress-inducing chemical agents. Neurospora is naturally found growing on dead plant material, composed primarily by lignocellulose, and is a model organism for the study of plant cell wall deconstruction. Notably, we found that growth on cellulose, a substrate that requires secretion of numerous enzymes, imposes major demands on ER function and is dramatically impaired in the absence of hac-1, thus broadening the range of physiological functions of the UPR in filamentous fungi. Growth on hemicellulose however, another carbon source that necessitates the secretion of various enzymes for its deconstruction, is not impaired in the mutant nor is the amount of proteins secreted on this substrate, suggesting that secretion, as a whole, is unaltered in the absence of hac-1. The characterization of this signaling pathway in N. crassa will help in the study of plant cell wall deconstruction by fungi and its manipulation may result in important industrial biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Montenegro-Montero
- Millennium Nucleus for Fungal Integrative and Synthetic Biology, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Goity
- Millennium Nucleus for Fungal Integrative and Synthetic Biology, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis F. Larrondo
- Millennium Nucleus for Fungal Integrative and Synthetic Biology, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail:
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127
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Liu H, Zhang S, Ma J, Dai Y, Li C, Lyu X, Wang C, Xu JR. Two Cdc2 Kinase Genes with Distinct Functions in Vegetative and Infectious Hyphae in Fusarium graminearum. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004913. [PMID: 26083253 PMCID: PMC4470668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cell cycle involves a number of protein kinases important for the onset and progression through mitosis, most of which are well characterized in the budding and fission yeasts and conserved in other fungi. However, unlike the model yeast and filamentous fungi that have a single Cdc2 essential for cell cycle progression, the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum contains two CDC2 orthologs. The cdc2A and cdc2B mutants had no obvious defects in growth rate and conidiation but deletion of both of them is lethal, indicating that these two CDC2 orthologs have redundant functions during vegetative growth and asexual reproduction. However, whereas the cdc2B mutant was normal, the cdc2A mutant was significantly reduced in virulence and rarely produced ascospores. Although deletion of CDC2A had no obvious effect on the formation of penetration branches or hyphopodia, the cdc2A mutant was limited in the differentiation and growth of infectious growth in wheat tissues. Therefore, CDC2A plays stage-specific roles in cell cycle regulation during infectious growth and sexual reproduction. Both CDC2A and CDC2B are constitutively expressed but only CDC2A was up-regulated during plant infection and ascosporogenesis. Localization of Cdc2A- GFP to the nucleus but not Cdc2B-GFP was observed in vegetative hyphae, ascospores, and infectious hyphae. Complementation assays with chimeric fusion constructs showed that both the N- and C-terminal regions of Cdc2A are important for its functions in pathogenesis and ascosporogenesis but only the N-terminal region is important for its subcellular localization. Among the Sordariomycetes, only three Fusarium species closely related to F. graminearum have two CDC2 genes. Furthermore, F. graminearum uniquely has two Aurora kinase genes and one additional putative cyclin gene, and its orthologs of CAK1 and other four essential mitotic kinases in the budding yeast are dispensable for viability. Overall, our data indicate that cell cycle regulation is different between vegetative and infectious hyphae in F. graminearum and Cdc2A, possibly by interacting with a stage-specific cyclin, plays a more important role than Cdc2B during ascosporogenesis and plant infection. In the model yeasts and filamentous fungi, CDC2 is an essential gene that encodes the only CDK essential for mitotic cell cycle progression. However, the wheat scab fungus F. graminearum contains two CDC2 orthologs. The cdc2A and cdc2B deletion mutants had no defects in vegetative growth but deletion of both is lethal. Whereas the cdc2B mutant was normal, the cdc2A mutant was almost non-pathogenic, indicating that only Cdc2A is essential in infectious hyphae. Cdc2A and Cdc2B differ in subcellular localization and only localization of Cdc2A to the nucleus was increased in cells active in mitosis. Furthermore, F. graminearum uniquely has two orthologs of Ipl1 Aurora kinase and mutants deleted of orthologs of five essential yeast mitotic kinase genes were viable. However, most of these mutants were significantly reduced in virulence. Overall, our data indicate that F. graminearum differs from the model fungi in CDK and other key mitotic kinase genes, and cell cycle regulation is different between vegetative and infectious hyphae. This is the first report on two Cdc2 kinases in fungi and they differ in subcellular localization and functions during sexual reproduction and plant infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Shijie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiwen Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yafeng Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chaohui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xueliang Lyu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Chenfang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Miao Y, Liu D, Li G, Li P, Xu Y, Shen Q, Zhang R. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of a superior biomass-degrading strain of A. fumigatus revealed active lignocellulose-degrading genes. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:459. [PMID: 26076650 PMCID: PMC4469458 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1658-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Various saprotrophic microorganisms, especially filamentous fungi, can efficiently degrade lignocellulose that is one of the most abundant natural materials on earth. It consists of complex carbohydrates and aromatic polymers found in the plant cell wall and thus in plant debris. Aspergillus fumigatus Z5 was isolated from compost heaps and showed highly efficient plant biomass-degradation capability. Results The 29-million base-pair genome of Z5 was sequenced and 9540 protein-coding genes were predicted and annotated. Genome analysis revealed an impressive array of genes encoding cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases involved in lignocellulosic biomass degradation. Transcriptional responses of A. fumigatus Z5 induced by sucrose, oat spelt xylan, Avicel PH-101 and rice straw were compared. There were 444, 1711 and 1386 significantly differently expressed genes in xylan, cellulose and rice straw, respectively, when compared to sucrose as a control condition. Conclusions Combined analysis of the genomic and transcriptomic data provides a comprehensive understanding of the responding mechanisms to the most abundant natural polysaccharides in A. fumigatus. This study provides a basis for further analysis of genes shown to be highly induced in the presence of polysaccharide substrates and also the information which could prove useful for biomass degradation and heterologous protein expression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1658-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youzhi Miao
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Dongyang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Guangqi Li
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Pan Li
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
| | - Ruifu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China. .,Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, P.R. China.
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Winkelströter LK, Dolan SK, Fernanda Dos Reis T, Bom VLP, Alves de Castro P, Hagiwara D, Alowni R, Jones GW, Doyle S, Brown NA, Goldman GH. Systematic Global Analysis of Genes Encoding Protein Phosphatases in Aspergillus fumigatus. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2015; 5:1525-39. [PMID: 25943523 PMCID: PMC4502386 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.016766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal pathogen that causes several invasive and noninvasive diseases named aspergillosis. This disease is generally regarded as multifactorial, considering that several pathogenicity determinants are present during the establishment of this illness. It is necessary to obtain an increased knowledge of how, and which, A. fumigatus signal transduction pathways are engaged in the regulation of these processes. Protein phosphatases are essential to several signal transduction pathways. We identified 32 phosphatase catalytic subunit-encoding genes in A. fumigatus, of which we were able to construct 24 viable deletion mutants. The role of nine phosphatase mutants in the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response) pathway was evaluated by measuring phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK (SakA) and expression of osmo-dependent genes. We were also able to identify 11 phosphatases involved in iron assimilation, six that are related to gliotoxin resistance, and three implicated in gliotoxin production. These results present the creation of a fundamental resource for the study of signaling in A. fumigatus and its implications in the regulation of pathogenicity determinants and virulence in this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizziane K Winkelströter
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Stephen K Dolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Thaila Fernanda Dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Leite Pedro Bom
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8673, Japan
| | - Raneem Alowni
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Gary W Jones
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Neil Andrew Brown
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 13083-970 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil National Laboratory of Science and Technology of Bioethanol (CTBE), 13083-970 Campinas, Brazil
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130
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Functional Analysis of Developmentally Regulated Genes chs7 and sec22 in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:1233-45. [PMID: 25873638 PMCID: PMC4478551 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.017681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
During sexual development, filamentous ascomycetes form complex, three-dimensional fruiting bodies for the generation and dispersal of spores. In previous studies, we identified genes with evolutionary conserved expression patterns during fruiting body formation in several fungal species. Here, we present the functional analysis of two developmentally up-regulated genes, chs7 and sec22, in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The genes encode a class VII (division III) chitin synthase and a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, respectively. Deletion mutants of chs7 had normal vegetative growth and were fully fertile but showed sensitivity toward cell wall stress. Deletion of sec22 resulted in a reduced number of ascospores and in defects in ascospore pigmentation and germination, whereas vegetative growth was normal in the mutant. A SEC22-EGFP fusion construct under control of the native sec22 promoter and terminator regions was expressed during different stages of sexual development. Expression of several development-related genes was deregulated in the sec22 mutant, including three genes involved in melanin biosynthesis. Our data indicate that chs7 is dispensable for fruiting body formation in S. macrospora, whereas sec22 is required for ascospore maturation and germination and thus involved in late stages of sexual development.
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131
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Borchani C, Fonteyn F, Jamin G, Destain J, Willems L, Paquot M, Blecker C, Thonart P. Structural Characterization, Technological Functionality, and Physiological Aspects of Fungal β-D-glucans: A Review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2015; 56:1746-52. [DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2013.854733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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132
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Rigamonti M, Groppi S, Belotti F, Ambrosini R, Filippi G, Martegani E, Tisi R. Hypotonic stress-induced calcium signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves TRP-like transporters on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Cell Calcium 2015; 57:57-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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133
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Fajardo-Somera RA, Jöhnk B, Bayram Ö, Valerius O, Braus GH, Riquelme M. Dissecting the function of the different chitin synthases in vegetative growth and sexual development in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 75:30-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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134
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Barman A, Tamuli R. Multiple cellular roles of Neurospora crassa plc-1, splA2, and cpe-1 in regulation of cytosolic free calcium, carotenoid accumulation, stress responses, and acquisition of thermotolerance. J Microbiol 2015; 53:226-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-4465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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135
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Montenegro-Montero A, Canessa P, Larrondo LF. Around the Fungal Clock. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2015; 92:107-84. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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136
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Suzuki K, Inoue H. Recombination and Gene Targeting in Neurospora. Fungal Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-10142-2_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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137
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Sánchez-León E, Bowman B, Seidel C, Fischer R, Novick P, Riquelme M. The Rab GTPase YPT-1 associates with Golgi cisternae and Spitzenkörper microvesicles inNeurospora crassa. Mol Microbiol 2014; 95:472-90. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eddy Sánchez-León
- Department of Microbiology; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE); Ensenada Baja California Mexico
| | - Barry Bowman
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology; University of California; Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Constanze Seidel
- Department of Applied Microbiology; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Applied Microbiology; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Karlsruhe Germany
| | - Peter Novick
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE); Ensenada Baja California Mexico
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138
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Dettmann A, Heilig Y, Valerius O, Ludwig S, Seiler S. Fungal communication requires the MAK-2 pathway elements STE-20 and RAS-2, the NRC-1 adapter STE-50 and the MAP kinase scaffold HAM-5. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004762. [PMID: 25411845 PMCID: PMC4239118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercellular communication is critical for the survival of unicellular organisms as well as for the development and function of multicellular tissues. Cell-to-cell signaling is also required to develop the interconnected mycelial network characteristic of filamentous fungi and is a prerequisite for symbiotic and pathogenic host colonization achieved by molds. Somatic cell–cell communication and subsequent cell fusion is governed by the MAK-2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in the filamentous ascomycete model Neurospora crassa, yet the composition and mode of regulation of the MAK-2 pathway are currently unclear. In order to identify additional components involved in MAK-2 signaling we performed affinity purification experiments coupled to mass spectrometry with strains expressing functional GFP-fusion proteins of the MAPK cascade. This approach identified STE-50 as a regulatory subunit of the Ste11p homolog NRC-1 and HAM-5 as cell-communication-specific scaffold protein of the MAPK cascade. Moreover, we defined a network of proteins consisting of two Ste20-related kinases, the small GTPase RAS-2 and the adenylate cyclase capping protein CAP-1 that function upstream of the MAK-2 pathway and whose signals converge on the NRC-1/STE-50 MAP3K complex and the HAM-5 scaffold. Finally, our data suggest an involvement of the striatin interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex, the casein kinase 2 heterodimer, the phospholipid flippase modulators YPK-1 and NRC-2 and motor protein-dependent vesicle trafficking in the regulation of MAK-2 pathway activity and function. Taken together, these data will have significant implications for our mechanistic understanding of MAPK signaling and for homotypic cell–cell communication in fungi and higher eukaryotes. Appropriate cellular responses to external stimuli depend on the highly orchestrated activity of interconnected signaling cascades. One crucial level of control arises from the formation of discrete complexes through scaffold proteins that bind multiple components of a given pathway. Central for our understanding of these signaling platforms is the archetypical MAP kinase scaffold Ste5p, a protein that is restricted to budding yeast and close relatives. We identified HAM-5, a protein highly conserved in filamentous ascomycete fungi, as cell–cell communication-specific scaffold protein of the Neurospora crassa MAK-2 cascade (homologous to the budding yeast pheromone pathway). We also describe a network of upstream acting proteins, consisting of two Ste20-related kinases, the small G-protein RAS-2 and the adenylate cyclase capping protein CAP-1, whose signals converge on HAM-5. Our work has implications for the mechanistic understanding of MAP kinase scaffold proteins and their function during intercellular communication in eukaryotic microbes as well as higher eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Dettmann
- Institute for Biology II – Molecular Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Heilig
- Institute for Biology II – Molecular Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Ludwig
- Institute for Biology II – Molecular Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Seiler
- Institute for Biology II – Molecular Plant Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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139
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Short DPG, Gurung S, Hu X, Inderbitzin P, Subbarao KV. Maintenance of sex-related genes and the co-occurrence of both mating types in Verticillium dahliae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112145. [PMID: 25383550 PMCID: PMC4226480 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Verticillium dahliae is a cosmopolitan, soilborne fungus that causes a significant wilt disease on a wide variety of plant hosts including economically important crops, ornamentals, and timber species. Clonal expansion through asexual reproduction plays a vital role in recurring plant epidemics caused by this pathogen. The recent discovery of recombination between clonal lineages and preliminary investigations of the meiotic gene inventory of V. dahliae suggest that cryptic sex appears to be rare in this species. Here we expanded on previous findings on the sexual nature of V. dahliae. Only 1% of isolates in a global collection of 1120 phytopathogenic V. dahliae isolates contained the MAT1-1 idiomorph, whereas 99% contained MAT1-2. Nine unique multilocus microsatellite types comprised isolates of both mating types, eight of which were collected from the same substrate at the same time. Orthologs of 88 previously characterized sex-related genes from fungal model systems in the Ascoymycota were identified in the genome of V. dahliae, out of 93 genes investigated. Results of RT-PCR experiments using both mating types revealed that 10 arbitrarily chosen sex-related genes, including MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1, were constitutively expressed in V. dahliae cultures grown under laboratory conditions. Ratios of non-synonymous (amino-acid altering) to synonymous (silent) substitutions in V. dahliae MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 sequences were indistinguishable from the ratios observed in the MAT genes of sexual fungi in the Pezizomycotina. Patterns consistent with strong purifying selection were also observed in 18 other arbitrarily chosen V. dahliae sex-related genes, relative to the patterns in orthologs from fungi with known sexual stages. This study builds upon recent findings from other laboratories and mounts further evidence for an ancestral or cryptic sexual stage in V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan P. G. Short
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Salinas, CA, United States of America
| | - Suraj Gurung
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Salinas, CA, United States of America
| | - Xiaoping Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Patrik Inderbitzin
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Salinas, CA, United States of America
| | - Krishna V. Subbarao
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Salinas, CA, United States of America
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140
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van Munster JM, Daly P, Delmas S, Pullan ST, Blythe MJ, Malla S, Kokolski M, Noltorp ECM, Wennberg K, Fetherston R, Beniston R, Yu X, Dupree P, Archer DB. The role of carbon starvation in the induction of enzymes that degrade plant-derived carbohydrates in Aspergillus niger. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 72:34-47. [PMID: 24792495 PMCID: PMC4217149 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are an important source of enzymes for saccharification of plant polysaccharides and production of biofuels. Understanding of the regulation and induction of expression of genes encoding these enzymes is still incomplete. To explore the induction mechanism, we analysed the response of the industrially important fungus Aspergillus niger to wheat straw, with a focus on events occurring shortly after exposure to the substrate. RNA sequencing showed that the transcriptional response after 6h of exposure to wheat straw was very different from the response at 24h of exposure to the same substrate. For example, less than half of the genes encoding carbohydrate active enzymes that were induced after 24h of exposure to wheat straw, were also induced after 6h exposure. Importantly, over a third of the genes induced after 6h of exposure to wheat straw were also induced during 6h of carbon starvation, indicating that carbon starvation is probably an important factor in the early response to wheat straw. The up-regulation of the expression of a high number of genes encoding CAZymes that are active on plant-derived carbohydrates during early carbon starvation suggests that these enzymes could be involved in a scouting role during starvation, releasing inducing sugars from complex plant polysaccharides. We show, using proteomics, that carbon-starved cultures indeed release CAZymes with predicted activity on plant polysaccharides. Analysis of the enzymatic activity and the reaction products, indicates that these proteins are enzymes that can degrade various plant polysaccharides to generate both known, as well as potentially new, inducers of CAZymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda M van Munster
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Paul Daly
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Stéphane Delmas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Steven T Pullan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Martin J Blythe
- Deep Seq, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
| | - Sunir Malla
- Deep Seq, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
| | - Matthew Kokolski
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Emelie C M Noltorp
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Kristin Wennberg
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Richard Fetherston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Richard Beniston
- Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility biOMICS, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill Road, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK.
| | - Xiaolan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
| | - Paul Dupree
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
| | - David B Archer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
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141
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Chinnici JL, Fu C, Caccamise LM, Arnold JW, Free SJ. Neurospora crassa female development requires the PACC and other signal transduction pathways, transcription factors, chromatin remodeling, cell-to-cell fusion, and autophagy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110603. [PMID: 25333968 PMCID: PMC4204872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Using a screening protocol we have identified 68 genes that are required for female development in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. We find that we can divide these genes into five general groups: 1) Genes encoding components of the PACC signal transduction pathway, 2) Other signal transduction pathway genes, including genes from the three N. crassa MAP kinase pathways, 3) Transcriptional factor genes, 4) Autophagy genes, and 5) Other miscellaneous genes. Complementation and RIP studies verified that these genes are needed for the formation of the female mating structure, the protoperithecium, and for the maturation of a fertilized protoperithecium into a perithecium. Perithecia grafting experiments demonstrate that the autophagy genes and the cell-to-cell fusion genes (the MAK-1 and MAK-2 pathway genes) are needed for the mobilization and movement of nutrients from an established vegetative hyphal network into the developing protoperithecium. Deletion mutants for the PACC pathway genes palA, palB, palC, palF, palH, and pacC were found to be defective in two aspects of female development. First, they were unable to initiate female development on synthetic crossing medium. However, they could form protoperithecia when grown on cellophane, on corn meal agar, or in response to the presence of nearby perithecia. Second, fertilized perithecia from PACC pathway mutants were unable to produce asci and complete female development. Protein localization experiments with a GFP-tagged PALA construct showed that PALA was localized in a peripheral punctate pattern, consistent with a signaling center associated with the ESCRT complex. The N. crassa PACC signal transduction pathway appears to be similar to the PacC/Rim101 pathway previously characterized in Aspergillus nidulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In N. crassa the pathway plays a key role in regulating female development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Chinnici
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Ci Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Lauren M. Caccamise
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Arnold
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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142
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Lehr NA, Wang Z, Li N, Hewitt DA, López-Giráldez F, Trail F, Townsend JP. Gene expression differences among three Neurospora species reveal genes required for sexual reproduction in Neurospora crassa. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110398. [PMID: 25329823 PMCID: PMC4203796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many fungi form complex three-dimensional fruiting bodies, within which the meiotic machinery for sexual spore production has been considered to be largely conserved over evolutionary time. Indeed, much of what we know about meiosis in plant and animal taxa has been deeply informed by studies of meiosis in Saccharomyces and Neurospora. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of fruiting body development and its regulation in relation to meiosis in fungi is barely known, even within the best studied multicellular fungal model Neurospora crassa. We characterized morphological development and genome-wide transcriptomics in the closely related species Neurospora crassa, Neurospora tetrasperma, and Neurospora discreta, across eight stages of sexual development. Despite diverse life histories within the genus, all three species produce vase-shaped perithecia. Transcriptome sequencing provided gene expression levels of orthologous genes among all three species. Expression of key meiosis genes and sporulation genes corresponded to known phenotypic and developmental differences among these Neurospora species during sexual development. We assembled a list of genes putatively relevant to the recent evolution of fruiting body development by sorting genes whose relative expression across developmental stages increased more in N. crassa relative to the other species. Then, in N. crassa, we characterized the phenotypes of fruiting bodies arising from crosses of homozygous knockout strains of the top genes. Eight N. crassa genes were found to be critical for the successful formation of perithecia. The absence of these genes in these crosses resulted in either no perithecium formation or in arrested development at an early stage. Our results provide insight into the genetic basis of Neurospora sexual reproduction, which is also of great importance with regard to other multicellular ascomycetes, including perithecium-forming pathogens, such as Claviceps purpurea, Ophiostoma ulmi, and Glomerella graminicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina A. Lehr
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - David A. Hewitt
- Department of Botany, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Wagner Free Institute of Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Francesc López-Giráldez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Frances Trail
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Program in Microbiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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143
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Fu C, Ao J, Dettmann A, Seiler S, Free SJ. Characterization of the Neurospora crassa cell fusion proteins, HAM-6, HAM-7, HAM-8, HAM-9, HAM-10, AMPH-1 and WHI-2. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107773. [PMID: 25279949 PMCID: PMC4184795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercellular communication of vegetative cells and their subsequent cell fusion is vital for different aspects of growth, fitness, and differentiation of filamentous fungi. Cell fusion between germinating spores is important for early colony establishment, while hyphal fusion in the mature colony facilitates the movement of resources and organelles throughout an established colony. Approximately 50 proteins have been shown to be important for somatic cell-cell communication and fusion in the model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. Genetic, biochemical, and microscopic techniques were used to characterize the functions of seven previously poorly characterized cell fusion proteins. HAM-6, HAM-7 and HAM-8 share functional characteristics and are proposed to function in the same signaling network. Our data suggest that these proteins may form a sensor complex at the cell wall/plasma membrane for the MAK-1 cell wall integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. We also demonstrate that HAM-9, HAM-10, AMPH-1 and WHI-2 have more general functions and are required for normal growth and development. The activation status of the MAK-1 and MAK-2 MAPK pathways are altered in mutants lacking these proteins. We propose that these proteins may function to coordinate the activities of the two MAPK modules with other signaling pathways during cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ci Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Jie Ao
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Anne Dettmann
- Institute for Biology II, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Seiler
- Institute for Biology II, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephen J. Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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144
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Mélida H, Sain D, Stajich JE, Bulone V. Deciphering the uniqueness of Mucoromycotina cell walls by combining biochemical and phylogenomic approaches. Environ Microbiol 2014; 17:1649-62. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Mélida
- Division of Glycoscience; School of Biotechnology; Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); AlbaNova University Centre; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Divya Sain
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; University of California; Riverside CA 92507 USA
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; University of California; Riverside CA 92507 USA
| | - Vincent Bulone
- Division of Glycoscience; School of Biotechnology; Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); AlbaNova University Centre; Stockholm Sweden
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145
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Koch L, Lodin A, Herold I, Ilan M, Carmeli S, Yarden O. Sensitivity of Neurospora crassa to a marine-derived Aspergillus tubingensis anhydride exhibiting antifungal activity that is mediated by the MAS1 protein. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:4713-31. [PMID: 25257783 PMCID: PMC4178490 DOI: 10.3390/md12094713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungus Aspergillustubingensis (strain OY907) was isolated from the Mediterranean marine sponge Ircinia variabilis. Extracellular extracts produced by this strain were found to inhibit the growth of several fungi. Among the secreted extract components, a novel anhydride metabolite, tubingenoic anhydride A (1) as well as the known 2-carboxymethyl-3-hexylmaleic acid anhydride, asperic acid, and campyrone A and C were purified and their structure elucidated. Compound 1 and 2-carboxymethyl-3-hexylmaleic acid anhydride inhibited Neurospora crassa growth (MIC = 330 and 207 μM, respectively) and affected hyphal morphology. We produced a N. crassa mutant exhibiting tolerance to 1 and found that a yet-uncharacterized gene, designated mas-1, whose product is a cytosolic protein, confers sensitivity to this compound. The ∆mas-1 strain showed increased tolerance to sublethal concentrations of the chitin synthase inhibitor polyoxin D, when compared to the wild type. In addition, the expression of chitin synthase genes was highly elevated in the ∆mas-1 strain, suggesting the gene product is involved in cell wall biosynthesis and the novel anhydride interferes with its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liat Koch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The R.H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Anat Lodin
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Inbal Herold
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The R.H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Micha Ilan
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Shmuel Carmeli
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Oded Yarden
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The R.H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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146
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Potapova TV. Structural and functional organization of growing tips of Neurospora crassa Hyphae. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2014; 79:593-607. [PMID: 25108323 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297914070025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Data are presented on a variety of intracellular structures of the vegetative hyphae of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa and the involvement of these structures in the tip growth of the hyphae. Current ideas on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of tip growth and regulation of this process are considered. On the basis of comparison of data on behaviors of mitochondria and microtubules and data on the electrical heterogeneity of the hyphal apex, a hypothesis is proposed about a possible supervisory role of the longitudinal electric field in the structural and functional organization of growing tips of the N. crassa hyphae.
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Affiliation(s)
- T V Potapova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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147
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Gonçalves AP, Monteiro J, Lucchi C, Kowbel DJ, Cordeiro JM, Correia-de-Sá P, Rigden DJ, Glass NL, Videira A. Extracellular calcium triggers unique transcriptional programs and modulates staurosporine-induced cell death in Neurospora crassa. MICROBIAL CELL 2014; 1:289-302. [PMID: 28357255 PMCID: PMC5349132 DOI: 10.15698/mic2014.09.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in the intracellular levels of calcium are a common response to cell death stimuli in animals and fungi and, particularly, in the Neurospora crassa response to staurosporine. We highlight the importance of the extracellular availability of Ca2+ for this response. Limitation of the ion in the culture medium further sensitizes cells to the drug and results in increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conversely, an approximately 30-fold excess of external Ca2+ leads to increased drug tolerance and lower ROS generation. In line with this, distinct staurosporine-induced cytosolic Ca2+ signaling profiles were observed in the absence or presence of excessive external Ca2+. High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that different concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ define distinct transcriptional programs. Our transcriptional profiling also pointed to two putative novel Ca2+-binding proteins, encoded by the NCU08524 and NCU06607 genes, and provides a reference dataset for future investigations on the role of Ca2+ in fungal biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gonçalves
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Monteiro
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Chiara Lucchi
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - David J Kowbel
- Plant and Microbial Biology Department, The University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - J M Cordeiro
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; UMIB-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Correia-de-Sá
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; UMIB-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel J Rigden
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - N L Glass
- Plant and Microbial Biology Department, The University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ; IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
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148
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Gonçalves AP, Cordeiro JM, Monteiro J, Muñoz A, Correia-de-Sá P, Read ND, Videira A. Activation of a TRP-like channel and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics during phospholipase-C-mediated cell death. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:3817-29. [PMID: 25037570 PMCID: PMC4150065 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.152058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The model organism Neurospora crassa undergoes programmed cell death when exposed to staurosporine. Here, we show that staurosporine causes defined changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]c) dynamics and a distinct Ca2+ signature that involves Ca2+ influx from the external medium and internal Ca2+ stores. We investigated the molecular basis of this Ca2+ response by using [Ca2+]c measurements combined with pharmacological and genetic approaches. Phospholipase C was identified as a pivotal player during cell death, because modulation of the phospholipase C signaling pathway and deletion of PLC-2, which we show to be involved in hyphal development, results in an inability to trigger the characteristic staurosporine-induced Ca2+ signature. Using Δcch-1, Δfig-1 and Δyvc-1 mutants and a range of inhibitors, we show that extracellular Ca2+ entry does not occur through the hitherto described high- and low-affinity Ca2+ uptake systems, but through the opening of plasma membrane channels with properties resembling the transient receptor potential (TRP) family. Partial blockage of the response to staurosporine after inhibition of a putative inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor suggests that Ca2+ release from internal stores following IP3 formation combines with the extracellular Ca2+ influx.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pedro Gonçalves
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - J Miguel Cordeiro
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Monteiro
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, CTF Building, Grafton Street, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Paulo Correia-de-Sá
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nick D Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, CTF Building, Grafton Street, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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149
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Los sistemas de dos componentes: circuitos moleculares versátiles. TIP REVISTA ESPECIALIZADA EN CIENCIAS QUÍMICO-BIOLÓGICAS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/s1405-888x(14)70320-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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150
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Fu C, Tanaka A, Free SJ. Neurospora crassa 1,3-α-glucan synthase, AGS-1, is required for cell wall biosynthesis during macroconidia development. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 160:1618-1627. [PMID: 24847001 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.080002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Neurospora crassa genome encodes two 1,3-α-glucan synthases. One of these 1,3-α-glucan synthase genes, ags-1, was shown to be required for the synthesis of 1,3-α-glucan in the aerial hyphae and macroconidia cell walls. 1,3-α-Glucan was found in the conidia cell wall, but was absent from the vegetative hyphae cell wall. Deletion of ags-1 affected conidial development. Δags-1 produced only 5 % as many conidia as the WT and most of the conidia produced by Δags-1 were not viable. The ags-1 upstream regulatory elements were shown to direct cell-type-specific expression of red fluorescent protein in conidia and aerial hyphae. A haemagglutinin-tagged AGS-1 was found to be expressed in aerial hyphae and conidia. The research showed that 1,3-α-glucan is an aerial hyphae and conidia cell wall component, and is required for normal conidial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ci Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Asuma Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Stephen J Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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