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Shin S, Park J, Yang L, Kim H, Choi GJ, Lee YW, Kim JE, Son H. Con7 is a key transcription regulator for conidiogenesis in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. mSphere 2024; 9:e0081823. [PMID: 38591889 PMCID: PMC11237738 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00818-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The mycelium of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum exhibits distinct structures for vegetative growth, asexual sporulation, sexual development, virulence, and chlamydospore formation. These structures are vital for the survival and pathogenicity of the fungus, necessitating precise regulation based on environmental cues. Initially identified in Magnaporthe oryzae, the transcription factor Con7p regulates conidiation and infection-related morphogenesis, but not vegetative growth. We characterized the Con7p ortholog FgCon7, and deletion of FgCON7 resulted in severe defects in conidium production, virulence, sexual development, and vegetative growth. The mycelia of the deletion mutant transformed into chlamydospore-like structures with high chitin level accumulation. Notably, boosting FgABAA expression partially alleviated developmental issues in the FgCON7 deletion mutant. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed a direct genetic link between FgABAA and FgCON7. Furthermore, the chitin synthase gene Fg6550 (FGSG_06550) showed significant upregulation in the FgCON7 deletion mutant, and altering FgCON7 expression affected cell wall integrity. Further research will focus on understanding the behavior of the chitin synthase gene and its regulation by FgCon7 in F. graminearum. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of the genetic pathways that regulate hyphal differentiation and conidiation in this plant pathogenic fungus. IMPORTANCE The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is the primary cause of head blight disease in wheat and barley, as well as ear and stalk rot in maize. Given the importance of conidia and ascospores in the disease cycle of F. graminearum, precise spatiotemporal regulation of these biological processes is crucial. In this study, we characterized the Magnaporthe oryzae Con7p ortholog and discovered that FgCon7 significantly influences various crucial aspects of fungal development and pathogenicity. Notably, overexpression of FgABAA partially restored developmental defects in the FgCON7 deletion mutant. ChIP-qPCR analysis confirmed a direct genetic link between FgABAA and FgCON7. Furthermore, our research revealed a clear correlation between FgCon7 and chitin accumulation and the expression of chitin synthase genes. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms regulating conidiation and the significance of mycelial differentiation in this plant pathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soobin Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jiyeun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lin Yang
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hun Kim
- Eco-friendly New Materials Research Group, Research Center for Biobased Chemistry, Division of Convergence Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Eco-friendly New Materials Research Group, Research Center for Biobased Chemistry, Division of Convergence Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Kim
- Research Institute of Climate Change and Agriculture, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Jeju, South Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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Tang L, Zhai H, Zhang S, Lv Y, Li Y, Wei S, Ma P, Wei S, Hu Y, Cai J. Functional Characterization of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Fusarium graminearum. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2875. [PMID: 38138019 PMCID: PMC10745421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), a common oxidoreductase in organisms, is an aldehyde scavenger involved in various metabolic processes. However, its function in different pathogenic fungi remains unknown. Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight in cereals, which reduces grain yield and quality and is an important global food security problem. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of F. graminearum, seven genes encoding ALDH were knocked out and then studied for their function. Single deletions of seven ALDH genes caused a decrease in spore production and weakened the pathogenicity. Furthermore, these deletions altered susceptibility to various abiotic stresses. FGSG_04194 is associated with a number of functions, including mycelial growth and development, stress sensitivity, pathogenicity, toxin production, and energy metabolism. FGSG_00139 and FGSG_11482 are involved in sporulation, pathogenicity, and SDH activity, while the other five genes are multifunctional. Notably, we found that FGSG_04194 has an inhibitory impact on ALDH activity, whereas FGSG_00979 has a positive impact. RNA sequencing and subcellular location analysis revealed that FGSG_04194 is responsible for biological process regulation, including glucose and lipid metabolism. Our results suggest that ALDH contributes to growth, stress responses, pathogenicity, deoxynivalenol synthesis, and mitochondrial energy metabolism in F. graminearum. Finally, ALDH presents a potential target and theoretical basis for fungicide development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huanchen Zhai
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (L.T.); (S.Z.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (P.M.); (S.W.); (Y.H.); (J.C.)
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Hu L, Jia R, Sun Y, Chen J, Chen N, Zhang J, Wang Y. Streptomyces pratensis S10 Controls Fusarium Head Blight by Suppressing Different Stages of the Life Cycle and ATP Production. PLANT DISEASE 2023:PDIS09222063RE. [PMID: 36269586 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-09-22-2063-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, predominately caused by Fusarium graminearum, is an economically important plant disease worldwide. With increased fungicide resistance, controlling this filamentous fungal disease has become an enormous challenge. Biocontrol agents alone or integrated with other methods could better manage FHB. Streptomyces pratensis S10 has strong antagonistic activity against FHB as reported in our previous study. We now have investigated S10 controls of FHB in more detail by combining microscope observations, biological assays, and transcriptome profiling. S10 culture filtrates (SCF) significantly inhibited essential stages of the life cycle of F. graminearum in the laboratory and under simulated natural conditions. SCF at different concentrations inhibited conidiation of F. graminearum with an inhibition of 57.49 to 83.83% in the medium and 64.04 to 85.89% in plants. Different concentrations of SCF reduced conidia germination by 47.33 to 67.67%. Two percent (vol/vol) SCF suppressed perithecia formation of F. graminearum by 84 and 81% in the laboratory and under simulated natural conditions, respectively. The S10 also reduced the pathogenicity and penetration ability of F. graminearum by suppressing ATP production. Collectively, these findings indicate that S. pratensis S10 should be explored further for efficacy at controlling FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Ruimin Jia
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Yan Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Na Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, P.R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
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Recent Advances in Chitin Biosynthesis Associated with the Morphology and Secondary Metabolite Synthesis of Filamentous Fungi in Submerged Fermentation. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020205. [PMID: 36836319 PMCID: PMC9967639 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolites produced by filamentous fungi are used extensively in the food and drug industries. With the development of the morphological engineering of filamentous fungi, numerous biotechnologies have been applied to alter the morphology of fungal mycelia and enhance the yields and productivity of target metabolites during submerged fermentation. Disruption of chitin biosynthesis can modify the cell growth and mycelial morphology of filamentous fungi and regulate the biosynthesis of metabolites during submerged fermentation. In this review, we present a comprehensive coverage of the categories and structures of the enzyme chitin synthase, chitin biosynthetic pathways, and the association between chitin biosynthesis and cell growth and metabolism in filamentous fungi. Through this review, we hope to increase awareness of the metabolic engineering of filamentous fungal morphology, provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of morphological control via chitin biosynthesis, and describe strategies for the application of morphological engineering to enhance the production of target metabolites in filamentous fungi during submerged fermentation.
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Stage-Specific Genetic Interaction between FgYCK1 and FgBNI4 during Vegetative Growth and Conidiation in Fusarium graminearum. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169106. [PMID: 36012372 PMCID: PMC9408904 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CK1 casein kinases are well conserved in filamentous fungi. However, their functions are not well characterized in plant pathogens. In Fusarium graminearum, deletion of FgYCK1 caused severe growth defects and loss of conidiation, fertility, and pathogenicity. Interestingly, the Fgyck1 mutant was not stable and often produced fast-growing spontaneous suppressors. Suppressor mutations were frequently identified in the FgBNI4 gene by sequencing analyses. Deletion of the entire FgBNI4 or disruptions of its conserved C-terminal region could suppress the defects of Fgyck1 in hyphal growth and conidiation, indicating the genetic relationship between FgYCK1 and FgBNI4. Furthermore, the Fgyck1 mutant showed defects in polarized growth, cell wall integrity, internalization of FgRho1 and vacuole fusion, which were all partially suppressed by deletion of FgBNI4. Overall, our results indicate a stage-specific functional relationship between FgYCK1 and FgBNI4, possibly via FgRho1 signaling for regulating polarized hyphal growth and cell wall integrity.
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Chitin Synthase Genes Are Differentially Required for Growth, Stress Response, and Virulence in Verticillium dahliae. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070681. [PMID: 35887437 PMCID: PMC9320267 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop wilt disease caused by Verticillium dahliae usually leads to serious yield loss. Chitin, an important component of most fungal cell walls, functions to maintain the rigidity of cell walls and septa. Chitin synthesis mainly relies on the activity of chitin synthase (CHS). Eight CHS genes have been predicted in V. dahliae. In this study, we characterized the functions of these genes in terms of growth, stress responses, penetration, and virulence. Results showed that VdCHS5 is important for conidia germination and resistance to hyperosmotic stress. Conidial production is significantly decreased in Vdchs1, Vdchs4, and Vdchs8 mutants. VdCHS1, VdCHS2, VdCHS4, VdCHS6, VdCHS7, and VdCHS8 genes are important for cell wall integrity, while all mutants are important for cell membrane integrity. All of the VdCHS genes, except for VdCHS3, are required for the full pathogenicity of V. dahliae to Arabidopsis thaliana and cotton plants. The in vitro and in vivo penetration of Vdchs1, Vdchs4, Vdchs6, and Vdchs7 mutants was impaired, while that of the other mutants was normal. Overall, our results indicate that the VdCHS genes exert diverse functions to regulate the growth and development, conidial germination, conidial production, stress response, penetration, and virulence in V. dahliae.
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Zhang J, Xiao K, Li M, Hu H, Zhang X, Liu J, Pan H, Zhang Y. SsAGM1-Mediated Uridine Diphosphate-N-Acetylglucosamine Synthesis Is Essential for Development, Stress Response, and Pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:938784. [PMID: 35814696 PMCID: PMC9260252 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.938784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating pathogen. S. sclerotiorum can cause Sclerotinia stem rot in more than 600 species of plants, which results in serious economic losses every year. Chitin is one of the most important polysaccharides in fungal cell walls. Chitin and β-Glucan form a scaffold that wraps around the cell and determines the vegetative growth and pathogenicity of pathogens. UDP-GlcNAc is a direct precursor of chitin synthesis. During the synthesis of UDP-GlcNAc, the conversion of GlcNAc-6P to GlcNAc-1P that is catalyzed by AGM1 (N-acetylglucosamine-phosphate mutase) is a key step. However, the significance and role of AGM1 in phytopathogenic fungus are unclear. We identified a cytoplasm-localized SsAGM1 in S. sclerotiorum, which is homologous to AGM1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We utilized RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression to characterize the function of SsAGM1 in S. sclerotiorum. After reducing the expression of SsAGM1, the contents of chitin and UDP-GlcNAc decreased significantly. Concomitantly, the gene-silenced transformants of SsAGM1 slowed vegetative growth and, importantly, lost the ability to produce sclerotia and infection cushion; it also lost virulence, even on wounded leaves. In addition, SsAGM1 was also involved in the response to osmotic stress and inhibitors of cell wall synthesis. Our results revealed the function of SsAGM1 in the growth, development, stress response, and pathogenicity in S. sclerotiorum.
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Zhao Y, Zhang L, Ju C, Zhang X, Huang J. Quantitative multiplexed proteomics analysis reveals reshaping of the lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylome in Fusarium graminearum by tebuconazole. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:145. [PMID: 35180840 PMCID: PMC8855566 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08372-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds Lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) is a newly discovered posttranslational modification (PTM) and has been identified in several prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Fusarium graminearum, a major pathogen of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops, can cause considerable yield loss and produce various mycotoxins that threaten human health. The application of chemical fungicides such as tebuconazole (TEC) remains the major method to control this pathogen. However, the distribution of Khib in F. graminearum and whether Khib is remodified in response to fungicide stress remain unknown. Results Here, we carried out a proteome-wide analysis of Khib in F. graminearum, identifying the reshaping of the lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylome by tebuconazole, using the most recently developed high-resolution LC–MS/MS technique in combination with high-specific affinity enrichment. Specifically, 3501 Khib sites on 1049 proteins were identified, and 1083 Khib sites on 556 modified proteins normalized to the total protein content were changed significantly after TEC treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Khib proteins are involved in a wide range of biological processes and may be involved in virulence and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, as well as sterol biosynthesis, in F. graminearum. Conclusions Here, we provided a wealth of resources for further study of the roles of Khib in the fungicide resistance of F. graminearum. The results enhanced our understanding of this PTM in filamentous ascomycete fungi and provided insight into the remodification of Khib sites during azole fungicide challenge in F. graminearum. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08372-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxiang Zhao
- College of Plant Health and Medicine and Key Lab of Integrated Crop Disease and Pest Management of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, China
| | - Limin Zhang
- College of Plant Health and Medicine and Key Lab of Integrated Crop Disease and Pest Management of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chao Ju
- College of Plant Health and Medicine and Key Lab of Integrated Crop Disease and Pest Management of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jinguang Huang
- College of Plant Health and Medicine and Key Lab of Integrated Crop Disease and Pest Management of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, China.
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Huang H, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Yi G, Xie J, Viljoen A, Wang W, Mostert D, Fu G, Peng C, Xiang D, Li C, Liu S. FocECM33, a GPI-anchored protein, regulates vegetative growth and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:213-223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Khokhani D, Carrera Carriel C, Vayla S, Irving TB, Stonoha-Arther C, Keller NP, Ané JM. Deciphering the Chitin Code in Plant Symbiosis, Defense, and Microbial Networks. Annu Rev Microbiol 2021; 75:583-607. [PMID: 34623896 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-051921-114809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Chitin is a structural polymer in many eukaryotes. Many organisms can degrade chitin to defend against chitinous pathogens or use chitin oligomers as food. Beneficial microorganisms like nitrogen-fixing symbiotic rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi produce chitin-based signal molecules called lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and short chitin oligomers to initiate a symbiotic relationship with their compatible hosts and exchange nutrients. A recent study revealed that a broad range of fungi produce LCOs and chitooligosaccharides (COs), suggesting that these signaling molecules are not limited to beneficial microbes. The fungal LCOs also affect fungal growth and development, indicating that the roles of LCOs beyond symbiosis and LCO production may predate mycorrhizal symbiosis. This review describes the diverse structures of chitin; their perception by eukaryotes and prokaryotes; and their roles in symbiotic interactions, defense, and microbe-microbe interactions. We also discuss potential strategies of fungi to synthesize LCOs and their roles in fungi with different lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devanshi Khokhani
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , , .,Current affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA;
| | - Cristobal Carrera Carriel
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Shivangi Vayla
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Thomas B Irving
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Christina Stonoha-Arther
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , , .,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; , , , , , .,Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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Yang P, Yi SY, Nian JN, Yuan QS, He WJ, Zhang JB, Liao YC. Application of Double-Strand RNAs Targeting Chitin Synthase, Glucan Synthase, and Protein Kinase Reduces Fusarium graminearum Spreading in Wheat. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:660976. [PMID: 34305830 PMCID: PMC8299488 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.660976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlling the devastating fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg) is a challenge due to inadequate resistance in nature. Here, we report on the identification of RNAi molecules and their applications for controlling Fg in wheat through silencing chitin synthase 7 (Chs7), glucan synthase (Gls) and protein kinase C (Pkc). From transgenic Fg strains four RNAi constructs from Chs7 (Chs7RNAi−1, −2, −3, and −4), three RNAi constructs from Gls (GlsRNAi−2, −3, and −6), and one RNAi construct from Pkc (PkcRNAi−5) were identified that displayed effective silencing effects on mycelium growth in medium and pathogenicity in wheat spikes. Transcript levels of Chs7, Gls and Pkc were markedly reduced in those strains. Double-strand RNAs (dsRNAs) of three selected RNAi constructs (Chs7RNAi-4, GlsRNAi-6 and PkcRNA-5) strongly inhibited mycelium growth in vitro. Spray of those dsRNAs on detached wheat leaves significantly reduced lesion sizes; the independent dsRNAs showed comparable effects on lesions with combination of two or three dsRNAs. Expression of three targets Chs7, Gls, and Pkc was substantially down-regulated in Fg-infected wheat leaves. Further application of dsRNAs on wheat spikes in greenhouse significantly reduced infected spikelets. The identified RNAi constructs may be directly used for spray-induced gene silencing and stable expression in plants to control Fusarium pathogens in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Yi
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Forestry and Fruit Tree Research Institute, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Na Nian
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing-Song Yuan
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei-Jie He
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Tini F, Beccari G, Marconi G, Porceddu A, Sulyok M, Gardiner DM, Albertini E, Covarelli L. Identification of Putative Virulence Genes by DNA Methylation Studies in the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051192. [PMID: 34068122 PMCID: PMC8152758 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation mediates organisms’ adaptations to environmental changes in a wide range of species. We investigated if a such a strategy is also adopted by Fusarium graminearum in regulating virulence toward its natural hosts. A virulent strain of this fungus was consecutively sub-cultured for 50 times (once a week) on potato dextrose agar. To assess the effect of subculturing on virulence, wheat seedlings and heads (cv. A416) were inoculated with subcultures (SC) 1, 23, and 50. SC50 was also used to re-infect (three times) wheat heads (SC50×3) to restore virulence. In vitro conidia production, colonies growth and secondary metabolites production were also determined for SC1, SC23, SC50, and SC50×3. Seedling stem base and head assays revealed a virulence decline of all subcultures, whereas virulence was restored in SC50×3. The same trend was observed in conidia production. The DNA isolated from SC50 and SC50×3 was subject to a methylation content-sensitive enzyme and double-digest, restriction-site-associated DNA technique (ddRAD-MCSeEd). DNA methylation analysis indicated 1024 genes, whose methylation levels changed in response to the inoculation on a healthy host after subculturing. Several of these genes are already known to be involved in virulence by functional analysis. These results demonstrate that the physiological shifts following sub-culturing have an impact on genomic DNA methylation levels and suggest that the ddRAD-MCSeEd approach can be an important tool for detecting genes potentially related to fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Porceddu
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia, 39a, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Micheal Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse, 20, A-3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia;
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
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13
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Tso KH, Lumsangkul C, Ju JC, Fan YK, Chiang HI. The Potential of Peroxidases Extracted from the Spent Mushroom ( Flammulina velutipes) Substrate Significantly Degrade Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13010072. [PMID: 33478106 PMCID: PMC7835844 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the degradability of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) by the spent mushroom substrate (SMS)-derived manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) and its potential. The present study investigated the growth inhibition of Fusarium graminearum KR1 and the degradation of DON by MnP and LiP extracted from SMS. The results from the 7-day treatment period showed that mycelium inhibition of F. graminearum KR1 by MnP and LiP were 23.7% and 74.7%, respectively. Deoxynivalenol production in the mycelium of F. graminearum KR1 was undetectable after treatment with 50 U/mL of MnP or LiP for 7 days. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) content and chitinase activity both increased in the hyphae of F. graminearum KR1 after treatment with MnP and LiP for 1, 3, and 6 h, respectively. At 12 h, only the LiP-treated group had higher chitinase activity and GlcNAc content than those of the control group (p < 0.05). However, more than 60% of DON degradabilities (0.5 mg/kg, 1 h) were observed under various pH values (2.5, 4.5, and 6.5) in both MnP (50 U/g) and LiP (50 U/g) groups, while DON degradability at 1 mg/kg was 85.5% after 50 U/g of LiP treatment for 7 h in simulated pig gastrointestinal tracts. Similarly, DON degradability at 5 mg/kg was 67.1% after LiP treatment for 4.5 h in simulated poultry gastrointestinal tracts. The present study demonstrated that SMS-extracted peroxidases, particularly LiP, could effectively degrade DON and inhibit the mycelium growth of F. graminearum KR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko-Hua Tso
- Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan;
| | - Chompunut Lumsangkul
- Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Jyh-Cherng Ju
- Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, College of Information and Electrical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (J.-C.J.); (Y.-K.F.); (H.-IC.); Tel.: +886-4-2287-0613 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.); Fax: +886-4-2286-0265 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.)
| | - Yang-Kwang Fan
- Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (J.-C.J.); (Y.-K.F.); (H.-IC.); Tel.: +886-4-2287-0613 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.); Fax: +886-4-2286-0265 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.)
| | - Hsin-I Chiang
- Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (J.-C.J.); (Y.-K.F.); (H.-IC.); Tel.: +886-4-2287-0613 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.); Fax: +886-4-2286-0265 (J.-C.J. & Y.-K.F. & H.-IC.)
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14
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FgHtf1 Regulates Global Gene Expression towards Aerial Mycelium and Conidiophore Formation in the Cereal Fungal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.03024-19. [PMID: 32086302 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03024-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The homeobox gene family of transcription factors (HTF) controls many developmental pathways and physiological processes in eukaryotes. We previously showed that a conserved HTF in the plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum, Htf1 (FgHtf1), regulates conidium morphology in that organism. This study investigated the mechanism of FgHtf1-mediated regulation and identified putative FgHtf1 target genes by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay combined with parallel DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing. A total of 186 potential binding peaks, including 142 genes directly regulated by FgHtf1, were identified. Subsequent motif prediction analysis identified two DNA-binding motifs, TAAT and CTTGT. Among the FgHtf1 target genes were FgHTF1 itself and several important conidiation-related genes (e.g., FgCON7), the chitin synthase pathway genes, and the aurofusarin biosynthetic pathway genes. In addition, FgHtf1 may regulate the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA)-Msn2/4 and Ca2+-calcineurin-Crz1 pathways. Taken together, these results suggest that, in addition to autoregulation, FgHtf1 also controls global gene expression and promotes a shift to aerial growth and conidiation in F. graminearum by activation of FgCON7 or other conidiation-related genes.IMPORTANCE The homeobox gene family of transcription factors is known to be involved in the development and conidiation of filamentous fungi. However, the regulatory mechanisms and downstream targets of homeobox genes remain unclear. FgHtf1 is a homeobox transcription factor that is required for phialide development and conidiogenesis in the plant pathogen F. graminearum In this study, we identified FgHtf1-controlled target genes and binding motifs. We found that, besides autoregulation, FgHtf1 also controls global gene expression and promotes conidiation in F. graminearum by activation of genes necessary for aerial growth, FgCON7, and other conidiation-related genes.
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15
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Varlamov VP, Il'ina AV, Shagdarova BT, Lunkov AP, Mysyakina IS. Chitin/Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Fundamental Problems and Practical Approaches. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2020; 85:S154-S176. [PMID: 32087058 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297920140084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we present the data on the natural occurrence of chitin and its partially or fully deacetylated derivative chitosan, as well as their properties, methods of modification, and potential applications of derivatives with bactericidal, fungicidal, and antioxidant activities. The structure and physicochemical characteristics of the polymers, their functions, and features of chitin microbial synthesis and degradation, including the processes occurring in nature, are described. New data on the hydrolytic microorganisms capable of chitin degradation under extreme conditions are presented. Special attention is focused on the effect of physicochemical characteristics of chitosan, including molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, polydispersity index, and number of amino group derivatives (quaternized, succinyl, etc.) on the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of modified polymers that can be of particular interest for biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. Analysis of the available literature data confirms the importance of fundamental research to broaden our knowledge on the occurrence of chitin and chitosan in nature, their role in global biosphere cycles, and prospects of applied research aimed at using chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives in various aspects of human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- V P Varlamov
- Laboratory of Biopolymer Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117312, Russia.
| | - A V Il'ina
- Laboratory of Biopolymer Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117312, Russia
| | - B Ts Shagdarova
- Laboratory of Biopolymer Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117312, Russia
| | - A P Lunkov
- Laboratory of Biopolymer Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117312, Russia
| | - I S Mysyakina
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117312, Russia
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16
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Challacombe JF, Hesse CN, Bramer LM, McCue LA, Lipton M, Purvine S, Nicora C, Gallegos-Graves LV, Porras-Alfaro A, Kuske CR. Genomes and secretomes of Ascomycota fungi reveal diverse functions in plant biomass decomposition and pathogenesis. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:976. [PMID: 31830917 PMCID: PMC6909477 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dominant fungi in arid grasslands and shrublands are members of the Ascomycota phylum. Ascomycota fungi are important drivers in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. These fungi play roles in soil stability, plant biomass decomposition, and endophytic interactions with plants. They may also form symbiotic associations with biocrust components or be latent saprotrophs or pathogens that live on plant tissues. However, their functional potential in arid soils, where organic matter, nutrients and water are very low or only periodically available, is poorly characterized. RESULTS Five Ascomycota fungi were isolated from different soil crust microhabitats and rhizosphere soils around the native bunchgrass Pleuraphis jamesii in an arid grassland near Moab, UT, USA. Putative genera were Coniochaeta, isolated from lichen biocrust, Embellisia from cyanobacteria biocrust, Chaetomium from below lichen biocrust, Phoma from a moss microhabitat, and Aspergillus from the soil. The fungi were grown in replicate cultures on different carbon sources (chitin, native bunchgrass or pine wood) relevant to plant biomass and soil carbon sources. Secretomes produced by the fungi on each substrate were characterized. Results demonstrate that these fungi likely interact with primary producers (biocrust or plants) by secreting a wide range of proteins that facilitate symbiotic associations. Each of the fungal isolates secreted enzymes that degrade plant biomass, small secreted effector proteins, and proteins involved in either beneficial plant interactions or virulence. Aspergillus and Phoma expressed more plant biomass degrading enzymes when grown in grass- and pine-containing cultures than in chitin. Coniochaeta and Embellisia expressed similar numbers of these enzymes under all conditions, while Chaetomium secreted more of these enzymes in grass-containing cultures. CONCLUSIONS This study of Ascomycota genomes and secretomes provides important insights about the lifestyles and the roles that Ascomycota fungi likely play in arid grassland, ecosystems. However, the exact nature of those interactions, whether any or all of the isolates are true endophytes, latent saprotrophs or opportunistic phytopathogens, will be the topic of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean F Challacombe
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
- Present address: Colorado State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 301 University Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Cedar N Hesse
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
- Horticultural Crops Research, USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Lisa M Bramer
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Lee Ann McCue
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, 99352, USA
| | - Mary Lipton
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel Purvine
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Carrie Nicora
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Cheryl R Kuske
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
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17
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Gandía M, Garrigues S, Bolós B, Manzanares P, Marcos JF. The Myosin Motor Domain-Containing Chitin Synthases Are Involved in Cell Wall Integrity and Sensitivity to Antifungal Proteins in Penicillium digitatum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2400. [PMID: 31681248 PMCID: PMC6813208 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium digitatum is the main postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit and is responsible for important economic losses in spite of the massive use of fungicides. The fungal cell wall (CW) and its specific component chitin are potential targets for the development of new antifungal molecules. Among these are the antifungal peptides and proteins that specifically interact with fungal CW. Chitin is synthesized by a complex family of chitin synthases (Chs), classified into up to eight classes within three divisions. Previously, we obtained and characterized a mutant of P. digitatum in the class VII gene (ΔchsVII), which contains a short myosin motor-like domain (MMD). In this report, we extend our previous studies to the characterization of mutants in chsII and in the gene coding for the other MMD-Chs (chsV), and study the role of chitin synthases in the sensitivity of P. digitatum to the self-antifungal protein AfpB, and to AfpA obtained from P. expansum. The ΔchsII mutant showed no significant phenotypic and virulence differences with the wild type strain, except in the production and morphology of the conidia. In contrast, mutants in chsV showed a more dramatic phenotype than the previous ΔchsVII, with reduced growth and conidial production, increased chitin content, changes in mycelial morphology and a decrease in virulence to citrus fruit. Mutants in chsVII were specifically more tolerant than the wild type to nikkomycin Z, an antifungal inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis. Treatment of P. digitatum with its own antifungal protein AfpB resulted in an overall reduction in the expression of the chitin synthase genes. The mutants corresponding to MMD chitin synthases exhibited differential sensitivity to the antifungal proteins AfpA and AfpB, ΔchsVII being more susceptible than its parental strain and ΔchsV being slightly more tolerant despite its reduced growth in liquid broth. Taking these results together, we conclude that the MMD-containing chitin synthases affect cell wall integrity and sensitivity to antifungal proteins in P. digitatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Gandía
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
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18
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Zhang J, Jiang H, Du Y, Keyhani NO, Xia Y, Jin K. Members of chitin synthase family in Metarhizium acridum differentially affect fungal growth, stress tolerances, cell wall integrity and virulence. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007964. [PMID: 31461507 PMCID: PMC6713334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitin is an important component of the fungal cell wall with a family of chitin synthases mediating its synthesis. Here, we report on the genetic characterization of the full suite of seven chitin synthases (MaChsI-VII) identified in the insect pathogenic fungus, Metarhizium acridum. Aberrant distribution of chitin was most evident in targeted gene knockouts of MaChsV and MaChsVII. Mutants of MaChsI, MaChsIII, MaChsIV showed delayed conidial germination, whereas ΔMaChsII and ΔMaChsV mutants germinated more rapidly when compared to the wild-type parent. All MaChs genes impacted conidial yield, but differentially affected stress tolerances. Inactivation of MaChsIII, MaChsV, MaChsVII resulted in cell wall fragility, and ΔMaChsV and ΔMaChsVII mutants showed high sensitivity to Congo red and calcofluor white, suggesting that the three genes are required for cell wall integrity. In addition, ΔMaChsIII and ΔMaChsVII mutants showed the highest sensitivities to heat and UV-B stress. Three of seven chitin synthase genes, MaChsIII, MaChsV, MaChsVII, were found to contribute to fungal virulence. Compared with the wild-type strain, ΔMaChsIII and ΔMaChsV mutants were reduced in virulence by topical inoculation, while the ΔMaChsVII mutant showed more severe virulence defects. Inactivation of MaChsIII, MaChsV, or MaChsVII impaired appressorium formation, affected growth of in insecta produced hyphal bodies, and altered the surface properties of conidia and hyphal bodies, resulting in defects in the ability of the mutant strains to evade insect immune responses. These data provide important links between the physiology of the cell wall and the ability of the fungus to parasitize insects and reveal differential functional consequences of the chitin synthase family in M. acridum growth, stress tolerances, cell wall integrity and virulence. The fungal cell wall is a dynamic and flexible organelle that modulates the interaction of the pathogen with its host and acts as a critical recognition and evasion interface with host defenses. Chitin is a hallmark constituent of the fungal cell wall and all fungi contain multiple chitin synthase (Chs) genes. However, systematic characterization of chitin synthase genes has not yet been reported in entomopathogenic fungi. By using the insect pathogen Metarhizium acridum as a model, we performed a systematic genetic analysis of the seven member Chs family (ChsI-VII) in the insect pathogenic fungus. Construction of strains bearing targeted single gene mutations revealed differential contributions of specific Chs genes to growth, cell wall integrity, and stress responses. In addition, we revealed that three chitin synthase genes MaChsIII, MaChsV and MaChsVII were shown to be important for fungal appressorium formation and evasion of insect cellular and/or humoral defenses, promoting the fungal dimorphic transition to the production of hyphal bodies that occurs within hosts, and ultimately to virulence. These data provide new insights into the roles of Chs genes and chitin as critical components affecting fungal membrane structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Hui Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Yanru Du
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Nemat O Keyhani
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Yuxian Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Kai Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, PR China
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19
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Yin Y, Wang Z, Cheng D, Chen X, Chen Y, Ma Z. The ATP-binding protein FgArb1 is essential for penetration, infectious and normal growth of Fusarium graminearum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 219:1447-1466. [PMID: 29932228 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters act mainly to transport compounds across cellular membranes and are important for diverse biological processes. However, their roles in pathogenesis have not been well-characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Sixty F. graminearum ABC protein genes were functionally characterized. Among them, FgArb1 regulates normal growth and importantly is essential for pathogenicity. Thus, the regulatory mechanisms of FgArb1 in pathogenicity were analyzed in this study. FgArb1 interacts with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) FgSte7, and partially modulates plant penetration by regulating the phosphorylation of FgGpmk1 (the downstream kinase of FgSte7). The FgArb1 mutant exhibited dramatically reduced infective growth within wounded host tissues, likely resulting from its increased sensitivity to oxidative stresses, defective cell wall integrity and reduced deoxynivalenol (DON) production. FgArb1 also is important for the production of sexual and asexual spores that are important propagules for plant infection. In addition, FgArb1 is involved in the regulation of protein biosynthesis through impeding nuclear export of small ribosomal subunit. Finally, acetylation modification at sites K28, K65, K341 and K525 in FgArb1 is required for its biological functions. Taken together, results of this study provide a novel insight into functions of the ABC transporter in fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Danni Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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20
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Mitic M, Berry D, Brasell E, Green K, Young CA, Saikia S, Rakonjac J, Scott B. Disruption of calcineurin catalytic subunit (cnaA) in Epichloë festucae induces symbiotic defects and intrahyphal hyphae formation. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:1414-1426. [PMID: 28990722 PMCID: PMC6638138 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, consisting of a catalytic subunit A and a regulatory subunit B, which is involved in calcium-dependent signalling and regulation of various important cellular processes. In this study, we functionally characterized the catalytic subunit A (CnaA) of the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae which forms a symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. We deleted the CnaA-encoding gene cnaA in E. festucae and examined its role in hyphal growth, cell wall integrity and symbiosis. This ΔcnaA strain had a severe growth defect with loss of radial growth and hyper-branched hyphae. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis of the mutant revealed cell wall defects, aberrant septation and the formation of intrahyphal hyphae, both in culture and in planta. The mutant strain also showed a reduced infection rate in planta. The fluorescence of mutant hyphae stained with WGA-AF488 was reduced, indicating reduced chitin accessibility. Together, these results show that E. festucae CnaA is required for fungal growth, maintaining cell wall integrity and host colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Mitic
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Daniel Berry
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Emma Brasell
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Kimberly Green
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | | | - Sanjay Saikia
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Jasna Rakonjac
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Barry Scott
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
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21
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Kim K, Lee Y, Ha A, Kim JI, Park AR, Yu NH, Son H, Choi GJ, Park HW, Lee CW, Lee T, Lee YW, Kim JC. Chemosensitization of Fusarium graminearum to Chemical Fungicides Using Cyclic Lipopeptides Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Strain JCK-12. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2010. [PMID: 29230232 PMCID: PMC5711811 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by infection with Fusarium graminearum leads to enormous losses to crop growers, and may contaminate grains with a number of Fusarium mycotoxins that pose serious risks to human and animal health. Antagonistic bacteria that are used to prevent FHB offer attractive alternatives or supplements to synthetic fungicides for controlling FHB without the negative effects of chemical management. Out of 500 bacterial strains isolated from soil, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 showed strong antifungal activity and was considered a potential source for control strategies to reduce FHB. B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 produces several cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) including iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin. Iturin A inhibits spore germination of F. graminearum. Fengycin or surfactin alone did not display any inhibitory activity against spore germination at concentrations less than 30 μg/ml, but a mixture of iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin showed a remarkable synergistic inhibitory effect on F. graminearum spore germination. The fermentation broth and formulation of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 strain reduced the disease incidence of FHB in wheat. Furthermore, co-application of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 and chemical fungicides resulted in synergistic in vitro antifungal effects and significant disease control efficacy against FHB under greenhouse and field conditions, suggesting that B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 has a strong chemosensitizing effect. The synergistic antifungal effect of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 and chemical fungicides in combination may result from the cell wall damage and altered cell membrane permeability in the phytopathogenic fungi caused by the CLP mixtures and subsequent increased sensitivity of F. graminearum to fungicides. In addition, B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 showed the potential to reduce trichothecenes mycotoxin production. The results of this study indicate that B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 could be used as an available biocontrol agent or as a chemosensitizer to chemical fungicides for controlling FHB disease and as a strategy for preventing the contamination of harvested crops with mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kihyun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Yoonji Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Areum Ha
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ji-In Kim
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ae Ran Park
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Nan Hee Yu
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Center for Eco-Friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hae Woong Park
- World Institute of Kimchi, Korea Food Research Institute, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Chul Won Lee
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Theresa Lee
- Microbial Safety Team, Department of Agro-Food Safety and Crop Protection, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Wanju, South Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin-Cheol Kim
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
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22
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Liu L, Yan Y, Huang J, Hsiang T, Wei Y, Li Y, Gao J, Zheng L. A Novel MFS Transporter Gene ChMfs1 Is Important for Hyphal Morphology, Conidiation, and Pathogenicity in Colletotrichum higginsianum. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1953. [PMID: 29067014 PMCID: PMC5641377 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colletotrichum higginsianum is a widely distributed fungus attacking many cruciferous species. To investigate pathogenic mechanisms of the pathogen on the host Arabidopsis thaliana, we screened and obtained a virulence-deficient mutant Ch-1-T513 in a T-DNA insertion mutant library of C. higginsianum. The mutant Ch-1-T513 produced yellow colony centers with distorted multi-branching hyphal tips as well as producing few conidia. Heavily swollen hyphae in the mutant could be observed, and intra-hyphal hyphae were found to be formed in the balloon-shaped hyphae. The mutant failed to produce lesions on 12-day-old Arabidopsis seedlings, and invasive hyphae did not differentiate into large primary and thin secondary hyphae after appressorial formation on Arabidopsis leaves, but formed abundant bulbous hyphae in epidermal cells. Southern blot analysis showed Ch-1-T513 had double-site T-DNA integrations. The mutant had insertions upstream of genes for a major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter, ChMfs1 and an aldo/keto reductase, ChAkr. Complementation experiments by transforming genomic sequences from a wild-type strain into the insertion mutant demonstrated that ChMfs1 is involved in the Ch-1-T513 phenotype. The complementation strain C-ChMfs1-1 exhibited normal hyphal morphology, conidiation, and pathogenicity identical to the wild-type. The results demonstrate that ChMfs1 is involved in intra-hyphal hyphae production, conidiation, and pathogenicity in C. higginsianum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a MFS transporter gene in a phytopathogenic fungus associated with intra-hyphal hyphae formation, playing a key role in infection of its plant host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Liu
- Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaqin Yan
- Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Yu Li
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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23
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Abstract
The polysaccharide-rich wall, which envelopes the fungal cell, is pivotal to the maintenance of cellular integrity and for the protection of the cell from external aggressors - such as environmental fluxes and during host infection. This review considers the commonalities in the composition of the wall across the fungal kingdom, addresses how little is known about the assembly of the polysaccharide matrix, and considers changes in the wall of plant-pathogenic fungi during on and in planta growth, following the elucidation of infection structures requiring cell wall alterations. It highlights what is known about the phytopathogenic fungal wall and what needs to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivey Geoghegan
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK; School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Gero Steinberg
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Sarah Gurr
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
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24
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Chen F, Liu C, Zhang J, Lei H, Li HP, Liao YC, Tang H. Combined Metabonomic and Quantitative RT-PCR Analyses Revealed Metabolic Reprogramming Associated with Fusarium graminearum Resistance in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2177. [PMID: 29354139 PMCID: PMC5758590 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight disease resulting from Fusarium graminearum (FG) infection causes huge losses in global production of cereals and development of FG-resistant plants is urgently needed. To understand biochemistry mechanisms for FG resistance, here, we have systematically investigated the plant metabolomic phenotypes associated with FG resistance for transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing a class-I chitinase (Chi), a Fusarium-specific recombinant antibody gene (CWP2) and fused Chi-CWP2. Plant disease indices, mycotoxin levels, metabonomic characteristics, and expression levels of several key genes were measured together with their correlations. We found that A. thaliana expressing Chi-CWP2 showed higher FG resistance with much lower disease indices and mycotoxin levels than the wild-type and the plants expressing Chi or CWP2 alone. The combined metabonomic and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that such FG-resistance was closely associated with the promoted biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (phenylpropanoids, alkanoids) and organic osmolytes (proline, betaine, glucose, myo-inositol) together with enhanced TCA cycle and GABA shunt. These suggest that the concurrently enhanced biosyntheses of the shikimate-mediated secondary metabolites and organic osmolytes be an important strategy for A. thaliana to develop and improve FG resistance. These findings provide essential biochemical information related to FG resistance which is important for developing FG-resistant cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Caixiang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingtao Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hehua Lei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - He-Ping Li
- College of Plant Science and Technology and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- College of Plant Science and Technology and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yu-Cai Liao
| | - Huiru Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Zhongshan Hospital and School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Genetics and Development, Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Huiru Tang
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25
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Oliveira-Garcia E, Deising HB. The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor Biosynthesis Genes GPI12, GAA1, and GPI8 Are Essential for Cell-Wall Integrity and Pathogenicity of the Maize Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2016; 29:889-901. [PMID: 27937175 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-16-0175-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins is one of the most common posttranslational modifications of proteins in eukaryotic cells and is important for associating proteins with the cell surface. In fungi, GPI-anchored proteins play essential roles in cross-linking of β-glucan cell-wall polymers and cell-wall rigidity. GPI-anchor synthesis is successively performed at the cytoplasmic and the luminal face of the ER membrane and involves approximately 25 proteins. While mutagenesis of auxiliary genes of this pathway suggested roles of GPI-anchored proteins in hyphal growth and virulence, essential genes of this pathway have not been characterized. Taking advantage of RNA interference (RNAi) we analyzed the function of the three essential genes GPI12, GAA1 and GPI8, encoding a cytoplasmic N-acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol deacetylase, a metallo-peptide-synthetase and a cystein protease, the latter two representing catalytic components of the GPI transamidase complex. RNAi strains showed drastic cell-wall defects, resulting in exploding infection cells on the plant surface and severe distortion of in planta-differentiated infection hyphae, including formation of intrahyphal hyphae. Reduction of transcript abundance of the genes analyzed resulted in nonpathogenicity. We show here for the first time that the GPI synthesis genes GPI12, GAA1, and GPI8 are indispensable for vegetative development and pathogenicity of the causal agent of maize anthracnose, Colletotrichum graminicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ely Oliveira-Garcia
- 1 Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät III, Institut für Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften, Phytopathologie und Pflanzenschutz, and
| | - Holger B Deising
- 1 Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät III, Institut für Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften, Phytopathologie und Pflanzenschutz, and
- 2 Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Nutzpflanzenforschung; Betty-Heimann-Str. 3. D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
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26
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The chitin synthase FgChs2 and other FgChss co-regulate vegetative development and virulence in F. graminearum. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34975. [PMID: 27725723 PMCID: PMC5057161 DOI: 10.1038/srep34975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum contains eight chitin synthase (Chs) genes belonging to seven classes. Previous studies have found that deletion of FgChs3b is lethal to F. graminearum, and deletion of FgChs1, FgChs2, FgChs7 and FgChs5 caused diverse defects in chitin content, mycelial growth, conidiation, virulence or stress responses. However, little is known about the functional relationships among these FgChss. In this study, FgChs2 deletion mutant ΔFgChs2 exhibited reduced mycelial growth and virulence as reported previously. In addition, we found that the mutant produced thickened and “wavy” septa. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays showed that the expression levels of FgChs1, FgChs3a, FgChs4, FgChs7, FgChs5 and FgChs6 in ΔFgChs2 were significantly higher than those in the wild type. Therefore, we generated six double deletion mutants of FgChs2 and each of the above six FgChss, and found that FgChs2 shares a function with FgChs1 in regulating mycelial growth, and co-regulates conidiation with FgChs1, FgChs4, FgChs7 and FgChs5. Furthermore, FgChs2 and other six FgChss have overlapped functions in virulence, DON production and septum formation. Taken together, these results indicate that although each chitin synthase of F. graminearum plays certain roles, FgChss may co-regualte various cellular processes in F. graminearum.
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27
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Yoshimi A, Miyazawa K, Abe K. Cell wall structure and biogenesis in Aspergillus species. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 80:1700-11. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1177446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aspergillus species are among the most important filamentous fungi from the viewpoints of industry, pathogenesis, and mycotoxin production. Fungal cells are exposed to a variety of environmental stimuli, including changes in osmolality, temperature, and pH, which create stresses that primarily act on fungal cell walls. In addition, fungal cell walls are the first interactions with host cells in either human or plants. Thus, understanding cell wall structure and the mechanism of their biogenesis is important for the industrial, medical, and agricultural fields. Here, we provide a systematic review of fungal cell wall structure and recent findings regarding the cell wall integrity signaling pathways in aspergilli. This accumulated knowledge will be useful for understanding and improving the use of industrial aspergilli fermentation processes as well as treatments for some fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshimi
- ABE-project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ken Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keietsu Abe
- ABE-project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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28
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Xie Q, Chen A, Zheng W, Xu H, Shang W, Zheng H, Zhang D, Zhou J, Lu G, Li G, Wang Z. Endosomal sorting complexes required for transport-0 is essential for fungal development and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:3742-3757. [PMID: 26971885 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is an important plant pathogen that causes head blight of major cereal crops. The vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) protein Vps27 is a component of ESCRT-0 involved in the multivesicular body (MVB) sorting pathway during endocytosis. In this study, we investigated the function of FgVps27 using a gene replacement strategy. The FgVPS27 deletion mutant (ΔFgvps27) exhibited a reduction in growth rate, aerial hyphae formation and hydrophobicity. It also showed increased sensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents and to osmotic stresses. In addition, FgHog1, the critical component of high osmolarity glycerol response pathway, was mis-localized in the ΔFgvps27 mutant upon NaCl treatment. Furthermore, the ΔFgvps27 mutant was defective in conidial production and was unable to generate perithecium in sexual reproduction. The depletion of FgVPS27 also caused a significant reduction in virulence. Further analysis by domain-specific deletion revealed that the FYVE domain was essential for the FgVps27 function and was necessary for the proper localization of FgVps27-GFP and endocytosis. Another component of ESCRT-0, the FgVps27-interacting partner FgHse1, also played an important role in F. graminearum development and pathogenesis. Overall, our results indicate that ESCRT-0 components play critical roles in a variety of cellular and biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiurong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ahai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huaijian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Shang
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guodong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guangpu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.,Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.,Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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29
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Fernandes C, Gow NA, Gonçalves T. The importance of subclasses of chitin synthase enzymes with myosin-like domains for the fitness of fungi. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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30
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Kang Y, Kim MR, Kim KH, Lee J, Lee SH. Chlamydospore Induction from Conidia of Cylindrocarpon destructans Isolated from Ginseng in Korea. MYCOBIOLOGY 2016; 44:63-5. [PMID: 27103857 PMCID: PMC4838594 DOI: 10.5941/myco.2016.44.1.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cylindrocarpon destructans causes root rot disease in ginseng and can survive for a long time, producing chlamydospores. We optimized conditions to induce chlamydospore production from the conidia of C. destructans, isolated from Korean ginseng. This will provide the basis for testing the efficacy of control agents targeting these chlamydospores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhee Kang
- Department of Applied Biology, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Mi Ran Kim
- Ginseng Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Eumseong 27715, Korea
| | - Ki Hong Kim
- Ginseng Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Eumseong 27715, Korea
| | - Jungkwan Lee
- Department of Applied Biology, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Lee
- Ginseng Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Eumseong 27715, Korea
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31
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Zhang YZ, Chen Q, Liu CH, Liu YB, Yi P, Niu KX, Wang YQ, Wang AQ, Yu HY, Pu ZE, Jiang QT, Wei YM, Qi PF, Zheng YL. Chitin synthase gene FgCHS8 affects virulence and fungal cell wall sensitivity to environmental stress in Fusarium graminearum. Fungal Biol 2016; 120:764-74. [PMID: 27109372 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the major causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley and is considered to be one of the most devastating plant diseases worldwide. Chitin is a critical component of the fungal cell wall and is polymerized from UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine by chitin synthase. We characterized FgCHS8, a new class of the chitin synthase gene in F. graminearum. Disruption of FgCHS8 resulted in reduced accumulation of chitin, decreased chitin synthase activity, and had no effect on conidia growth when compared with the wild-type isolate. ΔFgCHS8 had a growth rate comparable to that of the wild-type isolate in vitro. However, ΔFgCHS8 had reduced growth when grown on agar supplemented with either 0.025% SDS or 0.9 mM salicylic acid. ΔFgCHS8 produced significantly less deoxynivalenol and exhibited reduced pathogenicity in wheat spikes. Re-introduction of a functional FgCHS8 gene into the ΔFgCHS8 mutant strain restored the wild-type phenotypes. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that FgCHS8 protein was initially expressed in the septa zone, and then gradually distributed over the entire cellular membrane, indicating that FgCHS8 was required for cell wall development. Our results demonstrated that FgCHS8 is important for cell wall sensitivity to environmental stress factors and deoxynivalenol production in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Zhou Zhang
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Qing Chen
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Cai-Hong Liu
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Yu-Bin Liu
- Agricultural Science Research Institute, Xichang, Sichuan 615000, China.
| | - Pan Yi
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Ke-Xin Niu
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Yan-Qing Wang
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - An-Qi Wang
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Hai-Yue Yu
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Zhi-En Pu
- Agronomy College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Qian-Tao Jiang
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Yu-Ming Wei
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Peng-Fei Qi
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - You-Liang Zheng
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
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32
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Li M, Jiang C, Wang Q, Zhao Z, Jin Q, Xu JR, Liu H. Evolution and Functional Insights of Different Ancestral Orthologous Clades of Chitin Synthase Genes in the Fungal Tree of Life. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:37. [PMID: 26870058 PMCID: PMC4734345 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Chitin synthases (CHSs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of chitin, an important structural component of fungal cell walls that can trigger innate immune responses in host plants and animals. Members of CHS gene family perform various functions in fungal cellular processes. Previous studies focused primarily on classifying diverse CHSs into different classes, regardless of their functional diversification, or on characterizing their functions in individual fungal species. A complete and systematic comparative analysis of CHS genes based on their orthologous relationships will be valuable for elucidating the evolution and functions of different CHS genes in fungi. Here, we identified and compared members of the CHS gene family across the fungal tree of life, including 18 divergent fungal lineages. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the fungal CHS gene family is comprised of at least 10 ancestral orthologous clades, which have undergone multiple independent duplications and losses in different fungal lineages during evolution. Interestingly, one of these CHS clades (class III) was expanded in plant or animal pathogenic fungi belonging to different fungal lineages. Two clades (classes VIb and VIc) identified for the first time in this study occurred mainly in plant pathogenic fungi from Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes. Moreover, members of classes III and VIb were specifically up-regulated during plant infection, suggesting important roles in pathogenesis. In addition, CHS-associated networks conserved among plant pathogenic fungi are involved in various biological processes, including sexual reproduction and plant infection. We also identified specificity-determining sites, many of which are located at or adjacent to important structural and functional sites that are potentially responsible for functional divergence of different CHS classes. Overall, our results provide new insights into the evolution and function of members of CHS gene family in the fungal kingdom. Specificity-determining sites identified here may be attractive targets for further structural and experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
| | - Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
| | - Qinhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
| | - Zhongtao Zhao
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou, China
| | - Qiaojun Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China
- *Correspondence: Huiquan Liu
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Cheng W, Song XS, Li HP, Cao LH, Sun K, Qiu XL, Xu YB, Yang P, Huang T, Zhang JB, Qu B, Liao YC. Host-induced gene silencing of an essential chitin synthase gene confers durable resistance to Fusarium head blight and seedling blight in wheat. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:1335-45. [PMID: 25735638 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium seedling blight (FSB) of wheat, caused by Fusarium pathogens, are devastating diseases worldwide. We report the expression of RNA interference (RNAi) sequences derived from an essential Fusarium graminearum (Fg) virulence gene, chitin synthase (Chs) 3b, as a method to enhance resistance of wheat plants to fungal pathogens. Deletion of Chs3b was lethal to Fg; disruption of the other Chs gene family members generated knockout mutants with diverse impacts on Fg. Comparative expression analyses revealed that among the Chs gene family members, Chs3b had the highest expression levels during Fg colonization of wheat. Three hairpin RNAi constructs corresponding to the different regions of Chs3b were found to silence Chs3b in transgenic Fg strains. Co-expression of these three RNAi constructs in two independent elite wheat cultivar transgenic lines conferred high levels of stable, consistent resistance (combined type I and II resistance) to both FHB and FSB throughout the T3 to T5 generations. Confocal microscopy revealed profoundly restricted mycelia in Fg-infected transgenic wheat plants. Presence of the three specific short interfering RNAs in transgenic wheat plants was confirmed by Northern blotting, and these RNAs efficiently down-regulated Chs3b in the colonizing Fusarium pathogens on wheat seedlings and spikes. Our results demonstrate that host-induced gene silencing of an essential fungal chitin synthase gene is an effective strategy for enhancing resistance in crop plants under field test conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cheng
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiu-Shi Song
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - He-Ping Li
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Le-Hui Cao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Sun
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Li Qiu
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Bin Xu
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Qu
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Gandía M, Xu S, Font C, Marcos JF. Disruption of ku70 involved in non-homologous end-joining facilitates homologous recombination but increases temperature sensitivity in the phytopathogenic fungus Penicillium digitatum. Fungal Biol 2015; 120:317-23. [PMID: 26895860 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The dominant mechanism to repair double-stranded DNA breaks in filamentous fungi is the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, and not the homologous recombination (HR) pathway that operates in the mutation of genes by replacement of target DNA for selection cassettes. The key to improve HR frequency is the inactivation of the NHEJ pathway by eliminating components of its Ku70/80 heterodimeric complex. We have obtained ku70 mutants of Penicillium digitatum, the main citrus postharvest pathogen. The increased efficiency of HR in Δku70 strains was demonstrated by the generation of mutants in two different chitin synthase genes (PdchsII and PdchsV). P. digitatum Δku70 strains showed no differences from the parental strain in vegetative growth, asexual development or virulence to citrus fruit, when experiments were conducted at the optimal temperature of 24°C. However, growth of Δku70 strains at temperatures higher than 24°C demonstrated a detrimental effect in axenic growth and conidia production. These observations are in agreement with previous studies describing differences between ku70 mutants and their parental strains in some fungal species, and must be taken into account for future applications of the Δku approach to increase HR efficiency in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Gandía
- Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Shaomei Xu
- Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Cristina Font
- Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Langner T, Göhre V. Fungal chitinases: function, regulation, and potential roles in plant/pathogen interactions. Curr Genet 2015; 62:243-54. [PMID: 26527115 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0530-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the past decades our knowledge about fungal cell wall architecture increased tremendously and led to the identification of many enzymes involved in polysaccharide synthesis and remodeling, which are also of biotechnological interest. Fungal cell walls play an important role in conferring mechanic stability during cell division and polar growth. Additionally, in phytopathogenic fungi the cell wall is the first structure that gets into intimate contact with the host plant. A major constituent of fungal cell walls is chitin, a homopolymer of N-acetylglucosamine units. To ensure plasticity, polymeric chitin needs continuous remodeling which is maintained by chitinolytic enzymes, including lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases N-acetylglucosaminidases, and chitinases. Depending on the species and lifestyle of fungi, there is great variation in the number of encoded chitinases and their function. Chitinases can have housekeeping function in plasticizing the cell wall or can act more specifically during cell separation, nutritional chitin acquisition, or competitive interaction with other fungi. Although chitinase research made huge progress in the last decades, our knowledge about their role in phytopathogenic fungi is still scarce. Recent findings in the dimorphic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis show that chitinases play different physiological functions throughout the life cycle and raise questions about their role during plant-fungus interactions. In this work we summarize these functions, mechanisms of chitinase regulation and their putative role during pathogen/host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Langner
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Göhre
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Cheng W, Li HP, Zhang JB, Du HJ, Wei QY, Huang T, Yang P, Kong XW, Liao YC. Tissue-specific and pathogen-inducible expression of a fusion protein containing a Fusarium-specific antibody and a fungal chitinase protects wheat against Fusarium pathogens and mycotoxins. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:664-674. [PMID: 25418882 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and other small grain cereals is a globally devastating disease caused by toxigenic Fusarium pathogens. Controlling FHB is a challenge because germplasm that is naturally resistant against these pathogens is inadequate. Current control measures rely on fungicides. Here, an antibody fusion comprised of the Fusarium spp.-specific recombinant antibody gene CWP2 derived from chicken, and the endochitinase gene Ech42 from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride was introduced into the elite wheat cultivar Zhengmai9023 by particle bombardment. Expression of this fusion gene was regulated by the lemma/palea-specific promoter Lem2 derived from barley; its expression was confirmed as lemma/palea-specific in transgenic wheat. Single-floret inoculation of independent transgenic wheat lines of the T3 to T6 generations revealed significant resistance (type II) to fungal spreading, and natural infection assays in the field showed significant resistance (type I) to initial infection. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed marked reduction of mycotoxins in the grains of the transgenic wheat lines. Progenies of crosses between the transgenic lines and the FHB-susceptible cultivar Huamai13 also showed significantly enhanced FHB resistance. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the tissue-specific expression of the antibody fusion was induced by salicylic acid drenching and induced to a greater extent by F. graminearum infection. Histochemical analysis showed substantial restriction of mycelial growth in the lemma tissues of the transgenic plants. Thus, the combined tissue-specific and pathogen-inducible expression of this Fusarium-specific antibody fusion can effectively protect wheat against Fusarium pathogens and reduce mycotoxin content in grain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cheng
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - He-Ping Li
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong-Jie Du
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi-Yong Wei
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xian-Wei Kong
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Takeshita N, Wernet V, Tsuizaki M, Grün N, Hoshi HO, Ohta A, Fischer R, Horiuchi H. Transportation of Aspergillus nidulans Class III and V Chitin Synthases to the Hyphal Tips Depends on Conventional Kinesin. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125937. [PMID: 25955346 PMCID: PMC4425547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell wall formation and maintenance are crucial for hyphal morphogenesis. In many filamentous fungi, chitin is one of the main structural components of the cell wall. Aspergillus nidulans ChsB, a chitin synthase, and CsmA, a chitin synthase with a myosin motor-like domain (MMD) at its N-terminus, both localize predominantly at the hyphal tip regions and at forming septa. ChsB and CsmA play crucial roles in polarized hyphal growth in A. nidulans. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which CsmA and ChsB accumulate at the hyphal tip in living hyphae. Deletion of kinA, a gene encoding conventional kinesin (kinesin-1), impaired the localization of GFP-CsmA and GFP-ChsB at the hyphal tips. The transport frequency of GFP-CsmA and GFP-ChsB in both anterograde and retrograde direction appeared lower in the kinA-deletion strain compared to wild type, although the velocities of the movements were comparable. Co-localization of GFP-ChsB and GFP-CsmA with mRFP1-KinArigor, a KinA mutant that binds to microtubules but does not move along them, was observed in the posterior of the hyphal tip regions. KinA co-immunoprecipitated with ChsB and CsmA. Co-localization and association of CsmA with KinA did not depend on the MMD. These findings indicate that ChsB and CsmA are transported along microtubules to the subapical region by KinA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norio Takeshita
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Valentin Wernet
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Makusu Tsuizaki
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nathalie Grün
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Hiro-omi Hoshi
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akinori Ohta
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Hiroyuki Horiuchi
- Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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38
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Muszkieta L, Aimanianda V, Mellado E, Gribaldo S, Alcàzar-Fuoli L, Szewczyk E, Prevost MC, Latgé JP. Deciphering the role of the chitin synthase families 1 and 2 in thein vivoandin vitrogrowth ofAspergillus fumigatusby multiple gene targeting deletion. Cell Microbiol 2014; 16:1784-805. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emilia Mellado
- Mycology Reference Laboratory; Centro Nacional de Microbiologia; Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Madrid Spain
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du gène chez les Extrêmophiles; Institut Pasteur; 75015 Paris France
| | - Laura Alcàzar-Fuoli
- Mycology Reference Laboratory; Centro Nacional de Microbiologia; Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Madrid Spain
| | - Edyta Szewczyk
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering; University of California; Davis California USA
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Gu Q, Zhang C, Yu F, Yin Y, Shim WB, Ma Z. Protein kinase FgSch9 serves as a mediator of the target of rapamycin and high osmolarity glycerol pathways and regulates multiple stress responses and secondary metabolism in F
usarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2014; 17:2661-76. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qin Gu
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Chengqi Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Fangwei Yu
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Yanni Yin
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Texas A&M University; College Station TX USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
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40
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Gandía M, Harries E, Marcos JF. The myosin motor domain-containing chitin synthase PdChsVII is required for development, cell wall integrity and virulence in the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 67:58-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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41
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Functional Differentiation of Chitin Synthases inYarrowia lipolytica. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 77:1275-81. [DOI: 10.1271/bbb.130111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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42
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Geng Z, Zhu W, Su H, Zhao Y, Zhang KQ, Yang J. Recent advances in genes involved in secondary metabolite synthesis, hyphal development, energy metabolism and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph Gibberella zeae). Biotechnol Adv 2014; 32:390-402. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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43
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Yun Y, Liu Z, Zhang J, Shim WB, Chen Y, Ma Z. The MAPKK FgMkk1 ofFusarium graminearumregulates vegetative differentiation, multiple stress response, and virulence via the cell wall integrity and high-osmolarity glycerol signaling pathways. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:2023-37. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yingzi Yun
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Zunyong Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Jingze Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Texas A&M University; College Station TX USA
| | - Yun Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
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Song XS, Li HP, Zhang JB, Song B, Huang T, Du XM, Gong AD, Liu YK, Feng YN, Agboola RS, Liao YC. Trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase is required for development, virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis apart from trehalose biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. Fungal Genet Biol 2013; 63:24-41. [PMID: 24291007 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Trehalose 6-phosphate synthase (TPS1) and trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase (TPS2) are required for trehalose biosynthesis in yeast and filamentous fungi, including Fusarium graminearum. Three null mutants Δtps1, Δtps2 and Δtps1-Δtps2, each carrying either a single deletion of TPS1 or TPS2 or a double deletion of TPS1-TPS2, were generated from a toxigenic F. graminearum strain and were not able to synthesize trehalose. In contrast to its reported function in yeasts and filamentous fungi, TPS1 appeared dispensable for development and virulence. However, deletion of TPS2 abolished sporulation and sexual reproduction; it also altered cell polarity and ultrastructure of the cell wall in association with reduced chitin biosynthesis. The cell polarity alteration was exhibited as reduced apical growth and increased lateral growth and branching with increased hyphal and cell wall widths. Moreover, the TPS2-deficient strain displayed abnormal septum development and nucleus distribution in its conidia and vegetative hyphae. The Δtps2 mutant also had 62% lower mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar and 99% lower virulence on wheat compared with the wild-type. The Δtps1, Δtps2 and Δtps1-Δtps2 mutants synthesized over 3.08-, 7.09- and 2.47-fold less mycotoxins, respectively, on rice culture compared with the wild-type. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the Δtps1, Δtps2 and Δtps1-Δtps2 mutants had 486, 1885 and 146 genotype-specific genes, respectively, with significantly changed expression profiles compared with the wild-type. Further dissection of this pathway will provide new insights into regulation of fungal development, virulence and trichothecene biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Shi Song
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - He-Ping Li
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Song
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Huang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Min Du
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - An-Dong Gong
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Ke Liu
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Ni Feng
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Rebecca S Agboola
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China; National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
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45
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Son H, Lee J, Lee YW. A novel gene, GEA1, is required for ascus cell-wall development in the ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum. Microbiology (Reading) 2013; 159:1077-1085. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.064287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungkwan Lee
- Department of Applied Biology, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Republic of Korea
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46
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Cui Z, Wang Y, Lei N, Wang K, Zhu T. Botrytis cinerea chitin synthase BcChsVI is required for normal growth and pathogenicity. Curr Genet 2013; 59:119-28. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-013-0393-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Munro CA. Chitin and glucan, the yin and yang of the fungal cell wall, implications for antifungal drug discovery and therapy. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2013; 83:145-72. [PMID: 23651596 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407678-5.00004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The structural carbohydrate polymers glucan and chitin compliment and reinforce each other in a dynamic process to maintain the integrity and physical strength of the fungal cell wall. The assembly of chitin and glucan in the cell wall of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the polymorphic human pathogen Candida albicans are essential processes that involve a range of fungal-specific enzymes and regulatory networks. The fungal cell wall is, therefore, an attractive target for novel therapies as host cells lack many cell wall-related proteins. The most recent class of antifungal drug approved for clinical use, the echinocandins, targets the synthesis of cell wall β(1-3)glucan. The echinocandins are effective at treating invasive and bloodstream Candida infections and are now widely used in the clinic. However, there have been sporadic reports of breakthrough infections in patients undergoing echinocandin therapy. The acquisition of point mutations in the FKS genes that encode the catalytic β(1-3)glucan synthase subunits, the target of the echinocandins, has emerged as a dominant resistance mechanism. Cells with elevated chitin levels are also less susceptible to echinocandins and in addition, treatment with sub-MIC echinocandin activates cell wall salvage pathways that increase chitin synthesis to compensate for reduced glucan production. The development of drugs targeting the cell wall has already proven to be beneficial in providing an alternative class of drug for use in the clinic. Other cell wall targets such as chitin synthesis still hold great potential for drug development but careful consideration should be given to the capacity of fungi to manipulate their walls in a dynamic response to cell wall perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol A Munro
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, E-mail:
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Morcx S, Kunz C, Choquer M, Assie S, Blondet E, Simond-Côte E, Gajek K, Chapeland-Leclerc F, Expert D, Soulie MC. Disruption of Bcchs4, Bcchs6 or Bcchs7 chitin synthase genes in Botrytis cinerea and the essential role of class VI chitin synthase (Bcchs6). Fungal Genet Biol 2012; 52:1-8. [PMID: 23268147 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2012.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chitin synthases play critical roles in hyphal development and fungal pathogenicity. Previous studies on Botrytis cinerea, a model organism for necrotrophic pathogens, have shown that disruption of Bcchs1 and more particularly Bcchs3a genes have a drastic impact on virulence (Soulié et al., 2003, 2006). In this work, we investigate the role of other CHS including BcCHS4, BcCHS6 and BcCHS7 during the life cycle of B. cinerea. Single deletions of corresponding genes were carried out. Phenotypic analysis indicates that: (i) BcCHS4 enzyme is not essential for development and pathogenicity of the fungus; (ii) BcCHS7 is required for pathogenicity in a host dependant manner. For Bcchs6 gene disruption, we obtained only heterokaryotic strains. Indeed, sexual or asexual purification assays were unsuccessful. We concluded that class VI chitin synthase could be essential for B. cinerea and therefore BcCHS6 represents a valuable antifungal target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Morcx
- UPMC Univ. Paris 06, UMR217, 75005 Paris, France
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Menke J, Dong Y, Kistler HC. Fusarium graminearum Tri12p influences virulence to wheat and trichothecene accumulation. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2012; 25:1408-18. [PMID: 22835271 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-04-12-0081-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The gene Tri12 encodes a predicted major facilitator superfamily protein suggested to play a role in export of trichothecene mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. It is unclear, however, how the Tri12 protein (Tri12p) may influence trichothecene sensitivity and virulence of the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum. In this study, we establish a role for Tri12 in toxin accumulation and sensitivity as well as in pathogenicity toward wheat. Tri12 deletion mutants (tri12) are reduced in virulence and result in decreased trichothecene accumulation when inoculated on wheat compared with the wild-type strain or an ectopic mutant. Reduced radial growth of tri12 mutants on trichothecene biosynthesis induction medium was observed relative to the wild type and the ectopic strains. Diminished trichothecene accumulation was observed in liquid medium cultures inoculated with tri12 mutants. Wild-type fungal cells grown under conditions that induce trichothecene biosynthesis develop distinct subapical swelling and form large vacuoles. A strain expressing Tri12p linked to green fluorescent protein shows localization of the protein consistent with the plasma membrane. Our results indicate Tri12 plays a role in self-protection and influences toxin production and virulence of the fungus in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Menke
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St.Paul, MN, USA
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Chitin synthases with a myosin motor-like domain control the resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus to echinocandins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:6121-31. [PMID: 22964252 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00752-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus has two chitin synthases (CSMA and CSMB) with a myosin motor-like domain (MMD) arranged in a head-to-head configuration. To understand the function of these chitin synthases, single and double csm mutant strains were constructed and analyzed. Although there was a slight reduction in mycelial growth of the mutants, the total chitin synthase activity and the cell wall chitin content were similar in the mycelium of all of the mutants and the parental strain. In the conidia, chitin content in the ΔcsmA strain cell wall was less than half the amount found in the parental strain. In contrast, the ΔcsmB mutant strain and, unexpectedly, the ΔcsmA/ΔcsmB mutant strain did not show any modification of chitin content in their conidial cell walls. In contrast to the hydrophobic conidia of the parental strain, conidia of all of the csm mutants were hydrophilic due to the presence of an amorphous material covering the hydrophobic surface-rodlet layer. The deletion of CSM genes also resulted in an increased susceptibility of resting and germinating conidia to echinocandins. These results show that the deletion of the CSMA and CSMB genes induced a significant disorganization of the cell wall structure, even though they contribute only weakly to the overall cell wall chitin synthesis.
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