1
|
Simko I, Mamo BE, Foster CE, Adhikari ND, Subbarao KV. Host cell wall composition and localized microenvironment implicated in resistance to basal stem degradation by lettuce drop (Sclerotinia minor). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:717. [PMID: 39069632 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05399-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sclerotinia spp. are generalist fungal pathogens, infecting over 700 plant hosts worldwide, including major crops. While host resistance is the most sustainable and cost-effective method for disease management, complete resistance to Sclerotinia diseases is rare. We recently identified soft basal stem as a potential susceptibility factor to Sclerotinia minor infection in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under greenhouse conditions. RESULTS Analysis of stem and root cell wall composition in five L. sativa and one L. serriola accessions with varying growth habits and S. minor resistance levels revealed strong association between hemicellulose constituents, lignin polymers, disease phenotypes, and basal stem mechanical strength. Accessions resistant to basal stem degradation consistently exhibited higher levels of syringyl, guaiacyl, and xylose, but lower levels of fucose in stems. These findings suggest that stem cell wall polymers recalcitrant to breakdown by lignocellulolytic enzymes may contribute to stem strength-mediated resistance against S. minor. CONCLUSIONS The lignin content, particularly guaiacyl and syringyl, along with xylose could potentially serve as biomarkers for identifying more resistant lettuce accessions and breeding lines. Basal stem degradation by S. minor was influenced by localized microenvironment conditions around the stem base of the plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Simko
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA.
| | - Bullo Erena Mamo
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, c/o Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA
- Present address: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Clifton E Foster
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Present address: Pace Analytical, Wixom, MI, 48393, USA
| | - Neil D Adhikari
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, c/o Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA
- Present address: California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA
| | - Krishna V Subbarao
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, c/o Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yan M, Chen Y, Li M, Wu J, Fang Z, Wang J, Liu J. Coprinopsis cinerea Galectin CGL1 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Tumor Growth in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010235. [PMID: 36613681 PMCID: PMC9820451 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mushroom galectins are promising anticancer agents for their low IC50 values against cancer cells in vitro. In this study, two Coprinopsis cinerea galectins, CGL1 and CGL2, were heterologously expressed, and their biochemistry properties and anticancer effects were evaluated. The purified galectins were thermostable at neutral pH conditions. They both existed as tetramers and shared a high affinity towards lactose. CGL1 and CGL2 strongly inhibited the cell viability of many cancer cell lines, including three colorectal cancer cells, in a dose-dependent manner by inducing mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, CGL1 exhibited higher apoptosis-inducing ability and cytotoxicity than CGL2. In vivo cell viability experiments based on two xenograft mouse models showed that CGL1 had a more substantial inhibitory effect than CGL2 on HCT116 tumor growth (p < 0.0001), whereas only CGL1 inhibited DLD1 tumor growth (p < 0.01). This is the first study to evaluate the anti-colorectal cancer effect of mushroom lectins in vivo, and our results showed that CGL1 is a potent agent for colorectal cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yaxuan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Mengke Li
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jiamin Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Zemin Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Junjun Wang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (J.L.)
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei 230601, China
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (J.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cong J, Xiao K, Jiao W, Zhang C, Zhang X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Pan H. The Coupling Between Cell Wall Integrity Mediated by MAPK Kinases and SsFkh1 Is Involved in Sclerotia Formation and Pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:816091. [PMID: 35547112 PMCID: PMC9081980 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.816091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can survive on a wide range of hosts and cause significant losses on crop yields. FKH, a forkhead box (FOX)-containing protein, functions to regulate transcription and signal transduction. As a transcription factor (TF) with multiple biological functions in eukaryotic organisms, little research has been done on the role of FKH protein in pathogenic fungi. SsFkh1 encodes a protein which has been predicted to contain FOX domain in S. sclerotiorum. In this study, the deletion mutant of SsFkh1 resulted in severe defects in hyphal development, virulence, and sclerotia formation. Moreover, knockout of SsFkh1 lead to gene functional enrichment in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in transcriptome analysis and SsFkh1 was found to be involved in the maintenance of the cell wall integrity (CWI) and the MAPK signaling pathway. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that SsFkh1 interacts with SsMkk1. In addition, we explored the conserved MAPK signaling pathway components, including Bck1, Mkk1, Pkc1, and Smk3 in S. sclerotiorum. ΔSsmkk1, ΔSspkc1, ΔSsbck1, and ΔSssmk3knockout mutant strains together with ΔSsmkk1com, ΔSspkc1com, ΔSsbck1com, and ΔSssmk3com complementation mutant strains were obtained. The results indicated that ΔSsmkk1, ΔSspkc1, ΔSsbck1, and ΔSssmk3 displayed similar phenotypes to ΔSsfkh1 in sclerotia formation, compound appressorium development, and pathogenicity. Taken together, SsFkh1 may be the downstream substrate of SsMkk1 and involved in sclerotia formation, compound appressorium development, and pathogenicity in S. sclerotiorum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cong
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Kunqin Xiao
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenli Jiao
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Resource and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yu PL, Rollins JA. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway perturbs autophagy and plays important roles in development and virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:20-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
5
|
Zhu P, Kou M, Liu C, Zhang S, Lü R, Xia Z, Yu M, Zhao A. Genome Sequencing of Ciboria shiraiana Provides Insights into the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Hypertrophy Sorosis Scleroteniosis. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2021; 34:62-74. [PMID: 33021883 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-20-0201-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ciboria shiraiana causes hypertrophy sorosis scleroteniosis in mulberry trees, resulting in huge economic losses, and exploring its pathogenic mechanism at a genomic level is important for developing new control methods. Here, genome sequencing of C. shiraiana based on PacBio RSII and Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform as well as manual gap filling was performed. Synteny analysis with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum revealed 16 putative chromosomes corresponding to 16 chromosomes of C. shiraiana. Screening of rapid-evolution genes revealed that 97 and 2.4% of genes had undergone purifying selection and positive selection, respectively. When compared with S. sclerotiorum, fewer secreted effector proteins were found in C. shiraiana. The number of genes involved in pathogenicity, including secondary metabolites, carbohydrate active enzymes, and P450s, in the C. shiraiana genome was comparable with that of other necrotrophs but higher than that of biotrophs and saprotrophs. The growth-related genes and plant cell-wall-degradation-related genes in C. shiraiana were expressed in different developmental and infection stages, and may be potential targets for prevention and control of this pathogen. These results provide new insights into C. shiraiana pathogenic mechanisms, especially host range and necrotrophy features, and lay the foundation for further study of the underlying molecular mechanisms.[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Zhu
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Min Kou
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Changying Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruihua Lü
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- College of Medical Technology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Zhongqiang Xia
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Maode Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Aichun Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wei W, Pierre-Pierre N, Peng H, Ellur V, Vandemark GJ, Chen W. The D-galacturonic acid catabolic pathway genes differentially regulate virulence and salinity response in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 145:103482. [PMID: 33137429 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes white mold disease on a wide range of economically important crops such as soybean, canola, tomato, pea and sunflower. As one of the most successful plant pathogens, S. sclerotiorum has the unique ability of adapting to various environmental conditions and effectively suppressing or evading plant defense. Notably, S. sclerotiorum secretes an array of plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) to macerate host cell wall and utilizes the liberated monosaccharides and oligosaccharides as nutrients. One of the major plant cell wall constituents is polygalacturonic acid in pectin, with D-galacturonic acid being the most abundant component. In this research, we identified four S. sclerotiorum genes that encode the enzymes for the D-galacturonic acid catabolism, namely Ssgar1, Ssgar2, Sslgd1 and Sslga1. Gene-knockout mutants were created for all four catabolic genes. When cultured on pectin as the alternative carbon source, Sslgd1- and Sslga1-deletion mutants and Ssgar1/Ssgar2 double deletion mutants exhibited significantly reduced growth. The D-galacturonic acid catabolic genes are transcriptionally induced by either polygalacturonic acid in the culture media or during host infection. Virulence tests of the knockout mutants revealed that Ssgar2, Sslgd1 and Sslga1 all facilitated the effective colonization of S. sclerotiorum to the leaves of soybean and pea, but not of tomato which has the lowest D-galacturonic acid contents in its leaves. In addition to their positive roles in virulence, all four enzymes negatively affect S. sclerotiorum tolerance to salt stress. SsGAR2 has an additional function in tolerance to Congo Red, suggesting a potential role in cell wall stability of S. sclerotiorum. This study is the first report revealing the versatile functions of D-galacturonic acid catabolic genes in S. sclerotiorum virulence, salinity response and cell wall integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | | | - Hao Peng
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Vishnutej Ellur
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - George J Vandemark
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jørgensen TR, Burggraaf AM, Arentshorst M, Schutze T, Lamers G, Niu J, Kwon MJ, Park J, Frisvad JC, Nielsen KF, Meyer V, van den Hondel CA, Dyer PS, Ram AF. Identification of SclB, a Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor involved in sclerotium formation in Aspergillus niger. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 139:103377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
8
|
Xia S, Xu Y, Hoy R, Zhang J, Qin L, Li X. The Notorious Soilborne Pathogenic Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: An Update on Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis. Pathogens 2019; 9:pathogens9010027. [PMID: 31892134 PMCID: PMC7168625 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is one of the most damaging soilborne fungal pathogens affecting hundreds of plant hosts, including many economically important crops. Its genomic sequence has been available for less than a decade, and it was recently updated with higher completion and better gene annotation. Here, we review key molecular findings on the unique biology and pathogenesis process of S. sclerotiorum, focusing on genes that have been studied in depth using mutant analysis. Analyses of these genes have revealed critical players in the basic biological processes of this unique pathogen, including mycelial growth, appressorium establishment, sclerotial formation, apothecial and ascospore development, and virulence. Additionally, the synthesis has uncovered gaps in the current knowledge regarding this fungus. We hope that this review will serve to build a better current understanding of the biology of this under-studied notorious soilborne pathogenic fungus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
- Correspondence: (S.X.); (X.L.)
| | - Yan Xu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ryan Hoy
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
| | - Julia Zhang
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada;
| | - Lei Qin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
| | - Xin Li
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Correspondence: (S.X.); (X.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Westrick NM, Ranjan A, Jain S, Grau CR, Smith DL, Kabbage M. Gene regulation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum during infection of Glycine max: on the road to pathogenesis. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:157. [PMID: 30808300 PMCID: PMC6390599 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5517-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a broad-host range necrotrophic pathogen which is the causative agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), and a major disease of soybean (Glycine max). A time course transcriptomic analysis was performed in both compatible and incompatible soybean lines to identify pathogenicity and developmental factors utilized by S. sclerotiorum to achieve pathogenic success. RESULTS A comparison of genes expressed during early infection identified the potential importance of toxin efflux and nitrogen metabolism during the early stages of disease establishment. The later stages of infection were characterized by an apparent shift to survival structure formation. Analysis of genes highly upregulated in-planta revealed a temporal regulation of hydrolytic and detoxification enzymes, putative secreted effectors, and secondary metabolite synthesis genes. Redox regulation also appears to play a key role during the course of infection, as suggested by the high expression of genes involved in reactive oxygen species production and scavenging. Finally, distinct differences in early gene expression were noted based on the comparison of S. sclerotiorum infection of resistant and susceptible soybean lines. CONCLUSIONS Although many potential virulence factors have been noted in the S. sclerotiorum pathosystem, this study serves to highlight soybean specific processes most likely to be critical in successful infection. Functional studies of genes identified in this work are needed to confirm their importance to disease development, and may constitute valuable targets of RNAi approaches to improve resistance to SSR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Sachin Jain
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Craig R. Grau
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Damon L. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Mehdi Kabbage
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Toxicity of Potential Fungal Defense Proteins towards the Fungivorous Nematodes Aphelenchus avenae and Bursaphelenchus okinawaensis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.02051-18. [PMID: 30242007 PMCID: PMC6238071 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02051-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Our results support the hypothesis that cytoplasmic proteins abundant in fungal fruiting bodies are involved in fungal resistance against predation. The toxicity of these proteins toward stylet-feeding nematodes, which are also capable of feeding on plants, and the abundance of these proteins in edible mushrooms, may open possible avenues for biological crop protection against parasitic nematodes, e.g., by expression of these proteins in crops. Resistance of fungi to predation is thought to be mediated by toxic metabolites and proteins. Many of these fungal defense effectors are highly abundant in the fruiting body and not produced in the vegetative mycelium. The defense function of fruiting body-specific proteins, however, including cytoplasmically localized lectins and antinutritional proteins such as biotin-binding proteins, is mainly based on toxicity assays using bacteria as a heterologous expression system, with bacterivorous/omnivorous model organisms as predators. Here, we present an ecologically more relevant experimental setup to assess the toxicity of potential fungal defense proteins towards the fungivorous, stylet-feeding nematodes Aphelenchus avenae and Bursaphelenchus okinawaensis. As a heterologous expression host, we exploited the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii. Using this new system, we assessed the toxicity of six previously characterized, cytoplasmically localized, potential defense proteins from fruiting bodies of different fungal phyla against the two fungivorous nematodes. We found that all of the tested proteins were toxic against both nematodes, albeit to various degrees. The toxicity of these proteins against both fungivorous and bacterivorous nematodes suggests that their targets have been conserved between the different feeding groups of nematodes and that bacterivorous nematodes are valid model organisms to assess the nematotoxicity of potential fungal defense proteins. IMPORTANCE Our results support the hypothesis that cytoplasmic proteins abundant in fungal fruiting bodies are involved in fungal resistance against predation. The toxicity of these proteins toward stylet-feeding nematodes, which are also capable of feeding on plants, and the abundance of these proteins in edible mushrooms, may open possible avenues for biological crop protection against parasitic nematodes, e.g., by expression of these proteins in crops.
Collapse
|
11
|
Xu T, Li J, Yu B, Liu L, Zhang X, Liu J, Pan H, Zhang Y. Transcription Factor SsSte12 Was Involved in Mycelium Growth and Development in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2476. [PMID: 30386319 PMCID: PMC6200020 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a challenging agricultural pathogen for management, causing large global economic losses annually. The sclerotia and infection cushions are critical for its long-term survival and successful penetration on a wide spectrum of hosts. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades serve as central signaling complexes that are involved in various aspects of sclerotia development and infection. In this study, the putative downstream transcription factor of MAPK pathway, SsSte12, was analyzed in S. sclerotiorum. Silencing SsSte12 in S. sclerotiorum resulted in phenotypes of delayed vegetative growth, reduced size of sclerotia, and fewer appressoria formation. Consequently, the SsSte12 RNAi mutants showed attenuated pathogenicity on the host plants due to the defect compound appressorium. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays demonstrated that the SsSte12 interacts with SsMcm1. However, the SsMcm1 expression is independent of the regulation of SsSte12 as revealed by qRT-PCR analysis in SsSte12 RNAi mutants. Together with high accumulation of SsSte12 transcripts in the early development of S. sclerotiorum, our results demonstrated that SsSte12 function was essential in the vegetative mycelial growth, sclerotia development, appressoria formation and penetration-dependent pathogenicity. Moreover, the SsSte12-SsMcm1 interaction might play a critical role in the regulation of the genes encoding these traits in S. sclerotiorum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingtao Xu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingtao Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Baodong Yu
- Department of Emergency of Xinmin, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Xu L, Li G, Jiang D, Chen W. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: An Evaluation of Virulence Theories. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2018; 56:311-338. [PMID: 29958073 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-050052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Oxalic acid production in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has long been associated with virulence. Research involving UV-induced, genetically undefined mutants that concomitantly lost oxalate accumulation, sclerotial formation, and pathogenicity supported the conclusion that oxalate is an essential pathogenicity determinant of S. sclerotiorum. However, recent investigations showed that genetically defined mutants that lost oxalic acid production but accumulated fumaric acid could cause disease on many plants and substantiated the conclusion that acidic pH, not oxalic acid per se, is the necessary condition for disease development. Critical evaluation of available evidence showed that the UV-induced mutants harbored previously unrecognized confounding genetic defects in saprophytic growth and pH responsiveness, warranting reevaluation of the conclusions about virulence based on the UV-induced mutants. Furthermore, analyses of the evidence suggested a hypothesis for the existence of an unrecognized regulator responsive to acidic pH. Identifying the unknown pH regulator would offer a new avenue for investigating pH sensing/regulation in S. sclerotiorum and novel targets for intervention in disease control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Daohong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Chen
- Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
- Departments of Plant Pathology and Molecular Plant Sciences Program, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li J, Mu W, Veluchamy S, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Pan H, Rollins JA. The GATA-type IVb zinc-finger transcription factor SsNsd1 regulates asexual-sexual development and appressoria formation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:1679-1689. [PMID: 29227022 PMCID: PMC6638148 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The sclerotium, a multicellular structure composed of the compact aggregation of vegetative hyphae, is critical for the long-term survival and sexual reproduction of the plant-pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The development and carpogenic germination of sclerotia are regulated by integrating signals from both environmental and endogenous processes. Here, we report the regulatory functions of the S. sclerotiorum GATA-type IVb zinc-finger transcription factor SsNsd1 in these processes. SsNsd1 is orthologous to the Aspergillus nidulans NsdD (never in sexual development) and the Neurospora crassa SUB-1 (submerged protoperithecia-1) proteins. Ssnsd1 gene transcript accumulation remains relatively low, but variable, during vegetative mycelial growth and multicellular development. Ssnsd1 deletion mutants (Δnsd1-KOs) produce phialides and phialospores (spermatia) excessively in vegetative hyphae and promiscuously within the interior medulla of sclerotia. In contrast, phialospore development occurs only on the sclerotium surface in the wild-type. Loss of SsNsd1 function affects sclerotium structural integrity and disrupts ascogonia formation during conditioning for carpogenic germination. As a consequence, apothecium development is abolished. The Ssnsd1 deletion mutants are also defective in the transition from hyphae to compound appressorium formation, resulting in a loss of pathogenicity on unwounded hosts. In sum, our results demonstrate that SsNsd1 functions in a regulatory role similar to its ascomycete orthologues in regulating sexual and asexual development. Further, SsNsd1 appears to have evolved as a regulator of pre-penetration infectious development required for the successful infection of its many hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Li
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL 32611USA
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunJilin Province130062China
| | - Wenhui Mu
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL 32611USA
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunJilin Province130062China
| | - Selvakumar Veluchamy
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL 32611USA
- Present address:
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension CenterNorth Carolina State UniversityMills RiverNC 28759USA
| | - Yanzhi Liu
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunJilin Province130062China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL 32611USA
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunJilin Province130062China
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunJilin Province130062China
| | - Jeffrey A. Rollins
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFL 32611USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li J, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yu PL, Pan H, Rollins JA. Introduction of Large Sequence Inserts by CRISPR-Cas9 To Create Pathogenicity Mutants in the Multinucleate Filamentous Pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. mBio 2018; 9:e00567-18. [PMID: 29946044 PMCID: PMC6020291 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00567-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The necrotrophic fungal plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is responsible for substantial global crop losses annually resulting in localized food insecurity and loss of livelihood. Understanding the basis of this broad-host-range and aggressive pathogenicity is hampered by the quantitative nature of both host resistance and pathogen virulence. To improve this understanding, methods for efficient functional gene characterization that build upon the existing complete S. sclerotiorum genome sequence are needed. Here, we report on the development of a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9)-mediated strategy for creating gene disruption mutants and the application of this technique for exploring roles of known and hypothesized virulence factors. A key finding of this research is that transformation with a circular plasmid encoding Cas9, target single guide RNA (sgRNA), and a selectable marker resulted in a high frequency of targeted, insertional gene mutation. We observed that 100% of the mutants integrated large rearranged segments of the transforming plasmid at the target site facilitated by the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair pathway. This result was confirmed in multiple target sites within the same gene in three independent wild-type isolates of S. sclerotiorum and in a second independent gene. Targeting the previously characterized Ssoah1 gene allowed us to confirm the loss-of-function nature of the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutants and explore new aspects of the mutant phenotype. Applying this technology to create mutations in a second previously uncharacterized gene allowed us to determine the requirement for melanin accumulation in infection structure development and function.IMPORTANCE Fungi that cause plant diseases by rotting or blighting host tissue with limited specificity remain among the most difficult to control. This is largely due to the quantitative nature of host resistance and a limited understanding of fungal pathogenicity. A mechanistic understanding of pathogenicity requires the ability to manipulate candidate virulence genes to test hypotheses regarding their roles in disease development. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is among the most notorious of these so-called broad-host-range necrotrophic plant pathogens. The work described here provides a new method for rapidly constructing gene disruption vectors to create gene mutations with high efficiency compared with existing methods. Applying this method to characterize gene functions in S. sclerotiorum, we confirm the requirement for oxalic acid production as a virulence factor in multiple isolates of the fungus and demonstrate that melanin accumulation is not required for infection. Using this approach, the pace of functional gene characterization and the understanding of pathogenicity and related disease resistance will increase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yucheng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Pei-Ling Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liang Y, Xiong W, Steinkellner S, Feng J. Deficiency of the melanin biosynthesis genes SCD1 and THR1 affects sclerotial development and vegetative growth, but not pathogenicity, in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:1444-1453. [PMID: 29024255 PMCID: PMC6638068 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic plant pathogen causing significant damage on a broad range of crops. This fungus produces sclerotia that serve as the long-term survival structures in the life cycle and the primary inoculum in the disease cycle. Melanin plays an important role in protecting mycelia and sclerotia from ultraviolet radiation and other adverse environmental conditions. In this study, two genes, SCD1 encoding a scytalone dehydratase and THR1 encoding a trihydroxynaphthalene reductase, were disrupted by target gene replacement, and their roles in mycelial growth, sclerotial development and fungal pathogenicity were investigated. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the deduced amino acid sequences of SCD1 and THR1 were similar to the orthologues of Botrytis cinerea. Expression of SCD1 was at higher levels in sclerotia relative to mycelia. THR1 was expressed at similar levels in mycelia and sclerotia at early stages, but was up-regulated in sclerotia at the maturation stage. Disruption of SCD1 or THR1 did not change the pathogenicity of the fungus, but resulted in slower radial growth, less biomass, wider angled hyphal branches, impaired sclerotial development and decreased resistance to ultraviolet light.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liang
- College of Plant ProtectionShenyang Agricultural UniversityShenyangLiaoning 110866China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing 400045China
| | - Siegrid Steinkellner
- Division of Plant Protection, Department of Crop SciencesUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaVienna 1190Austria
| | - Jie Feng
- Alberta Plant Health Laboratory, Alberta Agriculture and ForestryEdmontonAlberta T5Y 6H3Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
An overview of lectin–glycan interactions: a key event in initiating fungal infection and pathogenesis. Arch Microbiol 2018; 200:371-382. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-018-1487-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
|
17
|
Wang D, Fu JF, Zhou RJ, Li ZB, Xie YJ. Proteomics research and related functional classification of liquid sclerotial exudates of Sclerotinia ginseng. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3979. [PMID: 29104825 PMCID: PMC5669253 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia ginseng is a necrotrophic soil pathogen that mainly infects the root and basal stem of ginseng, causing serious commercial losses. Sclerotia, which are important in the fungal life cycle, are hard, asexual, resting structures that can survive in soil for several years. Generally, sclerotium development is accompanied by the exudation of droplets. Here, the yellowish droplets of S. ginseng were first examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the proteome was identified by a combination of different analytical platforms. A total of 59 proteins were identified and classified into six categories: carbohydrate metabolism (39%), oxidation-reduction process (12%), transport and catabolism (5%), amino acid metabolism (3%), other functions (18%), and unknown protein (23%), which exhibited considerable differences in protein composition compared with droplets of S. sclerotium. In the carbohydrate metabolism group, several proteins were associated with sclerotium development, particularly fungal cell wall formation. The pathogenicity and virulence of the identified proteins are also discussed in this report. The findings of this study may improve our understanding of the function of exudate droplets as well as the life cycle and pathogenesis of S. ginseng.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jun Fan Fu
- Department of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ru Jun Zhou
- Department of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zi Bo Li
- Department of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Jiao Xie
- Department of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhang Z, Li H, Qin G, He C, Li B, Tian S. The MADS-Box transcription factor Bcmads1 is required for growth, sclerotia production and pathogenicity of Botrytis cinerea. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33901. [PMID: 27658442 PMCID: PMC5034256 DOI: 10.1038/srep33901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MADS-box transcription factors are highly conserved in eukaryotic species and involved in a variety of biological processes. Little is known, however, regarding the function of MADS-box genes in Botrytis cinerea, a fungal pathogen with a wide host range. Here, the functional role of the B. cinerea MADS-box gene, Bcmads1, was characterized in relation to the development, pathogenicity and production of sclerotia. The latter are formed upon incubation in darkness and serve as survival structures during winter and as the female parent in sexual reproduction. Bcmads1 is indispensable for sclerotia production. RT-qPCR analysis suggested that Bcmads1 modulated sclerotia formation by regulating the expression of light-responsive genes. Bcmads1 is required for the full virulence potential of B. cinerea on apple fruit. A comparative proteomic analysis identified 63 proteins, representing 55 individual genes that are potential targets of Bcmads1. Among them, Bcsec14 and Bcsec31 are associated with vesicle transport. Deletion of Bcsec14 and Bcsec31 resulted in a reduction in the virulence and protein secretion of B. cinerea. These results suggest that Bcmads1 may influence sclerotia formation by modulating light responsive gene expression and regulate pathogenicity by its effect on the protein secretion process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guozheng Qin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chang He
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Boqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiping Tian
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wang L, Liu Y, Liu J, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Pan H. The Sclerotinia sclerotiorum FoxE2 Gene Is Required for Apothecial Development. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2016; 106:484-490. [PMID: 26756829 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-08-15-0181-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a widely dispersed plant pathogenic fungus causing many diseases such as white mold, Sclerotinia stem rot, stalk rot, and Sclerotinia head rot on many varieties of broadleaf crops worldwide. Previous studies have shown that the Forkhead-box transcription factors (FOX TFs) play key regulatory roles in the sexual reproduction of some fungi. Ss-FoxE2 is one of four FOX TF family member genes in S. sclerotiorum. Based on ortholog function in other fungi it is hypothesized to function in S. sclerotiorum sexual reproduction. In this study, the role of Ss-FoxE2 in S. sclerotiorum was identified with a gene knock-out strategy. Following transformation and screening, strains having undergone homologous recombination in which the hygromycin resistance gene replaced the gene Ss-FoxE2 from the genomic DNA were identified. No difference in hyphae growth, number, and weight of sclerotia and no obvious change in virulence was observed among the wild type Ss-FoxE2 knock-out mutant and genetically complemented mutant; however, following induction of sclerotia for sexual development, apothecia were not formed in Ss-FoxE2 knock-out mutant. The Ss-FoxE2 gene expressed significantly higher in the apothecial stages than in other developmental stages. These results indicate that Ss-FoxE2 appears to be necessary for the regulation of sexual reproduction, but may not affect the pathogenicity and vegetative development of S. sclerotiorum significantly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| | - Yanzhi Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liang X, Moomaw EW, Rollins JA. Fungal oxalate decarboxylase activity contributes to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum early infection by affecting both compound appressoria development and function. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2015; 16:825-36. [PMID: 25597873 PMCID: PMC6638544 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum pathogenesis requires the accumulation of high levels of oxalic acid (OA). To better understand the factors affecting OA accumulation, two putative oxalate decarboxylase (OxDC) genes (Ss-odc1 and Ss-odc2) were characterized. Ss-odc1 transcripts exhibited significant accumulation in vegetative hyphae, apothecia, early stages of compound appressorium development and during plant colonization. Ss-odc2 transcripts, in contrast, accumulated significantly only during mid to late stages of compound appressorium development. Neither gene was induced by low pH or exogenous OA in vegetative hyphae. A loss-of-function mutant for Ss-odc1 (Δss-odc1) showed wild-type growth, morphogenesis and virulence, and was not characterized further. Δss-odc2 mutants hyperaccumulated OA in vitro, were less efficient at compound appressorium differentiation and exhibited a virulence defect which could be fully bypassed by wounding the host plant prior to inoculation. All Δss-odc2 phenotypes were restored to the wild-type by ectopic complementation. An S. sclerotiorum strain overexpressing Ss-odc2 exhibited strong OxDC, but no oxalate oxidase activity. Increasing inoculum nutrient levels increased compound appressorium development, but not penetration efficiency, of Δss-odc2 mutants. Together, these results demonstrate differing roles for S. sclerotiorum OxDCs, with Odc2 playing a significant role in host infection related to compound appressorium formation and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Liang
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, PO Box 110680, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0680, USA
| | - Ellen W Moomaw
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, MD# 1203, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, PO Box 110680, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0680, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
|
22
|
Xiao X, Xie J, Cheng J, Li G, Yi X, Jiang D, Fu Y. Novel secretory protein Ss-Caf1 of the plant-pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is required for host penetration and normal sclerotial development. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2014; 27:40-55. [PMID: 24299212 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-05-13-0145-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
To decipher the mechanism of pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a pathogenicity-defective mutant, Sunf-MT6, was isolated from a T-DNA insertional library. Sunf-MT6 could not form compound appressorium and failed to induce lesions on leaves of rapeseed though it could produce more oxalic acid than the wild-type strain. However, it could enter into host tissues via wounds and cause typical necrotic lesions. Furthermore, Sunf-MT6 produced fewer but larger sclerotia than the wild-type strain Sunf-M. A gene, named Ss-caf1, was disrupted by T-DNA insertion in Sunf-MT6. Gene complementation and knockdown experiments confirmed that the disruption of Ss-caf1 was responsible for the phenotypic changes of Sunf-MT6. Ss-caf1 encodes a secretory protein with a putative Ca(2+)-binding EF-hand motif. High expression levels of Ss-caf1 were observed at an early stage of compound appressorium formation and in immature sclerotia. Expression of Ss-caf1 without signal peptides in Nicotiana benthamiana via Tobacco rattle virus-based vectors elicited cell death. These results suggest that Ss-caf1 plays an important role in compound appressorium formation and sclerotial development of S. sclerotiorum. In addition, Ss-Caf1 has the potential to interact with certain host proteins or unknown substances in host cells, resulting in subsequent host cell death.
Collapse
|
23
|
Xu L, Chen W. Random T-DNA mutagenesis identifies a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene as a virulence factor of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2013; 26:431-41. [PMID: 23252459 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-12-0177-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (AMT) was used to identify potential virulence factors in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Screening AMT transformants identified two mutants showing significantly reduced virulence. The mutants showed growth rate, sclerotial formation, and oxalate production similar to that of the wild type. The mutation was due to a single T-DNA insertion at 212 bp downstream of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene (SsSOD1, SS1G_00699). Expression levels of SsSOD1 were significantly increased under oxidative stresses or during plant infection in the wild-type strain but could not be detected in the mutant. SsSOD1 functionally complemented the Cu/Zn SOD gene in a Δsod1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant. The SOD mutant had increased sensitivity to heavy metal toxicity and oxidative stress in culture and reduced ability to detoxify superoxide in infected leaves. The mutant also had reduced expression levels of other known pathogenicity genes such as endo-polygalacturanases sspg1 and sspg3. The functions of SsSOD1 were further confirmed by SsSOD1-deletion mutation. Like the AMT insertion mutant, the SsSOD1-deletion mutant exhibited normal growth rate, sclerotial formation, oxalate production, increased sensitivity to metal and oxidative stress, and reduced virulence. These results suggest that SsSOD1, while not being required for saprophytic growth and completion of the life cycle, plays critical roles in detoxification of reactive oxygen species during host-pathogen interactions and is an important virulence factor of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liangsheng Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li M, Liang X, Rollins JA. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (Ss-Ggt1) is required for regulating glutathione accumulation and development of sclerotia and compound appressoria. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2012; 25:412-420. [PMID: 22046959 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-06-11-0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Transcripts encoding Sclerotinia sclerotiorum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (Ss-Ggt1) were found to accumulate specifically during sclerotium, apothecium, and compound appressorium development in S. sclerotiorum. To determine the requirement of this protein in these developmental processes, gene deletion mutants of Ss-ggt1 were generated and five independent homokaryotic ΔSs-ggt1 mutants were characterized. All deletion mutants overproduced sclerotial initials that were arrested in further development or eventually produced sclerotia with aberrant rind layers. During incubation for carpogenic germination, these sclerotia decayed and failed to produce apothecia. Total glutathione accumulation was approximately 10-fold higher and H(2)O(2) hyperaccumulated in ΔSs-ggt1 sclerotia compared with the wild type. Production of compound appressoria was also negatively affected. On host plants, these mutants exhibited a defect in infection efficiency and a delay in initial symptom development unless the host tissue was wounded prior to inoculation. These results suggest that Ss-Ggt1 is the primary enzyme involved in glutathione recycling during these key developmental stages of the S. sclerotiorum life cycle but Ss-Ggt1 is not required for host colonization and symptom development. The accumulation of oxidized glutathione is hypothesized to negatively impact these developmental processes by disrupting the dynamic redox environment associated with multicellular development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moyi Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiogical, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Amselem J, Cuomo CA, van Kan JAL, Viaud M, Benito EP, Couloux A, Coutinho PM, de Vries RP, Dyer PS, Fillinger S, Fournier E, Gout L, Hahn M, Kohn L, Lapalu N, Plummer KM, Pradier JM, Quévillon E, Sharon A, Simon A, ten Have A, Tudzynski B, Tudzynski P, Wincker P, Andrew M, Anthouard V, Beever RE, Beffa R, Benoit I, Bouzid O, Brault B, Chen Z, Choquer M, Collémare J, Cotton P, Danchin EG, Da Silva C, Gautier A, Giraud C, Giraud T, Gonzalez C, Grossetete S, Güldener U, Henrissat B, Howlett BJ, Kodira C, Kretschmer M, Lappartient A, Leroch M, Levis C, Mauceli E, Neuvéglise C, Oeser B, Pearson M, Poulain J, Poussereau N, Quesneville H, Rascle C, Schumacher J, Ségurens B, Sexton A, Silva E, Sirven C, Soanes DM, Talbot NJ, Templeton M, Yandava C, Yarden O, Zeng Q, Rollins JA, Lebrun MH, Dickman M. Genomic analysis of the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002230. [PMID: 21876677 PMCID: PMC3158057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 647] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea are closely related necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungi notable for their wide host ranges and environmental persistence. These attributes have made these species models for understanding the complexity of necrotrophic, broad host-range pathogenicity. Despite their similarities, the two species differ in mating behaviour and the ability to produce asexual spores. We have sequenced the genomes of one strain of S. sclerotiorum and two strains of B. cinerea. The comparative analysis of these genomes relative to one another and to other sequenced fungal genomes is provided here. Their 38-39 Mb genomes include 11,860-14,270 predicted genes, which share 83% amino acid identity on average between the two species. We have mapped the S. sclerotiorum assembly to 16 chromosomes and found large-scale co-linearity with the B. cinerea genomes. Seven percent of the S. sclerotiorum genome comprises transposable elements compared to <1% of B. cinerea. The arsenal of genes associated with necrotrophic processes is similar between the species, including genes involved in plant cell wall degradation and oxalic acid production. Analysis of secondary metabolism gene clusters revealed an expansion in number and diversity of B. cinerea-specific secondary metabolites relative to S. sclerotiorum. The potential diversity in secondary metabolism might be involved in adaptation to specific ecological niches. Comparative genome analysis revealed the basis of differing sexual mating compatibility systems between S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. The organization of the mating-type loci differs, and their structures provide evidence for the evolution of heterothallism from homothallism. These data shed light on the evolutionary and mechanistic bases of the genetically complex traits of necrotrophic pathogenicity and sexual mating. This resource should facilitate the functional studies designed to better understand what makes these fungi such successful and persistent pathogens of agronomic crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joelle Amselem
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jan A. L. van Kan
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Muriel Viaud
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Ernesto P. Benito
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Centro Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Pedro M. Coutinho
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR6098, CNRS – Université de la Méditerranée et Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | - Ronald P. de Vries
- Microbiology and Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentations, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul S. Dyer
- School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Fillinger
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Elisabeth Fournier
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
- Biologie et Génétique des Interactions Plante-Parasite, CIRAD – INRA – SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Lilian Gout
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Faculty of Biology, Kaiserslautern University, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Linda Kohn
- Biology Department, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada
| | - Nicolas Lapalu
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
| | - Kim M. Plummer
- Botany Department, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jean-Marc Pradier
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Emmanuel Quévillon
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Amir Sharon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adeline Simon
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Arjen ten Have
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas – CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Molekularbiologie und Biotechnologie der Pilze, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | - Paul Tudzynski
- Molekularbiologie und Biotechnologie der Pilze, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Marion Andrew
- Biology Department, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada
| | | | | | - Rolland Beffa
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Isabelle Benoit
- Microbiology and Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentations, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ourdia Bouzid
- Microbiology and Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentations, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Baptiste Brault
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Zehua Chen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mathias Choquer
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Jérome Collémare
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Pascale Cotton
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Etienne G. Danchin
- Interactions Biotiques et Santé Plantes, UMR5240, INRA – Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis – CNRS, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | | | - Angélique Gautier
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Corinne Giraud
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Tatiana Giraud
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud – CNRS – AgroParisTech, Orsay, France
| | - Celedonio Gonzalez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Sandrine Grossetete
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR6098, CNRS – Université de la Méditerranée et Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | | | - Chinnappa Kodira
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Anne Lappartient
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Michaela Leroch
- Faculty of Biology, Kaiserslautern University, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Caroline Levis
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
| | - Evan Mauceli
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cécile Neuvéglise
- Biologie Intégrative du Métabolisme Lipidique Microbien, UMR1319, INRA – Micalis – AgroParisTech, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Birgitt Oeser
- Molekularbiologie und Biotechnologie der Pilze, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | - Matthew Pearson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Julie Poulain
- GENOSCOPE, Centre National de Séquençage, Evry, France
| | - Nathalie Poussereau
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Hadi Quesneville
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
| | - Christine Rascle
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Molekularbiologie und Biotechnologie der Pilze, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Adrienne Sexton
- School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Evelyn Silva
- Fundacion Ciencia para la Vida and Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catherine Sirven
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Darren M. Soanes
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Matt Templeton
- Plant and Food Research, Mt. Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Chandri Yandava
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Oded Yarden
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Qiandong Zeng
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A. Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Marc-Henri Lebrun
- Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, UR1164, INRA, Versailles, France
- Biologie et Gestion des Risques en Agriculture – Champignons Pathogènes des Plantes, UR1290, INRA, Grignon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Champignons Pathogènes de Plantes, UMR5240, Université de Lyon 1 – CNRS – BAYER S.A.S., Lyon, France
| | - Marty Dickman
- Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, Borlaug Genomics and Bioinformatics Center, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bleuler-Martínez S, Butschi A, Garbani M, Wälti MA, Wohlschlager T, Potthoff E, Sabotiĉ J, Pohleven J, Lüthy P, Hengartner MO, Aebi M, Künzler M. A lectin-mediated resistance of higher fungi against predators and parasites. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:3056-70. [PMID: 21486374 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05093.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fruiting body lectins are ubiquitous in higher fungi and characterized by being synthesized in the cytoplasm and up-regulated during sexual development. The function of these lectins is unclear. A lack of phenotype in sexual development upon inactivation of the respective genes argues against a function in this process. We tested a series of characterized fruiting body lectins from different fungi for toxicity towards the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Most of the fungal lectins were found to be toxic towards at least one of the three target organisms. By altering either the fungal lectin or the glycans of the target organisms, or by including soluble carbohydrate ligands as competitors, we demonstrate that the observed toxicity is dependent on the interaction between the fungal lectins and specific glycans in the target organisms. The toxicity was found to be dose-dependent such that low levels of lectin were no longer toxic but still led to food avoidance by C. elegans. Finally, we show, in an ecologically more relevant scenario, that challenging the vegetative mycelium of Coprinopsis cinerea with the fungal-feeding nematode Aphelenchus avenae induces the expression of the nematotoxic fruiting body lectins CGL1 and CGL2. Based on these findings, we propose that filamentous fungi possess an inducible resistance against predators and parasites mediated by lectins that are specific for glycans of these antagonists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Bleuler-Martínez
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Liang Y, Rahman MH, Strelkov SE, Kav NNV. Developmentally induced changes in the sclerotial proteome of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Biol 2010; 114:619-27. [PMID: 20943173 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2010.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2010] [Revised: 05/07/2010] [Accepted: 05/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a necrotrophic fungal phytopathogen with a broad host range. The fungus produces sclerotia, long-term survival and dissemination structures that serve as the primary source of inoculum during seasonal crop infection cycles. Herein, we report the first proteomics-based analysis of sclerotial development. A total of 88 protein spots were observed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to exhibit significant temporal differences in abundance at three representative stages of sclerotial development, and the identities of these proteins were established using LC-MS/MS. The proteins were classified into several functional categories including metabolism, energy, transcription and protein fate, cell defense, differentiation, and proteins with as of yet unknown functions. In addition, proteins involved in the process of melanogenesis were found to be differentially abundant during sclerotial development, as was the development-specific protein, Ssp. This study provides a starting point towards achieving a comprehensive understanding of the proteins and molecular events associated with sclerotial development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liang
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|