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Yan J, Wang R, Wu M, Cai M, Qu J, Liu L, Xie J, Yin W, Luo C. Transcriptional Activator UvXlnR Is Required for Conidiation and Pathogenicity of Rice False Smut Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2024; 114:1603-1611. [PMID: 38506745 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-01-24-0038-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors play critical roles in diverse biological processes in fungi. XlnR, identified as a transcriptional activator that regulates the expression of the extracellular xylanase genes in fungi, has not been extensively studied for its function in fungal development and pathogenicity in rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens. In this study, we characterized UvXlnR in U. virens and established that the full-length, N-terminal, and C-terminal forms have the ability to activate transcription. The study further demonstrated that UvXlnR plays crucial roles in various aspects of U. virens biology. Deletion of UvXlnR affected growth, conidiation, and stress response. UvXlnR mutants also exhibited reduced pathogenicity, which could be partially attributed to the reduced expression of xylanolytic genes and extracellular xylanase activity of U. virens during the infection process. Our results indicate that UvXlnR is involved in regulating growth, conidiation, stress response, and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Yan
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Rui Wang
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Mengyao Wu
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Minzheng Cai
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jinsong Qu
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lianmeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Weixiao Yin
- The National State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chaoxi Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Castañeda-Casasola CC, Nieto-Jacobo MF, Soares A, Padilla-Padilla EA, Anducho-Reyes MA, Brown C, Soth S, Esquivel-Naranjo EU, Hampton J, Mendoza-Mendoza A. Unveiling a Microexon Switch: Novel Regulation of the Activities of Sugar Assimilation and Plant-Cell-Wall-Degrading Xylanases and Cellulases by Xlr2 in Trichoderma virens. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5172. [PMID: 38791210 PMCID: PMC11121469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional microexons have not previously been described in filamentous fungi. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of transcriptional regulation in Trichoderma requiring the inclusion of a microexon from the Xlr2 gene. In low-glucose environments, a long mRNA including the microexon encodes a protein with a GAL4-like DNA-binding domain (Xlr2-α), whereas in high-glucose environments, a short mRNA that is produced encodes a protein lacking this DNA-binding domain (Xlr2-β). Interestingly, the protein isoforms differ in their impact on cellulase and xylanase activity. Deleting the Xlr2 gene reduced both xylanase and cellulase activity and growth on different carbon sources, such as carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, glucose, and arabinose. The overexpression of either Xlr2-α or Xlr2-β in T. virens showed that the short isoform (Xlr2-β) caused higher xylanase activity than the wild types or the long isoform (Xlr2-α). Conversely, cellulase activity did not increase when overexpressing Xlr2-β but was increased with the overexpression of Xlr2-α. This is the first report of a novel transcriptional regulation mechanism of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzyme activity in T. virens. This involves the differential expression of a microexon from a gene encoding a transcriptional regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Coccet Castañeda-Casasola
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
- Laboratorio de AgroBiotecnología, Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Carretera Pachuca-Cd. Sahagún, km 20, ExHacienda de Santa Bárbara, Zempoala 43830, Mexico;
- Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria, Centro Nacional de Referencia Fitosanitaria, Tecamac 55740, Mexico
| | | | - Amanda Soares
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
| | - Emir Alejandro Padilla-Padilla
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 04510, Mexico
| | - Miguel Angel Anducho-Reyes
- Laboratorio de AgroBiotecnología, Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Carretera Pachuca-Cd. Sahagún, km 20, ExHacienda de Santa Bárbara, Zempoala 43830, Mexico;
| | - Chris Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Sereyboth Soth
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
| | - Edgardo Ulises Esquivel-Naranjo
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - John Hampton
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
| | - Artemio Mendoza-Mendoza
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; (C.C.C.-C.); (A.S.); (E.A.P.-P.); (S.S.); (E.U.E.-N.); (J.H.)
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Botrytis cinerea Transcription Factor BcXyr1 Regulates (Hemi-)Cellulase Production and Fungal Virulence. mSystems 2022; 7:e0104222. [PMID: 36468854 PMCID: PMC9765177 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01042-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is an agriculturally notorious plant-pathogenic fungus with a broad host range. During plant colonization, B. cinerea secretes a wide range of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) that help in macerating the plant tissue, but their role in pathogenicity has been unclear. Here, we report on the identification of a transcription factor, BcXyr1, that regulates the production of (hemi-)cellulases and is necessary for fungal virulence. Deletion of the bcxyr1 gene led to impaired spore germination and reduced fungal virulence and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in planta. Secreted proteins collected from the bcxyr1 deletion strain displayed a weaker cell-death-inducing effect than the wild-type secretome when infiltrated to Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed 41 genes with reduced expression in the Δbcxyr1 mutant compared with those in the wild-type strain, of which half encode secreted proteins that are particularly enriched in carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme)-encoding genes. Among them, we identified a novel putative expansin-like protein that was necessary for fungal virulence, supporting the involvement of BcXyr1 in the regulation of extracellular virulence factors. IMPORTANCE PCWDEs are considered important components of the virulence arsenal of necrotrophic plant pathogens. However, despite intensive research, the role of PCWDEs in the pathogenicity of necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungi remains ambiguous. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factor BcXyr1 regulates the expression of a specific set of secreted PCWDE-encoding genes and that it is essential for fungal virulence. Furthermore, we identified a BcXyr1-regulated expansin-like gene that is required for fungal virulence. Our findings provide strong evidence for the importance of PCWDEs in the pathogenicity of B. cinerea and highlight specific PCWDEs that might be more important than others.
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He F, Kange AM, Yang J, Xiao J, Wang R, Yang L, Jia Y, Fu ZQ, Zhao Y, Liu F. The Transcription Factor VpxlnR Is Required for the Growth, Development, and Virulence of the Fungal Pathogen Valsa pyri. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:784686. [PMID: 35308334 PMCID: PMC8928461 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.784686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pears (Pyrus sp.) are widely cultivated in China, and their yield accounts for more than 60% of global pear production. The fungal pathogen Valsa pyri is a major causal agent of pear canker disease, which results in enormous losses of pear production in northern China. In this study, we characterized a Zn2Cys6 transcription factor that contains one GAL4 domain and a fungal-trans domain, which are present in VpxlnR. The vpxlnR gene expression was upregulated in the invasion stage of V. pyri. To investigate its functions, we constructed gene deletion mutants and complementary strains. We observed that the growth of the vpxlnR mutants was reduced on potato dextrose agar (PDA), Czapek plus glucose or sucrose compared with that of the wild-type strain. Additionally, vpxlnR mutants exhibited loss of function in fruiting body formation. Moreover, vpxlnR mutants were more susceptible to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and salicylic acid (SA) and were reduced in their virulence at the early infection stage. According to a previous study, VpxlnR-interacting motifs containing NRHKGNCCGM were searched in the V. pyri genome, and we obtained 354 target genes, of which 148 genes had Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) terms. PHI-BLAST was used to identify virulence-related genes, and we found 28 hits. Furthermore, eight genes from the 28 PHI-BLAST hits were further assessed by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays, and five target genes, salicylate hydroxylase (VP1G_09520), serine/threonine-protein kinase (VP1G_03128), alpha-xylosidase (VP1G_06369), G-protein beta subunit (VP1G_02856), and acid phosphatase (VP1G_03782), could interact with VpxlnR in vivo. Their transcript levels were reduced in one or two vpxlnR mutants. Taken together, these findings imply that VpxlnR is a key regulator of growth, development, stress, and virulence through controlling genes involved in signaling pathways and extracellular enzyme activities in V. pyri. The motifs interacting with VpxlnR also provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of xlnR proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Alex-Machio Kange
- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Bomet University College, Bomet, Kenya
| | - Jie Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Jiaxin Xiao
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Rongbo Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Monitoring and Integrated Management of Crop Pests, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Yifan Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Qing Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Yancun Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Yancun Zhao,
| | - Fengquan Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- Fengquan Liu,
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Fan C, Zhang W, Su X, Ji W, Luo H, Zhang Y, Liu B, Yao B, Huang H, Xu X. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing directed by a 5S rRNA-tRNA Gly hybrid promoter in the thermophilic filamentous fungus Humicola insolens. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:206. [PMID: 34688310 PMCID: PMC8542335 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-02057-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humicola insolens is a filamentous fungus with high potential of producing neutral and heat- and alkali-resistant cellulase. However, the genetic engineering tools, particularly the genome-editing tool, are scarce, hindering the study of cellulase expression regulation in this organism. RESULTS Herein, a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing system was established in H. insolens based on a hybrid 5S rRNA-tRNAGly promoter. This system is superior to the HDV (hepatitis delta virus) system in genome editing, allowing highly efficient single gene destruction in H. insolens with rates of deletion up to 84.1% (37/44). With this system, a putative pigment synthesis gene pks and the transcription factor xyr1 gene were disrupted with high efficiency. Moreover, the extracellular protein concentration and cellulase activity largely decreased when xyr1 was deleted, demonstrating for the first time that Xyr1 plays an important role in cellulase expression regulation. CONCLUSIONS The established CRISPR/Cas9 system is a powerful genetic operation tool for H. insolens, which will accelerate studies on the regulation mechanism of cellulase expression and engineering of H. insolens for higher cellulase production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Fan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xiaoyun Su
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wangli Ji
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Huiying Luo
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuhong Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bin Yao
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Huoqing Huang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 South Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Zuriegat Q, Zheng Y, Liu H, Wang Z, Yun Y. Current progress on pathogenicity-related transcription factors in Fusarium oxysporum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:882-895. [PMID: 33969616 PMCID: PMC8232035 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum is a well-known soilborne plant pathogen that causes severe vascular wilt in economically important crops worldwide. During the infection process, F. oxysporum not only secretes various virulence factors, such as cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), effectors, and mycotoxins, that potentially play important roles in fungal pathogenicity but it must also respond to extrinsic abiotic stresses from the environment and the host. Over 700 transcription factors (TFs) have been predicted in the genome of F. oxysporum, but only 26 TFs have been functionally characterized in various formae speciales of F. oxysporum. Among these TFs, a total of 23 belonging to 10 families are required for pathogenesis through various mechanisms and pathways, and the zinc finger TF family is the largest family among these 10 families, which consists of 15 TFs that have been functionally characterized in F. oxysporum. In this review, we report current research progress on the 26 functionally analysed TFs in F. oxysporum and sort them into four groups based on their roles in F. oxysporum pathogenicity. Furthermore, we summarize and compare the biofunctions, involved pathways, putative targets, and homologs of these TFs and analyse the relationships among them. This review provides a systematic analysis of the regulation of virulence-related genes and facilitates further mechanistic analysis of TFs important in F. oxysporum virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qussai Zuriegat
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Yuru Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Fujian Institute for Food and Drug Quality ControlFuzhouChina
| | - Hong Liu
- College of Resources and EnvironmentFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Zonghua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Institute of OceanographyMinjiang UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
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Martínez-Pacheco MM, Flores-García A, Zamudio-Jaramillo MA, Chávez-Parga MC, Alvarez-Navarrete M. Optimization of production of xylanases with low cellulases in Fusarium solani by means of a solid state fermentation using statistical experimental design. Rev Argent Microbiol 2020; 52:328-338. [PMID: 32146034 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Demand for fungal xylanases in industrial biotechnological processes shows a clear increase worldwide, so there is an interest in adjusting the conditions of microbial xylanases production. In this study, the ability of the fungus Fusarium solani to produce extracellular xylanases with low cellulolytic activity was optimized by Box Wilson design. The best culture conditions were determined to obtain a crude enzyme preparation with significant xylanolytic activity and little cellulolytic activity. In most treatments, the xylanolytic activity was higher than the cellulolytic activity. A negative effect on the production of endoxylanases, β-xylosidases and endocellulases was observed with the increasing of xylan concentration. Increasing the incubation time adversely affected the production of endocellulases and β-xylosidases. According to the mathematical model and experimental tests, it is possible to produce endoxylanases with minimal endocellulase activity increasing incubation time and the concentration of ammonium sulfate. The optimal culture conditions to produce a greater amount of endoxylanases (10.65U/mg) and low endocellulases from F. solani were: 2.5% (w/v) xylan, 5.0, 2.0 and 0.4g/l, of yeast extract, ammonium sulfate and urea, respectively, with 120h of incubation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro M Martínez-Pacheco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mújica s/n. Col. Felicitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58060, Mexico.
| | - Alberto Flores-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mújica s/n. Col. Felicitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58060, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Zamudio-Jaramillo
- Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mújica s/n. Col. Felicitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58060, Mexico
| | - Ma Carmen Chávez-Parga
- Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mújica s/n. Col. Felicitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58060, Mexico
| | - Mariana Alvarez-Navarrete
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Mújica s/n. Col. Felicitas del Río, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58060, Mexico
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Goulet KM, Storfie ERM, Saville BJ. Exploring links between antisense RNAs and pathogenesis in Ustilago maydis through transcript and gene characterization. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 134:103283. [PMID: 31629082 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Biotrophic basidiomycete plant pathogens cause billions of dollars in losses to cereal crops annually. The model for this group of fungi is the corn smut pathogen Ustilago maydis. Annotation of its genome identified antisense RNAs (asRNAs) complementary to over half of the coded mRNAs, some of which are present at high levels in teliospores but detected at very low levels or not at all in other cell types, suggesting they have a function in the teliospore or during teliospore formation. Expression of three such asRNAs (as-UMAG_02150, ncRNA1, and as-UMAG_02151) is controlled by two adjacent genomic regions. Deletion of these regions increased transcript levels of all three asRNAs and attenuated pathogenesis. This study investigated the reason for this marked reduction in pathogenesis by: (1) using deletion analyses to assess the involvement of genes, complementary to the asRNAs, in pathogenesis; (2) determining that one of the linked genes encodes a putative xylitol dehydrogenase; and (3) identifying and functionally characterizing asRNAs that could influence expression of protein-coding genes. The results presented suggest that the influence of the asRNAs on pathogenesis occurs through their action at unlinked loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi M Goulet
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada; Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Toronto, ON M3M 0B1, Canada.
| | - Emilee R M Storfie
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada; Forensic Science Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.
| | - Barry J Saville
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada; Forensic Science Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada.
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dos Santos Gomes AC, Falkoski D, Battaglia E, Peng M, Nicolau de Almeida M, Coconi Linares N, Meijnen JP, Visser J, de Vries RP. Myceliophthora thermophila Xyr1 is predominantly involved in xylan degradation and xylose catabolism. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:220. [PMID: 31534479 PMCID: PMC6745793 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myceliophthora thermophila is a thermophilic ascomycete fungus that is used as a producer of enzyme cocktails used in plant biomass saccharification. Further development of this species as an industrial enzyme factory requires a detailed understanding of its regulatory systems driving the production of plant biomass-degrading enzymes. In this study, we analyzed the function of MtXlr1, an ortholog of the (hemi-)cellulolytic regulator XlnR first identified in another industrially relevant fungus, Aspergillus niger. RESULTS The Mtxlr1 gene was deleted and the resulting strain was compared to the wild type using growth profiling and transcriptomics. The deletion strain was unable to grow on xylan and d-xylose, but showed only a small growth reduction on l-arabinose, and grew similar to the wild type on Avicel and cellulose. These results were supported by the transcriptome analyses which revealed reduction of genes encoding xylan-degrading enzymes, enzymes of the pentose catabolic pathway and putative pentose transporters. In contrast, no or minimal effects were observed for the expression of cellulolytic genes. CONCLUSIONS Myceliophthora thermophila MtXlr1 controls the expression of xylanolytic genes and genes involved in pentose transport and catabolism, but has no significant effects on the production of cellulases. It therefore resembles more the role of its ortholog in Neurospora crassa, rather than the broader role described for this regulator in A. niger and Trichoderma reesei. By revealing the range of genes controlled by MtXlr1, our results provide the basic knowledge for targeted strain improvement by overproducing or constitutively activating this regulator, to further improve the biotechnological value of M. thermophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina dos Santos Gomes
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Falkoski
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Present Address: Novozymes Latin America, Professor Francisco Ribeiro Street 683, Araucária, PR 83707-660 Brazil
| | - Evy Battaglia
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mao Peng
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maira Nicolau de Almeida
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- DuPont Industrial Biosciences, Archimedesweg 30, 2333 CN Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present Address: Federal University of São João del Rei, Praça Dom Helvécio, 74, São João del Rei, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Nancy Coconi Linares
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Meijnen
- DuPont Industrial Biosciences, Archimedesweg 30, 2333 CN Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present Address: Dutch DNA Biotech BV, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Visser
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald P. de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
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10
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Monitoring of in planta gene expression for xylan degradation and assimilation in the maize pathogen Bipolaris maydis. MYCOSCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.myc.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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11
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Llanos A, Déjean S, Neugnot-Roux V, François JM, Parrou JL. Carbon sources and XlnR-dependent transcriptional landscape of CAZymes in the industrial fungus Talaromyces versatilis: when exception seems to be the rule. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:14. [PMID: 30691469 PMCID: PMC6348686 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1062-8] [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: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research on filamentous fungi emphasized the remarkable redundancy in genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes, the similarities but also the large differences in their expression, especially through the role of the XlnR/XYR1 transcriptional activator. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specificities of the industrial fungus Talaromyces versatilis, getting clues into the role of XlnR and the importance of glucose repression at the transcriptional level, to provide further levers for cocktail production. Results By studying a set of 62 redundant genes representative of several categories of enzymes, our results underlined the huge plasticity of transcriptional responses when changing nutritional status. As a general trend, the more heterogeneous the substrate, the more efficient to trigger activation. Genetic modifications of xlnR led to significant reorganisation of transcriptional patterns. Just a minimal set of genes actually fitted in a simplistic model of regulation by a transcriptional activator, and this under specific substrates. On the contrary, the diversity of xlnR+ versus ΔxlnR responses illustrated the existence of complex and unpredicted patterns of co-regulated genes that were highly dependent on the culture condition, even between genes that encode members of a functional category of enzymes. They notably revealed a dual, substrate-dependant repressor-activator role of XlnR, with counter-intuitive transcripts regulations that targeted specific genes. About glucose, it appeared as a formal repressive sugar as we observed a massive repression of most genes upon glucose addition to the mycelium grown on wheat straw. However, we also noticed a positive role of this sugar on the basal expression of a few genes, (notably those encoding cellulases), showing again the strong dependence of these regulatory mechanisms upon promoter and nutritional contexts. Conclusions The diversity of transcriptional patterns appeared to be the rule, while common and stable behaviour, both within gene families and with fungal literature, the exception. The setup of a new biotechnological process to reach optimized, if not customized expression patterns of enzymes, hence appeared tricky just relying on published data that can lead, in the best scenario, to approximate trends. We instead encourage preliminary experimental assays, carried out in the context of interest to reassess gene responses, as a mandatory step before thinking in (genetic) strategies for the improvement of enzyme production in fungi.![]() Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-019-1062-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Llanos
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, INSA, INRA, CNRS, Toulouse, France.,Adisseo France S.A.S, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077, Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Déjean
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, UMR5219-Université de Toulouse; CNRS-UPS, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | | | - Jean M François
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, INSA, INRA, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Luc Parrou
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, INSA, INRA, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
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12
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Cao H, Huang P, Yan Y, Shi Y, Dong B, Liu X, Ye L, Lin F, Lu J. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Crf1 is required for development and pathogenicity of the rice blast fungus by regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:3427-3441. [PMID: 30126031 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Pyricularia oryzae is a plant pathogen causing rice blast, a serious disease spreading in cultivated rice globally. Transcription factors play important regulatory roles in fungal development and pathogenicity. Here, we characterized the biological functions of Crf1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, in the development and pathogenicity of P. oryzae with functional genetics, molecular and biochemical approaches. We found that CRF1 is necessary for virulence and plays an indispensable role in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in P. oryzae. Deletion of CRF1 led to defects in utilization of lipids, ethanol, glycerol and L-arabinose, and down-regulation of many important genes in lipolysis, β-oxidation, gluconeogenesis, as well as glycerol and arabinose metabolism. CRF1 is also essential for peroxisome and vacuole function, and conidial cell death during appressorium formation. The appressorium turgor, penetration ability and virulence in Δcrf1 were restored by supplementation of exogenous glucose. The virulence of Crf1 mutant was also recovered by adding exogenous D-xylose, but not by addition of ethanol, pyruvate, leucine or L-arabinose. These data showed that Crf1 plays an important role in the complex regulatory network of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism that governs fungal development and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.,Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Pengyun Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuxin Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yongkai Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Bo Dong
- Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lidan Ye
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Fucheng Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Rice Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.,Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
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13
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Comparison of the paralogous transcription factors AraR and XlnR in Aspergillus oryzae. Curr Genet 2018; 64:1245-1260. [PMID: 29654355 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-018-0837-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The paralogous transcription factors AraR and XlnR in Aspergillus regulate genes that are involved in degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose and catabolism of pentose. AraR and XlnR target the same genes for pentose catabolism but target different genes encoding enzymes for polysaccharide degradation. To uncover the relationship between these paralogous transcription factors, we examined their contribution to regulation of the PCP genes and compared their preferred recognition sequences. Both AraR and XlnR are involved in induction of all the pentose catabolic genes in A. oryzae except larA encoding L-arabinose reductase, which was regulated by AraR but not by XlnR. DNA-binding studies revealed that the recognition sequences of AraR and XlnR also differ only slightly; AraR prefers CGGDTAAW, while XlnR prefers CGGNTAAW. All the pentose catabolic genes possess at least one recognition site to which both AraR and XlnR can bind. Cooperative binding by the factors was not observed. Instead, they competed to bind to the shared sites. XlnR bound to the recognition sites mentioned above as a monomer, but bound to the sequence TTAGSCTAA on the xylanase promoters as a dimer. Consequently, AraR and XlnR have significantly similar, but not the same, DNA-binding properties. Such a slight difference in these paralogous transcription factors may lead to complex outputs in enzyme production depending on the concentrations of coexisting inducer molecules in the natural environment.
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14
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Benocci T, Aguilar-Pontes MV, Kun RS, Seiboth B, de Vries RP, Daly P. ARA1 regulates not only l-arabinose but also d-galactose catabolism in Trichoderma reesei. FEBS Lett 2017; 592:60-70. [PMID: 29215697 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Trichoderma reesei is used to produce saccharifying enzyme cocktails for biofuels. There is limited understanding of the transcription factors (TFs) that regulate genes involved in release and catabolism of l-arabinose and d-galactose, as the main TF XYR1 is only partially involved. Here, the T. reesei ortholog of ARA1 from Pyricularia oryzae that regulates l-arabinose releasing and catabolic genes was deleted and characterized by growth profiling and transcriptomics along with a xyr1 mutant and xyr1/ara1 double mutant. Our results show that in addition to the l-arabinose-related role, T. reesei ARA1 is essential for expression of d-galactose releasing and catabolic genes, while XYR1 is not involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Benocci
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Victoria Aguilar-Pontes
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Sándor Kun
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Seiboth
- Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Daly
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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15
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Paccanaro MC, Sella L, Castiglioni C, Giacomello F, Martínez-Rocha AL, D'Ovidio R, Schäfer W, Favaron F. Synergistic Effect of Different Plant Cell Wall-Degrading Enzymes Is Important for Virulence of Fusarium graminearum. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2017; 30:886-895. [PMID: 28800710 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-17-0179-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Endo-polygalacturonases (PGs) and xylanases have been shown to play an important role during pathogenesis of some fungal pathogens of dicot plants, while their role in monocot pathogens is less defined. Pg1 and xyr1 genes of the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum encode the main PG and the major regulator of xylanase production, respectively. Single- and double-disrupted mutants for these genes were obtained to assess their contribution to fungal infection. Compared with wild-type strain, the ∆pg mutant showed a nearly abolished PG activity, slight reduced virulence on soybean seedlings, but no significant difference in disease symptoms on wheat spikes; the ∆xyr mutant was strongly reduced in xylanase activity and moderately reduced in cellulase activity but was as virulent as wild type on both soybean and wheat plants. Consequently, the ΔpgΔxyr double mutant was impaired in xylanase, PG, and cellulase activities but, differently from single mutants, was significantly reduced in virulence on both plants. These findings demonstrate that the concurrent presence of PG, xylanase, and cellulase activities is necessary for full virulence. The observation that the uronides released from wheat cell wall after a F. graminearum PG treatment were largely increased by the fungal xylanases suggests that these enzymes act synergistically in deconstructing the plant cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Paccanaro
- 1 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
- 2 Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Molecular Phytopathology and Genetics, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18-22609, Hamburg, Germany; and
| | - Luca Sella
- 1 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Carla Castiglioni
- 1 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Francesca Giacomello
- 1 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Ana Lilia Martínez-Rocha
- 2 Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Molecular Phytopathology and Genetics, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18-22609, Hamburg, Germany; and
| | - Renato D'Ovidio
- 3 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Wilhelm Schäfer
- 2 Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Molecular Phytopathology and Genetics, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18-22609, Hamburg, Germany; and
| | - Francesco Favaron
- 1 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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16
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Galhano R, Illana A, Ryder LS, Rodríguez-Romero J, Demuez M, Badaruddin M, Martinez-Rocha AL, Soanes DM, Studholme DJ, Talbot NJ, Sesma A. Tpc1 is an important Zn(II)2Cys6 transcriptional regulator required for polarized growth and virulence in the rice blast fungus. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006516. [PMID: 28742127 PMCID: PMC5542705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of polarity is a critical process in pathogenic fungi, mediating infection-related morphogenesis and host tissue invasion. Here, we report the identification of TPC1 (Transcription factor for Polarity Control 1), which regulates invasive polarized growth in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. TPC1 encodes a putative transcription factor of the fungal Zn(II)2Cys6 family, exclusive to filamentous fungi. Tpc1-deficient mutants show severe defects in conidiogenesis, infection-associated autophagy, glycogen and lipid metabolism, and plant tissue colonisation. By tracking actin-binding proteins, septin-5 and autophagosome components, we show that Tpc1 regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and infection-associated autophagy during appressorium-mediated plant penetration. We found that Tpc1 interacts with Mst12 and modulates its DNA-binding activity, while Tpc1 nuclear localisation also depends on the MAP kinase Pmk1, consistent with the involvement of Tpc1 in this signalling pathway, which is critical for appressorium development. Importantly, Tpc1 directly regulates NOXD expression, the p22phox subunit of the fungal NADPH oxidase complex via an interaction with Mst12. Tpc1 therefore controls spatial and temporal regulation of cortical F-actin through regulation of the NADPH oxidase complex during appressorium re-polarisation. Consequently, Tpc1 is a core developmental regulator in filamentous fungi, linking the regulated synthesis of reactive oxygen species and the Pmk1 pathway, with polarity control during host invasion. Cellular polarity is an intrinsic feature of filamentous fungal growth and pathogenesis. In this study, we identified a gene required for fungal polar growth and virulence in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This gene has been named TPC1 (Transcription factor for Polarity Control 1). The Tpc1 protein belongs to the fungal Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster family. This DNA-binding motif is present exclusively in the fungal kingdom. We have characterised defects associated with lack of Tpc1 in M. oryzae. We show that Tpc1 is involved in polarised growth and virulence. The M. oryzae Δtpc1 mutant shows a delay in glycogen and lipid metabolism, and infection-associated autophagy–processes that regulate appressorium-mediated M. oryzae plant infection. The saprophytic fungus Neurospora crassa contains a Tpc1 homolog (NcTpc1) involved in vegetative growth and sustained tip elongation, suggesting that Tpc1-like proteins act as core regulators of polarised growth and development in filamentous fungi. A comparative transcriptome analysis has allowed us to identify genes regulated by Tpc1 in M. oryzae including NoxD, an important component of the fungal NADPH complex. Significantly, Tpc1 interacts with Mst12, a component of the Pmk1 signalling pathway essential for appressorium development, and modulates Mst12 binding affinity to NOXD promoter region. We conclude that Tpc1 is a key regulator of polarity in M. oryzae that regulates growth, autophagy and septin-mediated reorientation of the F-actin cytoskeleton to facilitate plant cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Galhano
- Disease & Stress Biology Dept. John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Adriana Illana
- Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM) – Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Dept. Biotecnología y Biología Vegetal, UPM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lauren S. Ryder
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Julio Rodríguez-Romero
- Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM) – Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Dept. Biotecnología y Biología Vegetal, UPM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marie Demuez
- Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM) – Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Dept. Biotecnología y Biología Vegetal, UPM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Muhammad Badaruddin
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Darren M. Soanes
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Studholme
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Talbot
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ane Sesma
- Disease & Stress Biology Dept. John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
- Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, (UPM) – Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Dept. Biotecnología y Biología Vegetal, UPM, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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17
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Conservation and diversity of the regulators of cellulolytic enzyme genes in Ascomycete fungi. Curr Genet 2017; 63:951-958. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-017-0695-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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18
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Benocci T, Aguilar-Pontes MV, Zhou M, Seiboth B, de Vries RP. Regulators of plant biomass degradation in ascomycetous fungi. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:152. [PMID: 28616076 PMCID: PMC5468973 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0841-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Fungi play a major role in the global carbon cycle because of their ability to utilize plant biomass (polysaccharides, proteins, and lignin) as carbon source. Due to the complexity and heterogenic composition of plant biomass, fungi need to produce a broad range of degrading enzymes, matching the composition of (part of) the prevalent substrate. This process is dependent on a network of regulators that not only control the extracellular enzymes that degrade the biomass, but also the metabolic pathways needed to metabolize the resulting monomers. This review will summarize the current knowledge on regulation of plant biomass utilization in fungi and compare the differences between fungal species, focusing in particular on the presence or absence of the regulators involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Benocci
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Victoria Aguilar-Pontes
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miaomiao Zhou
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Seiboth
- Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ronald P. de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
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19
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Secreted Alpha-N-Arabinofuranosidase B Protein Is Required for the Full Virulence of Magnaporthe oryzae and Triggers Host Defences. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165149. [PMID: 27764242 PMCID: PMC5072668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most devastating fungal diseases of rice and results in a huge loss of rice productivity worldwide. During the infection process, M. oryzae secretes a large number of glycosyl hydrolase proteins into the host apoplast to digest the cell wall and facilitate fungal ingression into host tissues. In this study, we identified a novel arabinofuranosidase-B (MoAbfB) protein that is secreted by M. oryzae during fungal infection. Deletion of MoAbfB from M. oryzae resulted in reduced disease severity in rice. Biochemical assays revealed that the MoAbfB protein exhibited arabinofuranosidase activity and caused degradation of rice cell wall components. Interestingly, pre-treatment of rice with the MoAbfB protein inhibited fungal infection by priming defence gene expression. Our findings suggest that MoAbfB secretion affects M. oryzae pathogenicity by breaking down the host cell wall, releasing oligosaccharides that may be recognized by the host to trigger innate immune responses.
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20
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Dos Santos Castro L, de Paula RG, Antoniêto ACC, Persinoti GF, Silva-Rocha R, Silva RN. Understanding the Role of the Master Regulator XYR1 in Trichoderma reesei by Global Transcriptional Analysis. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:175. [PMID: 26909077 PMCID: PMC4754417 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We defined the role of the transcriptional factor—XYR1—in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei during cellulosic material degradation. In this regard, we performed a global transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq of the Δxyr1 mutant strain of T. reesei compared with the parental strain QM9414 grown in the presence of cellulose, sophorose, and glucose as sole carbon sources. We found that 5885 genes were expressed differentially under the three tested carbon sources. Of these, 322 genes were upregulated in the presence of cellulose, while 367 and 188 were upregulated in sophorose and glucose, respectively. With respect to genes under the direct regulation of XYR1, 30 and 33 are exclusive to cellulose and sophorose, respectively. The most modulated genes in the Δxyr1 belong to Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes), transcription factors, and transporters families. Moreover, we highlight the downregulation of transporters belonging to the MFS and ABC transporter families. Of these, MFS members were mostly downregulated in the presence of cellulose. In sophorose and glucose, the expression of these transporters was mainly upregulated. Our results revealed that MFS and ABC transporters could be new players in cellulose degradation and their role was shown to be carbon source-dependent. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of XYR1 to control cellulase gene expression in T. reesei in the presence of cellulosic material, thereby potentially enhancing its application in several biotechnology fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Dos Santos Castro
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Renato G de Paula
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Amanda C C Antoniêto
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gabriela F Persinoti
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Roberto N Silva
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Klaubauf S, Zhou M, Lebrun MH, de Vries RP, Battaglia E. A novel L-arabinose-responsive regulator discovered in the rice-blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe oryzae). FEBS Lett 2016; 590:550-8. [PMID: 26790567 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In this study we identified the L-arabinose-responsive regulator of Pyricularia oryzae that regulates L-arabinose release and catabolism. Previously we identified the Zn2Cys6 transcription factor (TF), AraR, that has this role in the Trichocomaceae family (Eurotiales), but is absent in other fungi. Candidate Zn2Cys6 TF genes were selected according to their transcript profiles on L-arabinose. Deletion mutants of these genes were screened for their growth phenotype on L-arabinose. One mutant, named Δara1, was further analyzed. Our analysis demonstrated that Ara1 from P. oryzae is the functional analog of AraR from A. niger, while there is no significant sequence similarity between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Klaubauf
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Miaomiao Zhou
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Marc-Henri Lebrun
- MPA, UMR 2847 CNRS-Bayer Crop science, Lyon, France.,UMR 1290 BIOGER-CPP, INRA, AgroParisTech, Campus AgroParisTech, Ave Louis Bretignières, F75850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Evy Battaglia
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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22
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Wang J, Wu Y, Gong Y, Yu S, Liu G. Enhancing xylanase production in the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila by homologous overexpression of Mtxyr1. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 42:1233-41. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-015-1628-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The xylanase regulator 1 protein in Myceliophthora thermophila ATCC42464 (MtXyr1) is 60 % homologous with that of Trichoderma reesei. However, MtXyr1’s regulatory role on cellulolytic and xylanolytic genes in M. thermophila is unknown. Herein, MtXyr1 was overexpressed under the control of the MtPpdc (pyruvate decarboxylase) promoter. Compared with the wild type, the extracellular xylanase activities of the transformant cultured in non-inducing and inducing media for 120 h were 25.19- and 9.04-fold higher, respectively. The Mtxyr1 mRNA level was 300-fold higher than in the wild type in corncob-containing medium. However, the filter paper activity and endoglucanase activities were unchanged in corncob-containing medium and glucose-containing medium. The different zymograms between the transformant and the wild type were analyzed and identified by mass spectrometry as three xylanases of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 11. Thus, overexpression of xyr1 resulted in enhanced xylanase activity in M. thermophila. Xylanase production could be improved by overexpressing Mtxyr1 in M. thermophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- grid.263488.3 0000000104729649 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences Shenzhen University 518060 Shenzhen China
| | - Yaning Wu
- grid.263488.3 0000000104729649 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences Shenzhen University 518060 Shenzhen China
| | - Yanfen Gong
- grid.263488.3 0000000104729649 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology Shenzhen University 518060 Shenzhen China
| | - Shaowen Yu
- grid.263488.3 0000000104729649 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences Shenzhen University 518060 Shenzhen China
| | - Gang Liu
- grid.263488.3 0000000104729649 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences Shenzhen University 518060 Shenzhen China
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23
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Lu J, Cao H, Zhang L, Huang P, Lin F. Systematic analysis of Zn2Cys6 transcription factors required for development and pathogenicity by high-throughput gene knockout in the rice blast fungus. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004432. [PMID: 25299517 PMCID: PMC4192604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of great challenges and workload in deleting genes on a large scale, the functions of most genes in pathogenic fungi are still unclear. In this study, we developed a high-throughput gene knockout system using a novel yeast-Escherichia-Agrobacterium shuttle vector, pKO1B, in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Using this method, we deleted 104 fungal-specific Zn(2)Cys(6) transcription factor (TF) genes in M. oryzae. We then analyzed the phenotypes of these mutants with regard to growth, asexual and infection-related development, pathogenesis, and 9 abiotic stresses. The resulting data provide new insights into how this rice pathogen of global significance regulates important traits in the infection cycle through Zn(2)Cys(6)TF genes. A large variation in biological functions of Zn(2)Cys(6)TF genes was observed under the conditions tested. Sixty-one of 104 Zn(2)Cys(6) TF genes were found to be required for fungal development. In-depth analysis of TF genes revealed that TF genes involved in pathogenicity frequently tend to function in multiple development stages, and disclosed many highly conserved but unidentified functional TF genes of importance in the fungal kingdom. We further found that the virulence-required TF genes GPF1 and CNF2 have similar regulation mechanisms in the gene expression involved in pathogenicity. These experimental validations clearly demonstrated the value of a high-throughput gene knockout system in understanding the biological functions of genes on a genome scale in fungi, and provided a solid foundation for elucidating the gene expression network that regulates the development and pathogenicity of M. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Lu
- School of Life Sciences Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Huijuan Cao
- Biotechnology Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lilin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Pengyun Huang
- School of Life Sciences Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fucheng Lin
- Biotechnology Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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24
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Klaubauf S, Narang HM, Post H, Zhou M, Brunner K, Mach-Aigner AR, Mach RL, Heck AJR, Altelaar AFM, de Vries RP. Similar is not the same: differences in the function of the (hemi-)cellulolytic regulator XlnR (Xlr1/Xyr1) in filamentous fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 72:73-81. [PMID: 25064064 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional activator XlnR (Xlr1/Xyr1) is a major regulator in fungal xylan and cellulose degradation as well as in the utilization of d-xylose via the pentose catabolic pathway. XlnR homologs are commonly found in filamentous ascomycetes and often assumed to have the same function in different fungi. However, a comparison of the saprobe Aspergillus niger and the plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae showed different phenotypes for deletion strains of XlnR. In this study wild type and xlnR/xlr1/xyr1 mutants of five fungi were compared: Fusarium graminearum, M. oryzae, Trichoderma reesei, A. niger and Aspergillus nidulans. Growth profiling on relevant substrates and a detailed analysis of the secretome as well as extracellular enzyme activities demonstrated a common role of this regulator in activating genes encoding the main xylanolytic enzymes. However, large differences were found in the set of genes that is controlled by XlnR in the different species, resulting in the production of different extracellular enzyme spectra by these fungi. This comparison emphasizes the functional diversity of a fine-tuned (hemi-)cellulolytic regulatory system in filamentous fungi, which might be related to the adaptation of fungi to their specific biotopes. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001190.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Klaubauf
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hari Mander Narang
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Harm Post
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miaomiao Zhou
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kurt Brunner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Biotechnology and Microbiology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorferstr. 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Astrid R Mach-Aigner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Biotechnology and Microbiology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorferstr. 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Biotechnology and Microbiology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorferstr. 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Albert J R Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A F Maarten Altelaar
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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25
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Trichoderma atroviride transcriptional regulator Xyr1 supports the induction of systemic resistance in plants. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:5274-81. [PMID: 24951787 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00930-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As a result of a transcriptome-wide analysis of the ascomycete Trichoderma atroviride, mycoparasitism-related genes were identified; of these, 13 genes were further investigated for differential expression. In silico analysis of the upstream regulatory regions of these genes pointed to xylanase regulator 1 (Xyr1) as a putatively involved regulatory protein. Transcript analysis of the xyr1 gene of T. atroviride in confrontation with other fungi allowed us to determine that xyr1 levels increased during mycoparasitism. To gain knowledge about the precise role of Xyr1 in the mycoparasitic process, the corresponding gene was deleted from the T. atroviride genome. This resulted in strong reductions in the transcript levels of axe1 and swo1, which encode accessory cell wall-degrading enzymes considered relevant for mycoparasitism. We also analyzed the role of Xyr1 in the Trichoderma-Arabidopsis interaction, finding that the plant response elicited by T. atroviride is delayed if Xyr1 is missing in the fungus.
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Fernandez J, Marroquin-Guzman M, Wilson RA. Mechanisms of nutrient acquisition and utilization during fungal infections of leaves. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2014; 52:155-74. [PMID: 24848414 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-102313-050135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Foliar fungal pathogens challenge global food security, but how they optimize growth and development during infection is understudied. Despite adopting several lifestyles to facilitate nutrient acquisition from colonized cells, little is known about the genetic underpinnings governing pathogen adaption to host-derived nutrients. Homologs of common global and pathway-specific gene regulatory elements are likely to be involved, but their contribution to pathogenicity, and how they are connected to broader genetic networks, is largely unspecified. Here, we focus on carbon and nitrogen metabolism in foliar pathogens and consider what is known, and what is not known, about fungal exploitation of host nutrient and ask how common metabolic regulators have been co-opted to the plant-pathogenic lifestyle as well as how nutrients are utilized to drive infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Fernandez
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583; , ,
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