1
|
Song T, Li C, Jin K, Xia Y. The Forkhead Box Gene, MaSep1, Negatively Regulates UV- and Thermo-Tolerances and Is Required for Microcycle Conidiation in Metarhizium acridum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:544. [PMID: 39194870 DOI: 10.3390/jof10080544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Insect pathogenic fungi have shown great potential in agricultural pest control. Conidiation is crucial for the survival of filamentous fungi, and dispersal occurs through two methods: normal conidiation, where conidia differentiate from mycelium, and microcycle conidiation, which involves conidial budding. The conidiation process is related to cell separation. The forkhead box gene Sep1 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe plays a crucial role in cell separation. Nevertheless, the function of Sep1 has not been clarified in filamentous fungi. Here, MaSep1, the homolog of Sep1 in Metarhizium acridum, was identified and subjected to functional analysis. The findings revealed that conidial germination of the MaSep1-deletion strain (ΔMaSep1) was accelerated and the time for 50% germination rate of conidial was shortened by 1 h, while the conidial production of ΔMaSep1 was considerably reduced. The resistances to heat shock and UV-B irradiation of ΔMaSep1 were enhanced, and the expression of some genes involved in DNA damage repair and heat shock response was significantly increased in ΔMaSep1. The disruption of MaSep1 had no effect on the virulence of M. acridum. Interestingly, ΔMaSep1 conducted the normal conidiation on the microcycle conidiation medium, SYA. Furthermore, 127 DEGs were identified by RNA-Seq between the wild-type and ΔMaSep1 strains during microcycle conidiation, proving that MaSep1 mediated the conidiation pattern shift by governing some genes associated with conidiation, cell division, and cell wall formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Song
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies Under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Microbial Pesticides, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Chan Li
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies Under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Microbial Pesticides, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies Under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Microbial Pesticides, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yuxian Xia
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies Under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Microbial Pesticides, Chongqing 401331, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhuo R, Chen Y, Xing M, Zhang Z, Tian S, Li B. Ena Proteins Respond to PacC-Mediated pH Signaling Pathway and Play a Crucial Role in Patulin Biosynthesis. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:806. [PMID: 37623577 PMCID: PMC10455529 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Penicillium expansum is a main producer of patulin that causes severe postharvest decay and food safety issues in the fruit industry. Development, pathogenicity, and patulin production of P. expansum are strongly influenced by the PacC-pH signaling pathway. Global transcription factor PacC regulates various fungal biological processes through a complicated molecular network. In the present study, three Ena family genes (PeEnas), PeEnaA, PeEnaB, and PeEnaC, as important downstream targets of PePacC, were identified in P. expansum. Deletion of PeEnaA, PeEnaB, and PeEnaC showed little effect on mycelial growth under alkaline or high salinity conditions, but double and triple deletion of these genes impaired the virulence of P. expansum on apple fruit. Notably, patulin biosynthesis of P. expansum was distinctly inhibited in the deletion mutants of PeEnas. PeEnas regulated expressions of the patulin gene cluster, AP1, CreA, Sge1, and Hog1 at the transcriptional level and played roles in maintaining membrane potential. Overexpression of PeEnaC in ΔPePacC restored the patulin production defect of ΔPePacC. Our results indicated that, as downstream targets of PePacC, the PeEna family proteins play a crucial role in patulin biosynthesis in P. expansum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruiling Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Mengyang Xing
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhanquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Shiping Tian
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Boqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handling of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deng TC, Yang JY, Sun ML, Zhang YZ, Pan YT, Huang L. Distinct Roles of Ena ATP Family Proteins in Sodium Accumulation, Invasive Growth, and Full Virulence in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050566. [PMID: 37233277 PMCID: PMC10219246 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a significant fungal pathogen of crops and trees, causes large economic losses worldwide. However, its pathogenic mechanism remains totally unclear. In this study, four Ena ATPases (Exitus natru-type adenosine triphosphatases), homology of yeast Ena proteins, were identified in C. gloeosporioides. Gene deletion mutants of ΔCgena1, ΔCgena2, ΔCgena3, and ΔCgena4 were obtained through the method of gene replacement. First, a subcellular localization pattern indicated that CgEna1 and CgEna4 were localized in the plasma membrane, while the CgEna2 and CgEna3 were distributed in the endoparasitic reticulum. Next, it was found that CgEna1 and CgEna4 were required for sodium accumulation in C. gloeosporioides. CgEna3 was required for extracellular ion stress of sodium and potassium. CgEna1 and CgEna3 were involved in conidial germination, appressorium formation, invasive hyphal development, and full virulence. The mutant of ΔCgena4 was more sensitive to the conditions of high concentrations of ion and the alkaline. Together, these results indicated that CgEna ATPase proteins have distinct roles in sodium accumulation, stress resistance, and full virulence in C. gloeosporioides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Ci Deng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Ji-Yun Yang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Mei-Ling Sun
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yun-Zhao Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yun-Ting Pan
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tong SM, Feng MG. Molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms underlying fungal insecticides' resistance to solar ultraviolet irradiation. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:30-42. [PMID: 34397162 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is crucial for field-persistent control efficacies of fungal formulations against arthropod pests, because their active ingredients are formulated conidia very sensitive to solar UV wavelengths. This review seeks to summarize advances in studies aiming to quantify, understand and improve conidial UV resistance. One focus of studies has been on the many sets of genes that have been revealed in the postgenomic era to contribute to or mediate UV resistance in the insect pathogens serving as main sources of fungal insecticides. Such genetic studies have unveiled the broad basis of UV-resistant molecules including cytosolic solutes, cell wall components, various antioxidant enzymes, and numerous effectors and signaling proteins, that function in developmental, biosynthetic and stress-responsive pathways. Another focus has been on the molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms underlying photorepair of UV-induced DNA lesions and photoreactivation of UV-impaired conidia. Studies have shed light upon a photoprotective mechanism depending on not only one or two photorepair-required photolyases, but also two white collar proteins and other partners that play similar or more important roles in photorepair via interactions with photolyases. Research hotspots are suggested to explore a regulatory network of fungal photoprotection and to improve the development and application strategies of UV-resistant fungal insecticides. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sen-Miao Tong
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mou YN, Gao BJ, Ren K, Tong SM, Ying SH, Feng MG. P-type Na +/K + ATPases essential and nonessential for cellular homeostasis and insect pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana. Virulence 2020; 11:1415-1431. [PMID: 33103596 PMCID: PMC7588218 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1836903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ENA1 and ENA2 are P-type IID/ENA Na+/K+-ATPases required for cellular homeostasis in yeasts but remain poorly understood in filamentous fungal insect pathogens. Here, we characterized seven genes encoding five ENA1/2 homologues (ENA1a-c and ENA2a/b) and two P-type IIC/NK Na+/K+-ATPases (NK1/2) in Beauveria bassiana, an insect-pathogenic fungus serving as a main source of fungal insecticides worldwide. Most of these genes were highly responsive to alkaline pH and Na+/K+ cues at transcription level. Cellular Na+, K+ and H+ homeostasis was disturbed only in the absence of ena1a or ena2b. The disturbed homeostasis featured acceleration of vacuolar acidification, elevation of cytosolic Na+/K+ level at pH 5.0 to 9.0, and stabilization of extracellular H+ level to initial pH 7.5 during a 5-day period of submerged incubation. Despite little defect in hyphal growth and asexual development, the Δena1a and Δena2b mutants were less tolerant to metal cations (Na+, K+, Li+, Zn2+, Mn2+ and Fe3+), cell wall perturbation, oxidation, non-cation hyperosmolarity and UVB irradiation, severely compromised in insect pathogenicity via normal cuticle infection, and attenuated in virulence via hemocoel injection. The deletion mutants of five other ENA and NK genes showed little change in vacuolar pH and all examined phenotypes. Therefore, only ENA1a and ENA2b evidently involved in both transmembrane and vacuolar activities are essential for cellular cation homeostasis, insect pathogenicity and multiple stress tolerance in B. bassiana. These findings provide a novel insight into ENA1a- and ENA2b-dependent vacuolar pH stability, cation-homeostatic process and fungal fitness to host insect and environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ni Mou
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ben-Jie Gao
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kang Ren
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sen-Miao Tong
- College of Agricultural and Food Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin’an, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Phenotypic and molecular insights into heat tolerance of formulated cells as active ingredients of fungal insecticides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:5711-5724. [PMID: 32405755 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10659-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Formulated conidia of insect-pathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria and Metarhizium, serve as the active ingredients of fungal insecticides but are highly sensitive to persistent high temperatures (32-35 °C) that can be beyond their upper thermal limits especially in tropical areas and during summer months. Fungal heat tolerance and inter- or intra-specific variability are critical factors and limitations to field applications of fungal pesticides during seasons favoring outbreaks of pest populations. The past decades have witnessed tremendous advances in improving fungal pesticides through selection of heat-tolerant strains from natural isolates, improvements and innovations in terms of solid-state fermentation technologies for the production of more heat-tolerant conidia, and the use of genetic engineering of candidate strains for enhancing heat tolerance. More recently, with the entry into a post-genomic era, a large number of signaling and effector genes have been characterized as important sustainers of heat tolerance in both Beauveria and Metarhizium, which represent the main species used as fungal pesticides worldwide. This review focuses on recent advances and provides an overview into the broad molecular basis of fungal heat tolerance and its multiple regulatory pathways. Emphases are placed on approaches for screening of heat-tolerant strains, methods for optimizing conidial quality linked to virulence and heat tolerance particularly involving cell wall architecture and optimized trehalose/mannitol contents, and how molecular determinants can be exploited for genetic improvement of heat tolerance and pest-control potential. Examples of fungal pesticides with different host spectra and their appropriateness for use in apiculture are given. KEY POINTS: • Heat tolerance is critical for field stability and efficacy of fungal insecticides. • Inter- and intra-specific variability exists in insect-pathogenic fungi. • Optimized production technology and biotechnology can improve heat tolerance. • Fungal heat tolerance is orchestrated by multiple molecular pathways.
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang ZK, Cai Q, Tong SM, Ying SH, Feng MG. C-terminal Ser/Thr residues are vital for the regulatory role of Ste7 in the asexual cycle and virulence of Beauveria bassiana. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:6973-6986. [PMID: 29948113 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9148-5] [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: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase Ste7 has a conserved Ser/Thr loop (S/T-X4(6)-S/T) that can activate the MAPK Fus3 or Kss1 for the regulation of pheromone response and filamentous growth in model yeast. Here, we show that not only the loop but also four C-terminal Ser/Thr residues are essential for Ste7 to function in the Fus3 cascade of Beauveria bassiana, a filamentous fungal insect pathogen. Mutagenesis of either looped S216/T220 or C-terminal S362 resulted in the same severe defects in conidial germination, hyphal growth, aerial conidiation, and submerged blastospore production as the ste7 deletion, followed by a complete loss of virulence and similarly increased cell sensitivities to osmotic salts, oxidants, heat shock and UV-B irradiation. Mutagenesis of three other Ser/Thr residues (S391, S440, and T485) also caused severe defects in most of the mentioned phenotypes. These defects correlated well with dramatically reduced transcript levels of some phenotype-related genes. These genes encode a transcription factor (CreA) essential for carbon/nitrogen assimilation, developmental activators (BrlA, AbaA, and WetA) and upstream transcription factor (FluG) required for conidiation, P-type N+/K+ ATPases (Ena1-5) required for intracellular N+/K+ homeostasis, and antioxidant enzymes involved in multiple stress responses. Our study unveils that the loop and four C-terminal Ser/Thr residues are all vital for the regulatory role of Ste7 in the growth, conidiation, virulence, and/or stress tolerance of B. bassiana and perhaps other filamentous fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Kang Wang
- Institute of Coastal Ecology, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, Shandong, China.,Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Cai
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sen-Miao Tong
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, Hangzhou, China.,School of Agricultural and Food Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ren XX, Wang Y, Liu Y, Tan Y, Ren C, Ge Y, Liu Z. Comparative transcriptome analysis of the calcium signaling and expression analysis of sodium/calcium exchanger in Aspergillus cristatus. J Basic Microbiol 2017; 58:76-87. [PMID: 29152764 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201700277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus cristatus develops into various stages under different Na concentrations: the sexual stage in 0.5 M NaCl and asexual development stage in 3 M NaCl. In order to explore whether the Ca2+ signaling pathway in A. cristatus responded to the changes in the salt stress, we analyzed the gene expression levels in A. cristatus respectively cultured in 0.5 M NaCl and 3 M NaCl. According to the BLAST analysis results, we identified 25 Ca2+ -signaling proteins in A. cristatus. The expression levels of most genes involved in the Ca2+ -signaling pathway in A. cristatus cultured in different salt concentrations showed significant differences, indicating that the Ca2+ signaling pathway was involved in the response to the changes in the salt stress. In yeasts, only calcium ion influx proteins were reported to be involved in the response to the changes in the salt stress. So far, the protein for the exchanger of calcium/sodium ions has not been reported. Therefore, we obtained the sodium/calcium exchanger (termed NCX) proteins from the KEGG Database. The ncx gene of A. cristatus was cloned and characterized. The full length of ncx gene is 3055 bp, including a 2994-bp open reading frame encoding 994 amino acids. The expression levels of ncx in the sexual development stage and asexual development stage were respectively ∼8.94 times and ∼2.57 times of that in the hyphal formation stage. Therefore, we suggested that ncx gene was up-regulated to resist the sodium stress. The study results provide the basis for further exploring the Ca2+ -signaling mechanism and ion exchanger mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Xiu Ren
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, PR China.,College of Ecological Engineering, Guizhou University of Engineering Science, Bijie, PR China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| | - YongXiang Liu
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| | - Yumei Tan
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| | - Chunguang Ren
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| | - Yongyi Ge
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| | - Zuoyi Liu
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, PR China
| |
Collapse
|