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Cai Y, Bai F, Chen J, Li W, Bao H, Zhang Y, Chen J, Shen W. Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Gene SsCI51640 Is Required for Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation by Regulating cAMP Pathway and Improving Sporidia Environmental Adaptability. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:484-496. [PMID: 36173285 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-05-22-0153-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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane smut is a serious disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, which causes significant losses to the sugar industry. It is critical to reveal the molecular pathogenic mechanism of S. scitamineum to explore a new control strategy for sugarcane smut. On the basis of transcriptome sequencing data of two S. scitamineum strains with different pathogenicity, we identified the gene, SsCI51640, which was predicted to encode kynurenine 3-monooxygenase. In this study, we obtained knockout mutants and complementary mutants of this gene and identified gene function. The results showed that the sporidial growth rate and acid production ability of knockout mutants were significantly higher and stronger than those of the wild-type and complementary mutants. The growth of knockout mutants under abiotic stress (osmotic stress and cell wall stress) was significantly inhibited. In addition, the sexual mating ability and pathogenicity of knockout mutants were significantly reduced, while this phenomenon could be restored by adding exogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It is thus speculated that the SsCI51640 gene may regulate sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum by the cAMP signaling pathway. Moreover, the SsCI51640 gene enhanced the sporidial environmental adaptability, which promoted sexual mating and development of pathogenicity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Feng Bai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Jiaoyun Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Wenjia Li
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
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Chitosan Is Necessary for the Structure of the Cell Wall, and Full Virulence of Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080813. [PMID: 36012801 PMCID: PMC9409902 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Smut fungi comprise a large group of biotrophic phytopathogens infecting important crops, such as wheat and corn. U. maydis is a plant pathogenic fungus responsible for common smut in maize and teocintle. Through our analysis of the transcriptome of the yeast-to-mycelium dimorphic transition at acid pH, we determined the number of genes encoding chitin deacetylases of the fungus, and observed that the gene encoding one of them (UMAG_11922; CDA1) was the only one up-regulated. The mutation of this gene and the analysis of the mutants revealed that they contained reduced amounts of chitosan, were severely affected in their virulence, and showed aberrant mycelial morphology when grown at acid pH. When the CDA1 gene was reinserted into the mutants by the use of an autonomous replication plasmid, virulence and chitosan levels were recovered in the retro mutant strains, indicating that the CDA1 gene was involved in these features. These data revealed that chitosan plays a crucial role in the structure and morphogenesis of the cell wall during mycelial development of the fungus, and that in its absence, the cell wall becomes altered and is unable to support the stress imposed by the defense mechanism mounted on by the plant host during the infection process.
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Cai Y, Zhang Y, Bao H, Chen J, Chen J, Shen W. Squalene Monooxygenase Gene SsCI80130 Regulates Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation and Pathogenicity. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050470. [PMID: 35628726 PMCID: PMC9143649 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane is an important sugar crop and energy crop worldwide. Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is a serious fungal disease that occurs worldwide, seriously affecting the yield and quality of sugarcane. It is essential to reveal the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum to explore a new control strategy of sugarcane smut. Based on transcriptome sequencing data of two S. scitamineum strains Ss16 and Ss47, each with a different pathogenicity, our laboratory screened out the SsCI80130 gene predicted to encode squalene monooxygenase. In this study, we obtained the knockout mutants (ΔSs80130+ and ΔSs80130−) and complementary mutants (COM80130+ and COM80130−) of this gene by the polyethylene glycol-mediated (PEG-mediated) protoplast transformation technology, and then performed a functional analysis of the gene. The results showed that the deletion of the SsCI80130 gene resulted in the increased content of squalene (substrate for squalene monooxygenase) and decreased content of ergosterol (the final product of the ergosterol synthesis pathway) in S. scitamineum. Meanwhile, the sporidial growth rate of the knockout mutants was significantly slower than that of the wild type and complementary mutants; under cell-wall stress or oxidative stress, the growth of the knockout mutants was significantly inhibited. In addition, the sexual mating ability and pathogenicity of knockout mutants were significantly weakened, while the sexual mating ability could be restored by adding exogenous small-molecular signal substance cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) or tryptophol. It is speculated that the SsCI80130 gene was involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis in S. scitamineum and played an important role in the sporidial growth, stress response to different abiotic stresses (including cell wall stress and oxidative stress), sexual mating/filamentation and pathogenicity. Moreover, the SsCI80130 gene may affect the sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum by regulating the ergosterol synthesis and the synthesis of the small-molecular signal substance cAMP or tryptophol required for sexual mating. This study reveals for the first time that the gene encoding squalene monooxygenase is involved in regulating the sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum, providing a basis for the molecular pathogenic mechanism of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaoyun Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-20-8528-0306; Fax: +86-20-8528-0203
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May G, Shaw RG, Geyer CJ, Eck DJ. Do Interactions among Microbial Symbionts Cause Selection for Greater Pathogen Virulence? Am Nat 2022; 199:252-265. [DOI: 10.1086/717679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana May
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Ruth G. Shaw
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Charles J. Geyer
- School of Statistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Daniel J. Eck
- Department of Statistics, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois 61820
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Dautt-Castro M, Rosendo-Vargas M, Casas-Flores S. The Small GTPases in Fungal Signaling Conservation and Function. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051039. [PMID: 33924947 PMCID: PMC8146680 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Monomeric GTPases, which belong to the Ras superfamily, are small proteins involved in many biological processes. They are fine-tuned regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Several families have been identified in organisms from different kingdoms. Overall, the most studied families are Ras, Rho, Rab, Ran, Arf, and Miro. Recently, a new family named Big Ras GTPases was reported. As a general rule, the proteins of all families have five characteristic motifs (G1–G5), and some specific features for each family have been described. Here, we present an exhaustive analysis of these small GTPase families in fungi, using 56 different genomes belonging to different phyla. For this purpose, we used distinct approaches such as phylogenetics and sequences analysis. The main functions described for monomeric GTPases in fungi include morphogenesis, secondary metabolism, vesicle trafficking, and virulence, which are discussed here. Their participation during fungus–plant interactions is reviewed as well.
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Martínez-Soto D, Ortiz-Castellanos L, Robledo-Briones M, León-Ramírez CG. Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Multicellular Growth of Ustilaginomycetes. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1072. [PMID: 32708448 PMCID: PMC7409079 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8071072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellularity is defined as the developmental process by which unicellular organisms became pluricellular during the evolution of complex organisms on Earth. This process requires the convergence of genetic, ecological, and environmental factors. In fungi, mycelial and pseudomycelium growth, snowflake phenotype (where daughter cells remain attached to their stem cells after mitosis), and fruiting bodies have been described as models of multicellular structures. Ustilaginomycetes are Basidiomycota fungi, many of which are pathogens of economically important plant species. These fungi usually grow unicellularly as yeasts (sporidia), but also as simple multicellular forms, such as pseudomycelium, multicellular clusters, or mycelium during plant infection and under different environmental conditions: Nitrogen starvation, nutrient starvation, acid culture media, or with fatty acids as a carbon source. Even under specific conditions, Ustilago maydis can form basidiocarps or fruiting bodies that are complex multicellular structures. These fungi conserve an important set of genes and molecular mechanisms involved in their multicellular growth. In this review, we will discuss in-depth the signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation, required polyamines, cell wall synthesis/degradation, polarized cell growth, and other cellular-genetic processes involved in the different types of Ustilaginomycetes multicellular growth. Finally, considering their short life cycle, easy handling in the laboratory and great morphological plasticity, Ustilaginomycetes can be considered as model organisms for studying fungal multicellularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domingo Martínez-Soto
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Los Reyes, Los Reyes 60300, Mexico
| | - Lucila Ortiz-Castellanos
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Mexico; (L.O.-C.); (C.G.L.-R.)
| | - Mariana Robledo-Briones
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Instituto Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (CIALE), Universidad de Salamanca, 37185 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Claudia Geraldine León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Mexico; (L.O.-C.); (C.G.L.-R.)
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7
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Cervantes-Montelongo JA, Silva-Martínez GA, Pliego-Arreaga R, Guevara-Olvera L, Ruiz-Herrera J. The UMAG_00031 gene from Ustilago maydis encodes a putative membrane protein involved in pH control and morphogenesis. Arch Microbiol 2020; 202:2221-2232. [PMID: 32529509 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report the characterization of the gene UMAG_00031 from Ustilago maydis, previously identified as upregulated at alkaline pH. This gene is located on chromosome 1 and contains an ORF of 1539 bp that encodes a putative protein of 512 amino acids with an MW of 54.8 kDa. The protein is predicted to contain seven transmembrane domains (TMDs) and a signal peptide suggesting that is located in the cell membrane. Null ΔUMAG_00031 mutants were constructed, and their phenotype was analyzed. The mutant displayed a pleiotropic phenotype suggesting its participation in processes of alkaline pH adaptation independent of the Pal/Rim pathway. Also, it was involved in the dimorphic process induced by fatty acids. These results indicate that the protein encoded by the UMAG_00031 gene possibly functions as a receptor of different signals in the cell membrane of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Cervantes-Montelongo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México en Celaya, Ave. Tecnológico y Antonio García Cubas S/N, col. FOVISSSTE, 38010, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | | | - Raquel Pliego-Arreaga
- Escuela de Medicina de La Universidad de Celaya, Carretera Panamericana, Rancho Pinto km 269, 38080, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | - Lorenzo Guevara-Olvera
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México en Celaya, Ave. Tecnológico y Antonio García Cubas S/N, col. FOVISSSTE, 38010, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | - José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Apartado Postal 629, 36500, Irapuato, Gto, Mexico.
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8
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Zhang Y, Hu Y, Cao Q, Yin Y, Xia W, Cui H, Yu X, Ye Z. Functional Properties of the MAP Kinase UeKpp2 in Ustilago esculenta. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1053. [PMID: 32582058 PMCID: PMC7295950 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago esculenta undergoes an endophytic life cycle in Zizania latifolia. It induces the stem of its host to swell, forming the edible galls called jiaobai in China, which are the second most commonly cultivated aquatic vegetable in China. Z. latifolia raised for jiaobai can only reproduce asexually because the U. esculenta infection completely inhibits flowering. The infection and proliferation in the host plants during the formation of edible gall differ from those of conventional pathogens. Previous studies have shown a close relationship between mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and fungal pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the functional properties of the MAPK UeKpp2. Cross-species complementation assays were carried out, which indicated a functional complementation between the UeKpp2 of U. esculenta and the Kpp2 of Ustilago maydis. Next, UeKpp2 mutants of the UeT14 and the UeT55 sporidia background were generated; these showed an aberrant morphology of budding cells, and attenuated mating and filamentous growth in vitro, in the context of normal pathogenicity. Interestingly, we identified another protein kinase, UeUkc1, which acted downstream of UeKpp2 and may participate in the regulation of cell shape. We also found a defect of filamentous growth in UeKpp2 mutants that was not related to a defect of the induction of mating-type genes but was directly related to a defect in UeRbf1 induction. Overall, our results indicate an important role for UeKpp2 in U. esculenta that is slightly different from those reported for other smut fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingli Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qianchao Cao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Yin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Xia
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Cui
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
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9
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Ruiz-Herrera J, Pérez-Rodríguez F, Velez-Haro J. The signaling mechanisms involved in the dimorphic phenomenon of the Basidiomycota fungus Ustilago maydis. Int Microbiol 2020; 23:121-126. [PMID: 31915950 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00100-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In the present manuscript, we describe the mechanisms involved in the yeast-to-hypha dimorphic transition of the plant pathogenic Basidiomycota fungus Ustilago maydis. During its life cycle, U. maydis presents two stages: one in the form of haploid saprophytic yeasts that divide by budding and the other that is the product of the mating of sexually compatible yeast cells (sporidia), in the form of mycelial dikaryons that invade the plant host. The occurrence of the involved dimorphic transition is controlled by the two mating loci a and b. In addition, the dimorphic event can be obtained in vitro by different stimuli: change in the pH of the growth medium, use of different carbon sources, and by nitrogen depletion. The presence of other factors and mechanisms may affect this phenomenon; among these, we may cite the PKA and MAPK signal transduction pathways, polyamines, and factors that affect the structure of the nucleosomes. Some of these factors and conditions may affect all these dimorphic events, or they may be specific for only one or more but not all the processes involved. The conclusion reached by these experiments is that U. maydis has constituted a useful model for the analysis of the mechanisms involved in cell differentiation of fungi in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.4 Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato, Gto., Mexico.
| | - Fernando Pérez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.4 Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato, Gto., Mexico
| | - John Velez-Haro
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.4 Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato, Gto., Mexico.,Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya, Celaya, Gto., Mexico
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Chang C, Cai E, Deng YZ, Mei D, Qiu S, Chen B, Zhang LH, Jiang Z. cAMP/PKA signalling pathway regulates redox homeostasis essential for Sporisorium scitamineum mating/filamentation and virulence. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:959-971. [PMID: 30537399 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Sporisorium scitamineum causes sugarcane smut disease. The formation and growth of dikaryotic hypha after sexual mating is critical for S. scitamineum pathogenicity, however regulation of S. scitimineum mating has not been studied in detail. We identified and characterized the core components of the conserved cAMP/PKA pathway in S. scitamineum by reverse genetics. Our results showed that cAMP/PKA signalling pathway is essential for proper mating and filamentation, and thus critical for S. scitamineum virulence. We further demonstrated that an elevated intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) level promotes S. scitamineum mating-filamentation, via transcriptional regulation of ROS catabolic enzymes, and is under regulation of the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway. Furthermore, we found that fungal cAMP/PKA signalling pathway is also involved in regulation of host ROS response. Overall, our work displayed a positive role of elevated intracellular ROS in fungal differentiation and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changqing Chang
- Guangdong Innovative and Entepreneurial Research Team of Sociomicrobiology Basic Science and Frontier Technology, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Peoples' Republic of China.,Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Enping Cai
- Guangdong Innovative and Entepreneurial Research Team of Sociomicrobiology Basic Science and Frontier Technology, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Peoples' Republic of China.,Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yi Zhen Deng
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Dan Mei
- Guangdong Innovative and Entepreneurial Research Team of Sociomicrobiology Basic Science and Frontier Technology, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Peoples' Republic of China.,Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shanxu Qiu
- Guangdong Innovative and Entepreneurial Research Team of Sociomicrobiology Basic Science and Frontier Technology, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Peoples' Republic of China.,Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Lian-Hui Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zide Jiang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
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Woraratanadharm T, Kmosek S, Banuett F. UmTea1, a Kelch and BAR domain-containing protein, acts at the cell cortex to regulate cell morphogenesis in the dimorphic fungus Ustilago maydis. Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 121:10-28. [PMID: 30205200 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The spatial organization of a cell is crucial for distribution of cell components and for cell morphogenesis in all organisms. Ustilago maydis, a basidiomycete fungus, has a yeast-like and a filamentous form. The former buds once per cell cycle at one of the cell poles, and can use the same site repeatedly or choose a new site at the same pole or opposite pole. The filamentous form consists of a long apical cell with short septate basal compartments lacking cytoplasm. It grows at the apex and can reverse growth forming a new growth zone at the basal end. We are interested in understanding how these different morphologies are generated. Here we present identification and characterization of U. maydis Tea1, a homologue of the fission yeast cell end marker Tea1. We demonstrate that UmTea1, a Kelch domain protein, interacts with itself and is an important determinant of the site of polarized growth: tea1 mutants bud simultaneously from both cell poles and form bifurcate buds. UmTea1 also regulates septum positioning, cell wall deposition, cell and neck width, coordination of nuclear division and cell separation, and localization of sterol-rich membrane domains. Some of these functions are shared with UmTea4, another cell end marker. We show that Tea1::GFP localizes to sites of polarized or potential polarized growth and to the septation site in the yeast-like form. Additionally, localization of Tea1::GFP as rings along the filament suggests that the filament undergoes septation. We hypothesize that Tea1 may act as a scaffold for the assembly of proteins that determine the site of polarized growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tad Woraratanadharm
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Stephanie Kmosek
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Flora Banuett
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States.
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Sestari SJ, Brito WA, Neves BJ, Soares CMA, Salem-Izacc SM. Inhibition of protein kinase A affects Paracoccidioides lutzii dimorphism. Int J Biol Macromol 2018. [PMID: 29518446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A critical step in the lifecycle of many fungal pathogens is the ability to switch between filamentous and yeast growth, a process known as dimorphism. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) controls morphological changes and the pathogenicity of several animal and plant pathogenic fungi. In this work, we report the analysis of PKA activity during the mycelium to yeast transition in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides lutzii. This fungus, as well as the closely related species Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, causes paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis that affects thousands of people in Latin America. Infection occurs when hypha fragments or spores released from mycelium are inhaled by the host, an event that triggers the morphological switch. We show here that PKA activity is regulated in the fungus phase, increasing during the mycelium to yeast transition. Also, morphological transition from mycelium to yeast is blocked by the compound H89, a specific PKA inhibitor. Nevertheless, the fungus recovers its ability to change morphology when H89 is removed from the culture media. This recovery is accompanied by a significant increase in PKA activity. Our results strongly indicate that PKA directly affects phase transition in P. lutzii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila J Sestari
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
| | - Wesley A Brito
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil; Unidade Universitária de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Brazil; Centro Universitário de Anápolis, UniEvangélica, Brazil
| | - Bruno J Neves
- Centro Universitário de Anápolis, UniEvangélica, Brazil
| | - Celia M A Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
| | - Silvia M Salem-Izacc
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil.
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Dolzblasz A, Banasiak A, Vereecke D. Neovascularization during leafy gall formation on Arabidopsis thaliana upon Rhodococcus fascians infection. PLANTA 2018; 247:215-228. [PMID: 28942496 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-017-2778-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Extensive de novo vascularization of leafy galls emerging upon Rhodococcus fascians infection is achieved by fascicular/interfascicular cambium activity and transdifferentiation of parenchyma cells correlated with increased auxin signaling. A leafy gall consisting of fully developed yet growth-inhibited shoots, induced by the actinomycete Rhodococcus fascians, differs in structure compared to the callus-like galls induced by other bacteria. To get insight into the vascular development accompanying the emergence of the leafy gall, the anatomy of infected axillary regions of the inflorescence stem of wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana accession Col-0 plants and the auxin response in pDR5:GUS-tagged plants were followed in time. Based on our observations, three phases can be discerned during vascularization of the symptomatic tissue. First, existing fascicular cambium becomes activated and interfascicular cambium is formed giving rise to secondary vascular elements in a basipetal direction below the infection site in the main stem and in an acropetal direction in the entire side branch. Then, parenchyma cells in the region between both stems transdifferentiate acropetally towards the surface of the developing symptomatic tissue leading to the formation of xylem and vascularize the hyperplasia as they expand. Finally, parenchyma cells in the developing gall also transdifferentiate to vascular elements without any specific direction resulting in excessive vasculature disorderly distributed in the leafy gall. Prior to any apparent anatomical changes, a strong auxin response is mounted, implying that auxin is the signal that controls the vascular differentiation induced by the infection. To conclude, we propose the "sidetracking gall hypothesis" as we discuss the mechanisms driving the formation of superfluous vasculature of the emerging leafy gall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Dolzblasz
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Alicja Banasiak
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Danny Vereecke
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Moretti M, Wang L, Grognet P, Lanver D, Link H, Kahmann R. Three regulators of G protein signaling differentially affect mating, morphology and virulence in the smut fungusUstilago maydis. Mol Microbiol 2017; 105:901-921. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marino Moretti
- Department of Organismic Interactions; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Organismic Interactions; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Pierre Grognet
- Department of Organismic Interactions; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Daniel Lanver
- Department of Organismic Interactions; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Hannes Link
- Dynamic Control of Metabolic Networks; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 16, Marburg D-35043 Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, Marburg D-35043 Germany
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15
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Chew E, Aweiss Y, Lu CY, Banuett F. Fuz1, a MYND domain protein, is required for cell morphogenesis inUstilago maydis. Mycologia 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/15572536.2008.11832497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90840
| | | | | | - Flora Banuett
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90840 In memoriam Ira Herskowitz
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Toh SS, Perlin MH. Resurgence of Less-Studied Smut Fungi as Models of Phytopathogenesis in the Omics Age. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2016; 106:1244-1254. [PMID: 27111800 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-16-0075-rvw] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The smut fungi form a large, diverse, and nonmonophyletic group of plant pathogens that have long served as both important pests of human agriculture and, also, as fertile organisms of scientific investigation. As modern techniques of molecular genetic analysis became available, many previously studied species that proved refractive to these techniques fell by the wayside and were neglected. Now, as the advent of rapid and affordable next-generation sequencing provides genomic and transcriptomic resources for even these "forgotten" fungi, several species are making a comeback and retaking prominent places in phytopathogenic research. In this review, we highlight several of these smut fungi, with special emphasis on Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae, an anther smut whose molecular genetic tools have finally begun to catch up with its historical importance in classical genetics and now provide mechanistic insights for ecological studies, evolution of host-pathogen interaction, and investigations of emerging infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su San Toh
- First and second authors: Department of Biology and Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Kentucky; and first author: Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore
| | - Michael H Perlin
- First and second authors: Department of Biology and Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Kentucky; and first author: Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore
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A Gβ protein and the TupA Co-Regulator Bind to Protein Kinase A Tpk2 to Act as Antagonistic Molecular Switches of Fungal Morphological Changes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136866. [PMID: 26334875 PMCID: PMC4559445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) undergoes a morphological transition from a saprobic mycelium to pathogenic yeast that is controlled by the cAMP-signaling pathway. There is a change in the expression of the Gβ-protein PbGpb1, which interacts with adenylate cyclase, during this morphological transition. We exploited the fact that the cAMP-signaling pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not include a Gβ-protein to probe the functional role of PbGpb1. We present data that indicates that PbGpb1 and the transcriptional regulator PbTupA both bind to the PKA protein PbTpk2. PbTPK2 was able to complement a TPK2Δ strain of S. cerevisiae, XPY5a/α, which was defective in pseudohyphal growth. Whilst PbGPB1 had no effect on the parent S. cerevisiae strain, MLY61a/α, it repressed the filamentous growth of XPY5a/α transformed with PbTPK2, behaviour that correlated with a reduced expression of the floculin FLO11. In vitro, PbGpb1 reduced the kinase activity of PbTpk2, suggesting that inhibition of PbTpk2 by PbGpb1 reduces the level of expression of Flo11, antagonizing the filamentous growth of the cells. In contrast, expressing the co-regulator PbTUPA in XPY5a/α cells transformed with PbTPK2, but not untransformed cells, induced hyperfilamentous growth, which could be antagonized by co-transforming the cells with PbGPB1. PbTUPA was unable to induce the hyperfilamentous growth of a FLO8Δ strain, suggesting that PbTupA functions in conjunction with the transcription factor Flo8 to control Flo11 expression. Our data indicates that P. brasiliensis PbGpb1 and PbTupA, both of which have WD/β-propeller structures, bind to PbTpk2 to act as antagonistic molecular switches of cell morphology, with PbTupA and PbGpb1 inducing and repressing filamentous growth, respectively. Our findings define a potential mechanism for controlling the morphological switch that underpins the virulence of dimorphic fungi.
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Woriedh M, Merkl R, Dresselhaus T. Maize EMBRYO SAC family peptides interact differentially with pollen tubes and fungal cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2015; 66:5205-16. [PMID: 26071527 PMCID: PMC4526917 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erv268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
EMBRYO SAC1-4 (ES1-4) peptides belong to the defensin subgroup of cysteine-rich peptides known to mediate pollen tube burst in Zea mays (maize). ES1-4 are reported here to also be capable of inhibiting germination and growth of the maize fungal pathogens Fusarium graminearum and Ustilago maydis at higher concentrations. Dividing the peptides into smaller pieces showed that a 15-amino-acid peptide located in a highly variable loop region lacking similarity to other defensins or defensin-like peptides binds to maize pollen tube surfaces, causing swelling prior to burst. This peptide fragment and a second conserved neighbouring fragment showed suppression of fungal germination and growth. The two peptides caused swelling of fungal cells, production of reactive oxygen species, and finally the formation of big vacuoles prior to burst at high peptide concentration. Furthermore, peptide fragments were found to bind differently to fungal cells. In necrotrophic F. graminearum, a peptide fragment named ES-d bound only at cell surfaces whereas the peptide ES-c bound at cell surfaces and also accumulated inside cells. Conversely, in biotrophic U. maydis, both peptide fragments accumulated inside cells, but, if applied at higher concentration, ES-c but not ES-d accumulated mainly in vacuoles. Mapping of peptide interaction sites identified amino acids differing in pollen tube burst and fungal response reactions. In summary, these findings indicate that residues targeting pollen tube burst in maize are specific to the ES family, while residues targeting fungal growth are conserved within defensins and defensin-like peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayada Woriedh
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Merkl
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Choi J, Jung WH, Kronstad JW. The cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway in pathogenic basidiomycete fungi: Connections with iron homeostasis. J Microbiol 2015; 53:579-87. [PMID: 26231374 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-5247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A number of pathogenic species of basidiomycete fungi are either life-threatening pathogens of humans or major economic pests for crop production. Sensing the host is a key aspect of pathogen proliferation during disease, and signal transduction pathways are critically important for detecting environmental conditions and facilitating adaptation. This review focuses on the contributions of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans, a species that causes meningitis in humans, and Ustilago maydis, a model phytopathogen that causes a smut disease on maize. Environmental sensing by the cAMP/PKA pathway regulates the production of key virulence traits in C. neoformans including the polysaccharide capsule and melanin. For U. maydis, the pathway controls the dimorphic transition from budding growth to the filamentous cell type required for proliferation in plant tissue. We discuss recent advances in identifying new components of the cAMP/PKA pathway in these pathogens and highlight an emerging theme that pathway signaling influences iron acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehyuk Choi
- Division of Life Sciences, and Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms, Incheon National University, Incheon, 406-772, Republic of Korea
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20
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Mannosylerythritol lipids secreted by phyllosphere yeast Pseudozyma antarctica is associated with its filamentous growth and propagation on plant surfaces. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:6419-29. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Valinluck M, Woraratanadharm T, Lu CY, Quintanilla RH, Banuett F. The cell end marker Tea4 regulates morphogenesis and pathogenicity in the basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 66:54-68. [PMID: 24613993 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Positional cues localized to distinct cell domains are critical for the generation of cell polarity and cell morphogenesis. These cues lead to assembly of protein complexes that organize the cytoskeleton resulting in delivery of vesicles to sites of polarized growth. Tea4, an SH3 domain protein, was first identified in fission yeast, and is a critical determinant of the axis of polarized growth, a role conserved among ascomycete fungi. Ustilago maydis is a badiomycete fungus that exhibits a yeast-like form that is nonpathogenic and a filamentous form that is pathogenic on maize and teozintle. We are interested in understanding how positional cues contribute to generation and maintenance of these two forms, and their role in pathogenicity. We identified a homologue of fission yeast tea4 in a genetic screen for mutants with altered colony and cell morphology and present here analysis of Tea4 for the first time in a basidiomycete fungus. We demonstrate that Tea4 is an important positional marker for polarized growth and septum location in both forms. We uncover roles for Tea4 in maintenance of cell and neck width, cell separation, and cell wall deposition in the yeast-like form, and in growth rate, formation of retraction septa, growth reversal, and inhibition of budding in the filamentous form. We show that Tea4::GFP localizes to sites of polarized or potential polarized growth in both forms, as observed in ascomycete fungi. We demonstrate an essential role of Tea4 in pathogencity in the absence of cell fusion. Basidiomycete and ascomycete Tea4 homologues share SH3 and Glc7 domains. Tea4 in basidiomycetes has additional domains, which has led us to hypothesize that Tea4 has novel functions in this group of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Valinluck
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Tad Woraratanadharm
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Ching-yu Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Rene H Quintanilla
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States
| | - Flora Banuett
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, United States.
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22
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Feretzaki M, Heitman J. Genetic circuits that govern bisexual and unisexual reproduction in Cryptococcus neoformans. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003688. [PMID: 23966871 PMCID: PMC3744442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a human fungal pathogen with a defined sexual cycle. Nutrient-limiting conditions and pheromones induce a dimorphic transition from unicellular yeast to multicellular hyphae and the production of infectious spores. Sexual reproduction involves cells of either opposite (bisexual) or one (unisexual) mating type. Bisexual and unisexual reproduction are governed by shared components of the conserved pheromone-sensing Cpk1 MAPK signal transduction cascade and by Mat2, the major transcriptional regulator of the pathway. However, the downstream targets of the pathway are largely unknown, and homology-based approaches have failed to yield downstream transcriptional regulators or other targets. In this study, we applied insertional mutagenesis via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transkingdom DNA delivery to identify mutants with unisexual reproduction defects. In addition to elements known to be involved in sexual development (Crg1, Ste7, Mat2, and Znf2), three key regulators of sexual development were identified by our screen: Znf3, Spo11, and Ubc5. Spo11 and Ubc5 promote sporulation during both bisexual and unisexual reproduction. Genetic and phenotypic analyses provide further evidence implicating both genes in the regulation of meiosis. Phenotypic analysis of sexual development showed that Znf3 is required for hyphal development during unisexual reproduction and also plays a central role during bisexual reproduction. Znf3 promotes cell fusion and pheromone production through a pathway parallel to and independent of the pheromone signaling cascade. Surprisingly, Znf3 participates in transposon silencing during unisexual reproduction and may serve as a link between RNAi silencing and sexual development. Our studies illustrate the power of unbiased genetic screens to reveal both novel and conserved circuits that operate sexual reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Feretzaki
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Criscitiello MF, Dickman MB, Samuel JE, de Figueiredo P. Tripping on acid: trans-kingdom perspectives on biological acids in immunity and pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003402. [PMID: 23874196 PMCID: PMC3715416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Criscitiello
- Comparative Immunogenetics Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
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Cheng CK, Au CH, Wilke SK, Stajich JE, Zolan ME, Pukkila PJ, Kwan HS. 5'-Serial Analysis of Gene Expression studies reveal a transcriptomic switch during fruiting body development in Coprinopsis cinerea. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:195. [PMID: 23514374 PMCID: PMC3606632 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The transition from the vegetative mycelium to the primordium during fruiting body development is the most complex and critical developmental event in the life cycle of many basidiomycete fungi. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this process has long been a goal of research on basidiomycetes. Large scale assessment of the expressed transcriptomes of these developmental stages will facilitate the generation of a more comprehensive picture of the mushroom fruiting process. In this study, we coupled 5'-Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (5'-SAGE) to high-throughput pyrosequencing from 454 Life Sciences to analyze the transcriptomes and identify up-regulated genes among vegetative mycelium (Myc) and stage 1 primordium (S1-Pri) of Coprinopsis cinerea during fruiting body development. Results We evaluated the expression of >3,000 genes in the two respective growth stages and discovered that almost one-third of these genes were preferentially expressed in either stage. This identified a significant turnover of the transcriptome during the course of fruiting body development. Additionally, we annotated more than 79,000 transcription start sites (TSSs) based on the transcriptomes of the mycelium and stage 1 primoridum stages. Patterns of enrichment based on gene annotations from the GO and KEGG databases indicated that various structural and functional protein families were uniquely employed in either stage and that during primordial growth, cellular metabolism is highly up-regulated. Various signaling pathways such as the cAMP-PKA, MAPK and TOR pathways were also identified as up-regulated, consistent with the model that sensing of nutrient levels and the environment are important in this developmental transition. More than 100 up-regulated genes were also found to be unique to mushroom forming basidiomycetes, highlighting the novelty of fruiting body development in the fungal kingdom. Conclusions We implicated a wealth of new candidate genes important to early stages of mushroom fruiting development, though their precise molecular functions and biological roles are not yet fully known. This study serves to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of fruiting body development in the model mushroom C. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Keung Cheng
- Food Research Centre and Food and Nutrition Sciences Programme, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, S.A.R., Hong Kong
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Agarwal C, Aulakh KB, Edelen K, Cooper M, Wallen RM, Adams S, Schultz DJ, Perlin MH. Ustilago maydis phosphodiesterases play a role in the dimorphic switch and in pathogenicity. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2013; 159:857-868. [PMID: 23475947 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.061234-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Components of the cAMP (cyclic AMP) signalling cascades are conserved from fungi to humans, and are particularly important for fungal dimorphism and pathogenicity. Previous work has described two phosphodiesterases, UmPde1 and UmPde2, in Ustilago maydis which show strong phosphodiesterase activity. We further characterized the biological function(s) of these phosphodiesterases in U. maydis. Specifically, we examined their possible role(s) in regulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and their roles in filamentous growth and pathogenicity. We found that UmPde1, which shares 35 % similarity with Cryptococcus neoformans Pde1, also displays functional homology with this enzyme. UmPde1 complements the capsule-formation defect of C. neoformans strains deleted for Pde1. In U. maydis, the cell morphology of the umpde1 deletion mutant resembled the multiple budding phenotypes seen with the ubc1 mutant, which lacks the regulatory subunit of PKA. Interestingly, on low-ammonium medium, umpde2 deletion strains showed a reduction in filamentation that was comparable to that of ubc1 deletion strains; however, umpde1 deletion strains showed normal filamentation on low-ammonium medium. Furthermore, both the ubc1 deletion strain in which the PKA pathway was constitutively active and the umpde1 deletion strains were significantly reduced in pathogenicity, while the umpde2 deletion strains showed a trend for reduced pathogenicity compared with wild-type strains. These data support a role for the phosphodiesterases UmPde1 and UmPde2 in regulating the U. maydis cAMP-dependent PKA pathway through modulation of cAMP levels, thus affecting dimorphic growth and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charu Agarwal
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - Kavita B Aulakh
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - Kaly Edelen
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - Michael Cooper
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - R Margaret Wallen
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - Seth Adams
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - David J Schultz
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
| | - Michael H Perlin
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
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Robledo-Briones M, Ruiz-Herrera J. Regulation of genes involved in cell wall synthesis and structure during Ustilago maydis dimorphism. FEMS Yeast Res 2012; 13:74-84. [PMID: 23167842 DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell wall is the structure that provides the shape to fungal cells and protects them from the difference in osmotic pressure existing between the cytosol and the external medium. Accordingly, changes in structure and composition of the fungal wall must occur during cell differentiation, including the dimorphic transition of fungi. We analyzed, by use of microarrays, the transcriptional regulation of the 639 genes identified to be involved in cell wall synthesis and structure plus the secretome of the Basidiomycota species Ustilago maydis during its dimorphic transition induced by a change in pH. Of these, 189 were differentially expressed during the process, and using as control two monomorphic mutants, one yeast like and the other mycelium constitutive, 66 genes specific of dimorphism were identified. Most of these genes were up-regulated in the mycelial phase. These included CHS genes, genes involved in β-1,6-glucan synthesis, N-glycosylation, and proteins containing a residue of glycosylphosphatidylinositol, and a number of genes from the secretome. The possible significance of these data on cell wall plasticity is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Robledo-Briones
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
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Lovely CB, Perlin MH. Cla4, but not Rac1, regulates the filamentous response of Ustilago maydis to low ammonium conditions. Commun Integr Biol 2012; 4:670-3. [PMID: 22446524 DOI: 10.4161/cib.17063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis, the fungal pathogen of maize, undergoes a dimorphic transition from budding yeast-like growth to filamentous growth, both as part of its program for pathogenesis and distinctly, in response to environmental cues, such as acid pH or low nitrogen availability. Smu1 is a p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) with roles in both the mating response required for the former function, as well as for the nutrient response. Hsl7 may be a negative regulator of Smu1 and appears to play a role in cell length and cell cycle. Additional proteins that participate in cell polarity and filamentation pathways include the small G protein, Rac1, and its effector PAK kinase, Cla4. Here we describe further experiments that explore the roles of Cla4 and Rac1 in the response to nitrogen availability. While deletion of rac1severely delays filamentous growth on solid media low in ammonium (SLAD), we found that deletion of cla4 does not abolish filamentous cell morphology on solid SLAD. Unexpectedly, however, the Dcla4 mutants also filament in liquid SLAD. The filamentous cell morphology of the cla4 mutant in liquid SLAD has only been seen previously for one other mutant, a strain deleted for hsl7 that simultaneously over-expresses smu1.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ben Lovely
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville; Louisville, KY USA
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Robledo-Briones M, Ruiz-Herrera J. Transcriptional regulation of the genes encoding chitin and β-1,3-glucan synthases from Ustilago maydis. Curr Microbiol 2012; 65:85-90. [PMID: 22538468 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-012-0129-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2012] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of genes encoding chitin synthases (CHS) and β-1,3-glucan synthase (GLS) from Ustilago maydis was studied. Transcript levels were measured during the growth curve of yeast and mycelial forms, in response to ionic and osmotic stress, and during infection of maize plants. Expression of the single GLS gene was constitutive. In contrast, CHS genes expression showed differences depending on environmental conditions. Transcript levels were slightly higher in the mycelial forms, the highest levels occurring at the log phase. Ionic and osmotic stress induced alterations in the expression of CHS genes, but not following a defined pattern, some genes were induced and others repressed by the tested compounds. Changes in transcripts were more apparent during the pathogenic process. At early infection stages, only CHS6 gene showed significant transcript levels, whereas at the period of tumor formation CHS7 and CHS8 genes were also were induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Robledo-Briones
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, GTO, Mexico
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Valdés-Santiago L, Cervantes-Chávez JA, Winkler R, León-Ramírez CG, Ruiz-Herrera J. Phenotypic comparison of samdc and spe mutants reveals complex relationships of polyamine metabolism in Ustilago maydis. Microbiology (Reading) 2012; 158:674-684. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.055954-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Valdés-Santiago
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto., México
| | | | - Robert Winkler
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biotecnología, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto., México
| | - Claudia G. León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto., México
| | - José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto., México
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Pham CD, Perlin MH. Possible additional roles in mating for Ustilago maydis Rho1 and 14-3-3 homologues. Commun Integr Biol 2011; 3:57-9. [PMID: 20539785 DOI: 10.4161/cib.3.1.9864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the Rho GTPases and 14-3-3 proteins each belong to ubiquitous families of proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cytokinesis, cell polarity, cellular differentiation and apoptosis. In fungi, these components of signaling pathways are involved in cell cycle regulation, cytokinesis and virulence. We study cellular differentiation and pathogenesis for Ustilago maydis, the dimorphic fungal pathogen of maize. We have reported on the interactions of Pdc1, a U. maydis homologue of human 14-3-3varepsilon, with Rho1, a small GTP binding protein; these proteins participate in cell polarity and filamentation pathways that include another small G protein, Rac1, and its effector PAK kinase, Cla4. Here we describe additional experiments that explore possible relationships of Pdc1 and Rho1 with another PAK-like kinase pathway and with the a matingtype locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cau D Pham
- Department of Biology; Program on Disease Evolution; University of Louisville; Louisville, KY USA
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Motteram J, Lovegrove A, Pirie E, Marsh J, Devonshire J, van de Meene A, Hammond-Kosack K, Rudd JJ. Aberrant protein N-glycosylation impacts upon infection-related growth transitions of the haploid plant-pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:415-33. [PMID: 21623954 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07701.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola is the causal agent of Septoria Tritici Blotch disease of wheat and can grow as yeast-like cells or as hyphae depending on environmental conditions. Hyphal growth is however essential for successful leaf infection. A T-DNA mutagenesis screen performed on haploid spores identified a mutant, which can undergo yeast-like growth but cannot switch to hyphal growth. For this reason the mutant was non-pathogenic towards wheat leaves. The gene affected, MgAlg2, encoded a homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScAlg2, an alpha-1,2-mannosyltransferase, which functions in the early stages of asparagine-linked protein (N-) glycosylation. Targeted gene deletion and complementation experiments confirmed that loss of MgAlg2 function prevented the developmental growth switch. MgAlg2 was able to functionally complement the S. cerevisiae ScAlg2-1 temperature sensitive growth phenotype. Spores of ΔMgAlg2 mutants were hypersensitive to the cell wall disrupting agent Calcofluor white and produced abnormally hypo-N-glycosylated proteins. Gene expression, proteome and glycoproteome analysis revealed that ΔMgAlg2 mutant spores show responses typically associated with the accumulation of mis-folded proteins. The data presented highlight key roles for protein N-glycosylation in regulating the switch to hyphal growth, possibly as a consequence of maintaining correct folding and localization of key proteins involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Motteram
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL52JQ, UK
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Chen B, Zhu LY, Xuan X, Wu LJ, Zhou TL, Zhang XQ, Li BX. Isolation of both Pseudozyma aphidis and Nocardia otitidiscaviarum from a mycetoma on the leg. Int J Dermatol 2011; 50:714-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2010.04814.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Brefort T, Scherzinger D, Limón MC, Estrada AF, Trautmann D, Mengel C, Avalos J, Al-Babili S. Cleavage of resveratrol in fungi: Characterization of the enzyme Rco1 from Ustilago maydis. Fungal Genet Biol 2011; 48:132-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2010.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 10/07/2010] [Accepted: 10/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Valinluck M, Ahlgren S, Sawada M, Locken K, Banuett F. Role of the nuclear migration protein Lis1 in cell morphogenesis in Ustilago maydis. Mycologia 2010; 102:493-512. [PMID: 20524583 DOI: 10.3852/09-193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a basidiomycete fungus that exhibits a yeast-like and a filamentous form. Growth of the fungus in the host leads to additional morphological transitions. The different morphologies are characterized by distinct nuclear movements. Dynein and alpha-tubulin are required for nuclear movements and for cell morphogenesis of the yeast-like form. Lis1 is a microtubule plus-end tracking protein (+TIPs) conserved in eukaryotes and required for nuclear migration and spindle positioning. Defects in nuclear migration result in altered cell fate and aberrant development in metazoans, slow growth in fungi and disease in humans (e.g. lissencephaly). Here we investigate the role of the human LIS1 homolog in U. maydis and demonstrate that it is essential for cell viability, not previously seen in other fungi. With a conditional null mutation we show that lis1 is necessary for nuclear migration in the yeast-like cell and during the dimorphic transition. Studies of asynchronous exponentially growing cells and time-lapse microscopy uncovered novel functions of lis1: It is necessary for cell morphogenesis, positioning of the septum and cell wall integrity. lis1-depleted cells exhibit altered axes of growth and loss of cell polarity leading to grossly aberrant cells with clusters of nuclei and morphologically altered buds devoid of nuclei. Altered septum positioning and cell wall deposition contribute to the aberrant morphology. lis1-depleted cells lyse, indicative of altered cell wall properties or composition. We also demonstrate, with indirect immunofluorescence to visualize tubulin, that lis1 is necessary for the normal organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton: lis1-depleted cells contain more and longer microtubules that can form coils perpendicular to the long axis of the cell. We propose that lis1 controls microtubule dynamics and thus the regulated delivery of vesicles to growth sites and other cell domains that govern nuclear movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Valinluck
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90840 USA
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Systematic epistasis analysis of the contributions of protein kinase A- and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling to nutrient limitation-evoked responses in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 2010; 185:855-70. [PMID: 20421603 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.110.115808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular responses to environmental stimuli require conserved signal transduction pathways. In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), nutrient limitation induces morphological changes that depend on the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and the Kss1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. It was unclear to what extent and at what level there is synergy between these two distinct signaling modalities. We took a systematic genetic approach to clarify the relationship between these inputs. We performed comprehensive epistasis analysis of mutants lacking different combinations of all relevant pathway components. We found that these two pathways contribute additively to nutrient limitation-induced haploid invasive growth. Moreover, full derepression of either pathway rendered it individually sufficient for invasive growth and thus, normally, both are required only because neither is maximally active. Furthermore, in haploids, the MAPK pathway contributes more strongly than the PKA pathway to cell elongation and adhesion, whereas nutrient limitation-induced unipolar budding is independent of both pathways. In contrast, in diploids, upon nutrient limitation the MAPK pathway regulates cell elongation, the PKA pathway regulates unipolar budding, and both regulate cell adhesion. Thus, although there are similarities between haploids and diploids, cell type-specific differences clearly alter the balance of the signaling inputs required to elicit the various nutrient limitation-evoked cellular behaviors.
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Ji L, Jiang ZD, Liu Y, Koh CMJ, Zhang LH. A Simplified and efficient method for transformation and gene tagging of Ustilago maydis using frozen cells. Fungal Genet Biol 2010; 47:279-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2010.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Revised: 01/08/2010] [Accepted: 01/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Doehlemann G, van der Linde K, Aßmann D, Schwammbach D, Hof A, Mohanty A, Jackson D, Kahmann R. Pep1, a secreted effector protein of Ustilago maydis, is required for successful invasion of plant cells. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000290. [PMID: 19197359 PMCID: PMC2631132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Accepted: 01/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis causes smut disease in maize. Colonization of the host plant is initiated by direct penetration of cuticle and cell wall of maize epidermis cells. The invading hyphae are surrounded by the plant plasma membrane and proliferate within the plant tissue. We identified a novel secreted protein, termed Pep1, that is essential for penetration. Disruption mutants of pep1 are not affected in saprophytic growth and develop normal infection structures. However, Deltapep1 mutants arrest during penetration of the epidermal cell and elicit a strong plant defense response. Using Affymetrix maize arrays, we identified 116 plant genes which are differentially regulated in Deltapep1 compared to wild type infections. Most of these genes are related to plant defense. By in vivo immunolocalization, live-cell imaging and plasmolysis approaches, we detected Pep1 in the apoplastic space as well as its accumulation at sites of cell-to-cell passages. Site-directed mutagenesis identified two of the four cysteine residues in Pep1 as essential for function, suggesting that the formation of disulfide bridges is crucial for proper protein folding. The barley covered smut fungus Ustilago hordei contains an ortholog of pep1 which is needed for penetration of barley and which is able to complement the U. maydis Deltapep1 mutant. Based on these results, we conclude that Pep1 has a conserved function essential for establishing compatibility that is not restricted to the U. maydis / maize interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniela Aßmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Hof
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Amitabh Mohanty
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States of America
| | - David Jackson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States of America
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Brefort T, Doehlemann G, Mendoza-Mendoza A, Reissmann S, Djamei A, Kahmann R. Ustilago maydis as a Pathogen. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2009; 47:423-45. [PMID: 19400641 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080508-081923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The Ustilago maydis-maize pathosystem has emerged as the current model for plant pathogenic basidiomycetes and as one of the few models for a true biotrophic interaction that persists throughout fungal development inside the host plant. This is based on the highly advanced genetic system for both the pathogen and its host, the ability to propagate U. maydis in axenic culture, and its unique capacity to induce prominent disease symptoms (tumors) on all aerial parts of maize within less than a week. The corn smut pathogen, though economically not threatening, will continue to serve as a model for related obligate biotrophic fungi such as the rusts, but also for closely related smut species that induce symptoms only in the flower organs of their hosts. In this review we describe the most prominent features of the U. maydis-maize pathosystem as well as genes and pathways most relevant to disease. We highlight recent developments that place this system at the forefront of understanding the function of secreted effectors in eukaryotic pathogens and describe the expected spin-offs for closely related species exploiting comparative genomics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brefort
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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Steinberg G, Perez-Martin J. Ustilago maydis, a new fungal model system for cell biology. Trends Cell Biol 2008; 18:61-7. [PMID: 18243705 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2007.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2007] [Revised: 09/30/2007] [Accepted: 11/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The use of fungal model systems, such as Saccharomyces cerevisisae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has contributed enormously to our understanding of essential cellular processes in animals. Here, we introduce the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis as a new model organism for studying cell biological processes. Genome-wide analysis demonstrates that U. maydis is more closely related to humans than to budding yeast, and numerous proteins are shared only by U. maydis and Homo sapiens. Growing evidence suggests that basic principles of long-distance transport, mitosis and motor-based microtubule organization are conserved between U. maydis and humans. The fungus U. maydis, therefore, offers a unique system for the study of certain mammalian processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gero Steinberg
- Max Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Karl-von-Frisch-Str., D-35037 Marburg, Germany; School of Bioscience, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
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Banuett F, Quintanilla RH, Reynaga-Peña CG. The machinery for cell polarity, cell morphogenesis, and the cytoskeleton in the Basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis-a survey of the genome sequence. Fungal Genet Biol 2008; 45 Suppl 1:S3-S14. [PMID: 18582586 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2008.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2008] [Revised: 05/28/2008] [Accepted: 05/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis, a Basidiomycete fungus that infects maize, exhibits two basic morphologies, a yeast-like and a filamentous form. The yeast-like cell is elongated, divides by budding, and the bud grows by tip extension. The filamentous form divides at the apical cell and grows by tip extension. The repertoire of morphologies is increased during interaction with its host, suggesting that plant signals play an important role in generation of additional morphologies. We have used Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes known to play a role in cell polarity and morphogenesis, and in the cytoskeleton as probes to survey the U. maydis genome. We have found that most of the yeast machinery is conserved in U. maydis, albeit the degree of similarity varies from strong to weak. The U. maydis genome contains the machinery for recognition and interpretation of the budding yeast axial and bipolar landmarks; however, genes coding for some of the landmark proteins are absent. Genes coding for cell polarity establishment, exocytosis, actin and microtubule organization, microtubule plus-end associated proteins, kinesins, and myosins are also present. Genes not present in S. cerevisiae and S. pombe include a homolog of mammalian Rac, a hybrid myosin-chitin synthase, and several kinesins that exhibit more similarity to their mammalian counterparts. We also used the U. maydis genes identified in this analysis to search other fungal and other eukaryotic genomes to identify the closest homologs. In most cases, not surprisingly, the closest homolog is among filamentous fungi, not the yeasts, and in some cases it is among mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Banuett
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA.
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Zheng Y, Kief J, Auffarth K, Farfsing JW, Mahlert M, Nieto F, Basse CW. The Ustilago maydis Cys2His2-type zinc finger transcription factor Mzr1 regulates fungal gene expression during the biotrophic growth stage. Mol Microbiol 2008; 68:1450-70. [PMID: 18410495 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06244.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The smut fungus Ustilago maydis establishes a biotrophic relationship with its host plant maize to progress through sexual development. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the Cys(2)His(2)-type zinc finger protein Mzr1 that functions as a transcriptional activator during host colonization. Expression of the U. maydis mig2 cluster genes is tightly linked to this phase. Upon conditional overexpression, Mzr1 confers induction of a subset of mig2 genes during vegetative growth and this requires the same promoter elements that confer inducible expression in planta. Furthermore, expression of the mig2-4 and mig2-5 genes during biotrophic growth is strongly reduced in cells deleted in mzr1. DNA-array analysis led to the identification of additional Mzr1-induced genes. Some of these genes show a mig2-like plant-specific expression pattern and Mzr1 is responsible for their high-level expression during pathogenesis. Mzr1 function requires the b-dependently regulated Cys(2)His(2)-type cell cycle regulator Biz1, indicating that two stage-specific regulators mediate gene expression during host colonization. In spite of a role as transcriptional activator during biotrophic growth, mzr1 is not essential for pathogenesis; however, conditional overexpression interfered with proliferation during vegetative growth and mating ability, caused a cell separation defect, and triggered filamentous growth. We discuss the implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zheng
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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Wedlich-Soldner R, Li R. Yeast and fungal morphogenesis from an evolutionary perspective. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2008; 19:224-33. [PMID: 18299240 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2007] [Accepted: 01/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cellular morphogenesis is a complex process and molecular studies in the last few decades have amassed a large amount of information that is difficult to grasp in any completeness. Fungal systems, in particular the budding and fission yeasts, have been important players in unravelling the basic structural and regulatory elements involved in a wide array of cellular processes. In this article, we address the design principles underlying the various processes of yeast and fungal morphogenesis. We attempt to explain the apparent molecular complexity from the perspective of the evolutionary theory of "facilitated variation". Following a summary of some of the most studied morphogenetic phenomena, we discuss, using recent examples, the underlying core processes and their associated "weak" regulatory linkages that bring about variation in morphogenetic phenotypes.
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The fungus Ustilago maydis and humans share disease-related proteins that are not found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:473. [PMID: 18096044 PMCID: PMC2262911 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2007] [Accepted: 12/20/2007] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a well-established model system for molecular phytopathology. In addition, it recently became evident that U. maydis and humans share proteins and cellular processes that are not found in the standard fungal model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This prompted us to do a comparative analysis of the predicted proteome of U. maydis, S. cerevisiae and humans. Results At a cut off at 20% identity over protein length, all three organisms share 1738 proteins, whereas both fungi share only 541 conserved proteins. Despite the evolutionary distance between U. maydis and humans, 777 proteins were shared. When applying a more stringent criterion (≥ 20% identity with a homologue in one organism over at least 50 amino acids and ≥ 10% less in the other organism), we found 681 proteins for the comparison of U. maydis and humans, whereas the both fungi share only 622 fungal specific proteins. Finally, we found that S. cerevisiae and humans shared 312 proteins. In the U. maydis to H. sapiens homology set 454 proteins are functionally classified and 42 proteins are related to serious human diseases. However, a large portion of 222 proteins are of unknown function. Conclusion The fungus U. maydis has a long history of being a model system for understanding DNA recombination and repair, as well as molecular plant pathology. The identification of functionally un-characterized genes that are conserved in humans and U. maydis opens the door for experimental work, which promises new insight in the cell biology of the mammalian cell.
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MOS1 osmosensor of Metarhizium anisopliae is required for adaptation to insect host hemolymph. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2007; 7:302-9. [PMID: 18055914 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00310-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae infect insects by direct penetration of the cuticle, after which the fungus adapts to the high osmotic pressure of the hemolymph and multiplies. Here we characterize the M. anisopliae Mos1 gene and demonstrate that it encodes the osmosensor required for this process. MOS1 contains transmembrane regions and a C-terminal Src homology 3 domain similar to those of yeast osmotic adaptor proteins, and homologs of MOS1 are widely distributed in the fungal kingdom. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that Mos1 is up-regulated in insect hemolymph as well as artificial media with high osmotic pressure. Transformants containing an antisense vector directed to the Mos1 mRNA depleted transcript levels by 80%. This produced selective alterations in regulation of genes involved in hyphal body formation, cell membrane stiffness, and generation of intracellular turgor pressure, suggesting that these processes are mediated by MOS1. Consistent with a role in stress responses, transcript depletion of Mos1 increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses and to compounds that interfere with cell wall biosynthesis. It also disrupted developmental processes, including formation of appressoria and hyphal bodies. Insect bioassays confirmed that Mos1 knockdown significantly reduces virulence. Overall, our data show that M. anisopliae MOS1 mediates cellular responses to high osmotic pressure and subsequent adaptations to colonize host hemolymph.
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