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Wang Y, Liu X, Yuan B, Chen X, Zhao H, Ali Q, Zheng M, Tan Z, Yao H, Zheng S, Wu J, Xu J, Shi J, Wu H, Gao X, Gu Q. Fusarium graminearum rapid alkalinization factor peptide negatively regulates plant immunity and cell growth via the FERONIA receptor kinase. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:1800-1811. [PMID: 38344883 PMCID: PMC11182587 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024]
Abstract
The plant rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) peptides function as key regulators in cell growth and immune responses through the receptor kinase FERONIA (FER). In this study, we report that the transcription factor FgPacC binds directly to the promoter of FgRALF gene, which encodes a functional homologue of the plant RALF peptides from the wheat head blight fungus Fusarium graminearum (FgRALF). More importantly, FgPacC promotes fungal infection via host immune suppression by activating the expression of FgRALF. The FgRALF peptide also exhibited typical activities of plant RALF functions, such as inducing plant alkalinization and inhibiting cell growth, including wheat (Triticum aestivum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Arabidopsis thaliana. We further identified the wheat receptor kinase FERONIA (TaFER), which is capable of restoring the defects of the A. thaliana FER mutant. In addition, we found that FgRALF peptide binds to the extracellular malectin-like domain (ECD) of TaFER (TaFERECD) to suppress the PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and cell growth. Overexpression of TaFERECD in A. thaliana confers plant resistance to F. graminearum and protects from FgRALF-induced cell growth inhibition. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the fungal pathogen-secreted RALF mimic suppresses host immunity and inhibits cell growth via plant FER receptor. This establishes a novel pathway for the development of disease-resistant crops in the future without compromising their yield potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
- Institute of Food Safety and NutritionJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Bingqin Yuan
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Xue Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Hanxi Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Qurban Ali
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Minghong Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Zheng Tan
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Hemin Yao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Shuqing Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Jingni Wu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Jianhong Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
- Institute of Food Safety and NutritionJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Jianrong Shi
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
- Institute of Food Safety and NutritionJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Huijun Wu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Xuewen Gao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Qin Gu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
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Hu H, He W, Qu Z, Dong X, Ren Z, Qin M, Liu H, Zheng L, Huang J, Chen XL. De-nitrosylation Coordinates Appressorium Function for Infection of the Rice Blast Fungus. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2403894. [PMID: 38704696 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202403894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
As a signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO) regulates the development and stress response in different organisms. The major biological activity of NO is protein S-nitrosylation, whose function in fungi remains largely unclear. Here, it is found in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, de-nitrosylation process is essential for functional appressorium formation during infection. Nitrosative stress caused by excessive accumulation of NO is harmful for fungal infection. While the S-nitrosoglutathione reductase GSNOR-mediated de-nitrosylation removes excess NO toxicity during appressorium formation to promote infection. Through an indoTMT switch labeling proteomics technique, 741 S-nitrosylation sites in 483 proteins are identified. Key appressorial proteins, such as Mgb1, MagB, Sps1, Cdc42, and septins, are activated by GSNOR through de-nitrosylation. Removing S-nitrosylation sites of above proteins is essential for proper protein structure and appressorial function. Therefore, GSNOR-mediated de-nitrosylation is an essential regulator for appressorium formation. It is also shown that breaking NO homeostasis by NO donors, NO scavengers, as well as chemical inhibitor of GSNOR, shall be effective methods for fungal disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wenhui He
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhiguang Qu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiang Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhiyong Ren
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Mengyuan Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Wen Z, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Shao W, Ma Z. Characterization of the fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistant mutants of Fusarium graminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 200:105815. [PMID: 38582573 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is an important fungal pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and other cereal crops worldwide. Due to lack of resistant wheat cultivars, FHB control mainly relies on application of chemical fungicides. Both fludioxonil (a phenylpyrrole compound) and phenamacril (a cyanoacrylate fungicide) have been registered for controlling FHB in China, however, fludioxonil-resistant isolates of F. graminearum have been detected in field. To evaluate the potential risk of dual resistance of F. graminearum to both compounds, fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistant (DR) mutants of F. graminearum were obtained via fungicide domestication in laboratory. Result showed that resistance of the DR mutants to both fludioxonil and phenamacril were genetically stable after sub-cultured for ten generations or stored at 4 °C for 30 days on fungicide-free PDA. Cross-resistance assay showed that the DR mutants remain sensitive to other groups of fungicides, including carbendazim, tebuconazole, pydiflumetofen, and fluazinam. In addition, the DR mutants exhibited defects in mycelia growth, conidiation, mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and virulence Moreover, the DR mutants displayed increased sensitivity to osmotic stress. Sequencing results showed that amino acid point mutations S217L/T in the myosin I protein is responsible for phenamacril resistance in the DR mutants. Our results indicate that mutations leading to fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistance could result in fitness cost for F. graminearum. Our results also suggest that the potential risk of F. graminearum developing resistance to both fludioxonil and phenamacril in field could be rather low, which provides scientific guidance in controlling FHB with fludioxonil and phenamacril.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Wen
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Wenyong Shao
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Xiao K, Liu L, He R, Rollins JA, Li A, Zhang G, He X, Wang R, Liu J, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Pan H. The Snf5-Hsf1 transcription module synergistically regulates stress responses and pathogenicity by maintaining ROS homeostasis in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1794-1812. [PMID: 38135652 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The SWI/SNF complex is guided to the promoters of designated genes by its co-operator to activate transcription in a timely and appropriate manner to govern development, pathogenesis, and stress responses in fungi. Nevertheless, knowledge of the complexes and their co-operator in phytopathogenic fungi is still fragmented. We demonstrate that the heat shock transcription factor SsHsf1 guides the SWI/SNF complex to promoters of heat shock protein (hsp) genes and antioxidant enzyme genes using biochemistry and pharmacology. This is accomplished through direct interaction with the complex subunit SsSnf5 under heat shock and oxidative stress. This results in the activation of their transcription and mediates histone displacement to maintain reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Genetic results demonstrate that the transcription module formed by SsSnf5 and SsHsf1 is responsible for regulating morphogenesis, stress tolerance, and pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, especially by directly activating the transcription of hsp genes and antioxidant enzyme genes counteracting plant-derived ROS. Furthermore, we show that stress-induced phosphorylation of SsSnf5 is necessary for the formation of the transcription module. This study establishes that the SWI/SNF complex and its co-operator cooperatively regulate the transcription of hsp genes and antioxidant enzyme genes to respond to host and environmental stress in the devastating phytopathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunqin Xiao
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ling Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ruonan He
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Anmo Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Guiping Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xiaoyue He
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
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Yu H, Zhang J, Fan J, Jia W, Lv Y, Pan H, Zhang X. Infection-specific transcriptional patterns of the maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus unravel genes involved in asexual development and virulence. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e13413. [PMID: 38279855 PMCID: PMC10775821 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) caused by Cochliobolus heterostrophus is a destructive disease that threatens global maize (Zea mays) production. Despite many studies being conducted, very little is known about molecular processes employed by the pathogen during infection. There is a need to understand the fungal arms strategy and identify novel functional genes as targets for fungicide development. Transcriptome analysis based on RNA sequencing was carried out across conidia germination and host infection by C. heterostrophus. The present study revealed major changes in C. heterostrophus gene expression during host infection. Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced during C. heterostrophus infection could be involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, peroxisome, energy metabolism, amino acid degradation and oxidative phosphorylation. In addition, histone acetyltransferase, secreted proteins, peroxisomal proteins, NADPH oxidase and transcription factors were selected for further functional validation. Here, we demonstrated that histone acetyltransferases (Hat2 and Rtt109), secreted proteins (Cel61A and Mep1), peroxisomal proteins (Pex11A and Pex14), NADPH oxidases (NoxA, NoxD and NoxR) and transcription factors (Crz1 and MtfA) play essential roles in C. heterostrophus conidiation, stress adaption and virulence. Taken together, our study revealed major changes in gene expression associated with C. heterostrophus infection and identified a diverse repertoire of genes critical for successful infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Yu
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jiyue Zhang
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jinyu Fan
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Wantong Jia
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yanan Lv
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
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Lu S, Deng H, Lin Y, Huang M, You H, Zhang Y, Zhuang W, Lu G, Yun Y. A Network of Sporogenesis-Responsive Genes Regulates the Growth, Asexual Sporogenesis, Pathogenesis and Fusaric Acid Production of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 10:1. [PMID: 38276017 PMCID: PMC10820103 DOI: 10.3390/jof10010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The conidia produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), the causative agent of Fusarium Wilt of Banana (FWB), play central roles in the disease cycle, as the pathogen lacks a sexual reproduction process. Until now, the molecular regulation network of asexual sporogenesis has not been clearly understood in Foc. Herein, we identified and functionally characterized thirteen (13) putative sporulation-responsive genes in Foc, namely FocmedA(a), FocmedA(b), abaA-L, FocflbA, FocflbB, FocflbC, FocflbD, FocstuA, FocveA, FocvelB, wetA-L, FocfluG and Foclae1. We demonstrated that FocmedA(a), abaA-L, wetA-L, FocflbA, FocflbD, FocstuA, FocveA and Foclae1 mediate conidiophore formation, whereas FocmedA(a) and abaA-L are important for phialide formation and conidiophore formation. The expression level of abaA-L was significantly decreased in the ΔFocmedA(a) mutant, and yeast one-hybrid and ChIP-qPCR analyses further confirmed that FocMedA(a) could bind to the promoter of abaA-L during micro- and macroconidiation. Moreover, the transcript abundance of the wetA-L gene was significantly reduced in the ΔabaA-L mutant, and it not only was found to function as an activator of micro- and macroconidium formation but also served as a repressor of chlamydospore production. In addition, the deletions of FocflbB, FocflbC, FocstuA and Foclae1 resulted in increased chlamydosporulation, whereas FocflbD and FocvelB gene deletions reduced chlamydosporulation. Furthermore, FocflbC, FocflbD, Foclae1 and FocmedA(a) were found to be important regulators for pathogenicity and fusaric acid synthesis in Foc. The present study therefore advances our understanding of the regulation pathways of the asexual development and functional interdependence of sporulation-responsive genes in Foc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songmao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
- Fujian Institute of Tropical Crops, Zhangzhou 363001, China
| | - Huobing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Yaqi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Meimei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Haixia You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Weijian Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Guodong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China; (S.L.); (H.D.); (Y.L.); (M.H.); (H.Y.); (Y.Z.); (W.Z.)
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Monitoring and Integrated Management of Crop Pests, Fuzhou 350001, China
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Sun K, Li Y, Gai Y, Wang J, Jian Y, Liu X, Wu L, Shim WB, Lee YW, Ma Z, Haas H, Yin Y. HapX-mediated H2B deub1 and SreA-mediated H2A.Z deposition coordinate in fungal iron resistance. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10238-10260. [PMID: 37650633 PMCID: PMC10602907 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogens are challenged by host-derived iron starvation or excess during infection, but the mechanism through which pathogens counteract iron stress is unclear. Here, we found that Fusarium graminearum encounters iron excess during the colonization of wheat heads. Deletion of heme activator protein X (FgHapX), siderophore transcription factor A (FgSreA) or both attenuated virulence. Further, we found that FgHapX activates iron storage under iron excess by promoting histone H2B deubiquitination (H2B deub1) at the promoter of the responsible gene. Meanwhile, FgSreA is shown to inhibit genes mediating iron acquisition during iron excess by facilitating the deposition of histone variant H2A.Z and histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27 me3) at the first nucleosome after the transcription start site. In addition, the monothiol glutaredoxin FgGrx4 is responsible for iron sensing and control of the transcriptional activity of FgHapX and FgSreA via modulation of their enrichment at target genes and recruitment of epigenetic regulators, respectively. Taken together, our findings elucidated the molecular mechanisms for adaptation to iron excess mediated by FgHapX and FgSreA during infection in F. graminearum and provide novel insights into regulation of iron homeostasis at the chromatin level in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunpeng Gai
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunqing Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Liang Wu
- Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Instiute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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8
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Zhgun AA. Fungal BGCs for Production of Secondary Metabolites: Main Types, Central Roles in Strain Improvement, and Regulation According to the Piano Principle. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11184. [PMID: 37446362 PMCID: PMC10342363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are one of the most important producers of secondary metabolites. Some of them can have a toxic effect on the human body, leading to diseases. On the other hand, they are widely used as pharmaceutically significant drugs, such as antibiotics, statins, and immunosuppressants. A single fungus species in response to various signals can produce 100 or more secondary metabolites. Such signaling is possible due to the coordinated regulation of several dozen biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which are mosaically localized in different regions of fungal chromosomes. Their regulation includes several levels, from pathway-specific regulators, whose genes are localized inside BGCs, to global regulators of the cell (taking into account changes in pH, carbon consumption, etc.) and global regulators of secondary metabolism (affecting epigenetic changes driven by velvet family proteins, LaeA, etc.). In addition, various low-molecular-weight substances can have a mediating effect on such regulatory processes. This review is devoted to a critical analysis of the available data on the "turning on" and "off" of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in response to signals in filamentous fungi. To describe the ongoing processes, the model of "piano regulation" is proposed, whereby pressing a certain key (signal) leads to the extraction of a certain sound from the "musical instrument of the fungus cell", which is expressed in the production of a specific secondary metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Zhgun
- Group of Fungal Genetic Engineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prosp. 33-2, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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Jian Y, Chen X, Sun K, Liu Z, Cheng D, Cao J, Liu J, Cheng X, Wu L, Zhang F, Luo Y, Hahn M, Ma Z, Yin Y. SUMOylation regulates pre-mRNA splicing to overcome DNA damage in fungi. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:2298-2315. [PMID: 36539920 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi are subject to DNA damage stress derived from host immune responses during infection. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification and precursor (pre)-mRNA splicing are both involved in DNA damage response (DDR). However, the mechanisms of how SUMOylation and splicing coordinated in DDR remain largely unknown. Combining with biochemical analysis, RNA-Seq method, and biological analysis, we report that SUMO pathway participates in DDR and virulence in Fusarium graminearum, a causal agent of Fusarium head blight of cereal crops world-wide. Interestingly, a key transcription factor FgSR is SUMOylated upon DNA damage stress. SUMOylation regulates FgSR nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning and its phosphorylation by FgMec1, and promotes its interaction with chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF for activating the expression of DDR-related genes. Moreover, the SWI/SNF complex was found to further recruit splicing-related NineTeen Complex, subsequently modulates pre-mRNA splicing during DDR. Our findings reveal a novel function of SUMOylation in DDR by regulating a transcription factor to orchestrate gene expression and pre-mRNA splicing to overcome DNA damage during the infection of F. graminearum, which advances the understanding of the delicate regulation of DDR by SUMOylation in pathogenic fungi, and extends the knowledge of cooperation of SUMOylation and pre-mRNA splicing in DDR in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqing Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kewei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zunyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Danni Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jie Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jianzhao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiaofei Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region of Chinese Education Ministry, College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Liang Wu
- Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuming Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, 223300, China
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, PO Box 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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10
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Similar evolutionary trajectories in an environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolate after human and murine infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217111120. [PMID: 36603033 PMCID: PMC9926274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217111120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A pet cockatoo was the suspected source of Cryptococcus neoformans recovered from an immunocompromised patient with cryptococcosis based on molecular analyses available in 2000. Here, we report whole genome sequence analysis of the clinical and cockatoo strains. Both are closely related MATα strains belonging to the VNII lineage, confirming that the human infection likely originated from pet bird exposure. The two strains differ by 61 single nucleotide polymorphisms, including eight nonsynonymous changes involving seven genes. To ascertain whether changes in these genes are selected for during mammalian infection, we passaged the cockatoo strain in mice. Remarkably, isolates obtained from mouse tissue possess a frameshift mutation in one of the seven genes altered in the human sample (LQVO5_000317), a gene predicted to encode an SWI-SNF chromatin-remodeling complex protein. In addition, both cockatoo and patient strains as well as mouse-passaged isolates obtained from brain tissue had a premature stop codon in a homologue of ZFC3 (LQVO5_004463), a predicted single-zinc finger containing protein, which is associated with larger capsules when deleted and reverted to a full-length protein in the mouse-passaged isolates obtained from lung tissue. The patient strain and mouse-passaged isolates show variability in virulence factors, with differences in capsule size, melanization, rates of nonlytic expulsion from macrophages, and amoeba predation resistance. Our results establish that environmental strains undergo genomic and phenotypic changes during mammalian passage, suggesting that animal virulence can be a mechanism for genetic change and that the genomes of clinical isolates may provide a readout of mutations acquired during infection.
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11
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Miltenburg MG, Bonner C, Hepworth S, Huang M, Rampitsch C, Subramaniam R. Proximity-dependent biotinylation identifies a suite of candidate effector proteins from Fusarium graminearum. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:369-382. [PMID: 35986640 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight in cereal crops. The identification of proteins secreted from pathogens to overcome plant defenses and cause disease, collectively known as effectors, can reveal the etiology of a disease process. Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) was used to identify potential effector proteins secreted in planta by F. graminearum during the infection of Arabidopsis. Mass spectrometry analysis of streptavidin affinity-purified proteins revealed over 300 proteins from F. graminearum, of which 62 were candidate effector proteins (CEPs). An independent analysis of secreted proteins from axenic cultures of F. graminearum showed a 42% overlap with CEPs, thereby assuring confidence in the BioID methodology. The analysis also revealed that 19 out of 62 CEPs (approx. 30%) had been previously characterized with virulence function in fungi. The functional characterization of additional CEPs was undertaken through deletion analysis by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, and by overexpression into Triticum aestivum (wheat) leaves by the Ustilago hordei delivery system. Deletion studies of 12 CEPs confirmed the effector function of three previously characterized CEPs and validated the function of another four CEPs on wheat inflorescence or vegetative tissues. Lastly, overexpression in wheat showed that all seven CEPs enhanced resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary G Miltenburg
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Christopher Bonner
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Shelley Hepworth
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mei Huang
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB, R6M 1Y5, Canada
| | - Christof Rampitsch
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB, R6M 1Y5, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
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12
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Balachandra VK, Ghosh SK. Emerging roles of SWI/SNF remodelers in fungal pathogens. Curr Genet 2022; 68:195-206. [PMID: 35001152 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01219-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens constantly sense and respond to the environment they inhabit, and this interaction is vital for their survival inside hosts and exhibiting pathogenic traits. Since such responses often entail specific patterns of gene expression, regulators of chromatin structure contribute to the fitness and virulence of the pathogens by modulating DNA accessibility to the transcriptional machinery. Recent studies in several human and plant fungal pathogens have uncovered the SWI/SNF group of chromatin remodelers as an important determinant of pathogenic traits and provided insights into their mechanism of function. Here, we review these studies and highlight the differential functions of these remodeling complexes and their subunits in regulating fungal fitness and pathogenicity. As an extension of our previous study, we also show that loss of specific RSC subunits can predispose the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans cells to filamentous growth in a context-dependent manner. Finally, we consider the potential of targeting the fungal SWI/SNF remodeling complexes for antifungal interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinutha K Balachandra
- IITB-Monash Research Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Santanu K Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.
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13
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Jian Y, Shim WB, Ma Z. Multiple functions of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex in plant-pathogen interactions. STRESS BIOLOGY 2021; 1:18. [PMID: 37676626 PMCID: PMC10442046 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-021-00019-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex utilizes the energy of ATP hydrolysis to facilitate chromatin access and plays essential roles in DNA-based events. Studies in animals, plants and fungi have uncovered sophisticated regulatory mechanisms of this complex that govern development and various stress responses. In this review, we summarize the composition of SWI/SNF complex in eukaryotes and discuss multiple functions of the SWI/SNF complex in regulating gene transcription, mRNA splicing, and DNA damage response. Our review further highlights the importance of SWI/SNF complex in regulating plant immunity responses and fungal pathogenesis. Finally, the potentials in exploiting chromatin remodeling for management of crop disease are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqing Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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14
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Gai Y, Li L, Liu B, Ma H, Chen Y, Zheng F, Sun X, Wang M, Jiao C, Li H. Distinct and essential roles of bZIP transcription factors in the stress response and pathogenesis in Alternaria alternata. Microbiol Res 2021; 256:126915. [PMID: 34953292 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The ability to cope with environmental abiotic stress and biotic stress is crucial for the survival of plants and microorganisms, which enable them to occupy multiple niches in the environment. Previous studies have shown that transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating various biological processes including multiple stress tolerance and response in eukaryotes. This work identified multiple critical transcription factor genes, metabolic pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms related to abiotic stress response were broadly activated by analyzing the transcriptome of phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata under metal ions stresses, oxidative stress, salt stresses, and host-pathogen interaction. We investigated the biological functions and regulatory roles of the bZIP transcriptional factor (TF) genes in the phytopathogenic fungus A.alternata by analyzing targeted gene disrupted mutants. Morphological analysis provides evidence that the bZIP transcription factors (Gcn4, MeaB, Atf1, the ER stress regulator Hac1, and the all development altered-1 gene Ada1) are required for morphogenesis as the colony morphology of these gene deletion mutants was significantly different from that of the wild-type. In addition, bZIPs are involved in the resistance to multiple stresses such as oxidative stress (Ada1, Yap1, MetR) and virulence (Hac1, MetR, Yap1, Ada1) at varying degrees. Transcriptome data demonstrated that the inactivation of bZIPs (Hac1, Atf1, Ada1 and Yap1) significantly affected many genes in multiple critical metabolism pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms. Moreover,the ΔHac1 mutants displayed reduced aerial hypha and are hypersensitivity to endoplasmic reticulum disruptors such as tunicamycin and dithiothreitol. Transcriptome analysis showed that inactivation of Hac1 significantly affected the proteasome process and its downstream unfolded protein binding, indicating that Hac1 participates in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response through the conserved unfolded protein response. Taken together, our findings reveal that bZIP transcription factors function as key regulators of fungal morphogenesis, abiotic stress response and pathogenesis, and expand our understanding of how microbial pathogens utilize these genes to deal with environmental stresses and achieve successful infection in the host plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Gai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Yangzhou Polytechnic College, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Haijie Ma
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Yanan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xuepeng Sun
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Mingshuang Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Chen Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongye Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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15
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Franco-Cano A, Marcos AT, Strauss J, Cánovas D. Evidence for an arginine-dependent route for the synthesis of NO in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:6924-6939. [PMID: 34448331 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a signalling molecule in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. NO levels transiently boost upon induction of conidiation in Aspergillus nidulans. Only one pathway for NO synthesis involving nitrate reductase has been reported in filamentous fungi so far, but this does not satisfy all the NO produced in fungal cells. Here we provide evidence for at least one additional biosynthetic pathway in A. nidulans involving l-arginine or an intermediate metabolite as a substrate. Under certain growth conditions, the addition of l-arginine to liquid media elicited a burst of NO that was not dependent on any of the urea cycle genes. The NO levels were controlled by the metabolically available arginine, which was regulated by mobilization from the vacuoles and during development. In vitro assays with protein extracts and amino acid profiling strongly suggested the existence of an arginine-dependent NO pathway analogous to the mammalian NO synthase. Addition of polyamines induced NO synthesis, and mutations in the polyamine synthesis genes puA and spdA reduced the production of NO. In conclusion, here we report an additional pathway for the synthesis of NO in A. nidulans using urea cycle intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Franco-Cano
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana T Marcos
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Campus Tulln, Tulln/Donau, Austria
| | - David Cánovas
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.,Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Campus Tulln, Tulln/Donau, Austria
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