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Zhang S, Zhang B, Wang Z, Zhong S, Zheng Y, Zhang Q, Liu X. Type I arginine methyltransferases play crucial roles in development and pathogenesis of Phytophthora capsici. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134671. [PMID: 39151856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Phytophthora capsici, a pathogenic oomycete, poses a serious threat to global vegetable production. This study investigated the role of protein arginine methylation, a notable post-translational modification, in the epigenetic regulation of P. capsici. We identified and characterized five protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in P. capsici, with a focus on four putative type I PRMTs exhibiting similar functional domain. Deletion of PcPRMT3, a homolog of PRMT3, significantly affected mycelial growth, asexual spore development, pathogenicity, and stress responses in P. capsici. Transcriptome analyses indicated that absence of PcPRMT3 disrupted multiple biological pathways. The PcPRMT3 deletion mutant displayed heightened susceptibility to oxidative stress, correlated with the downregulation of genes involved in peroxidase and peroxisome activities. Additionally, PcPRMT3 acted as a negative regulator, modulating the transcription levels of specific elicitins, which in turn affects the defense response of host plant against P. capsici. Furthermore, PcPRMT3 was found to affect global arginine methylation levels in P. capsici, implying potential alterations in the functions of its substrate proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Borui Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Shan Zhong
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xili Liu
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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2
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Vo NNT, Yang A, Leesutthiphonchai W, Liu Y, Hughes TR, Judelson HS. Transcription factor binding specificities of the oomycete Phytophthora infestans reflect conserved and divergent evolutionary patterns and predict function. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:710. [PMID: 39044130 PMCID: PMC11267843 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10630-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying the DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors (TF) is central to understanding gene networks that regulate growth and development. Such knowledge is lacking in oomycetes, a microbial eukaryotic lineage within the stramenopile group. Oomycetes include many important plant and animal pathogens such as the potato and tomato blight agent Phytophthora infestans, which is a tractable model for studying life-stage differentiation within the group. RESULTS Mining of the P. infestans genome identified 197 genes encoding proteins belonging to 22 TF families. Their chromosomal distribution was consistent with family expansions through unequal crossing-over, which were likely ancient since each family had similar sizes in most oomycetes. Most TFs exhibited dynamic changes in RNA levels through the P. infestans life cycle. The DNA-binding preferences of 123 proteins were assayed using protein-binding oligonucleotide microarrays, which succeeded with 73 proteins from 14 families. Binding sites predicted for representatives of the families were validated by electrophoretic mobility shift or chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Consistent with the substantial evolutionary distance of oomycetes from traditional model organisms, only a subset of the DNA-binding preferences resembled those of human or plant orthologs. Phylogenetic analyses of the TF families within P. infestans often discriminated clades with canonical and novel DNA targets. Paralogs with similar binding preferences frequently had distinct patterns of expression suggestive of functional divergence. TFs were predicted to either drive life stage-specific expression or serve as general activators based on the representation of their binding sites within total or developmentally-regulated promoters. This projection was confirmed for one TF using synthetic and mutated promoters fused to reporter genes in vivo. CONCLUSIONS We established a large dataset of binding specificities for P. infestans TFs, representing the first in the stramenopile group. This resource provides a basis for understanding transcriptional regulation by linking TFs with their targets, which should help delineate the molecular components of processes such as sporulation and host infection. Our work also yielded insight into TF evolution during the eukaryotic radiation, revealing both functional conservation as well as diversification across kingdoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen N T Vo
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Ally Yang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Wiphawee Leesutthiphonchai
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Current address: Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Yulong Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Timothy R Hughes
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Donnelly Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Howard S Judelson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Tan X, Liu Y, Tian Z, Wang J, Zhang X, Zhang D. Protein kinase A regulatory subunit is required for normal growth, zoosporogenesis, and pathogenicity in Phytophthora sojae. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104152. [PMID: 37952706 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104152] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora sojae, one of the most devastating Oomycete pathogens, causes severe diseases that lead to economic loss in the soybean industry. The production of zoospores play a crucial role during the development of Phytophthora disease. In this work, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology were used to obtain protein kinase A regulatory subunit (PsPkaR) knockout mutants. The role of PsPkaR in the production of zoospores and pathogenicity of P. sojae was analyzed. The overall findings indicate that PsPkaR is involved in regulating the growth process of P. sojae, primarily affecting the hyphal morphology and growth rate. Additionally, PsPkaR participates in the regulation of the release process of zoospores. Specifically, knocking-out PsPkaR resulted in incomplete cytoplasmic differentiation and uneven protoplast division, leading to abnormal release of zoospores. Furthermore, when the PsPkaR knockout mutants were inoculated on soybean leaves, the pathogenicity was significantly reduced compared to that of the wild-type and control strains. These findings of this study provide important clues and evidence regarding the role of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway in the interaction between P. sojae and its host. This work contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of P. sojae and the development of corresponding prevention and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Zhang
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Xinqiu Tan
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Zhe Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China.
| | - Deyong Zhang
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China.
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4
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Wang Z, Zhong S, Zhang S, Zhang B, Zheng Y, Sun Y, Zhang Q, Liu X. A novel and ubiquitous miRNA-involved regulatory module ensures precise phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II and proper transcription. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012138. [PMID: 38640110 PMCID: PMC11062530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper transcription orchestrated by RNA polymerase II (RNPII) is crucial for cellular development, which is rely on the phosphorylation state of RNPII's carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). Sporangia, developed from mycelia, are essential for the destructive oomycetes Phytophthora, remarkable transcriptional changes are observed during the morphological transition. However, how these changes are rapidly triggered and their relationship with the versatile RNPII-CTD phosphorylation remain enigmatic. Herein, we found that Phytophthora capsici undergone an elevation of Ser5-phosphorylation in its uncanonical heptapeptide repeats of RNPII-CTD during sporangia development, which subsequently changed the chromosomal occupation of RNPII and primarily activated transcription of certain genes. A cyclin-dependent kinase, PcCDK7, was highly induced and phosphorylated RNPII-CTD during this morphological transition. Mechanistically, a novel DCL1-dependent microRNA, pcamiR1, was found to be a feedback modulator for the precise phosphorylation of RNPII-CTD by complexing with PcAGO1 and regulating the accumulation of PcCDK7. Moreover, this study revealed that the pcamiR1-CDK7-RNPII regulatory module is evolutionarily conserved and the impairment of the balance between pcamiR1 and PcCDK7 could efficiently reduce growth and virulence of P. capsici. Collectively, this study uncovers a novel and evolutionary conserved mechanism of transcription regulation which could facilitate correct development and identifies pcamiR1 as a promising target for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Wang
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Shan Zhong
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Borui Zhang
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Sun
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Xili Liu
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory or Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Qiu M, Sun Y, Tu S, Li H, Yang X, Zhao H, Yin M, Li Y, Ye W, Wang M, Wang Y. Mining oomycete proteomes for phosphatome leads to the identification of specific expanded phosphatases in oomycetes. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e13425. [PMID: 38462784 PMCID: PMC10925823 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13425] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Phosphatases are important regulators of protein phosphorylation and various cellular processes, and they serve as counterparts to kinases. In this study, our comprehensive analysis of oomycete complete proteomes unveiled the presence of approximately 3833 phosphatases, with most species estimated to have between 100 and 300 putative phosphatases. Further investigation of these phosphatases revealed a significant increase in protein serine/threonine phosphatases (PSP) within oomycetes. In particular, we extensively studied the metallo-dependent protein phosphatase (PPM) within the PSP family in the model oomycete Phytophthora sojae. Our results showed notable differences in the expression patterns of PPMs throughout 10 life stages of P. sojae, indicating their vital roles in various stages of oomycete pathogens. Moreover, we identified 29 PPMs in P. sojae, and eight of them possessed accessory domains in addition to phosphate domains. We investigated the biological function of one PPM protein with an extra PH domain (PPM1); this protein exhibited high expression levels in both asexual developmental and infectious stages. Our analysis confirmed that PPM1 is indeed an active protein phosphatase, and its accessory domain does not affect its phosphatase activity. To delve further into its function, we generated knockout mutants of PPM1 and validated its essential roles in mycelial growth, sporangia and oospore production, as well as infectious stages. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first comprehensive inventory of phosphatases in oomycetes and identifies an important phosphatase within the expanded serine/threonine phosphatase group in oomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Qiu
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Yaru Sun
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Siqun Tu
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Huaibo Li
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Haiyang Zhao
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Maozhu Yin
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Yaning Li
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
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6
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Higgins DS, Miles TD, Byrne JM, Hausbeck MK. Optimizing Molecular Detection for the Hop Downy Mildew Pathogen Pseudoperonospora humuli in Plant Tissue. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 112:2426-2439. [PMID: 35722890 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-01-22-0013-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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Downy mildew-free hop plantlets and rhizomes are essential to limit the introduction of this destructive pathogen, Pseudoperonospora humuli, into hopyards. The objective of this research was to determine which DNA-based diagnostic tools are optimal for P. humuli detection in plant tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays with TaqMan probes for nuclear (c125015.3e1) and mitochondrial (orf359) DNA loci were developed and tested side by side. A recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay was designed based on the orf359 DNA locus. The mitochondrial qPCR assay had a 10-fold lower limit of detection (100 fg of genomic DNA) and was 60% more effective in detecting P. humuli in asymptomatic stems than the nuclear-based assay. Both qPCR assays had linear standard curves (R2 > 0.99) but lacked the quantitative precision to differentiate leaf infections beyond 1 day postinoculation. A wide range of Cq values (≥4.9) in standardized tests was observed among isolates, suggesting that the number of mitochondria and nuclear DNA targets can vary. The absence of P. humuli DNA in symptomatic rhizomes was explained, in part, by the detection of Phytophthora DNA. However, the Phytophthora-specific atp9-nad9 assay cross-reacted with P. humuli, leading to false positive amplification. Sensitivity in the RPA assay was reduced by crude plant DNA extract. Improvements to the objectivity of calling positive amplifications and determining the onset of amplification from RPA fluorescence data were realized by applying the first and second derivatives, respectively. The orf359 qPCR assay is specific and sensitive, making it well suited for P. humuli diagnostics in plant tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S Higgins
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Timothy D Miles
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Jan M Byrne
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Mary K Hausbeck
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
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7
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Situ J, Xi P, Lin L, Huang W, Song Y, Jiang Z, Kong G. Signal and regulatory mechanisms involved in spore development of Phytophthora and Peronophythora. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:984672. [PMID: 36160220 PMCID: PMC9500583 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.984672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oomycetes cause hundreds of destructive plant diseases, threatening agricultural production and food security. These fungus-like eukaryotes show multiple sporulation pattern including the production of sporangium, zoospore, chlamydospore and oospore, which are critical for their survival, dispersal and infection on hosts. Recently, genomic and genetic technologies have greatly promoted the study of molecular mechanism of sporulation in the genus Phytophthora and Peronophythora. In this paper, we characterize the types of asexual and sexual spores and review latest progress of these two genera. We summarize the genes encoding G protein, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, transcription factors, RNA-binding protein, autophagy-related proteins and so on, which function in the processes of sporangium production and cleavage, zoospore behaviors and oospore formation. Meanwhile, various molecular, chemical and electrical stimuli in zoospore behaviors are also discussed. Finally, with the molecular mechanism of sporulation in Phytophthora and Peronophythora is gradually being revealed, we propose some thoughts for the further research and provide the alternative strategy for plant protection against phytopathogenic oomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Situ
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pinggen Xi
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Long Lin
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weixiong Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zide Jiang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanghui Kong
- Department of Plant Pathology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guanghui Kong,
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8
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Nekrakalaya B, Arefian M, Kotimoole CN, Krishna RM, Palliyath GK, Najar MA, Behera SK, Kasaragod S, Santhappan P, Hegde V, Prasad TSK. Towards Phytopathogen Diagnostics? Coconut Bud Rot Pathogen Phytophthora palmivora Mycelial Proteome Analysis Informs Genome Annotation. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2022; 26:189-203. [PMID: 35353641 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0208] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Planetary agriculture stands to benefit immensely from phytopathogen diagnostics, which would enable early detection of pathogens with harmful effects on crops. For example, Phytophthora palmivora is one of the most destructive phytopathogens affecting many economically important tropical crops such as coconut. P. palmivora causes diseases in over 200 host plants, and notably, the bud rot disease in coconut and oil palm, which is often lethal because it is usually detected at advanced stages of infection. Limited availability of large-scale omics datasets for P. palmivora is an important barrier for progress toward phytopathogen diagnostics. We report here the mycelial proteome of P. palmivora using high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 8073 proteins in the mycelium. Gene Ontology-based functional classification of detected proteins revealed 4884, 4981, and 3044 proteins, respectively, with roles in biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components. Proteins such as P-loop, NTPase, and WD40 domains with key roles in signal transduction pathways were identified. KEGG pathway analysis annotated 2467 proteins to various signaling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol, Ca2+, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, and autophagy and cell cycle. These molecular substrates might possess vital roles in filamentous growth, sporangia formation, degradation of damaged cellular content, and recycling of nutrients in P. palmivora. This large-scale proteomics data and analyses pave the way for new insights on biology, genome annotation, and vegetative growth of the important plant pathogen P. palmivora. They also can help accelerate research on future phytopathogen diagnostics and preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagya Nekrakalaya
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Mohammad Arefian
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Chinmaya Narayana Kotimoole
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | | | | | - Mohammad Altaf Najar
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Behera
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Sandeep Kasaragod
- Centre for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | | | - Vinayaka Hegde
- ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, India
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9
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Jin J, Shew HD. Impacts of Continued Exposure to a Susceptible Host Genotype on Aggressiveness of Phytophthora nicotianae Isolates Adapted to Multiple Sources of Partial Resistance. PLANT DISEASE 2022; 106:373-381. [PMID: 34282925 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-09-20-1972-re] [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: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pathogen adaptation can threaten the durability of partial resistance. Mixed plantings of susceptible and partially resistant varieties may prolong the effectiveness of partial resistance, but little is known about how continued exposure to a susceptible genotype can change the aggressiveness of pathogen isolates adapted to a source of partial resistance. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of continued exposure to a highly susceptible tobacco genotype on isolates of Phytophthora nicotianae that had been adapted to partial resistance. Isolates of P. nicotianae previously adapted to two sources of partial resistance were continually exposed to either the original host of adaptation or a susceptible host. After six generations of host exposure, isolates obtained from the partially resistant and the susceptible hosts were compared for their aggressiveness on the resistant host and for differences in expression of genes associated with pathogenicity and aggressiveness. Results suggested that exposure to the susceptible tobacco genotype reduced aggressiveness of isolates adapted to partial resistance in K 326 Wz/- but not of isolates adapted to partial resistance in Fla 301. Quantification of pathogenicity-associated gene expression using qRT-PCR suggested the rapid change in aggressiveness of isolates adapted to Wz-sourced partial resistance may have resulted from modification in gene expression in multiple genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - H David Shew
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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10
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Yang X, Jiang X, Yan W, Huang Q, Sun H, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Ye W, Wu Y, Govers F, Liang Y. The Mevalonate Pathway Is Important for Growth, Spore Production, and the Virulence of Phytophthora sojae. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:772994. [PMID: 36338274 PMCID: PMC9635365 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.772994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The mevalonate (MVA) pathway in eukaryotic organisms produces isoprenoids, sterols, ubiquinone, and dolichols. These molecules are vital for diverse cellular functions, ranging from signaling to membrane integrity, and from post-translational modification to energy homeostasis. However, information on the MVA pathway in Phytophthora species is limited. In this study, we identified the MVA pathway genes and reconstructed the complete pathway in Phytophthora sojae in silico. We characterized the function of the MVA pathway of P. sojae by treatment with enzyme inhibitor lovastatin, deletion of the geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene (PsBTS1), and transcriptome profiling analysis. The MVA pathway is ubiquitously conserved in Phytophthora species. Under lovastatin treatment, mycelial growth, spore production, and virulence of P. sojae were inhibited but the zoospore encystment rate increased. Heterozygous mutants of PsBTS1 showed slow growth, abnormal colony characteristics, and mycelial morphology. Mutants showed decreased numbers of sporangia and oospores as well as reduced virulence. RNA sequencing analysis identified the essential genes in sporangia formation were influenced by the enzyme inhibitor lovastatin. Our findings elucidate the role of the MVA pathway in P. sojae and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the development, reproduction, and virulence of P. sojae and possibly other oomycetes. Our results also provide potential chemical targets for management of plant Phytophthora diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weiqi Yan
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qifeng Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Huiying Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenwu Ye
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanhua Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Francine Govers
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Yue Liang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
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Wang S, Vetukuri RR, Kushwaha SK, Hedley PE, Morris J, Studholme DJ, Welsh LRJ, Boevink PC, Birch PRJ, Whisson SC. Haustorium formation and a distinct biotrophic transcriptome characterize infection of Nicotiana benthamiana by the tree pathogen Phytophthora kernoviae. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:954-968. [PMID: 34018655 PMCID: PMC8295517 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora species cause some of the most serious diseases of trees and threaten forests in many parts of the world. Despite the generation of genome sequence assemblies for over 10 tree-pathogenic Phytophthora species and improved detection methods, there are many gaps in our knowledge of how these pathogens interact with their hosts. To facilitate cell biology studies of the infection cycle we examined whether the tree pathogen Phytophthora kernoviae could infect the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. We transformed P. kernoviae to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) and demonstrated that it forms haustoria within infected N. benthamiana cells. Haustoria were also formed in infected cells of natural hosts, Rhododendron ponticum and European beech (Fagus sylvatica). We analysed the transcriptome of P. kernoviae in cultured mycelia, spores, and during infection of N. benthamiana, and detected 12,559 transcripts. Of these, 1,052 were predicted to encode secreted proteins, some of which may function as effectors to facilitate disease development. From these, we identified 87 expressed candidate RXLR (Arg-any amino acid-Leu-Arg) effectors. We transiently expressed 12 of these as GFP fusions in N. benthamiana leaves and demonstrated that nine significantly enhanced P. kernoviae disease progression and diversely localized to the cytoplasm, nucleus, nucleolus, and plasma membrane. Our results show that N. benthamiana can be used as a model host plant for studying this tree pathogen, and that the interaction likely involves suppression of host immune responses by RXLR effectors. These results establish a platform to expand the understanding of Phytophthora tree diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumei Wang
- Division of Plant SciencesUniversity of DundeeJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
| | - Ramesh R. Vetukuri
- Department of Plant BreedingSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Sandeep K. Kushwaha
- Department of Plant BreedingSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
- National Institute of Animal BiotechnologyHyderabadIndia
| | - Pete E. Hedley
- Cell and Molecular SciencesJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
| | - Jenny Morris
- Cell and Molecular SciencesJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
| | - David J. Studholme
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Lydia R. J. Welsh
- Cell and Molecular SciencesJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
| | - Petra C. Boevink
- Cell and Molecular SciencesJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
| | - Paul R. J. Birch
- Division of Plant SciencesUniversity of DundeeJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
- Cell and Molecular SciencesJames Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, DundeeUK
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12
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Sharma S, Sundaresha S, Bhardwaj V. Biotechnological approaches in management of oomycetes diseases. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:274. [PMID: 34040923 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02810-y] [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: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogenic oomycetes cause significant impact on agriculture and, therefore, their management is utmost important. Though conventional methods to combat these pathogens (resistance breeding and use of fungicides) are available but these are limited by the availability of resistant cultivars due to evolution of new pathogenic races, development of resistance in the pathogens against agrochemicals and their potential hazardous effects on the environment and human health. This has fuelled a continual search for novel and alternate strategies for management of phytopathogens. The recent advances in oomycetes genome (Phytophthora infestans, P. ramorum, P. sojae, Pythium ultimum, Albugo candida etc.) would further help in understanding host-pathogen interactions essentially needed for designing effective management strategies. In the present communication the novel and alternate strategies for the management of oomycetes diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Sharma
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001 India
| | - S Sundaresha
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001 India
| | - Vinay Bhardwaj
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001 India
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13
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Ding JL, Hou J, Li XH, Feng MG, Ying SH. Transcription Activator Swi6 Interacts with Mbp1 in MluI Cell Cycle Box-Binding Complex and Regulates Hyphal Differentiation and Virulence in Beauveria bassiana. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060411. [PMID: 34070348 PMCID: PMC8273693 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mbp1 protein acts as a DNA-binding protein in MluI cell cycle box-binding complex (MBF) and plays an essential role in filamentous myco-pathogen Beauveria bassiana.In the current study, BbSwi6 (a homologue of yeast Swi6) was functionally characterized in B.bassiana. Both BbSwi6 and BbMbp1 localize in the nucleus and display a direct interaction relationship which is indicated by a yeast two-hybrid assay. BbSwi6 significantly contributes to hyphal growth, asexual sporulation and virulence. On the aerial surface, ΔBbSwi6 grew slower on various nutrients and displayed abnormal conidia-producing structures, which hardly produced conidia. In liquid media, BbSwi6 loss led to 90% reduction in blastospore yield. Finally, the virulence of the ΔBbSwi6 mutant was modestly weakened with a reduction of 20% in median lethal time. Comparative transcriptomics revealed that BbSwi6 mediated different transcriptomes during fungal development into conidia and blastospores. Notably, under the indicated condition, the BbSwi6-mediated transcriptome significantly differed to that mediated by BbMbp1. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to their roles as the interactive components in MBF, BbSwi6 and BbMbp1 mediate divergent genetic pathways during morphological transitions in B. bassiana.
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RNA Interference Strategies for Future Management of Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Prospects and Challenges. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040650. [PMID: 33805521 PMCID: PMC8067263 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant pathogenic fungi are the largest group of disease-causing agents on crop plants and represent a persistent and significant threat to agriculture worldwide. Conventional approaches based on the use of pesticides raise social concern for the impact on the environment and human health and alternative control methods are urgently needed. The rapid improvement and extensive implementation of RNA interference (RNAi) technology for various model and non-model organisms has provided the initial framework to adapt this post-transcriptional gene silencing technology for the management of fungal pathogens. Recent studies showed that the exogenous application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules on plants targeting fungal growth and virulence-related genes provided disease attenuation of pathogens like Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Fusarium graminearum in different hosts. Such results highlight that the exogenous RNAi holds great potential for RNAi-mediated plant pathogenic fungal disease control. Production of dsRNA can be possible by using either in-vitro or in-vivo synthesis. In this review, we describe exogenous RNAi involved in plant pathogenic fungi and discuss dsRNA production, formulation, and RNAi delivery methods. Potential challenges that are faced while developing a RNAi strategy for fungal pathogens, such as off-target and epigenetic effects, with their possible solutions are also discussed.
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15
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The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase PlMAPK2 Is Involved in Zoosporogenesis and Pathogenicity of Peronophythoralitchii. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073524. [PMID: 33805371 PMCID: PMC8036616 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As an evolutionarily conserved pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades function as the key signal transducers that convey information by protein phosphorylation. Here we identified PlMAPK2 as one of 14 predicted MAPKs encoding genes in the plant pathogenic oomycete Peronophythora litchii. PlMAPK2 is conserved in P.litchii and Phytophthora species. We found that PlMAPK2 was up-regulated in sporangium, zoospore, cyst, cyst germination and early stage of infection. We generated PlMAPK2 knockout mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Compared with wild-type strain, the PlMAPK2 mutants showed no significant difference in vegetative growth, oospore production and sensitivity to various abiotic stresses. However, the sporangium release was severely impaired. We further found that the cleavage of the cytoplasm into uninucleate zoospores was disrupted in the PlMAPK2 mutants, and this developmental phenotype was accompanied by reduction in the transcription levels of PlMAD1 and PlMYB1 genes. Meanwhile, the PlMAPK2 mutants exhibited lower laccase activity and reduced virulence to lychee leaves. Overall, this study identified a MAPK that is critical for zoosporogenesis by regulating the sporangial cleavage and pathogenicity of P.litchii, likely by regulating laccase activity.
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Qiu M, Li Y, Ye W, Zheng X, Wang Y. A CRISPR/Cas9-mediated in situ complementation method for Phytophthora sojae mutants. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:373-381. [PMID: 33484494 PMCID: PMC7865083 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora sojae is an important model species for oomycete functional genomics research. Recently, a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing technology has been successfully established in P. sojae, which has been rapidly and widely applied in oomycete research. However, there is an emerging consensus in the biological community that a complete functional gene research system is needed such as developed in the investigations in functional complementation carried out in this study. We report the development of an in situ complementation method for accurate restoration of the mutated gene. We targeted a regulatory B-subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PsPP2Ab1) to verify this knockout and subsequent complementation system. We found that the deletion of PsPP2Ab1 in P. sojae leads to severe defects in vegetative hyphal growth, soybean infection, and loss of the ability to produce sporangia. Subsequently, the reintroduction of PsPP2Ab1 into the knockout mutant remedied all of the deficiencies. This study demonstrates the successful implementation of an in situ complementation system by CRISPR/Cas9, which will greatly accelerate functional genomics research of oomycetes in the post-genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Qiu
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yaning Li
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant PathologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant ImmunityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
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17
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DeMarco AG, Milholland KL, Pendleton AL, Whitney JJ, Zhu P, Wesenberg DT, Nambiar M, Pepe A, Paula S, Chmielewski J, Wisecaver JH, Tao WA, Hall MC. Conservation of Cdc14 phosphatase specificity in plant fungal pathogens: implications for antifungal development. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12073. [PMID: 32694511 PMCID: PMC7374715 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cdc14 protein phosphatases play an important role in plant infection by several fungal pathogens. This and other properties of Cdc14 enzymes make them an intriguing target for development of new antifungal crop treatments. Active site architecture and substrate specificity of Cdc14 from the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScCdc14) are well-defined and unique among characterized phosphatases. Cdc14 appears absent from some model plants. However, the extent of conservation of Cdc14 sequence, structure, and specificity in fungal plant pathogens is unknown. We addressed this by performing a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Cdc14 family and comparing the conservation of active site structure and specificity among a sampling of plant pathogen Cdc14 homologs. We show that Cdc14 was lost in the common ancestor of angiosperm plants but is ubiquitous in ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi. The unique substrate specificity of ScCdc14 was invariant in homologs from eight diverse species of dikarya, suggesting it is conserved across the lineage. A synthetic substrate mimetic inhibited diverse fungal Cdc14 homologs with similar low µM Ki values, but had little effect on related phosphatases. Our results justify future exploration of Cdc14 as a broad spectrum antifungal target for plant protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G DeMarco
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Kedric L Milholland
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Amanda L Pendleton
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - John J Whitney
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Peipei Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Daniel T Wesenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Monessha Nambiar
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Antonella Pepe
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-3400, USA
| | - Stefan Paula
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Chemistry, California State University, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA
| | - Jean Chmielewski
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jennifer H Wisecaver
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - W Andy Tao
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Mark C Hall
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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18
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Wang T, Wang X, Zhu X, He Q, Guo L. A proper PiCAT2 level is critical for sporulation, sporangium function, and pathogenicity of Phytophthora infestans. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:460-474. [PMID: 31997544 PMCID: PMC7060140 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Catalase is present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and is important for the protective effects of the antioxidant system against free radicals. Many studies have confirmed that catalase is required for the growth, development, and pathogenesis of bacteria, plants, animals, and fungi. However, there has been relatively little research on the catalases in oomycetes, which form an important group of fungus-like eukaryotes that produce zoosporangia. In this study, we detected two Phytophthora infestans genes encoding catalases, but only PiCAT2 exhibited catalase activity in the sporulation stage and was highly produced during asexual reproduction and in the late infection stage. Compared with the wild-type strain, the PiCAT2-silenced P. infestans transformants were more sensitive to abiotic stress, were less pathogenic, and had a lower colony expansion rate and lower PiMPK7, PiVPS1, and PiGPG1 expression levels. In contrast, the PiCAT2-overexpressed transformants were slightly less sensitive to abiotic stress. Interestingly, increasing and decreasing PiCAT2 expression from the normal level inhibited sporulation, germination, and infectivity, and down-regulated PiCdc14 expression, but up-regulated PiSDA1 expression. These results suggest that PiCAT2 is required for P. infestans mycelial growth, asexual reproduction, abiotic stress tolerance, and pathogenicity. However, a proper PiCAT2 level is critical for the formation and normal function of sporangia. Furthermore, PiCAT2 affects P. infestans sporangial formation and function, pathogenicity, and abiotic stress tolerance by regulating the expression of cell cycle-related genes (PiCdc14 and PiSDA1) and MAPK pathway genes. Our findings provide new insights into catalase functions in eukaryotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu‐Hong Wang
- College of Plant Protection and Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green ManagementMOAChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiao‐Wen Wang
- College of Plant Protection and Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green ManagementMOAChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiao‐Qiong Zhu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green ManagementMOAChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil MicrobiologyCollege of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Li‐Yun Guo
- College of Plant Protection and Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green ManagementMOAChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
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19
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Qiu M, Li Y, Zhang X, Xuan M, Zhang B, Ye W, Zheng X, Govers F, Wang Y. G protein α subunit suppresses sporangium formation through a serine/threonine protein kinase in Phytophthora sojae. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008138. [PMID: 31961913 PMCID: PMC7010300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins consist of α, β, and γ subunits, which act as molecular switches to regulate a number of fundamental cellular processes. In the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora sojae, the sole G protein α subunit (Gα; encoded by PsGPA1) has been found to be involved in zoospore mobility and virulence, but how it functions remains unclear. In this study, we show that the Gα subunit PsGPA1 directly interacts with PsYPK1, a serine/threonine protein kinase that consists of an N-terminal region with unknown function and a C-terminal region with a conserved catalytic kinase domain. We generated knockout and knockout-complemented strains of PsYPK1 and found that deletion of PsYPK1 resulted in a pronounced reduction in the production of sporangia and oospores, in mycelial growth on nutrient poor medium, and in virulence. PsYPK1 exhibits a cytoplasmic-nuclear localization pattern that is essential for sporangium formation and virulence of P. sojae. Interestingly, PsGPA1 overexpression was found to prevent nuclear localization of PsYPK1 by exclusively binding to the N-terminal region of PsYPK1, therefore accounting for its negative role in sporangium formation. Our data demonstrate that PsGPA1 negatively regulates sporangium formation by repressing the nuclear localization of its downstream kinase PsYPK1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Qiu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yaning Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingrun Xuan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Francine Govers
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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20
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Cai G, Fry WE, Hillman BI. PiRV-2 stimulates sporulation in Phytophthora infestans. Virus Res 2019; 271:197674. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Leesutthiphonchai W, Judelson HS. Phytophthora infestans Sporangia Produced in Artificial Media and Plant Lesions Have Subtly Divergent Transcription Profiles but Equivalent Infection Potential and Aggressiveness. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2019; 32:1077-1087. [PMID: 30908943 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-12-18-0349-ta] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Sporangia of the potato late blight agent Phytophthora infestans are often used in studies of pathogen biology and plant responses to infection. Investigations of spore biology can be challenging in oomycetes because their sporangia are physiologically active and change in response to environmental factors and aging. Whether sporangia from artificial media and plant lesions are functionally equivalent has been a topic of debate. To address these issues, we compared the transcriptomes and infection ability of sporangia from rye-sucrose media, potato and tomato leaflets, and potato tubers. Small differences were observed between the mRNA profiles of sporangia from all sources, including variation in genes encoding metabolic enzymes, cell-wall-degrading enzymes, and ABC transporters. Small differences in sporangia age also resulted in variation in the transcriptome. Taking care to use sporangia of similar maturity, we observed that those sourced from media or plant lesions had similar rates of zoospore release and cyst germination. There were also no differences in infection rates or aggressiveness on leaflets, based on single-spore inoculation assays. Such results are discordant with those of a recent publication in this journal. Nevertheless, we conclude that sporangia from plant and media cultures are functionally similar and emphasize the importance of using "best practices" in experiments with sporangia to obtain reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Howard S Judelson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
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22
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Vu AL, Leesutthiphonchai W, Ah-Fong AMV, Judelson HS. Defining Transgene Insertion Sites and Off-Target Effects of Homology-Based Gene Silencing Informs the Application of Functional Genomics Tools in Phytophthora infestans. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2019; 32:915-927. [PMID: 30811313 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-18-0265-ta] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
DNA transformation and homology-based transcriptional silencing are frequently used to assess gene function in Phytophthora spp. Since unplanned side-effects of these tools are not well-characterized, we used P. infestans to study plasmid integration sites and whether knockdowns caused by homology-dependent silencing spread to other genes. Insertions occurred both in gene-dense and gene-sparse regions but disproportionately near the 5' ends of genes, which disrupted native coding sequences. Microhomology at the recombination site between plasmid and chromosome was common. Studies of transformants silenced for 12 different gene targets indicated that neighbors within 500 nt were often cosilenced, regardless of whether hairpin or sense constructs were employed and the direction of transcription of the target. However, this cis spreading of silencing did not occur in all transformants obtained with the same plasmid. Genome-wide studies indicated that unlinked genes with partial complementarity with the silencing-inducing transgene were not usually down-regulated. We learned that hairpin or sense transgenes were not cosilenced with the target in all transformants, which informs how screens for silencing should be performed. We conclude that transformation and gene silencing can be reliable tools for functional genomics in Phytophthora spp. but must be used carefully, especially by testing for the spread of silencing to genes flanking the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Vu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
| | | | - Audrey M V Ah-Fong
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
| | - Howard S Judelson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
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23
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Leesutthiphonchai W, Judelson HS. A MADS-box transcription factor regulates a central step in sporulation of the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:562-575. [PMID: 30194883 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
MADS-box transcription factors play significant roles in eukaryotes, but have not yet been characterized in oomycetes. Here, we describe a MADS-box protein from Phytophthora infestans, which causes late blight of potato. P. infestans and most other oomycetes express a single MADS-box gene. PiMADS is not transcribed during vegetative growth, but is induced early during asexual sporulation. Its mRNA levels oscillate in response to light, which suppresses sporulation. The protein was not detected in nonsporulating mycelia, but was found in sporulating mycelia and spores. Both mRNA and protein levels decline upon spore germination. A similar expression pattern as well as nuclear localization was observed when the protein was expressed with a fluorescent tag from the native promoter. Gene silencing triggered by a construct expressing 478 nt of MADS sequences indicated that PiMADS is required for sporulation but not hyphal growth or plant colonization. A comparison of wild type to a silenced strain by RNA-seq indicated that PiMADS regulates about 3000 sporulation-associated genes, and acts before other genes previously shown to regulate sporulation. Analysis of the silenced strain also indicated that the native gene was not transcribed while the transgene was still expressed, which contradicts current models for homology-dependent silencing in oomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Howard S Judelson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
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Lin L, Ye W, Wu J, Xuan M, Li Y, Gao J, Wang Y, Wang Y, Dong S, Wang Y. The MADS-box Transcription Factor PsMAD1 Is Involved in Zoosporogenesis and Pathogenesis of Phytophthora sojae. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2259. [PMID: 30319576 PMCID: PMC6165875 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation is critical for plant pathogen development and virulence. MADS-box transcription factors belong to a highly conserved transcriptional regulator family in eukaryotic organisms that are involved in various important biological processes. Only one predicted MADS-box gene, PsMAD1, was identified in Phytophthora sojae, which was highly expressed during the sporangia and infection stages. To investigate its function, we generated PsMAD1 knockout mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Compared with the wild-type strain, the mutants showed no changes in vegetative growth, oospore production, or no differences in sensitivity to various abiotic stresses. Although sporangia production was normal, no zoospore release was detected in PsMAD1 mutants. Microscopy analyses revealed failure of cleavage of the cytoplasm into uninucleate zoospores in the mutants. In addition, the mutants showed reduced virulence in soybean. RNA-seq data indicated that PsMAD1 may regulate many zoospore development and infection associated genes. Thus, PsMAD1 may be a major regulator of P. sojae involved in zoosporogenesis and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Lin
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiawei Wu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingrun Xuan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Yufei Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Yonglin Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Suomeng Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.,The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
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Pham J, Stam R, Heredia VM, Csukai M, Huitema E. An NMRA-Like Protein Regulates Gene Expression in Phytophthora capsici to Drive the Infection Cycle on Tomato. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2018; 31:665-677. [PMID: 29419371 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-17-0193-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora spp. cause devastating disease epidemics on important crop plants and pose a grave threat to global crop production. Critically, Phytophthora pathogens represent a distinct evolutionary lineage in which pathogenicity has been acquired independently. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand and disrupt the processes that drive infection if we aspire to defeat oomycete pathogens in the field. One area that has received little attention thus far in this respect is the regulation of Phytophthora gene expression during infection. Here, we characterize PcNMRAL1 (Phyca11_505845), a homolog of the Aspergillus nidulans nitrogen metabolite repression regulator NMRA and demonstrate a role for this protein in progression of the Phytophthora capsici infection cycle. PcNmrAL1 is coexpressed with the biotrophic marker gene PcHmp1 (haustorial membrane protein 1) and, when overexpressed, extends the biotrophic infection stage. Microarray analyses revealed that PcNmrAL1 overexpression in P. capsici leads to large-scale transcriptional changes during infection and in vitro. Importantly, detailed analysis reveals that PcNmrAL1 overexpression induces biotrophy-associated genes while repressing those associated with necrotrophy. In addition to factors controlling transcription, translation, and nitrogen metabolism, PcNMRAL1 helps regulate the expression of a considerable effector repertoire in P. capsici. Our data suggests that PcNMRAL1 is a transcriptional regulator that mediates the biotrophy to necrotrophy transition. PcNMRAL1 represents a novel factor that may drive the Phytophthora disease cycle on crops. This study provides the first insight into mechanisms that regulate infection-related processes in Phytophthora spp. and provides a platform for further studies aimed at disabling pathogenesis and preventing crop losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Pham
- 1 Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 5DA, U.K
- 2 Dundee Effector Consortium, James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, U.K
| | - Remco Stam
- 3 School for Life Sciences, Weihenstephan Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany; and
| | | | - Michael Csukai
- 4 Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, U.K
| | - Edgar Huitema
- 1 Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 5DA, U.K
- 2 Dundee Effector Consortium, James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, U.K
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Carella P, Gogleva A, Tomaselli M, Alfs C, Schornack S. Phytophthora palmivora establishes tissue-specific intracellular infection structures in the earliest divergent land plant lineage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E3846-E3855. [PMID: 29615512 DOI: 10.1101/188912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The expansion of plants onto land was a formative event that brought forth profound changes to the earth's geochemistry and biota. Filamentous eukaryotic microbes developed the ability to colonize plant tissues early during the evolution of land plants, as demonstrated by intimate, symbiosis-like associations in >400 million-year-old fossils. However, the degree to which filamentous microbes establish pathogenic interactions with early divergent land plants is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the broad host-range oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora colonizes liverworts, the earliest divergent land plant lineage. We show that P. palmivora establishes a complex tissue-specific interaction with Marchantia polymorpha, where it completes a full infection cycle within air chambers of the dorsal photosynthetic layer. Remarkably, P. palmivora invaginates M. polymorpha cells with haustoria-like structures that accumulate host cellular trafficking machinery and the membrane syntaxin MpSYP13B, but not the related MpSYP13A. Our results indicate that the intracellular accommodation of filamentous microbes is an ancient plant trait that is successfully exploited by pathogens like P. palmivora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Carella
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB2 1LR Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Gogleva
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB2 1LR Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Tomaselli
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB2 1LR Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carolin Alfs
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB2 1LR Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Schornack
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB2 1LR Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Phytophthora palmivora establishes tissue-specific intracellular infection structures in the earliest divergent land plant lineage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E3846-E3855. [PMID: 29615512 PMCID: PMC5910834 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717900115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of liverworts as the earliest diverging land plant lineage to support fungal symbiosis, it is unknown whether filamentous pathogens can establish intracellular interactions within living cells of these nonvascular plants. Here, we demonstrate that an oomycete pathogen invades Marchantia polymorpha and related liverworts to form intracellular infection structures inside cells of the photosynthetic layer. Plants lacking this tissue layer display enhanced resistance to infection, revealing an architectural susceptibility factor in complex thalloid liverworts. Moreover, we show that dedicated host cellular trafficking proteins are recruited to pathogen interfaces within liverwort cells, supporting the idea that intracellular responses to microbial invasion originated in nonvascular plants. The expansion of plants onto land was a formative event that brought forth profound changes to the earth’s geochemistry and biota. Filamentous eukaryotic microbes developed the ability to colonize plant tissues early during the evolution of land plants, as demonstrated by intimate, symbiosis-like associations in >400 million-year-old fossils. However, the degree to which filamentous microbes establish pathogenic interactions with early divergent land plants is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the broad host-range oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora colonizes liverworts, the earliest divergent land plant lineage. We show that P. palmivora establishes a complex tissue-specific interaction with Marchantia polymorpha, where it completes a full infection cycle within air chambers of the dorsal photosynthetic layer. Remarkably, P. palmivora invaginates M. polymorpha cells with haustoria-like structures that accumulate host cellular trafficking machinery and the membrane syntaxin MpSYP13B, but not the related MpSYP13A. Our results indicate that the intracellular accommodation of filamentous microbes is an ancient plant trait that is successfully exploited by pathogens like P. palmivora.
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Schoina C, Bouwmeester K, Govers F. Infection of a tomato cell culture by Phytophthora infestans; a versatile tool to study Phytophthora-host interactions. PLANT METHODS 2017; 13:88. [PMID: 29090012 PMCID: PMC5657071 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-017-0240-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oomycete Phytophthora infestans causes late blight on potato and tomato. Despite extensive research, the P. infestans-host interaction is still poorly understood. To find new ways to further unravel this interaction we established a new infection system using MsK8 tomato cells. These cells grow in suspension and can be maintained as a stable cell line that is representative for tomato. RESULTS MsK8 cells can host several Phytophthora species pathogenic on tomato. Species not pathogenic on tomato could not infect. Microscopy revealed that 16 h after inoculation up to 36% of the cells were infected. The majority were penetrated by a germ tube emerging from a cyst (i.e. primary infection) while other cells were already showing secondary infections including haustoria. In incompatible interactions, MsK8 cells showed defense responses, namely reactive oxygen species production and cell death leading to a halt in pathogen spread at the single cell level. In compatible interactions, several P. infestans genes, including RXLR effector genes, were expressed and in both, compatible and incompatible interactions tomato genes involved in defense were differentially expressed. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that P. infestans can prosper as a pathogen in MsK8 cells; it not only infects, but also makes haustoria and sporulates, and it receives signals that activate gene expression. Moreover, MsK8 cells have the ability to support pathogen growth but also to defend themselves against infection in a similar way as whole plants. An advantage of MsK8 cells compared to leaves is the more synchronized infection, as all cells have an equal chance of being infected. Moreover, analyses and sampling of infected tissue can be performed in a non-destructive manner from early time points of infection onwards and as such the MsK8 infection system offers a potential platform for large-scale omics studies and activity screenings of inhibitory compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charikleia Schoina
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Francine Govers
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Evangelisti E, Gogleva A, Hainaux T, Doumane M, Tulin F, Quan C, Yunusov T, Floch K, Schornack S. Time-resolved dual transcriptomics reveal early induced Nicotiana benthamiana root genes and conserved infection-promoting Phytophthora palmivora effectors. BMC Biol 2017; 15:39. [PMID: 28494759 PMCID: PMC5427549 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0379-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant-pathogenic oomycetes are responsible for economically important losses in crops worldwide. Phytophthora palmivora, a tropical relative of the potato late blight pathogen, causes rotting diseases in many tropical crops including papaya, cocoa, oil palm, black pepper, rubber, coconut, durian, mango, cassava and citrus. Transcriptomics have helped to identify repertoires of host-translocated microbial effector proteins which counteract defenses and reprogram the host in support of infection. As such, these studies have helped in understanding how pathogens cause diseases. Despite the importance of P. palmivora diseases, genetic resources to allow for disease resistance breeding and identification of microbial effectors are scarce. RESULTS We employed the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana to study the P. palmivora root infections at the cellular and molecular levels. Time-resolved dual transcriptomics revealed different pathogen and host transcriptome dynamics. De novo assembly of P. palmivora transcriptome and semi-automated prediction and annotation of the secretome enabled robust identification of conserved infection-promoting effectors. We show that one of them, REX3, suppresses plant secretion processes. In a survey for early transcriptionally activated plant genes we identified a N. benthamiana gene specifically induced at infected root tips that encodes a peptide with danger-associated molecular features. CONCLUSIONS These results constitute a major advance in our understanding of P. palmivora diseases and establish extensive resources for P. palmivora pathogenomics, effector-aided resistance breeding and the generation of induced resistance to Phytophthora root infections. Furthermore, our approach to find infection-relevant secreted genes is transferable to other pathogen-host interactions and not restricted to plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Gogleva
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Hainaux
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
- Present address: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Mehdi Doumane
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
- Present address: École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frej Tulin
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
| | - Clément Quan
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
| | - Temur Yunusov
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
| | - Kévin Floch
- Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU), Cambridge, UK
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de Vries S, von Dahlen JK, Uhlmann C, Schnake A, Kloesges T, Rose LE. Signatures of selection and host-adapted gene expression of the Phytophthora infestans RNA silencing suppressor PSR2. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2017; 18:110-124. [PMID: 27503598 PMCID: PMC6638260 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora infestans is a devastating pathogen in agricultural systems. Recently, an RNA silencing suppressor (PSR2, 'Phytophthora suppressor of RNA silencing 2') has been described in P. infestans. PSR2 has been shown to increase the virulence of Phytophthora pathogens on their hosts. This gene is one of the few effectors present in many economically important Phytophthora species. In this study, we investigated: (i) the evolutionary history of PSR2 within and between species of Phytophthora; and (ii) the interaction between sequence variation, gene expression and virulence. In P. infestans, the highest PiPSR2 expression was correlated with decreased symptom expression. The highest gene expression was observed in the biotrophic phase of the pathogen, suggesting that PSR2 is important during early infection. Protein sequence conservation was negatively correlated with host range, suggesting host range as a driver of PSR2 evolution. Within species, we detected elevated amino acid variation, as observed for other effectors; however, the frequency spectrum of the mutations was inconsistent with strong balancing selection. This evolutionary pattern may be related to the conservation of the host target(s) of PSR2 and the absence of known corresponding R genes. In summary, our study indicates that PSR2 is a conserved effector that acts as a master switch to modify plant gene regulation early during infection for the pathogen's benefit. The conservation of PSR2 and its important role in virulence make it a promising target for pathogen management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie de Vries
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
- iGRAD‐Plant Graduate SchoolHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
| | - Janina K. von Dahlen
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
| | - Constanze Uhlmann
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
| | - Anika Schnake
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
| | - Thorsten Kloesges
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
| | - Laura E. Rose
- Institute of Population GeneticsHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
- iGRAD‐Plant Graduate SchoolHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
- Ceplas, Cluster of Excellence in Plant SciencesHeinrich‐Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorf40225Germany
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Abrahamian M, Ah-Fong AMV, Davis C, Andreeva K, Judelson HS. Gene Expression and Silencing Studies in Phytophthora infestans Reveal Infection-Specific Nutrient Transporters and a Role for the Nitrate Reductase Pathway in Plant Pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006097. [PMID: 27936244 PMCID: PMC5176271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To help learn how phytopathogens feed from their hosts, genes for nutrient transporters from the hemibiotrophic potato and tomato pest Phytophthora infestans were annotated. This identified 453 genes from 19 families. Comparisons with a necrotrophic oomycete, Pythium ultimum var. ultimum, and a hemibiotrophic fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, revealed diversity in the size of some families although a similar fraction of genes encoded transporters. RNA-seq of infected potato tubers, tomato leaves, and several artificial media revealed that 56 and 207 transporters from P. infestans were significantly up- or down-regulated, respectively, during early infection timepoints of leaves or tubers versus media. About 17 were up-regulated >4-fold in both leaves and tubers compared to media and expressed primarily in the biotrophic stage. The transcription pattern of many genes was host-organ specific. For example, the mRNA level of a nitrate transporter (NRT) was about 100-fold higher during mid-infection in leaves, which are nitrate-rich, than in tubers and three types of artificial media, which are nitrate-poor. The NRT gene is physically linked with genes encoding nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR), which mobilize nitrate into ammonium and amino acids. All three genes were coregulated. For example, the three genes were expressed primarily at mid-stage infection timepoints in both potato and tomato leaves, but showed little expression in potato tubers. Transformants down-regulated for all three genes were generated by DNA-directed RNAi, with silencing spreading from the NR target to the flanking NRT and NiR genes. The silenced strains were nonpathogenic on leaves but colonized tubers. We propose that the nitrate assimilation genes play roles both in obtaining nitrogen for amino acid biosynthesis and protecting P. infestans from natural or fertilization-induced nitrate and nitrite toxicity. Little is known of how plant pathogens adapt to different growth conditions and host tissues. To understand the interaction between the filamentous eukaryotic microbe Phytophthora infestans and its potato and tomato hosts, we mined the genome for genes encoding proteins involved in nutrient uptake and measured their expression in leaves, tubers, and three artificial media. We observed dynamic changes between the growth conditions, and identified transporters expressed mainly in the biotrophic stage, leaves, tubers, or artificial media. When we blocked the expression of a nitrate transporter and two other genes involved in assimilating nitrate, we observed that those genes were required for successful colonization of nitrate-rich leaves but not nitrate-poor tissues, and that nitrate had become toxic to the silenced strains. We therefore hypothesize that the nitrate assimilation pathway may help the pathogen use inorganic nitrogen for nutrition and/or detoxify nitrate when its levels may become damaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Abrahamian
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Audrey M. V. Ah-Fong
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Carol Davis
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Kalina Andreeva
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Howard S. Judelson
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Le Fevre R, O'Boyle B, Moscou MJ, Schornack S. Colonization of Barley by the Broad-Host Hemibiotrophic Pathogen Phytophthora palmivora Uncovers a Leaf Development-Dependent Involvement of Mlo. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2016; 29:385-95. [PMID: 26927001 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-12-15-0276-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of barley Mlo demonstrated that filamentous pathogens rely on plant genes to achieve entry and lifecycle completion in barley leaves. While having a dramatic effect on foliar pathogens, it is unclear whether overlapping or distinct mechanisms affect filamentous pathogen infection of roots. To remove the bias connected with using different pathogens to understand colonization mechanisms in different tissues, we have utilized the aggressive hemibiotrophic oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora. P. palmivora colonizes root as well as leaf tissues of barley (Hordeum vulgare). The infection is characterized by a transient biotrophy phase with formation of haustoria. Barley accessions varied in degree of susceptibility, with some accessions fully resistant to leaf infection. Notably, there was no overall correlation between degree of susceptibility in roots compared with leaves, suggesting that variation in different genes influences host susceptibility above and below ground. In addition, a developmental gradient influenced infection, with more extensive colonization observed in mature leaf sectors. The mlo5 mutation attenuates P. palmivora infection but only in young leaf tissues. The barley-P. palmivora interaction represents a simple system to identify and compare genetic components governing quantitative colonization in diverse barley tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Le Fevre
- 1 Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.; and
| | - Bridget O'Boyle
- 1 Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.; and
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Wang ZK, Wang J, Liu J, Ying SH, Peng XJ, Feng MG. Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Insights into a Signaling Hub Role for Cdc14 in Asexual Development and Multiple Stress Responses in Beauveria bassiana. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153007. [PMID: 27055109 PMCID: PMC4824431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cdc14 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that regulates nuclear behavior by dephosphorylating phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine/phosphothreonine in fungi. Previously, Cdc14 was shown to act as a positive regulator of cytokinesis, asexual development and multiple stress responses in Beauveria bassiana, a fungal insect pathogen. This study seeks to gain deep insight into a pivotal role of Cdc14 in the signaling network of B. bassiana by analyzing the Cdc14-specific proteome and phosphoproteome generated by the 8-plex iTRAQ labeling and MS/MS analysis of peptides and phosphopeptides. Under normal conditions, 154 proteins and 86 phosphorylation sites in 67 phosphoproteins were upregulated in Δcdc14 versus wild-type, whereas 117 proteins and 85 phosphorylation sites in 58 phosphoproteins were significantly downregulated. Co-cultivation of Δcdc14 with NaCl (1 M), H2O2 (3 mM) and Congo red (0.15 mg/ml) resulted in the upregulation / downregulation of 23/63, 41/39 and 79/79 proteins and of 127/112, 52/47 and 105/226 phosphorylation sites in 85/92, 45/36 and 79/146 phosphoproteins, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that Cdc14 could participate in many biological and cellular processes, such as carbohydrate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, the MAP Kinase signaling pathway, and DNA conformation, by regulating protein expression and key kinase phosphorylation in response to different environmental cues. These indicate that in B. bassiana, Cdc14 is a vital regulator of not only protein expression but also many phosphorylation events involved in developmental and stress-responsive pathways. Fourteen conserved and novel motifs were identified in the fungal phosphorylation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Kang Wang
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Peng
- Jingjie PTM Biolabs (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- * E-mail:
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Zhu C, Yang X, Lv R, Li Z, Ding X, Tyler BM, Zhang X. Phytophthora capsici homologue of the cell cycle regulator SDA1 is required for sporangial morphology, mycelial growth and plant infection. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2016; 17:369-87. [PMID: 26095317 PMCID: PMC6638425 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
SDA1 encodes a highly conserved protein that is widely distributed in eukaryotic organisms. SDA1 is essential for cell cycle progression and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in yeasts and humans. In this study, we identified a Phytophthora capsici orthologue of yeast SDA1, named PcSDA1. In P. capsici, PcSDA1 is strongly expressed in three asexual developmental states (mycelium, sporangia and germinating cysts), as well as late in infection. Silencing or overexpression of PcSDA1 in P. capsici transformants affected the growth of hyphae and sporangiophores, sporangial development, cyst germination and zoospore release. Phalloidin staining confirmed that PcSDA1 is required for organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and PcSDA1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions revealed that PcSDA1 is involved in the regulation of nuclear distribution in hyphae and sporangia. Both silenced and overexpression transformants showed severely diminished virulence. Thus, our results suggest that PcSDA1 plays a similar role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and nuclear division in this filamentous organism as in non-filamentous yeasts and human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyuan Zhu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Rongfei Lv
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Zhuang Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xiaomeng Ding
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Brett M Tyler
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Xiuguo Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
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Kamoun S, Furzer O, Jones JDG, Judelson HS, Ali GS, Dalio RJD, Roy SG, Schena L, Zambounis A, Panabières F, Cahill D, Ruocco M, Figueiredo A, Chen XR, Hulvey J, Stam R, Lamour K, Gijzen M, Tyler BM, Grünwald NJ, Mukhtar MS, Tomé DFA, Tör M, Van Den Ackerveken G, McDowell J, Daayf F, Fry WE, Lindqvist-Kreuze H, Meijer HJG, Petre B, Ristaino J, Yoshida K, Birch PRJ, Govers F. The Top 10 oomycete pathogens in molecular plant pathology. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2015; 16:413-34. [PMID: 25178392 PMCID: PMC6638381 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 464] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Oomycetes form a deep lineage of eukaryotic organisms that includes a large number of plant pathogens which threaten natural and managed ecosystems. We undertook a survey to query the community for their ranking of plant-pathogenic oomycete species based on scientific and economic importance. In total, we received 263 votes from 62 scientists in 15 countries for a total of 33 species. The Top 10 species and their ranking are: (1) Phytophthora infestans; (2, tied) Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis; (2, tied) Phytophthora ramorum; (4) Phytophthora sojae; (5) Phytophthora capsici; (6) Plasmopara viticola; (7) Phytophthora cinnamomi; (8, tied) Phytophthora parasitica; (8, tied) Pythium ultimum; and (10) Albugo candida. This article provides an introduction to these 10 taxa and a snapshot of current research. We hope that the list will serve as a benchmark for future trends in oomycete research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Xiang Q, Judelson HS. Myb transcription factors and light regulate sporulation in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92086. [PMID: 24704821 PMCID: PMC3976263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Life cycle progression in eukaryotic microbes is often influenced by environment. In the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, which causes late blight on potato and tomato, sporangia have been reported to form mostly at night. By growing P. infestans under different light regimes at constant temperature and humidity, we show that light contributes to the natural pattern of sporulation by delaying sporulation until the following dark period. However, illumination does not permanently block sporulation or strongly affect the total number of sporangia that ultimately form. Based on measurements of sporulation-induced genes such as those encoding protein kinase Pks1 and Myb transcription factors Myb2R1 and Myb2R3, it appears that most spore-associated transcripts start to rise four to eight hours before sporangia appear. Their mRNA levels oscillate with the light/dark cycle and increase with the amount of sporangia. An exception to this pattern of expression is Myb2R4, which is induced several hours before the other genes and declines after cultures start to sporulate. Transformants over-expressing Myb2R4 produce twice the number of sporangia and ten-fold higher levels of Myb2R1 mRNA than wild-type, and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Myb2R4 binds the Myb2R1 promoter in vivo. Myb2R4 thus appears to be an early regulator of sporulation. We attempted to silence eight Myb genes by DNA-directed RNAi, but succeeded only with Myb2R3, which resulted in suppressed sporulation. Ectopic expression studies of seven Myb genes revealed that over-expression frequently impaired vegetative growth, and in the case of Myb3R6 interfered with sporangia dormancy. We observed that the degree of silencing induced by a hairpin construct was correlated with its copy number, and ectopic expression was often unstable due to epigenetic silencing and transgene excision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijun Xiang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Howard S. Judelson
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
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Wang J, Liu J, Hu Y, Ying SH, Feng MG. Cytokinesis-required Cdc14 is a signaling hub of asexual development and multi-stress tolerance in Beauveria bassiana. Sci Rep 2013; 3:3086. [PMID: 24169500 PMCID: PMC3812655 DOI: 10.1038/srep03086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A dual-specificity, paralogue-free Cdc14 phosphatase was located in the nuclei of Beauveria bassiana (filamentous entomopathogen) and functionally characterized. Inactivation of cdc14 caused defective cytokinesis due to multinucleate cells formed in Δcdc14 and 89% decrease of blastospore production, followed by slower growth and a loss of ≥ 96% conidial yield under normal conditions. These defects coincided well with drastic down-regulation of 25 genes required for mitosis and conidiation. Moreover, Δcdc14 became hypersensitive to oxidative, osmotic, and cell wall and mitosis perturbing stresses, and lost 41−70% of conidial thermotolerance, UV-B resistance and virulence, accompanied with transcriptional down-regualtion of various signaling factors and stress-responsive effectors and depressed phosphorylation signals of Hog1 and Slt2 in high-osmolarity glycerol and cell-wall integrity pathways. All changes were well restored by rescuing cdc14. Our findings indicate that Cdc14 vital for the fungal cytokinesis acts as a signaling hub in regulating not only asexual development but multi-stress responses and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, People's Republic of China
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Fahlgren N, Bollmann SR, Kasschau KD, Cuperus JT, Press CM, Sullivan CM, Chapman EJ, Hoyer JS, Gilbert KB, Grünwald NJ, Carrington JC. Phytophthora have distinct endogenous small RNA populations that include short interfering and microRNAs. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77181. [PMID: 24204767 PMCID: PMC3804510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, RNA silencing pathways utilize 20-30-nucleotide small RNAs to regulate gene expression, specify and maintain chromatin structure, and repress viruses and mobile genetic elements. RNA silencing was likely present in the common ancestor of modern eukaryotes, but most research has focused on plant and animal RNA silencing systems. Phytophthora species belong to a phylogenetically distinct group of economically important plant pathogens that cause billions of dollars in yield losses annually as well as ecologically devastating outbreaks. We analyzed the small RNA-generating components of the genomes of P. infestans, P. sojae and P. ramorum using bioinformatics, genetic, phylogenetic and high-throughput sequencing-based methods. Each species produces two distinct populations of small RNAs that are predominantly 21- or 25-nucleotides long. The 25-nucleotide small RNAs were primarily derived from loci encoding transposable elements and we propose that these small RNAs define a pathway of short-interfering RNAs that silence repetitive genetic elements. The 21-nucleotide small RNAs were primarily derived from inverted repeats, including a novel microRNA family that is conserved among the three species, and several gene families, including Crinkler effectors and type III fibronectins. The Phytophthora microRNA is predicted to target a family of amino acid/auxin permeases, and we propose that 21-nucleotide small RNAs function at the post-transcriptional level. The functional significance of microRNA-guided regulation of amino acid/auxin permeases and the association of 21-nucleotide small RNAs with Crinkler effectors remains unclear, but this work provides a framework for testing the role of small RNAs in Phytophthora biology and pathogenesis in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Fahlgren
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Stephanie R. Bollmann
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Kristin D. Kasschau
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Josh T. Cuperus
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Caroline M. Press
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Sullivan
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Elisabeth J. Chapman
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - J. Steen Hoyer
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kerrigan B. Gilbert
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Niklaus J. Grünwald
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NJG); (JCC)
| | - James C. Carrington
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NJG); (JCC)
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A predicted functional gene network for the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans as a framework for genomic biology. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:483. [PMID: 23865555 PMCID: PMC3734169 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Associations between proteins are essential to understand cell biology. While this complex interplay between proteins has been studied in model organisms, it has not yet been described for the oomycete late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. RESULTS We present an integrative probabilistic functional gene network that provides associations for 37 percent of the predicted P. infestans proteome. Our method unifies available genomic, transcriptomic and comparative genomic data into a single comprehensive network using a Bayesian approach. Enrichment of proteins residing in the same or related subcellular localization validates the biological coherence of our predictions. The network serves as a framework to query existing genomic data using network-based methods, which thus far was not possible in Phytophthora. We used the network to study the set of interacting proteins that are encoded by genes co-expressed during sporulation. This identified potential novel roles for proteins in spore formation through their links to proteins known to be involved in this process such as the phosphatase Cdc14. CONCLUSIONS The functional association network represents a novel genome-wide data source for P. infestans that also acts as a framework to interrogate other system-wide data. In both capacities it will improve our understanding of the complex biology of P. infestans and related oomycete pathogens.
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Jupe J, Stam R, Howden AJM, Morris JA, Zhang R, Hedley PE, Huitema E. Phytophthora capsici-tomato interaction features dramatic shifts in gene expression associated with a hemi-biotrophic lifestyle. Genome Biol 2013; 14:R63. [PMID: 23799990 PMCID: PMC4054836 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2013-14-6-r63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plant-microbe interactions feature complex signal interplay between pathogens and their hosts. Phytophthora species comprise a destructive group of fungus-like plant pathogens, collectively affecting a wide range of plants important to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Despite the availability of genome sequences of both hosts and microbes, little is known about the signal interplay between them during infection. In particular, accurate descriptions of coordinate relationships between host and microbe transcriptional programs are lacking. Results Here, we explore the molecular interaction between the hemi-biotrophic broad host range pathogen Phytophthora capsici and tomato. Infection assays and use of a composite microarray allowed us to unveil distinct changes in both P. capsici and tomato transcriptomes, associated with biotrophy and the subsequent switch to necrotrophy. These included two distinct transcriptional changes associated with early infection and the biotrophy to necrotrophy transition that may contribute to infection and completion of the P. capsici lifecycle Conclusions Our results suggest dynamic but highly regulated transcriptional programming in both host and pathogen that underpin P. capsici disease and hemi-biotrophy. Dynamic expression changes of both effector-coding genes and host factors involved in immunity, suggests modulation of host immune signaling by both host and pathogen. With new unprecedented detail on transcriptional reprogramming, we can now explore the coordinate relationships that drive host-microbe interactions and the basic processes that underpin pathogen lifestyles. Deliberate alteration of lifestyle-associated transcriptional changes may allow prevention or perhaps disruption of hemi-biotrophic disease cycles and limit damage caused by epidemics.
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Vetukuri RR, Åsman AKM, Tellgren-Roth C, Jahan SN, Reimegård J, Fogelqvist J, Savenkov E, Söderbom F, Avrova AO, Whisson SC, Dixelius C. Evidence for small RNAs homologous to effector-encoding genes and transposable elements in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51399. [PMID: 23272103 PMCID: PMC3522703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytophthora infestans is the oomycete pathogen responsible for the devastating late blight disease on potato and tomato. There is presently an intense research focus on the role(s) of effectors in promoting late blight disease development. However, little is known about how they are regulated, or how diversity in their expression may be generated among different isolates. Here we present data from investigation of RNA silencing processes, characterized by non-coding small RNA molecules (sRNA) of 19-40 nt. From deep sequencing of sRNAs we have identified sRNAs matching numerous RxLR and Crinkler (CRN) effector protein genes in two isolates differing in pathogenicity. Effector gene-derived sRNAs were present in both isolates, but exhibited marked differences in abundance, especially for CRN effectors. Small RNAs in P. infestans grouped into three clear size classes of 21, 25/26 and 32 nt. Small RNAs from all size classes mapped to RxLR effector genes, but notably 21 nt sRNAs were the predominant size class mapping to CRN effector genes. Some effector genes, such as PiAvr3a, to which sRNAs were found, also exhibited differences in transcript accumulation between the two isolates. The P. infestans genome is rich in transposable elements, and the majority of sRNAs of all size classes mapped to these sequences, predominantly to long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons. RNA silencing of Dicer and Argonaute genes provided evidence that generation of 21 nt sRNAs is Dicer-dependent, while accumulation of longer sRNAs was impacted by silencing of Argonaute genes. Additionally, we identified six microRNA (miRNA) candidates from our sequencing data, their precursor sequences from the genome sequence, and target mRNAs. These miRNA candidates have features characteristic of both plant and metazoan miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh R Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Biology and Forest Genetics, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Cooke DEL, Cano LM, Raffaele S, Bain RA, Cooke LR, Etherington GJ, Deahl KL, Farrer RA, Gilroy EM, Goss EM, Grünwald NJ, Hein I, MacLean D, McNicol JW, Randall E, Oliva RF, Pel MA, Shaw DS, Squires JN, Taylor MC, Vleeshouwers VGAA, Birch PRJ, Lees AK, Kamoun S. Genome analyses of an aggressive and invasive lineage of the Irish potato famine pathogen. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002940. [PMID: 23055926 PMCID: PMC3464212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pest and pathogen losses jeopardise global food security and ever since the 19th century Irish famine, potato late blight has exemplified this threat. The causal oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, undergoes major population shifts in agricultural systems via the successive emergence and migration of asexual lineages. The phenotypic and genotypic bases of these selective sweeps are largely unknown but management strategies need to adapt to reflect the changing pathogen population. Here, we used molecular markers to document the emergence of a lineage, termed 13_A2, in the European P. infestans population, and its rapid displacement of other lineages to exceed 75% of the pathogen population across Great Britain in less than three years. We show that isolates of the 13_A2 lineage are among the most aggressive on cultivated potatoes, outcompete other aggressive lineages in the field, and overcome previously effective forms of plant host resistance. Genome analyses of a 13_A2 isolate revealed extensive genetic and expression polymorphisms particularly in effector genes. Copy number variations, gene gains and losses, amino-acid replacements and changes in expression patterns of disease effector genes within the 13_A2 isolate likely contribute to enhanced virulence and aggressiveness to drive this population displacement. Importantly, 13_A2 isolates carry intact and in planta induced Avrblb1, Avrblb2 and Avrvnt1 effector genes that trigger resistance in potato lines carrying the corresponding R immune receptor genes Rpi-blb1, Rpi-blb2, and Rpi-vnt1.1. These findings point towards a strategy for deploying genetic resistance to mitigate the impact of the 13_A2 lineage and illustrate how pathogen population monitoring, combined with genome analysis, informs the management of devastating disease epidemics. We have documented a dramatic shift in the population of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans in northwest Europe in which an invasive and aggressive lineage called 13_A2 has emerged and rapidly displaced other genotypes. The genome of a 13_A2 isolate revealed a high rate of sequence polymorphism and a remarkable level of variation in gene expression during infection, particularly of effector genes with putative roles in pathogenicity. Collectively, these polymorphisms, in combination with an extended biotrophic phase, may explain the aggressiveness of 13_A2 and its ability to cause disease on previously resistant potato cultivars. The genome analysis identified conserved effectors that are sensed by potato resistance genes. These findings provide options for the strategic deployment of host resistance with a positive impact on crop yield and food security. This work stresses the benefits of a crop disease management strategy incorporating knowledge of the geographical structure, evolutionary dynamics, genome sequence diversity and in planta-induced effector complement of pathogen lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. L. Cooke
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (DELC); (SK)
| | - Liliana M. Cano
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvain Raffaele
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Louise R. Cooke
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kenneth L. Deahl
- USDA-ARS/PSI-GIFVL, BARC-West, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rhys A. Farrer
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Erica M. Goss
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA ARS, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute & Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Niklaus J. Grünwald
- Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA ARS, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Ingo Hein
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel MacLean
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - James W. McNicol
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Randall
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ricardo F. Oliva
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- Escuela Politecnica del Ejercito, Sangolquí, Ecuador
| | - Mathieu A. Pel
- Wageningen UR Plant Breeding, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - David S. Shaw
- The Sarvari Research Trust, Henfaes Research Centre, Abergwyngregyn, Llanfairfechan, United Kingdom
| | | | - Moray C. Taylor
- Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul R. J. Birch
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
- Division of Plant Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee at The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Alison K. Lees
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (DELC); (SK)
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Nunes CC, Dean RA. Host-induced gene silencing: a tool for understanding fungal host interaction and for developing novel disease control strategies. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2012; 13:519-29. [PMID: 22111693 PMCID: PMC6638818 DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00766.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent discoveries regarding small RNAs and the mechanisms of gene silencing are providing new opportunities to explore fungal pathogen-host interactions and potential strategies for novel disease control. Plant pathogenic fungi are a constant and major threat to global food security; they represent the largest group of disease-causing agents on crop plants on the planet. An initial understanding of RNA silencing mechanisms and small RNAs was derived from model fungi. Now, new knowledge with practical implications for RNA silencing is beginning to emerge from the study of plant-fungus interactions. Recent studies have shown that the expression of silencing constructs in plants designed on fungal genes can specifically silence their targets in invading pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium verticillioides, Blumeria graminis and Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici. Here, we highlight the important general aspects of RNA silencing mechanisms and emphasize recent findings from plant pathogenic fungi. Strategies to employ RNA silencing to investigate the basis of fungal pathogenesis are discussed. Finally, we address important aspects for the development of fungal-derived resistance through the expression of silencing constructs in host plants as a powerful strategy to control fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano C Nunes
- Department of Plant Pathology, Fungal Genomics Laboratory, Center for Integrated Fungal Research, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
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Zhao W, Yang X, Dong S, Sheng Y, Wang Y, Zheng X. Transient silencing mediated by in vitro synthesized double-stranded RNA indicates that PsCdc14 is required for sporangial development in a soybean root rot pathogen. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2011; 54:1143-50. [PMID: 22227907 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-011-4250-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In many eukaryotic organisms, Cdc14 phosphatase regulates multiple biological events during anaphase and is essential for mitosis. It has been shown that Cdc14 is required for sporulation in the potato blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans; however, the role that the Cdc14 homolog (PsCdc14) plays in the soil-borne soybean root rot pathogen P. sojae remains ambiguous. PsCdc14 is highly expressed in sporulation, zoospore, and cyst life stages, but not in vegetative mycelia and infection stages, suggesting that it contributes to asexual reproduction and thus the spread of the disease. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mediates gene silencing, a post-transcriptional and highly conserved process in eukaryotes, involving specific gene silencing through degradation of target mRNA. We combined in vitro dsRNA synthesis and a polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation system to construct a dsRNA-mediated transient gene silencing system; and then performed a functional analysis of PsCdc14 in P. sojae. PsCdc14 mRNA was dramatically reduced in transformants after protoplasts were exposed in in vitro synthesized PsCdc14 dsRNA, resulting in low sporangial production and abnormal development in P. sojae silencing lines. Furthermore, dsRNA-mediated transient gene silencing could enable elucidation of P. sojae rapid gene function, facilitating our understanding of the development and pathogenicity mechanisms of this oomycete fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education of China, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Vetukuri RR, Avrova AO, Grenville-Briggs LJ, Van West P, Söderbom F, Savenkov EI, Whisson SC, Dixelius C. Evidence for involvement of Dicer-like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase proteins in gene silencing in Phytophthora infestans. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2011; 12:772-85. [PMID: 21726377 PMCID: PMC6640358 DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00710.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene silencing may have a direct or indirect impact on many biological processes in eukaryotic cells, and is a useful tool for the determination of the roles of specific genes. In this article, we report silencing in Phytophthora infestans, an oomycete pathogen of potato and tomato. Gene silencing is known to occur in P. infestans, but its genetic basis has yet to be determined. Genes encoding the major components of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, Dicer-like (Pidcl1), Argonaute (Piago1-5) and RNA-directed RNA polymerase (Pirdr1), were identified in the P. infestans genome by comparative genomics, together with families of other genes potentially involved in gene silencing, such as histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferases, DEAD helicases, chromodomain proteins and a class 1 RNaseIII. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated transcript accumulation for all candidate genes throughout the asexual lifecycle and plant infection, but at different levels of mRNA abundance. A functional assay was developed in which silencing of the sporulation-associated Picdc14 gene was released by the treatment of protoplasts with in vitro-synthesized double-stranded RNAs homologous to Pidcl1, Piago1/2 and histone deacetylase Pihda1. These results suggest that the components of gene silencing, namely Dicer-like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase, are functional in P. infestans. Our data demonstrate that this oomycete possesses canonical gene silencing pathways similar to those of other eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh R Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Biology and Forest Genetics, Uppsala BioCenter, SLU, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Gunbin KV, Suslov VV, Turnaev II, Afonnikov DA, Kolchanov NA. Molecular evolution of cyclin proteins in animals and fungi. BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:224. [PMID: 21798004 PMCID: PMC3162929 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 07/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The passage through the cell cycle is controlled by complexes of cyclins, the regulatory units, with cyclin-dependent kinases, the catalytic units. It is also known that cyclins form several families, which differ considerably in primary structure from one eukaryotic organism to another. Despite these lines of evidence, the relationship between the evolution of cyclins and their function is an open issue. Here we present the results of our study on the molecular evolution of A-, B-, D-, E-type cyclin proteins in animals and fungi. RESULTS We constructed phylogenetic trees for these proteins, their ancestral sequences and analyzed patterns of amino acid replacements. The analysis of infrequently fixed atypical amino acid replacements in cyclins evidenced that accelerated evolution proceeded predominantly during paralog duplication or after it in animals and fungi and that it was related to aromorphic changes in animals. It was shown also that evolutionary flexibility of cyclin function may be provided by consequential reorganization of regions on protein surface remote from CDK binding sites in animal and fungal cyclins and by functional differentiation of paralogous cyclins formed in animal evolution. CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that changes in the number and/or nature of cyclin-binding proteins may underlie the evolutionary role of the alterations in the molecular structure of cyclins and their involvement in diverse molecular-genetic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin V Gunbin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrentyev ave., 10, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Valentin V Suslov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrentyev ave., 10, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Igor I Turnaev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrentyev ave., 10, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Afonnikov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrentyev ave., 10, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk state University, Pirogova, 2, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Kolchanov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrentyev ave., 10, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk state University, Pirogova, 2, Novosibirsk, Russia
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New role for Cdc14 phosphatase: localization to basal bodies in the oomycete phytophthora and its evolutionary coinheritance with eukaryotic flagella. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16725. [PMID: 21340037 PMCID: PMC3038932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cdc14 protein phosphatases are well known for regulating the eukaryotic cell cycle, particularly during mitosis. Here we reveal a distinctly new role for Cdc14 based on studies of the microbial eukaryote Phytophthora infestans, the Irish potato famine agent. While Cdc14 is transcribed constitutively in yeast and animal cells, the P. infestans ortholog is expressed exclusively in spore stages of the life cycle and not in vegetative hyphae where the bulk of mitosis takes place. PiCdc14 expression is first detected in nuclei at sporulation, and during zoospore formation the protein accumulates at the basal body, which is the site from which flagella develop. The association of PiCdc14 with basal bodies was supported by co-localization studies with the DIP13 basal body protein and flagellar β-tubulin, and by demonstrating the enrichment of PiCdc14 in purified flagella-basal body complexes. Overexpressing PiCdc14 did not cause defects in growth or mitosis in hyphae, but interfered with cytoplasmic partitioning during zoosporogenesis. This cytokinetic defect might relate to its ability to bind microtubules, which was shown using an in vitro cosedimentation assay. The use of gene silencing to reveal the precise function of PiCdc14 in flagella is not possible since we showed previously that silencing prevents the formation of the precursor stage, sporangia. Nevertheless, the association of Cdc14 with flagella and basal bodies is consistent with their phylogenetic distribution in eukaryotes, as species that lack the ability to produce flagella generally also lack Cdc14. An ancestral role of Cdc14 in the flagellar stage of eukaryotes is thereby proposed.
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Judelson HS, Ah-Fong AMV. The kinome of Phytophthora infestans reveals oomycete-specific innovations and links to other taxonomic groups. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:700. [PMID: 21143935 PMCID: PMC3019232 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 12/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oomycetes are a large group of economically and ecologically important species. Its most notorious member is Phytophthora infestans, the cause of the devastating potato late blight disease. The life cycle of P. infestans involves hyphae which differentiate into spores used for dispersal and host infection. Protein phosphorylation likely plays crucial roles in these stages, and to help understand this we present here a genome-wide analysis of the protein kinases of P. infestans and several relatives. The study also provides new insight into kinase evolution since oomycetes are taxonomically distant from organisms with well-characterized kinomes. RESULTS Bioinformatic searches of the genomes of P. infestans, P. ramorum, and P. sojae reveal they have similar kinomes, which for P. infestans contains 354 eukaryotic protein kinases (ePKs) and 18 atypical kinases (aPKs), equaling 2% of total genes. After refining gene models, most were classifiable into families seen in other eukaryotes. Some ePK families are nevertheless unusual, especially the tyrosine kinase-like (TKL) group which includes large oomycete-specific subfamilies. Also identified were two tyrosine kinases, which are rare in non-metazoans. Several ePKs bear accessory domains not identified previously on kinases, such as cyclin-dependent kinases with integral cyclin domains. Most ePKs lack accessory domains, implying that many are regulated transcriptionally. This was confirmed by mRNA expression-profiling studies that showed that two-thirds vary significantly between hyphae, sporangia, and zoospores. Comparisons to neighboring taxa (apicomplexans, ciliates, diatoms) revealed both clade-specific and conserved features, and multiple connections to plant kinases were observed. The kinome of Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis, an oomycete with a simpler life cycle than P. infestans, was found to be one-third smaller. Some differences may be attributable to gene clustering, which facilitates subfamily expansion (or loss) through unequal crossing-over. CONCLUSION The large sizes of the Phytophthora kinomes imply that phosphorylation plays major roles in their life cycles. Their kinomes also include many novel ePKs, some specific to oomycetes or shared with neighboring groups. Little experimentation to date has addressed the biological functions of oomycete kinases, but this should be stimulated by the structural, evolutionary, and expression data presented here. This may lead to targets for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard S Judelson
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521 USA
| | - Audrey MV Ah-Fong
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521 USA
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Salame TM, Ziv C, Hadar Y, Yarden O. RNAi as a potential tool for biotechnological applications in fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2010; 89:501-12. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-2928-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Revised: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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