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Qu Q, Liu N, Su Q, Liu X, Jia H, Liu Y, Sun M, Cao Z, Dong J. MicroRNAs involved in the trans-kingdom gene regulation in the interaction of maize kernels and Fusarium verticillioides. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125046. [PMID: 37245767 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125046] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Maize ear rot is a widespread disease and the main pathogen is Fusarium verticillioides. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have great effects on disease resistance and it has been reported that maize miRNA participates in defense responses in maize ear rot. However, the trans-kingdom regulation of miRNAs between maize and F. verticillioides remains uncharacterized. In this study, the relationship between miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) of F. verticillioides and pathogenicity was investigated, followed by sRNA analysis and degradome sequencing of miRNA profiles and the target genes of maize and F. verticillioides after inoculation. It was found that the milRNA biogenesis positively regulated the pathogenicity of F. verticillioides by knocking out the gene FvDicer2-encoded Dicer-like protein in F. verticillioides. Following inoculation with F. verticillioides, 284 known and 6571 novel miRNAs were obtained in maize, including 28 miRNAs differentially expressed at multiple time points. The target genes of maize differentially expressed miRNAs in F. verticillioides mediated multiple pathways, including autophagy and MAPK signaling pathway. Fifty-one novel F. verticillioides milRNAs were predicted to target 333 genes in maize involved in MAPK signaling pathways, plant hormone signaling transduction and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Additionally, the miR528b-5p in maize targeted the mRNA of FvTTP which encoded a twice transmembrane protein in F. verticillioides. The FvTTP-knockout mutants displayed decreased pathogenicity and reduced synthesis of fumonisins. Thus, by interfering with the translation of FvTTP, the miR528b-5p inhibited F. verticillioides infection. These findings suggested a novel function of miR528 in resisting F. verticillioides infection. The miRNAs identified in this research and their putative target genes can be used to further elucidate the trans-kingdom functions of microRNAs in plant pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Qu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Qianfu Su
- Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin 130033, China
| | - Xinfang Liu
- Corn Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
| | - Hui Jia
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Yuwei Liu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Manli Sun
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Zhiyan Cao
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China.
| | - Jingao Dong
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China.
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Si P, Wang G, Wu W, Hussain S, Guo L, Wu W, Yang Q, Xing F. SakA Regulates Morphological Development, Ochratoxin A Biosynthesis and Pathogenicity of Aspergillus westerdijkiae and the Response to Different Environmental Stresses. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040292. [PMID: 37104230 PMCID: PMC10141874 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA), as a common mycotoxin, has seriously harmful effects on agricultural products, livestock and humans. There are reports on the regulation of SakA in the MAPK pathway, which regulates the production of mycotoxins. However, the role of SakA in the regulation of Aspergillus westerdijkiae and OTA production is not clear. In this study, a SakA deletion mutant (ΔAwSakA) was constructed. The effects of different concentrations of D-sorbitol, NaCl, Congo red and H2O2 on the mycelia growth, conidia production and biosynthesis of OTA were investigated in A. westerdijkiae WT and ΔAwSakA. The results showed that 100 g/L NaCl and 3.6 M D-sorbitol significantly inhibited mycelium growth and that a concentration of 0.1% Congo red was sufficient to inhibit the mycelium growth. A reduction in mycelium development was observed in ΔAwSakA, especially in high concentrations of osmotic stress. A lack of AwSakA dramatically reduced OTA production by downregulating the expression of the biosynthetic genes otaA, otaY, otaB and otaD. However, otaC and the transcription factor otaR1 were slightly upregulated by 80 g/L NaCl and 2.4 M D-sorbitol, whereas they were downregulated by 0.1% Congo red and 2 mM H2O2. Furthermore, ΔAwSakA showed degenerative infection ability toward pears and grapes. These results suggest that AwSakA is involved in the regulation of fungal growth, OTA biosynthesis and the pathogenicity of A. westerdijkiae and could be influenced by specific environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peidong Si
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenqing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sarfaraz Hussain
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ling Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wei Wu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Qingli Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Fuguo Xing
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Abstract
Contamination of food and feed with toxin-producing fungi is a major threat in agriculture and for human health. The filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata is one of the most widespread postharvest contaminants and a weak plant pathogen. It produces a large variety of secondary metabolites with alternariol and its derivatives as characteristic mycotoxin. Other important phyto- and mycotoxins are perylene quinones (PQs), some of which have anticancer properties. Here, we discovered that the PQ altertoxin (ATX) biosynthesis shares most enzymes with the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,8-DHN) melanin pathway. However, melanin was formed in aerial hyphae and spores, and ATXs were synthesized in substrate hyphae. This spatial separation is achieved through the promiscuity of a polyketide synthase, presumably producing a pentaketide (T4HN), a hexaketide (AT4HN), and a heptaketide (YWA1) as products. T4HN directly enters the altertoxin and DHN melanin pathway, whereas AT4HN and YWA1 can be converted only in aerial hyphae, which probably leads to a higher T4HN concentration, favoring 1,8-DHN melanin formation. Whereas the production of ATXs was strictly dependent on the CmrA transcription factor, melanin could still be produced in the absence of CmrA to some extent. This suggests that different cues regulate melanin and toxin formation. Since DHN melanin is produced by many fungi, PQs or related compounds may be produced in many more fungi than so far assumed.
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Yang K, Geng Q, Luo Y, Xie R, Sun T, Wang Z, Qin L, Zhao W, Liu M, Li Y, Tian J. Dysfunction of FadA-cAMP signalling decreases Aspergillus flavus resistance to antimicrobial natural preservative Perillaldehyde and AFB1 biosynthesis. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:1590-1607. [PMID: 35194912 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that colonizes agriculture crops with aflatoxin contamination. We found that Perillaldehyde (PAE) effectively inhibited A. flavus viability and aflatoxin production by inducing excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). Transcriptome analysis indicated that the Gα protein FadA was significantly induced by PAE. Functional characterization of FadA showed it is important for asexual development and aflatoxin biosynthesis by regulation of cAMP-PKA signalling. The ΔfadA mutant was more sensitive to PAE, while ΔpdeL and ΔpdeH mutants can tolerate excess PAE compared to wild-type A. flavus. Further RNA-sequence analysis showed that fadA was important for expression of genes involved in oxidation-reduction and cellular metabolism. The flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that ΔfadA accumulated more concentration of ROS in cells, and the transcriptome data indicated that genes involved in ROS scavenging were downregulated in ΔfadA mutant. We further found that FadA participated in regulating response to extracellular environmental stresses by increasing phosphorylation levels of MAPK Kinase Slt2 and Hog1. Overall, our results indicated that FadA signalling engages in mycotoxin production and A. flavus resistance to antimicrobial PAE, which provide valuable information for controlling this fungus and AF biosynthesis in pre- and postharvest of agricultural crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunlong Yang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Qingru Geng
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Yue Luo
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Rui Xie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tongzheng Sun
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Ling Qin
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Man Liu
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Yongxin Li
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
| | - Jun Tian
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China
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Yu Z, Streng C, Seibeld RF, Igbalajobi OA, Leister K, Ingelfinger J, Fischer R. Genome-wide analyses of light-regulated genes in Aspergillus nidulans reveal a complex interplay between different photoreceptors and novel photoreceptor functions. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009845. [PMID: 34679095 PMCID: PMC8535378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi sense light of different wavelengths using blue-, green-, and red-light photoreceptors. Blue light sensing requires the “white-collar” proteins with flavin as chromophore, and red light is sensed through phytochrome. Here we analyzed genome-wide gene expression changes caused by short-term, low-light intensity illumination with blue-, red- or far-red light in Aspergillus nidulans and found that more than 1100 genes were differentially regulated. The largest number of up- and downregulated genes depended on the phytochrome FphA and the attached HOG pathway. FphA and the white-collar orthologue LreA fulfill activating but also repressing functions under all light conditions and both appear to have roles in the dark. Additionally, we found about 100 genes, which are red-light induced in the absence of phytochrome, suggesting alternative red-light sensing systems. We also found blue-light induced genes in the absence of the blue-light receptor LreA. We present evidence that cryptochrome may be part of this regulatory cue, but that phytochrome is essential for the response. In addition to in vivo data showing that FphA is involved in blue-light sensing, we performed spectroscopy of purified phytochrome and show that it responds indeed to blue light. Fungi are microorganisms with important roles in the environment, as symbionts, as pathogens, or as workhorses in biotechnology. They constantly need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, often far away from their optima. One important environmental factor, fungi respond to is ambient light. The presence of light tells them if they are exposed to a surface and thus potentially to heat, harmful irradiation, or desiccation or other stressful conditions, or whether they are growing inside soil or litter with more constant conditions. Interestingly, many fungi harbor photosensors for blue-, green- and red light. We show here that in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans a large proportion of the genome is under light control, and many genes are regulated through phytochrome and thus by red light. However, phytochrome is also used for blue-light sensing. Many genes are controlled by blue- and by red light signaling systems, but many also respond only to specific wavelengths. The study provides important groundwork for future research to unravel how different genes are regulated at the molecular level and to decipher the biological meaning for the complex light-regulatory systems found in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhong Yu
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for Organic Solid Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail: (ZY); (RF)
| | - Christian Streng
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ramon F. Seibeld
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Olumuyiwa A. Igbalajobi
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Kai Leister
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Julian Ingelfinger
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
- * E-mail: (ZY); (RF)
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Streng C, Hartmann J, Leister K, Krauß N, Lamparter T, Frankenberg-Dinkel N, Weth F, Bastmeyer M, Yu Z, Fischer R. Fungal phytochrome chromophore biosynthesis at mitochondria. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108083. [PMID: 34254350 PMCID: PMC8447599 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential organelles because of their function in energy conservation. Here, we show an involvement of mitochondria in phytochrome‐dependent light sensing in fungi. Phytochrome photoreceptors are found in plants, bacteria, and fungi and contain a linear, heme‐derived tetrapyrrole as chromophore. Linearization of heme requires heme oxygenases (HOs) which reside inside chloroplasts in planta. Despite the poor degree of conservation of HOs, we identified two candidates in the fungus Alternaria alternata. Deletion of either one phenocopied phytochrome deletion. The two enzymes had a cooperative effect and physically interacted with phytochrome, suggesting metabolon formation. The metabolon was attached to the surface of mitochondria with a C‐terminal anchor (CTA) sequence in HoxA. The CTA was necessary and sufficient for mitochondrial targeting. The affinity of phytochrome apoprotein to HoxA was 57,000‐fold higher than the affinity of the holoprotein, suggesting a “kiss‐and‐go” mechanism for chromophore loading and a function of mitochondria as assembly platforms for functional phytochrome. Hence, two alternative approaches for chromophore biosynthesis and insertion into phytochrome evolved in plants and fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Streng
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jana Hartmann
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Kai Leister
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Norbert Krauß
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Franco Weth
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Zoological Institute, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Martin Bastmeyer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Zoological Institute, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Zhenzhong Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Organic Solid Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
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