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Yang S, Sun J, Xue A, Li G, Sun C, Hou J, Qin QM, Zhang M. Novel Botrytis cinerea Zn(II) 2Cys 6 Transcription Factor BcFtg1 Enhances the Virulence of the Gray Mold Fungus by Promoting Organic Acid Secretion and Carbon Source Utilization. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 39140189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
The Zn(II)2Cys6 zinc cluster protein family comprises a subclass of zinc-finger proteins that serve as transcriptional regulators involved in a diverse array of fugal biological processes. However, the roles and mechanisms of the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factors in mediating Botrytis cinerea, a necrotrophic fungus that causes gray mold in over 1000 plant species, development and virulence remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that a novel B. cinerea pathogenicity-associated factor BcFTG1 (fungal transcription factor containing the GAL4 domain), identified from a virulence-attenuated mutant M20162 from a B. cinerea T-DNA insertion mutant library, plays an important role in oxalic acid (OA) secretion, carbon source absorption and cell wall integrity. Loss of BcFTG1 compromises the ability of the pathogen to secrete OA, absorb carbon sources, maintain cell wall integrity, and promote virulence. Our findings provide novel insights into fungal factors mediating the pathogenesis of the gray mold fungus via regulation of OA secretion, carbon source utilization and cell wall integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Yang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jiao Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Coal-Based Ecological Carbon Sequestration Technology of the Ministry of Education, Datong University, Datong, Shanxi 037009, China
| | - Aoran Xue
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Guihua Li
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Chenhao Sun
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jie Hou
- Engineering Research Centre of Forestry Biotechnology of Jilin Province in Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China
| | - Qing-Ming Qin
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Mingzhe Zhang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
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Ren W, Qian C, Ren D, Cai Y, Deng Z, Zhang N, Wang C, Wang Y, Zhu P, Xu L. The GATA transcription factor BcWCL2 regulates citric acid secretion to maintain redox homeostasis and full virulence in Botrytis cinerea. mBio 2024; 15:e0013324. [PMID: 38814088 PMCID: PMC11253612 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00133-24] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a typical necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus which can deliberately acidify host tissues and trigger oxidative bursts therein to facilitate its virulence. The white collar complex (WCC), consisting of BcWCL1 and BcWCL2, is recognized as the primary light receptor in B. cinerea. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms through which the WCC components, particularly BcWCL2 as a GATA transcription factor, control virulence are not yet fully understood. This study demonstrates that deletion of BcWCL2 results in the loss of light-sensitive phenotypic characteristics. Additionally, the Δbcwcl2 strain exhibits reduced secretion of citrate, delayed infection cushion development, weaker hyphal penetration, and decreased virulence. The application of exogenous citric acid was found to restore infection cushion formation, hyphal penetration, and virulence of the Δbcwcl2 strain. Transcriptome analysis at 48 h post-inoculation revealed that two citrate synthases, putative citrate transporters, hydrolytic enzymes, and reactive oxygen species scavenging-related genes were down-regulated in Δbcwcl2, whereas exogenous citric acid application restored the expression of the above genes involved in the early infection process of Δbcwcl2. Moreover, the expression of Bcvel1, a known regulator of citrate secretion, tissue acidification, and secondary metabolism, was down-regulated in Δbcwcl2 but not in Δbcwcl1. ChIP-qPCR and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that BcWCL2 can bind to the promoter sequences of Bcvel1. Overexpressing Bcvel1 in Δbcwcl2 was found to rescue the mutant defects. Collectively, our findings indicate that BcWCL2 regulates the expression of the global regulator Bcvel1 to influence citrate secretion, tissue acidification, redox homeostasis, and virulence of B. cinerea.IMPORTANCEThis study illustrated the significance of the fungal blue light receptor component BcWCL2 protein in regulating citrate secretion in Botrytis cinerea. Unlike BcWCL1, BcWCL2 may contribute to redox homeostasis maintenance during infection cushion formation, ultimately proving to be essential for full virulence. It is also demonstrated that BcWCL2 can regulate the expression of Bcvel1 to influence host tissue acidification, citrate secretion, infection cushion development, and virulence. While the role of organic acids secreted by plant pathogenic fungi in fungus-host interactions has been recognized, this paper revealed the importance, regulatory mechanisms, and key transcription factors that control organic acid secretion. These understanding of the pathogenetic mechanism of plant pathogens can provide valuable insights for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies against fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiheng Ren
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Qian
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dandan Ren
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunfei Cai
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohui Deng
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pinkuan Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Xu
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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3
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Wu Y, Han S, Wang Y, Li Q, Kong L. Velvet Family Protein FpVelB Affects Virulence in Association with Secondary Metabolism in Fusarium pseudograminearum. Cells 2024; 13:950. [PMID: 38891082 PMCID: PMC11171821 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110950] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum causes destructive crown disease in wheat. The velvet protein family is a crucial regulator in development, virulence, and secondary metabolism of fungi. We conducted a functional analysis of FpVelB using a gene replacement strategy. The deletion of FpVelB decreased radial growth and enhanced conidial production compared to that of wild type. Furthermore, FpVelB modulates the fungal responses to abiotic stress through diverse mechanisms. Significantly, virulence decreased after the deletion of FpVelB in both the stem base and head of wheat. Genome-wide gene expression profiling revealed that the regulation of genes by FpVelB is associated with several processes related to the aforementioned phenotype, including "immune", "membrane", and "antioxidant activity", particularly with regard to secondary metabolites. Most importantly, we demonstrated that FpVelB regulates pathogen virulence by influencing deoxynivalenol production and modulating the expression of the PKS11 gene. In conclusion, FpVelB is crucial for plant growth, asexual development, and abiotic stress response and is essential for full virulence via secondary metabolism in F. pseudograminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lingxiao Kong
- Plant Protection Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Integrated Pest Management Center of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of IPM on Crops in Northern Region of North China, Ministry of Agriculture, Baoding 071000, China; (Y.W.)
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Suárez I, Collado IG, Garrido C. Revealing Hidden Genes in Botrytis cinerea: New Insights into Genes Involved in the Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5900. [PMID: 38892087 PMCID: PMC11173184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115900] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Utilizing bioinformatics tools, this study expands our understanding of secondary metabolism in Botrytis cinerea, identifying novel genes within polyketide synthase (PKS), non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), sesquiterpene cyclase (STC), diterpene cyclase (DTC), and dimethylallyltryptophan synthase (DMATS) families. These findings enrich the genetic framework associated with B. cinerea's pathogenicity and ecological adaptation, offering insights into uncharted metabolic pathways. Significantly, the discovery of previously unannotated genes provides new molecular targets for developing targeted antifungal strategies, promising to enhance crop protection and advance our understanding of fungal biochemistry. This research not only broadens the scope of known secondary metabolites but also opens avenues for future exploration into B. cinerea's biosynthetic capabilities, potentially leading to novel antifungal compounds. Our work underscores the importance of integrating bioinformatics and genomics for fungal research, paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices by pinpointing precise molecular interventions against B. cinerea. This study sets a foundation for further investigations into the fungus's secondary metabolism, with implications for biotechnology and crop disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Suárez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Biomedicina, Biotecnología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain;
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Universitario Río San Pedro s/n, Torre sur, 4ª planta, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomoléculas (INBIO), Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Isidro G. Collado
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Universitario Río San Pedro s/n, Torre sur, 4ª planta, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomoléculas (INBIO), Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Carlos Garrido
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Biomedicina, Biotecnología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Vitivinícola y Agroalimentaria (IVAGRO), Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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Chen W, Son YE, Cho HJ, Choi D, Park HS, Yu JH. Phylogenomics analysis of velvet regulators in the fungal kingdom. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0371723. [PMID: 38179919 PMCID: PMC10845976 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03717-23] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
All life forms have evolved to respond appropriately to various environmental and internal cues. In the animal kingdom, the prototypical regulator class of such cellular responses is the Rel homology domain proteins including nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Fungi, the close relatives of animals, have also evolved with their own NF-κB-like regulators called velvet family proteins to govern cellular and chemical development. Here, we conducted a detailed investigation of the taxonomic broad presence of velvet proteins. We observed that velvet proteins are widely distributed in the fungal kingdom. Moreover, we have identified and characterized 21 major velvet clades in fungi. We have further revealed that the highly conserved velvet domain is composed of three distinct motifs and acts as an evolutionarily independent domain, which can be shuffled with various functional domains. Such rearrangements of the velvet domain have resulted in the functional and type diversity of the present velvet regulators. Importantly, our in-deep analyses of the primary and 3D structures of the various velvet domains showed that the fungal velvet domains can be divided into two major clans: the VelB and the VosA clans. The 3D structure comparisons revealed a close similarity of the velvet domain with many other eukaryotic DNA-binding proteins, including those of the Rel, Runt, and signal transducer and activator of transcription families, sharing a common β-sandwich fold. Altogether, this study improves our understanding of velvet regulators in the fungal kingdom.IMPORTANCEFungi are the relatives of animals in Opisthokonta and closely associated with human life by interactive ways such as pathogenicity, food, and secondary metabolites including beneficial ones like penicillin and harmful ones like the carcinogenic aflatoxins. Similar to animals, fungi have also evolved with NF-κB-like velvet family regulators. The velvet proteins constitute a large protein family of fungal transcription factors sharing a common velvet domain and play a key role in coordinating fungal secondary metabolism, developmental and differentiation processes. Our current understanding on velvet regulators is mostly from Ascomycota fungi; however, they remain largely unknown outside Ascomycota. Therefore, this study performed a taxonomic broad investigation of velvet proteins across the fungal kingdom and conducted a detailed analysis on velvet distribution, structure, diversity, and evolution. The results provide a holistic view of velvet regulatory system in the fungal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanping Chen
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ye-Eun Son
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - He-Jin Cho
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Dasol Choi
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hee-Soo Park
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Department of Integrative Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Astacio JD, Espeso EA, Melgarejo P, De Cal A. Monilinia fructicola Response to White Light. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:988. [PMID: 37888244 PMCID: PMC10607740 DOI: 10.3390/jof9100988] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Light represents a powerful signal for the regulation of virulence in many microbial pathogens. Monilinia fructicola is the most virulent species causing brown rot in stone fruit crops. To understand the influence of light on M. fructicola, we measured the effect of white light and photoperiods on the colonial growth and sporulation of the model M. fructicola strain 38C on solid cultures. Searches in the M. fructicola 38C genome predicted a complete set of genes coding for photoreceptors possibly involved in the perception of all ranges of wavelengths. Since white light had an obvious negative effect on vegetative growth and the asexual development of M. fructicola 38C on potato dextrose agar, we studied how light influences photoresponse genes in M. fructicola during early peach infection and in liquid culture. The transcriptomes were analyzed in "Red Jim" nectarines infected by M. fructicola 38C and subjected to light pulses for 5 min and 14 h after 24 h of incubation in darkness. Specific light-induced genes were identified. Among these, we confirmed in samples from infected fruit or synthetic media that blue light photoreceptor vvd1 was among the highest expressed genes. An unknown gene, far1, coding for a small protein conserved in many families of Ascomycota phylum, was also highly induced by light. In contrast, a range of well-known photoreceptors displayed a low transcriptional response to light in M. fructicola from nectarines but not on the pathogen mycelium growing in liquid culture media for 6 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Diego Astacio
- Grupo de Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Centro Nacional INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.D.A.); (P.M.)
- Programa Biotecnología y Recursos Genéticos de Plantas y Microorganismos Asociados, ETSIA, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Antonio Espeso
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular de Aspergillus, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Paloma Melgarejo
- Grupo de Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Centro Nacional INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.D.A.); (P.M.)
| | - Antonieta De Cal
- Grupo de Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Centro Nacional INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.D.A.); (P.M.)
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Mustafa MH, Corre MN, Heurtevin L, Bassi D, Cirilli M, Quilot-Turion B. Stone fruit phenolic and triterpenoid compounds modulate gene expression of Monilinia spp. in culture media. Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1085-1097. [PMID: 37495299 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.06.004] [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: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Phenolic and triterpenoid compounds are essential components in stone fruit skin and flesh tissues. They are thought to possess general antimicrobial activity. However, regarding brown rot disease, investigations were only confined to a limited number of phenolics, especially chlorogenic acid. The activity of triterpenoids against Monilinia spp., as an essential part of the peach cuticular wax, has not been studied before. In this work, the anti-fungal effect of some phenolics, triterpenoids, and fruit surface compound (FSC) extracts of peach fruit at two developmental stages were investigated on Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia laxa characteristics during in vitro growth. A new procedure for assaying anti-fungal activity of triterpenoids, which are notoriously difficult to assess in vitro because of their hydrophobicity, has been developed. Measurements of colony diameter, sporulation, and germination of second-generation conidia were recorded. Furthermore, the expression of twelve genes of M. fructicola associated with germination and/or appressorium formation and virulence-related genes was studied relative to the presence of the compounds. The study revealed that certain phenolics and triterpenoids showed modest anti-fungal activity while dramatically modulating gene expression in mycelium of M. fructicola on culture medium. MfRGAE1 gene was overexpressed by chlorogenic and ferulic acids and MfCUT1 by betulinic acid, at 4- and 7- days of mycelium incubation. The stage II FSC extract, corresponding to the period when the fruit is resistant to Monilinia spp., considerably up-regulated the MfLAE1 gene. These findings effectively contribute to the knowledge of biochemical compounds effects on fungi on in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Hassan Mustafa
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA), University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy; INRAE, GAFL, F-84143, Montfavet, France
| | | | | | - Daniele Bassi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA), University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Cirilli
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA), University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy
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8
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Nowrousian M. The Role of Chromatin and Transcriptional Control in the Formation of Sexual Fruiting Bodies in Fungi. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0010422. [PMID: 36409109 PMCID: PMC9769939 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00104-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal fruiting bodies are complex, three-dimensional structures that arise from a less complex vegetative mycelium. Their formation requires the coordinated action of many genes and their gene products, and fruiting body formation is accompanied by major changes in the transcriptome. In recent years, numerous transcription factor genes as well as chromatin modifier genes that play a role in fruiting body morphogenesis were identified, and through research on several model organisms, the underlying regulatory networks that integrate chromatin structure, gene expression, and cell differentiation are becoming clearer. This review gives a summary of the current state of research on the role of transcriptional control and chromatin structure in fruiting body development. In the first part, insights from transcriptomics analyses are described, with a focus on comparative transcriptomics. In the second part, examples of more detailed functional characterizations of the role of chromatin modifiers and/or transcription factors in several model organisms (Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, Sordaria macrospora, Coprinopsis cinerea, and Schizophyllum commune) that have led to a better understanding of regulatory networks at the level of chromatin structure and transcription are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Wei Z, Shu D, Sun Q, Chen DB, Li ZM, Luo D, Yang J, Tan H. The BcLAE1 is involved in the regulation of ABA biosynthesis in Botrytis cinerea TB-31. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:969499. [PMID: 35992717 PMCID: PMC9386520 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.969499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA), as a classic plant hormone, is a key factor in balancing the metabolism of endogenous plant hormones, and plays an important role in regulating the activation of mammalian innate immune cells and glucose homeostasis. Currently, Botrytis cinerea has been used for fermentation to produce ABA. However, the mechanism of the regulation of ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea is still not fully understood. The putative methyltransferase LaeA/LAE1 is a global regulator involved in the biosynthesis of a variety of secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi. In this study, we demonstrated that BcLAE1 plays an important role in the regulation of ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea TB-31 by knockout experiment. The deletion of Bclae1 caused a 95% reduction in ABA yields, accompanied by a decrease of the transcriptional level of the ABA synthesis gene cluster Bcaba1-4. Further RNA-seq analysis indicated that deletion of Bclae1 also affected the expression level of key enzymes of BOA and BOT in secondary metabolism, and accompanied by clustering regulatory features. Meanwhile, we found that BcLAE1 is involved in epigenetic regulation as a methyltransferase, with enhanced H3K9me3 modification and attenuated H3K4me2 modification in ΔBclae1 mutant, and this may be a strategy for BcLAE1 to regulate ABA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Shu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Dan Shu,
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dong-bo Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe-min Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Di Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Hong Tan,
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Villarino M, Rodríguez-Pires S, Requena E, Melgarejo P, De Cal A, Espeso EA. A Secondary Metabolism Pathway Involved in the Production of a Putative Toxin Is Expressed at Early Stage of Monilinia laxa Infection. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:818483. [PMID: 35401637 PMCID: PMC8988988 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.818483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The necrotrophic pathogenic fungus Monilinia laxa causes brown rot disease on stone fruit generating significant yield losses. So far, a limited number of pathogenesis-related virulence factors, such as cell wall degrading enzymes and potential phytotoxins, have been described in Monilinia spp. Using RNA-sequencing data from highly virulent M. laxa ML8L strain at early stages of the infection process (6, 14, 24, and 48 h post-inoculation, hpi) on nectarine and the Pathogen-Host-Interactions (PHI) database, we selected a number of genes for further study and ranked them according to their transcription levels. We identified a class of genes highly expressed at 6 hpi and that their expression decreased to almost undetectable levels at 14 to 48 hpi. Among these genes we found Monilinia__061040 encoding a non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS). Monilinia__061040 together with other five co-regulated genes, forms a secondary metabolism cluster potentially involved in the production of epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) toxin. Quantitative-PCR data confirmed previous RNA sequencing results from the virulent ML8L strain. Interestingly, in a less virulent M. laxa ML5L strain the expression levels of this pathway were reduced compared to the ML8L strain during nectarine infection. In vitro experiments showed that liquid medium containing peach extract mimicked the results observed using nectarines. In fact, upregulation of the NRPS coding gene was also observed in minimal medium suggesting the existence of a fruit-independent mechanism of regulation for this putative toxin biosynthetic pathway that is also downregulated in the less virulent strain. These results emphasize the role of this secondary metabolism pathway during the early stage of brown rot disease development and show alternative models to study the induction of virulence genes in this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Villarino
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Rodríguez-Pires
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular de Aspergillus, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Requena
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Melgarejo
- Dirección General de Producciones y Mercados Agrarios, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonieta De Cal
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo A. Espeso
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular de Aspergillus, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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Mattam AJ, Chaudhari YB, Velankar HR. Factors regulating cellulolytic gene expression in filamentous fungi: an overview. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:44. [PMID: 35317826 PMCID: PMC8939176 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01764-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing demand for biofuels such as bioethanol has led to the need for identifying alternative feedstock instead of conventional substrates like molasses, etc. Lignocellulosic biomass is a relatively inexpensive feedstock that is available in abundance, however, its conversion to bioethanol involves a multistep process with different unit operations such as size reduction, pretreatment, saccharification, fermentation, distillation, etc. The saccharification or enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose involves a complex family of enzymes called cellulases that are usually fungal in origin. Cellulose hydrolysis requires the synergistic action of several classes of enzymes, and achieving the optimum secretion of these simultaneously remains a challenge. The expression of fungal cellulases is controlled by an intricate network of transcription factors and sugar transporters. Several genetic engineering efforts have been undertaken to modulate the expression of cellulolytic genes, as well as their regulators. This review, therefore, focuses on the molecular mechanism of action of these transcription factors and their effect on the expression of cellulases and hemicellulases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Jose Mattam
- Hindustan Petroleum Green R and D Centre (HPGRDC), KIADB Industrial Area, Tarabanahalli, Devanagundi, Hoskote, Bangalore, 560067, India
| | - Yogesh Babasaheb Chaudhari
- Hindustan Petroleum Green R and D Centre (HPGRDC), KIADB Industrial Area, Tarabanahalli, Devanagundi, Hoskote, Bangalore, 560067, India
| | - Harshad Ravindra Velankar
- Hindustan Petroleum Green R and D Centre (HPGRDC), KIADB Industrial Area, Tarabanahalli, Devanagundi, Hoskote, Bangalore, 560067, India.
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12
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Xu Y, Ao K, Tian L, Qiu Y, Huang X, Liu X, Hoy R, Zhang Y, Rashid KY, Xia S, Li X. A Forward Genetic Screen in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Revealed the Transcriptional Regulation of Its Sclerotial Melanization Pathway. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:244-256. [PMID: 34813706 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-10-21-0254-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Most plant fungal pathogens that cause worldwide crop losses are understudied, due to various technical challenges. With the increasing availability of sequenced whole genomes of these non-model fungi, effective genetic analysis methods are highly desirable. Here, we describe a newly developed pipeline, which combines forward genetic screening with high-throughput next-generation sequencing to enable quick gene discovery. We applied this pipeline in the notorious soilborne phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and identified 32 mutants with various developmental and growth deficiencies. Detailed molecular studies of three melanization-deficient mutants provide a proof of concept for the effectiveness of our method. A master transcription factor was found to regulate melanization of sclerotia through the DHN (1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene) melanin biosynthesis pathway. In addition, these mutants revealed that sclerotial melanization is important for sclerotia survival under abiotic stresses, sclerotial surface structure, and sexual reproduction. Foreseeably, this pipeline can be applied to facilitate efficient in-depth studies of other non-model fungal species in the future.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kevin Ao
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lei Tian
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yilan Qiu
- Department of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Xingchuan Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xueru Liu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ryan Hoy
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yishan Zhang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Khalid Youssef Rashid
- Oilseed Crops Pathology, Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, K.W. Neatby Building, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xin Li
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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13
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Deletion of the Bcnrps1 Gene Increases the Pathogenicity of Botrytis cinerea and Reduces Its Tolerance to the Exogenous Toxic Substances Spermidine and Pyrimethanil. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090721. [PMID: 34575759 PMCID: PMC8467525 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During the infection of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, the concentration of polyamines, which are toxic substances for the phytopathogen, increases in the grape. Nine NRPS genes have been identified in the genome of B. cinerea, yet the function of five of them remains unknown. For this reason, we have studied the expression of the 9 NRPS genes by RT-qPCR in a medium supplemented with sublethal concentrations of three polyamines (1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-DAP), spermidine (SPD), and spermine (SPM)). Our results show that the presence of polyamines in the culture medium triggered the overexpression of the Bcnrps1 gene in the pathogen. Deleting Bcnrps1 did not affect mycelial growth or adaptation to osmotic stress, and we show that its expression is not essential for the cycle of infection of the B. cinerea. However, mutating the Bcnrps1 gene resulted in overexpression of the Bcnrps6 gene, which encodes for the excretion of siderophores of the coprogen family. Moreover, gene deletion has reduced the tolerance of B. cinerea B05.10 to toxic substances such as the polyamine SPD and the fungicide pyrimethanil, and its virulence has increased. Our findings provide new insights into the function of the Bcnrps1 gene and its involvement in the tolerance of B. cinerea against exogenous toxic compounds.
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John E, Singh KB, Oliver RP, Tan K. Transcription factor control of virulence in phytopathogenic fungi. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:858-881. [PMID: 33973705 PMCID: PMC8232033 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi are a significant threat to economic and food security worldwide. Novel protection strategies are required and therefore it is critical we understand the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause disease. Virulence factors and pathogenicity genes have been identified, but in many cases their roles remain elusive. It is becoming increasingly clear that gene regulation is vital to enable plant infection and transcription factors play an essential role. Efforts to determine their regulatory functions in plant-pathogenic fungi have expanded since the annotation of fungal genomes revealed the ubiquity of transcription factors from a broad range of families. This review establishes the significance of transcription factors as regulatory elements in plant-pathogenic fungi and provides a systematic overview of those that have been functionally characterized. Detailed analysis is provided on regulators from well-characterized families controlling various aspects of fungal metabolism, development, stress tolerance, and the production of virulence factors such as effectors and secondary metabolites. This covers conserved transcription factors with either specialized or nonspecialized roles, as well as recently identified regulators targeting key virulence pathways. Fundamental knowledge of transcription factor regulation in plant-pathogenic fungi provides avenues to identify novel virulence factors and improve our understanding of the regulatory networks linked to pathogen evolution, while transcription factors can themselves be specifically targeted for disease control. Areas requiring further insight regarding the molecular mechanisms and/or specific classes of transcription factors are identified, and direction for future investigation is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan John
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- Agriculture and FoodCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationFloreatWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Richard P. Oliver
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Kar‐Chun Tan
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
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15
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Höfer AM, Harting R, Aßmann NF, Gerke J, Schmitt K, Starke J, Bayram Ö, Tran VT, Valerius O, Braus-Stromeyer SA, Braus GH. The velvet protein Vel1 controls initial plant root colonization and conidia formation for xylem distribution in Verticillium wilt. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009434. [PMID: 33720931 PMCID: PMC7993770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The conserved fungal velvet family regulatory proteins link development and secondary metabolite production. The velvet domain for DNA binding and dimerization is similar to the structure of the Rel homology domain of the mammalian NF-κB transcription factor. A comprehensive study addressed the functions of all four homologs of velvet domain encoding genes in the fungal life cycle of the soil-borne plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Genetic, cell biological, proteomic and metabolomic analyses of Vel1, Vel2, Vel3 and Vos1 were combined with plant pathogenicity experiments. Different phases of fungal growth, development and pathogenicity require V. dahliae velvet proteins, including Vel1-Vel2, Vel2-Vos1 and Vel3-Vos1 heterodimers, which are already present during vegetative hyphal growth. The major novel finding of this study is that Vel1 is necessary for initial plant root colonization and together with Vel3 for propagation in planta by conidiation. Vel1 is needed for disease symptom induction in tomato. Vel1, Vel2, and Vel3 control the formation of microsclerotia in senescent plants. Vel1 is the most important among all four V. dahliae velvet proteins with a wide variety of functions during all phases of the fungal life cycle in as well as ex planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalena M. Höfer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils F. Aßmann
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Gerke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmitt
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Van-Tuan Tran
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanna A. Braus-Stromeyer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Light-Photoreceptors and Proteins Related to Monilinia laxa Photoresponses. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010032. [PMID: 33430380 PMCID: PMC7827745 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Light represents a ubiquitous source of information for organisms to evaluate their environment. The influence of light on colony growth and conidiation was determined for three Monilinia laxa isolates. The highest mycelial growth rate was observed under red light for the three M. laxa isolates, followed by green light, daylight or darkness. However, reduced sporulation levels were observed in darkness and red light, but conidiation enhancement was found under daylight, black and green light with more hours of exposure to light. Putative photoreceptors for blue (white-collar and cryptochromes), green (opsins), and red light (phytochromes) were identified, and the photoresponse-related regulatory family of velvet proteins. A unique ortholog for each photoreceptor was found, and their respective domain architecture was highly conserved. Transcriptional analyses of uncovered sets of genes were performed under daylight or specific color light, and both in time course illumination, finding light-dependent triggered gene expression of MlVEL2, MlPHY2, MlOPS2, and MlCRY2, and color light as a positive inductor of MlVEL3, MlVEL4, MlPHY1, and MlCRY1 expression. M. laxa has a highly conserved set of photoreceptors with other light-responsive fungi. Our phenotypic analyses and the existence of this light-sensing machinery suggest transcriptional regulatory systems dedicated to modulating the development and dispersion of this pathogen.
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17
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The Destructive Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea-Insights from Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110923. [PMID: 33171745 PMCID: PMC7695001 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens affecting numerous plant hosts, including many important crop species. As a molecularly under-studied organism, its genome was only sequenced at the beginning of this century and it was recently updated with improved gene annotation and completeness. In this review, we summarize key molecular studies on B. cinerea developmental and pathogenesis processes, specifically on genes studied comprehensively with mutant analysis. Analyses of these studies have unveiled key genes in the biological processes of this pathogen, including hyphal growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation, pathogenicity and melanization. In addition, our synthesis has uncovered gaps in the present knowledge regarding development and virulence mechanisms. We hope this review will serve to enhance the knowledge of the biological mechanisms behind this notorious fungal pathogen.
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18
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Feng Y, Yin Z, Wu Y, Xu L, Du H, Wang N, Huang L. LaeA Controls Virulence and Secondary Metabolism in Apple Canker Pathogen Valsa mali. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:581203. [PMID: 33250871 PMCID: PMC7674932 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.581203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Apple Valsa canker is a destructive disease caused by the ascomycete Valsa mali and poses a serious threat to apple production. Toxins synthesized by secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (SMBGCs) have been proven to be crucial for pathogen virulence. A previous study showed that V. mali genome contains remarkably expanded SMBGCs and some of their genes were significantly upregulated during infection. In this study, we focus on LaeA, a known regulator of secondary metabolism, for its role in SMBGC regulation, toxin production, and virulence of V. mali. Deletion of VmLaeA led to greatly reduced virulence with lesion length reduced by 48% on apple twigs. Toxicity tests proved that toxicity of secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by VmLaeA deletion mutant (ΔVmlaeA) was markedly decreased in comparison with wild-type (WT). Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of WT and ΔVmlaeA indicated that a portion of transporters and about half (31/60) SMBGCs are regulated by VmLaeA. Function analysis of eight gene clusters including PKS7, PKS11, NRPS14, PKS16, PKS23, PKS31, NRPS/PKS33, and PKS39 that were differentially expressed at both transcriptional and translational levels showed that four of them (i.e., PKS11, PKS16, PKS23, and PKS31) were involved in pigment production and NRPS14 contributed to virulence. Our findings will provide new insights and gene resources for understanding the role of pathogenicity-related toxins in V. mali.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yuxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hongxia Du
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Nana Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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19
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Caesar LK, Kelleher NL, Keller NP. In the fungus where it happens: History and future propelling Aspergillus nidulans as the archetype of natural products research. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 144:103477. [PMID: 33035657 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In 1990 the first fungal secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene was cloned in Aspergillus nidulans. Thirty years later, >30 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) have been linked to specific natural products in this one fungal species. While impressive, over half of the BGCs in A. nidulans remain uncharacterized and their compounds structurally and functionally unknown. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of past advances that have enabled A. nidulans to rise to its current status as a natural product powerhouse focusing on the discovery and annotation of secondary metabolite clusters. From genome sequencing, heterologous expression, and metabolomics to CRISPR and epigenetic manipulations, we present a guided tour through the evolution of technologies developed and utilized in the last 30 years. These insights provide perspective to future efforts to fully unlock the biosynthetic potential of A. nidulans and, by extension, the potential of other filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay K Caesar
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Neil L Kelleher
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States; Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States; Proteomics Center of Excellence, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
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20
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Naranjo‐Ortiz MA, Gabaldón T. Fungal evolution: cellular, genomic and metabolic complexity. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1198-1232. [PMID: 32301582 PMCID: PMC7539958 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The question of how phenotypic and genomic complexity are inter-related and how they are shaped through evolution is a central question in biology that historically has been approached from the perspective of animals and plants. In recent years, however, fungi have emerged as a promising alternative system to address such questions. Key to their ecological success, fungi present a broad and diverse range of phenotypic traits. Fungal cells can adopt many different shapes, often within a single species, providing them with great adaptive potential. Fungal cellular organizations span from unicellular forms to complex, macroscopic multicellularity, with multiple transitions to higher or lower levels of cellular complexity occurring throughout the evolutionary history of fungi. Similarly, fungal genomes are very diverse in their architecture. Deep changes in genome organization can occur very quickly, and these phenomena are known to mediate rapid adaptations to environmental changes. Finally, the biochemical complexity of fungi is huge, particularly with regard to their secondary metabolites, chemical products that mediate many aspects of fungal biology, including ecological interactions. Herein, we explore how the interplay of these cellular, genomic and metabolic traits mediates the emergence of complex phenotypes, and how this complexity is shaped throughout the evolutionary history of Fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Naranjo‐Ortiz
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
- Department of Experimental Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREAPg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010BarcelonaSpain
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21
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Zhang M, Sun C, Liu Y, Feng H, Chang H, Cao S, Li G, Yang S, Hou J, Zhu‐Salzman K, Zhang H, Qin Q. Transcriptome analysis and functional validation reveal a novel gene, BcCGF1, that enhances fungal virulence by promoting infection-related development and host penetration. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:834-853. [PMID: 32301267 PMCID: PMC7214349 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous transcriptome analyses of both host plants and pathogens, and functional validation of the identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) allow us to better understand the mechanisms underlying their interactions. Here, we analyse the mixed transcriptome derived from Botrytis cinerea (the causal agent of grey mould) infected tomato leaves at 24 hr after inoculation, a critical time point at which the pathogen has penetrated and developed in the leaf epidermis, whereas necrotic symptoms have not yet appeared. Our analyses identified a complex network of genes involved in the tomato-B. cinerea interaction. The expression of fungal transcripts encoding candidate effectors, enzymes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis, hormone and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and autophagy-related proteins was up-regulated, suggesting that these genes may be involved in the initial infection processes. Specifically, tomato genes involved in phytoalexin production, stress responses, ATP-binding cassette transporters, pathogenesis-related proteins, and WRKY DNA-binding transcription factors were up-regulated. We functionally investigated several B. cinerea DEGs via gene replacement and pathogenicity assays, and demonstrated that BcCGF1 was a novel virulence-associated factor that mediates fungal development and virulence via regulation of conidial germination, conidiation, infection structure formation, host penetration, and stress adaptation. The fungal infection-related development was controlled by BcCGF-mediated ROS production and exogenous cAMP restored the mutant infection-related development. Our findings provide new insights into the elucidation of the simultaneous tactics of pathogen attack and host defence. Our systematic elucidation of BcCGF1 in mediating fungal pathogenesis may open up new targets for fungal disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming‐Zhe Zhang
- College of Plant SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoonosis ResearchMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Chen‐Hao Sun
- College of Plant SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Yue Liu
- College of Plant SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoonosis ResearchMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Hui‐Qiang Feng
- College of Plant SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoonosis ResearchMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Hao‐Wu Chang
- College of Computer Science, Technology, Symbol Computation and Knowledge EngineeringMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Sheng‐Nan Cao
- College of Plant SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Gui‐Hua Li
- College of Plant SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Song Yang
- College of Plant SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Jie Hou
- College of Plant SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
- College of ForestryBeiHua UniversityJinlinChina
| | - Keyan Zhu‐Salzman
- Department of EntomologyNorman Borlaug CenterTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Computer Science, Technology, Symbol Computation and Knowledge EngineeringMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
| | - Qing‐Ming Qin
- College of Plant SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoonosis ResearchMinistry of EducationJilin UniversityChangchun, JilinChina
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22
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Schumacher J, Gorbushina AA. Light sensing in plant- and rock-associated black fungi. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:407-417. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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23
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A Single Nucleotide Mutation in Adenylate Cyclase Affects Vegetative Growth, Sclerotial Formation and Virulence of Botrytis cinerea. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082912. [PMID: 32326350 PMCID: PMC7215688 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a pathogenic fungus that causes gray mold disease in a broad range of crops. The high intraspecific variability of B. cinerea makes control of this fungus very difficult. Here, we isolated a variant B05.10M strain from wild-type B05.10. The B05.10M strain showed serious defects in mycelial growth, spore and sclerotia production, and virulence. Using whole-genome resequencing and site-directed mutagenesis, a single nucleotide mutation in the adenylate cyclase (BAC) gene that results in an amino acid residue (from serine to proline, S1407P) was shown to be the cause of various defects in the B05.10M strain. When we further investigated the effect of S1407 on BAC function, the S1407P mutation in bac showed decreased accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP), and the growth defect could be partially restored by exogenous cAMP, indicating that the S1407P mutation reduced the enzyme activity of BAC. Moreover, the S1407P mutation exhibited decreased spore germination rate and infection cushion formation, and increased sensitivity to cell wall stress, which closely related to fungal development and virulence. Taken together, our study indicates that the S1407 site of bac plays an important role in vegetative growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation and virulence in B. cinerea.
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Abstract
Fungi are rich sources of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance, such as antibiotics, antitumor agents, and immunosuppressants, as well as of harmful toxins. Secondary metabolites play important roles in the development and pathogenesis of fungi. LaeA is a global regulator of secondary metabolism and was originally reported in Aspergillus nidulans; however, its role in secondary metabolism in Magnaporthe oryzae has not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the role of a gene homologous to LAEA (loss of AflR expression) of Aspergillus spp. in Magnaporthe oryzae, named M. oryzaeLAEA (MoLAEA). Studies on MoLAEA overexpression and knockdown strains have suggested that this gene acts as a negative regulator of sporulation and melanin synthesis. However, it is not involved in the growth and pathogenesis of M. oryzae Transcriptomic data indicated that MoLAEA regulated genes involved in secondary metabolism. Interestingly, we observed (for the first time, to our knowledge) that this gene is involved in benzylpenicillin (penicillin G) synthesis in M. oryzae Overexpression of MoLAEA increased penicillin G production, whereas the silenced strain showed a complete absence of penicillin G compared to its presence in the wild type. We also observed that MoLaeA interacted with MoVeA, a velvet family protein involved in fungal development and secondary metabolism, in the nucleus. This study showed that though MoLAEA may not make any contribution in rice blast fungal pathogenesis, it regulates secondary metabolism in M. oryzae and thus can be further studied for identifying other new uncharacterized metabolites in this fungus.IMPORTANCEM. oryzae causes blast disease, the most serious disease of cultivated rice affecting global rice production. The genome of M. oryzae has been shown to have a number of genes involved in secondary metabolism, but most of them are uncharacterized. In fact, compared to studies of other filamentous fungi, hardly any work has been done on secondary metabolism in M. oryzae It is shown here (for the first time, to our knowledge) that penicillin G is being synthesized in M. oryzae and that MoLAEA is involved in this process. This is the first step in understanding the penicillin G biosynthesis pathway in M. oryzae This study also unraveled the details of how MoLaeA works by forming a nuclear complex with MoVeA in M. oryzae, thus indicating functional conservation of such a gene across filamentous fungi. All these findings open up avenues for more relevant investigations on the genetic regulation of secondary metabolism in M. oryzae.
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Restricting mycotoxins without killing the producers: a new paradigm in nano-fungal interactions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:2803-2813. [PMID: 32025763 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10373-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several years, numerous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using engineered nanoparticles as antifungals, especially against those fungal pathogens that produce mycotoxins and infect plants, animals, and humans. The high dosage of nanoparticles has been a concern in such antifungal applications due to the potential toxicological and ecotoxicological impacts. To address such concerns, we have recently introduced the idea of inhibiting mycotoxin biosynthesis using low doses of engineered nanoparticles. At such low doses these particles are minimally toxic to humans and the environment. From our studies we realize that for the effective use of nanotechnology to intervene in the biology of fungal pathogens and for an accurate evaluation of the impacts of the increasingly growing nanomaterials in the environment on fungi and their interacting biotic partners, there is a pressing need for a rigorous understanding of nano-fungal interactions, which is currently far from complete. In this minireview, we build on the available evidence from nano-bio interaction research and our recent interaction studies with Aspergillus cells and engineered silver nanoparticles to introduce a potential theoretical model for nano-fungal interactions. The aim of the proposed model is to provide an initial insight on how nanoparticle uptake and their transformation inside fungal cells, possibly influence the production of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi .
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The Subtilisin-Like Protease Bcser2 Affects the Sclerotial Formation, Conidiation and Virulence of Botrytis cinerea. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020603. [PMID: 31963451 PMCID: PMC7013506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea, a ubiquitous necrotrophic plant-pathogenic fungus, is responsible for grey mold and rot disease in a very wide range of plant species. Subtilisin-like proteases (or subtilases) are a very diverse family of serine proteases present in many organisms and are reported to have a broad spectrum of biological functions. Here, we identified two genes encoding subtilisin-like proteases (Bcser1 and Bcser2) in the genome of B. cinerea, both of which contain an inhibitor I9 domain and a peptidase S8 domain. The expression levels of Bcser1 and Bcser2 increased during the sclerotial forming stage, as well as during a later stage of hyphal infection on Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, but the up-regulation of Bcser1 was significantly higher than that of Bcser2. Interestingly, deletion of Bcser1 had no effect on the fungal development or virulence of B. cinerea. However, deletion of Bcser2 or double deletion of Bcser1 and Bcser2 severely impaired the hyphal growth, sclerotial formation and conidiation of B. cinerea. We also found that ∆Bcser2 and ∆Bcser1/2 could not form complete infection cushions and then lost the ability to infect intact plant leaves of Arabidopsis and tomato but could infect wounded plant tissues. Taken together, our results indicate that the subtilisin-like protease Bcser2 is crucial for the sclerotial formation, conidiation, and virulence of B. cinerea.
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Rahnama M, Maclean P, Fleetwood DJ, Johnson RD. VelA and LaeA are Key Regulators of Epichloë festucae Transcriptomic Response during Symbiosis with Perennial Ryegrass. Microorganisms 2019; 8:microorganisms8010033. [PMID: 31878026 PMCID: PMC7023048 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
VelA (or VeA) is a key global regulator in fungal secondary metabolism and development which we previously showed is required during the symbiotic interaction of Epichloë festucae with perennial ryegrass. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses of ∆velA mutant compared to wild-type E. festucae, under three different conditions (in culture, infected seedlings, and infected mature plants), were performed to investigate the impact of VelA on E. festucae transcriptome. These comparative transcriptomic studies showed that VelA regulates the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in membrane transport, fungal cell wall biosynthesis, host cell wall degradation, and secondary metabolism, along with a number of small secreted proteins and a large number of proteins with no predictable functions. In addition, these results were compared with previous transcriptomic experiments that studied the impact of LaeA, another key global regulator of secondary metabolism and development that we have shown is important for E. festucae–perennial ryegrass interaction. The results showed that although VelA and LaeA regulate a subset of E. festucae genes in a similar manner, they also regulated many other genes independently of each other suggesting specialised roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Rahnama
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (P.M.); (D.J.F.)
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (R.D.J.)
| | - Paul Maclean
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (P.M.); (D.J.F.)
| | - Damien J. Fleetwood
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (P.M.); (D.J.F.)
- Biotelliga Ltd, Auckland 1052, New Zealand
| | - Richard D. Johnson
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (P.M.); (D.J.F.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (R.D.J.)
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de Vallée A, Bally P, Bruel C, Chandat L, Choquer M, Dieryckx C, Dupuy JW, Kaiser S, Latorse MP, Loisel E, Mey G, Morgant G, Rascle C, Schumacher J, Simon A, Souibgui E, Viaud M, Villalba F, Poussereau N. A Similar Secretome Disturbance as a Hallmark of Non-pathogenic Botrytis cinerea ATMT-Mutants? Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2829. [PMID: 31866989 PMCID: PMC6908482 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic pathogen able to infect hundreds of host plants, including high-value crops such as grapevine, strawberry and tomato. In order to decipher its infectious strategy, a library of 2,144 mutants was generated by random insertional mutagenesis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). Twelve mutants exhibiting total loss of virulence toward different host plants were chosen for detailed analyses. Their molecular characterization revealed a single T-DNA insertion in different loci. Using a proteomics approach, the secretome of four of these strains was compared to that of the parental strain and a common profile of reduced lytic enzymes was recorded. Significant variations in this profile, notably deficiencies in the secretion of proteases and hemicellulases, were observed and validated by biochemical tests. They were also a hallmark of the remaining eight non-pathogenic strains, suggesting the importance of these secreted proteins in the infection process. In the twelve non-pathogenic mutants, the differentiation of infection cushions was also impaired, suggesting a link between the penetration structures and the secretion of proteins involved in the virulence of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie de Vallée
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Pascal Bally
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Christophe Bruel
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Lucie Chandat
- Centre de Recherche La Dargoire, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Mathias Choquer
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Cindy Dieryckx
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Jean William Dupuy
- Plateforme Protéome, Centre de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sophie Kaiser
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | | | - Elise Loisel
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Géraldine Mey
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Guillaume Morgant
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Christine Rascle
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, Germany
| | - Adeline Simon
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Eytham Souibgui
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
| | - Muriel Viaud
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | | | - Nathalie Poussereau
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Bayer SAS, Lyon, France
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Kilani J, Davanture M, Simon A, Zivy M, Fillinger S. Comparative quantitative proteomics of osmotic signal transduction mutants in Botrytis cinerea explain mutant phenotypes and highlight interaction with cAMP and Ca 2+ signalling pathways. J Proteomics 2019; 212:103580. [PMID: 31733416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Signal transduction (ST) is essential for rapid adaptive responses to changing environmental conditions. It acts through rapid post-translational modifications of signalling proteins and downstream effectors that regulate the activity and/or subcellular localisation of target proteins, or the expression of downstream genes. We have performed a quantitative, comparative proteomics study of ST mutants in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea during axenic growth under non-stressed conditions to decipher the roles of two kinases of the hyper-osmolarity pathway in B. cinerea physiology. We studied the mutants of the sensor histidine kinase Bos1 and of the MAP kinase Sak1. Label-free shotgun proteomics detected 2425 proteins, 628 differentially abundant between mutants and wild-type, 270 common to both mutants, indicating independent and shared regulatory functions for both kinases. Gene ontology analysis showed significant changes in functional categories that may explain in vitro growth and virulence defects of both mutants (secondary metabolism enzymes, lytic enzymes, proteins linked to osmotic, oxidative and cell wall stress). The proteome data also highlight a new link between Sak1 MAPK, cAMP and Ca2+ signalling. This study reveals the potential of proteomic analyses of signal transduction mutants to decipher their biological functions. TEXT-VULGARISATION: The fungus Botrytis cinerea is responsible for grey mold disease of hundreds of plant species. During infection, the fungus has to face important changes of its environment. Adaptation to these changing environmental conditions involves proteins of such called signal transduction pathways that regulate the production, activity or localisation of cellular components, mainly proteins. While the components of such signal transduction pathways are well known, their role globally understood, the precise impact on protein production remains unknown. In this study we have analysed and compared the global protein content of two Botrytis cinerea signal transduction mutants - both avirulent - to the pathogenic parental strain. The data of 628 differential proteins between mutants and wild-type, showed significant changes in proteins related to plant infection (secondary metabolism enzymes, lytic enzymes, proteins linked to osmotic, oxidative and cell wall stress) that may explain the virulence defects of both mutants. Moreover, we observed intracellular accumulation of secreted proteins in one of the mutants suggesting a potential secretion defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaafar Kilani
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France; Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Marlène Davanture
- PAPPSO, GQE - Le Moulon, INRA, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Adeline Simon
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Michel Zivy
- PAPPSO, GQE - Le Moulon, INRA, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sabine Fillinger
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, Thiverval-Grignon, France.
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Dalestones A and B, two anti-inflammatory cyclopentenones from Daldinia eschscholzii with an edited strong promoter for the global regulator LaeA-like gene. Chin J Nat Med 2019; 17:387-393. [PMID: 31171274 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(19)30045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Replacement of the native promoter of theglobal regulator LaeA-like gene of Daldinia eschscholzii by a strong gpdA promoter led to the generation of two novel cyclopentenone metabolites, named dalestones A and B, whose structures were assigned by a combination of spectroscopic analysis, modified Mosher's reaction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Dalestones A and B inhibit the gene expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.
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Zhang W, Corwin JA, Copeland DH, Feusier J, Eshbaugh R, Cook DE, Atwell S, Kliebenstein DJ. Plant-necrotroph co-transcriptome networks illuminate a metabolic battlefield. eLife 2019; 8:e44279. [PMID: 31081752 PMCID: PMC6557632 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A central goal of studying host-pathogen interaction is to understand how host and pathogen manipulate each other to promote their own fitness in a pathosystem. Co-transcriptomic approaches can simultaneously analyze dual transcriptomes during infection and provide a systematic map of the cross-kingdom communication between two species. Here we used the Arabidopsis-B. cinerea pathosystem to test how plant host and fungal pathogen interact at the transcriptomic level. We assessed the impact of genetic diversity in pathogen and host by utilization of a collection of 96 isolates infection on Arabidopsis wild-type and two mutants with jasmonate or salicylic acid compromised immunities. We identified ten B. cinereagene co-expression networks (GCNs) that encode known or novel virulence mechanisms. Construction of a dual interaction network by combining four host- and ten pathogen-GCNs revealed potential connections between the fungal and plant GCNs. These co-transcriptome data shed lights on the potential mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Plant PathologyKansas State UniversityManhattanUnited States
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Jason A Corwin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution BiologyUniversity of ColoradoBoulderUnited States
| | | | - Julie Feusier
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Robert Eshbaugh
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - David E Cook
- Department of Plant PathologyKansas State UniversityManhattanUnited States
| | - Suzi Atwell
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Daniel J Kliebenstein
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisUnited States
- DynaMo Center of ExcellenceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksbergDenmark
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Rahnama M, Maclean P, Fleetwood DJ, Johnson RD. The LaeA orthologue in Epichloë festucae is required for symbiotic interaction with Lolium perenne. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 129:74-85. [PMID: 31071427 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
LaeA is a conserved global regulator of secondary metabolism and development in fungi. It is often required for successful pathogenic interactions. In this study, the laeA homologue in the fungal grass endophyte E. festucae was deleted and functionally characterised in vitro and its role in the mutualistic E. festucae interaction with Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) was determined. We showed that laeA in E. festucae is required for normal hyphal morphology, resistance to oxidative stress, and conidiation under nutrient-limited in vitro conditions. In planta studies revealed that laeA is expressed in a tissue-specific manner and is required to form a compatible plant interaction, with the majority of seedlings inoculated with a laeA deletion mutant either dying or being uninfected. In mature infected plants no difference was observed in the number or morphology of endophytic hyphae. However, the number of epiphyllous hyphae were greatly increased. Comparative transcriptomics analyses suggested roles for plant cell wall degradation, fungal cell wall composition, secondary metabolism and small-secreted proteins in Epichloë foliar symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rahnama
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - P Maclean
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - D J Fleetwood
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Biotelliga Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - R D Johnson
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
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Iradi-Serrano M, Tola-García L, Cortese MS, Ugalde U. The Early Asexual Development Regulator fluG Codes for a Putative Bifunctional Enzyme. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:778. [PMID: 31057506 PMCID: PMC6478659 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FluG is a long recognized early regulator of asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans. fluG null mutants show profuse aerial growth and no conidial production. Initial studies reported sequence homology of FluG with a prokaryotic type I glutamine synthetase, but catalytic activity has not been demonstrated. In this study, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the FluG sequence, which revealed a single polypeptide containing a putative N-terminal amidohydrolase region linked to a putative C-terminal γ-glutamyl ligase region. Each region corresponded, separately and completely, to respective single function bacterial enzymes. Separate expression of these regions confirmed that the C-terminal region was essential for asexual development. The N-terminal region alone did not support conidial development, but contributed to increased conidial production under high nutrient availability. Point mutations directed at respective key catalytic residues in each region demonstrated that they were essential for biological function. Moreover, the substitution of the N- and C-terminal regions with homologs from Lactobacillus paracasei and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, maintained functionality, albeit with altered characteristics. Taken together, the results lead us to conclude that FluG is a bifunctional enzyme that participates in an as yet unidentified metabolic or signaling pathway involving a γ-glutamylated intermediate that contributes to developmental fate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Unai Ugalde
- Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
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Botcinic acid biosynthesis in Botrytis cinerea relies on a subtelomeric gene cluster surrounded by relics of transposons and is regulated by the Zn2Cys6 transcription factor BcBoa13. Curr Genet 2019; 65:965-980. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-00952-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Schumacher J, Studt L, Tudzynski P. The putative H3K36 demethylase BcKDM1 affects virulence, stress responses and photomorphogenesis in Botrytis cinerea. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 123:14-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Haile ZM, Malacarne G, Pilati S, Sonego P, Moretto M, Masuero D, Vrhovsek U, Engelen K, Baraldi E, Moser C. Dual Transcriptome and Metabolic Analysis of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir Berry and Botrytis cinerea During Quiescence and Egressed Infection. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1704. [PMID: 32082332 PMCID: PMC7002552 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is an important necrotroph in vineyards. Primary infections are mostly initiated by airborne conidia from overwintered sources around bloom, then the fungus remains quiescent from bloom till maturity and egresses at ripeness. We previously described in detail the process of flower infection and quiescence initiation. Here, we complete the characterization studying the cross-talk between the plant and the fungus during pathogen quiescence and egression by an integrated transcriptomic and metabolic analysis of the host and the pathogen. Flowers from fruiting cuttings of the cv. Pinot Noir were inoculated with a GFP-labeled strain of B. cinerea at full cap-off stage, and molecular analyses were carried out at 4 weeks post inoculation (wpi, fungal quiescent state) and at 12 wpi (fungal pre-egression and egression states). The expressed fungal transcriptome highlighted that the fungus remodels its cell wall to evade plant chitinases besides undergoing basal metabolic activities. Berries responded by differentially regulating genes encoding for different PR proteins and genes involved in monolignol, flavonoid, and stilbenoid biosynthesis pathways. At 12 wpi, the transcriptome of B. cinerea in the pre-egressed samples showed that virulence-related genes were expressed, suggesting infection process was initiated. The egressed B. cinerea expressed almost all virulence and growth related genes that enabled the pathogen to colonize the berries. In response to egression, ripe berries reprogrammed different defense responses, though futile. Examples are activation of membrane localized kinases, stilbene synthases, and other PR proteins related to SA and JA-mediated responses. Our results indicated that hard-green berries defense program was capable to hamper B. cinerea growth. However, ripening associated fruit cell wall self-disassembly together with high humidity created the opportunity for the fungus to egress and cause bunch rot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeraye Mehari Haile
- Department of Genomics and Biology of Fruit Crops, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Pathology, DISTAL, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Plant Protection Research Division of Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Giulia Malacarne
- Department of Genomics and Biology of Fruit Crops, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giulia Malacarne,
| | - Stefania Pilati
- Department of Genomics and Biology of Fruit Crops, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Paolo Sonego
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Marco Moretto
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Domenico Masuero
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Urska Vrhovsek
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Kristof Engelen
- ESAT-ELECTA, Electrical Energy and Computer Architectures, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Baraldi
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Pathology, DISTAL, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Moser
- Department of Genomics and Biology of Fruit Crops, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
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New Genomic Approaches to Enhance Biomass Degradation by the Industrial Fungus Trichoderma reesei. Int J Genomics 2018; 2018:1974151. [PMID: 30345291 PMCID: PMC6174759 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1974151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungi Trichoderma reesei is one of the most well-studied cellulolytic microorganisms. It is the most important fungus for the industrial production of enzymes to biomass deconstruction being widely used in the biotechnology industry, mainly in the production of biofuels. Here, we performed an analytic review of the holocellulolytic system presented by T. reesei as well as the transcriptional and signaling mechanisms involved with holocellulase expression in this fungus. We also discuss new perspectives about control of secretion and cellulase expression based on RNA-seq and functional characterization data of T. reesei growth in different carbon sources, which comprise glucose, cellulose, sophorose, and sugarcane bagasse.
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Yin Y, Wu S, Chui C, Ma T, Jiang H, Hahn M, Ma Z. The MAPK kinase BcMkk1 suppresses oxalic acid biosynthesis via impeding phosphorylation of BcRim15 by BcSch9 in Botrytis cinerea. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007285. [PMID: 30212570 PMCID: PMC6136818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cassette of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway is primarily responsible for orchestrating changes of cell wall. However, functions of this cassette in other cellular processes are not well understood. Here, we found that the Botrytis cinerea mutant of MAPK kinase (BcMkk1) displays more serious defects in mycelial growth, conidiation, responses to cell wall and oxidative stresses, but possesses less reduced virulence than the mutants of its upstream (BcBck1) and downstream (BcBmp3) kinases. Interestingly, BcMkk1, but not BcBck1 and BcBmp3, negatively regulates production of oxalic acid (OA) and activity of extracellular hydrolases (EHs) that are proposed to be virulence factors of B. cinerea. Moreover, we obtained evidence that BcMkk1 negatively controls OA production via impeding phosphorylation of the Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) kinase BcRim15 by the Ser/Thr kinase BcSch9. In addition, the fungal Pro40 homolog BcPro40 was found to interact simultaneously with three MAPKs, implying that BcPro40 is a scaffold protein of the CWI pathway in B. cinerea. Taken together, results of this study reveal that BcMkk1 negatively modulates virulence via suppressing OA biosynthesis in B. cinerea, which provides novel insight into conserved and species-specific functions of the MAPK kinase in fungi. Botrytis cinerea causes pre- and postharvest diseases in more than 200 economically important crops. In this study, the roles of cell wall integrity (CWI)-related MAPK kinase BcMkk1in regulating B. cinerea virulence were investigated using genetic and biochemical approaches. We found that the MAPK kinase BcMkk1 positively regulates virulence via the CWI pathway. Unexpectedly, BcMkk1 also negatively regulates fungal virulence via restraining oxalic acid production, by impeding phosphorylation of the PAS kinase BcRim15 mediated by the kinase BcSch9. To our knowledge, this is the first report that a MAPK kinase can negatively modulate fungal virulence on host plants. Our results provide novel insight into biological functions of a MAPK kinase in fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sisi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chaonan Chui
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianling Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huixian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Department of Biology, Kaiserslautern University, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
In bacteria, more than half of the genes in the genome are organized in operons. In contrast, in eukaryotes, functionally related genes are usually dispersed across the genome. There are, however, numerous examples of functional clusters of nonhomologous genes for metabolic pathways in fungi and plants. Despite superficial similarities with operons (physical clustering, coordinate regulation), these clusters have not usually originated by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria, and (unlike operons) the genes are typically transcribed separately rather than as a single polycistronic message. This clustering phenomenon raises intriguing questions about the origins of clustered metabolic pathways in eukaryotes and the significance of clustering for pathway function. Here we review metabolic gene clusters from fungi and plants, highlight commonalities and differences, and consider how these clusters form and are regulated. We also identify opportunities for future research in the areas of large-scale genomics, synthetic biology, and experimental evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Wilhelm Nützmann
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom; .,Current affiliation: Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom;
| | - Claudio Scazzocchio
- Department of Microbiology, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; .,Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom;
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Müller N, Leroch M, Schumacher J, Zimmer D, Könnel A, Klug K, Leisen T, Scheuring D, Sommer F, Mühlhaus T, Schroda M, Hahn M. Investigations on VELVET regulatory mutants confirm the role of host tissue acidification and secretion of proteins in the pathogenesis of Botrytis cinerea. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 219:1062-1074. [PMID: 29790574 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The Botrytis cinerea VELVET complex regulates light-dependent development and virulence. The goal of this study was to identify common virulence defects of several VELVET mutants and to reveal their molecular basis. Growth, differentiation, physiology, gene expression and infection of fungal strains were analyzed, and quantitative comparisons of in planta transcriptomes and secretomes were performed. VELVET mutants showed reduced release of citric acid, the major acid secreted by the wild-type, whereas no significant role for oxalic acid was observed. Furthermore, a common set of infection-related and secreted proteins was strongly underexpressed in the mutants. Quantitative secretome analysis with 15 N metabolic labeling revealed a correlation of changes in protein and mRNA levels between wild-type and mutants, indicating that transcript levels determine the abundance of secreted proteins. Infection sites kept at low pH partially restored lesion expansion and expression of virulence genes by the mutants. Drastic downregulation of proteases in the mutants was correlated with incomplete degradation of cellular host proteins at the infection site, but no evidence was obtained that aspartyl proteases are required for lesion formation. The B. cinerea VELVET complex controls pathogenic differentiation by regulating organic acid secretion, host tissue acidification, gene expression and protein secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Müller
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michaela Leroch
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - David Zimmer
- Department of Biology, Computational Systems Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Anne Könnel
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Klaus Klug
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Thomas Leisen
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - David Scheuring
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Frederik Sommer
- Department of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Timo Mühlhaus
- Department of Biology, Computational Systems Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michael Schroda
- Department of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Department of Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Velvet domain protein VosA represses the zinc cluster transcription factor SclB regulatory network for Aspergillus nidulans asexual development, oxidative stress response and secondary metabolism. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007511. [PMID: 30044771 PMCID: PMC6078315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The NF-κB-like velvet domain protein VosA (viability of spores) binds to more than 1,500 promoter sequences in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. VosA inhibits premature induction of the developmental activator gene brlA, which promotes asexual spore formation in response to environmental cues as light. VosA represses a novel genetic network controlled by the sclB gene. SclB function is antagonistic to VosA, because it induces the expression of early activator genes of asexual differentiation as flbC and flbD as well as brlA. The SclB controlled network promotes asexual development and spore viability, but is independent of the fungal light control. SclB interactions with the RcoA transcriptional repressor subunit suggest additional inhibitory functions on transcription. SclB links asexual spore formation to the synthesis of secondary metabolites including emericellamides, austinol as well as dehydroaustinol and activates the oxidative stress response of the fungus. The fungal VosA-SclB regulatory system of transcription includes a VosA control of the sclB promoter, common and opposite VosA and SclB control functions of fungal development and several additional regulatory genes. The relationship between VosA and SclB illustrates the presence of a convoluted surveillance apparatus of transcriptional control, which is required for accurate fungal development and the linkage to the appropriate secondary metabolism. Velvet domain proteins of filamentous fungi are structurally similar to Rel-homology domains of mammalian NF-κB proteins. Velvet and NF-κB proteins control regulatory circuits of downstream transcriptional networks for cellular differentiation, survival and stress responses. Velvet proteins interconnect developmental programs with secondary metabolism in fungi. The velvet protein VosA binds to more than ten percent of the Aspergillus nidulans promoters and is important for the spatial and temporal control of asexual spore formation from conidiophores. A novel VosA-dependent genetic network has been identified and is controlled by the zinc cluster protein SclB. Although zinc cluster proteins constitute one of the most abundant classes of transcription factors in fungi, only a small amount is characterized. SclB is a repression target of VosA and both transcription factors are part of a mutual control in the timely adjusted choreography of asexual sporulation in A. nidulans. SclB acts at the interphase of asexual development and secondary metabolism and interconnects both programs with an adequate oxidative stress response. This study underlines the complexity of different hierarchical levels of the fungal velvet protein transcriptional network for developmental programs and interconnected secondary metabolism.
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Hua L, Yong C, Zhanquan Z, Boqiang L, Guozheng Q, Shiping T. Pathogenic mechanisms and control strategies of Botrytis cinerea causing post-harvest decay in fruits and vegetables. FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/fqsafe/fyy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li Hua
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
| | - Chen Yong
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
| | - Zhang Zhanquan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handing of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Li Boqiang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handing of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Qin Guozheng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handing of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Tian Shiping
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handing of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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43
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Rahnama M, Johnson RD, Voisey CR, Simpson WR, Fleetwood DJ. The Global Regulatory Protein VelA Is Required for Symbiosis Between the Endophytic Fungus Epichloë festucae and Lolium perenne. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2018; 31:591-604. [PMID: 29315021 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-11-17-0286-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Epichloë species fungi form bioprotective endophytic symbioses with many cool-season grasses, including agriculturally important forage grasses. Despite its importance, relatively little is known about the molecular details of the interaction and the regulatory genes involved. The conserved velvet-domain protein VelA (or VeA) is a global regulator of a number of cellular and developmental functions in fungi. In this study, the E. festucae velA gene was functionally characterized in vitro and during interaction with perennial ryegrass. The velA gene is required in E. festucae for resistance to osmotic and cell wall-damaging stresses, repression of conidiation, and normal hyphal morphology during nutrient-limited in-vitro conditions. Expression of velA in E. festucae is light- and nitrogen-dependent and is tissue-specific in mature infected plants. In-planta studies showed that velA is required in E. festucae for a compatible interaction. Inoculating seedlings with mutant ΔvelA induced callose deposition and H2O2 production, and a high level of seedling death was observed. In surviving plants infected with ΔvelA mutant fungi, plants were stunted and we observed increased biomass and invasion of vascular bundles. Overall, this work characterizes a key fungal regulatory factor in this increasingly important model symbiotic association.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rahnama
- 1 AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; and
- 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - R D Johnson
- 1 AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; and
| | - C R Voisey
- 1 AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; and
| | - W R Simpson
- 1 AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; and
| | - D J Fleetwood
- 1 AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; and
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44
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El Hajj Assaf C, Snini SP, Tadrist S, Bailly S, Naylies C, Oswald IP, Lorber S, Puel O. Impact of veA on the development, aggressiveness, dissemination and secondary metabolism of Penicillium expansum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:1971-1983. [PMID: 29517851 PMCID: PMC6638001 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Penicillium expansum, the causal agent of blue mould disease, produces the mycotoxins patulin and citrinin amongst other secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolism is associated with fungal development, which responds to numerous biotic and abiotic external triggers. The global transcription factor VeA plays a key role in the coordination of secondary metabolism and differentiation processes in many fungal species. The specific role of VeA in P. expansum remains unknown. A null mutant PeΔveA strain and a complemented PeΔveA:veA strain were generated in P. expansum and their pathogenicity on apples was studied. Like the wild-type and the complemented strains, the null mutant PeΔveA strain was still able to sporulate and to colonize apples, but at a lower rate. However, it could not form coremia either in vitro or in vivo, thus limiting its dissemination from natural substrates. The impact of veA on the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in the production of patulin, citrinin and other secondary metabolites was evaluated. The disruption of veA drastically reduced the production of patulin and citrinin on synthetic media, associated with a marked down-regulation of all genes involved in the biosynthesis of the two mycotoxins. Moreover, the null mutant PeΔveA strain was unable to produce patulin on apples. The analysis of gene expression revealed a global impact on secondary metabolism, as 15 of 35 backbone genes showed differential regulation on two different media. These findings support the hypothesis that VeA contributes to the pathogenicity of P. expansum and modulates its secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle El Hajj Assaf
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
- Flanders Research Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science UnitMelle 9090Belgium
| | - Selma P. Snini
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
- Present address:
Université de Toulouse, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INPT, UPSToulouseFrance
| | - Souria Tadrist
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
| | - Sylviane Bailly
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
| | - Claire Naylies
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
| | - Isabelle P. Oswald
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
| | - Sophie Lorber
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
| | - Olivier Puel
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP‐Purpan, UPS31027 ToulouseFrance
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Regulin A, Kempken F. Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190543. [PMID: 29293643 PMCID: PMC5749846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi produce an astonishing variety of secondary metabolites, some of which belong to the most toxic compounds in the living world. Several fungal metabolites have anti-insecticidal properties which may yield advantages to the fungus in competition with insects for exploitation of environmental resources. Using the Drosophila melanogaster/Aspergillus nidulans ecological model system to assess secondary metabolite mutant genotypes, we find a major role for the veA allele in insect/fungal confrontations that exceeds the influence of other factors such as LaeA. VeA along with LaeA is a member of a transcriptional complex governing secondary metabolism in A. nidulans. However, historically a mutant veA allele, veA1 reduced in secondary metabolite output, has been used in many studies of this model organism. To test the significance of this allele in our system, Aspergillus nidulans veA wild type, veA1, ΔveA and ΔlaeA were evaluated in confrontation assays to analyze egg laying activity, and the survival rate of larvae. The veA1 genetic background led to a significant increase of larval survival. Adult flies were observed almost exclusively on veA1, ΔveA or ΔlaeA genetic backgrounds, suggesting a role for the velvet complex in insect/fungal interactions. This effect was most profound using the veA1 mutant. Hence, larval survival in confrontations is highly affected by the fungal genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Regulin
- Botanisches Institut und Botanischer Garten, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Kempken
- Botanisches Institut und Botanischer Garten, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
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46
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Impact of Morphological Sectors on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing and Virulence Studies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00755-17. [PMID: 28993330 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00755-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological heterogeneity of Aspergillus terreus cultures was observed during continued cultivation of amphotericin B (AMB)-resistant isolates on drug-free medium. Outgrowth leads to the emergence of multiple sectors that might result from increased growth rates at drug-free conditions. We evaluated the differences in AMB susceptibility and virulence between sector subcultures (ATSec), AMB-resistant (ATR) strains, and AMB-susceptible (ATS) strains. By comparing A. terreus AMB-resistant (ATR) strains and A. terreus sector (ATSec) cultures we observed a highly significant reduction of AMB MICs in ATSec (ATR MIC, 2 to 32 μg/ml; ATSec MIC, 0.12 to 5 μg/ml). Furthermore, Galleria mellonella survival studies revealed an enhanced virulence of ATSec, which was comparable with that of AMB-sensitive Aspergillus terreus strains (median survival rates for ATS isolates, 72 h; for ATSec isolate ATSecG1, 84 h; for ATR isolates, 144 h). Our findings clearly demonstrate that spontaneous culture degeneration occurs in A. terreus and, most importantly, crucially impacts drug efficacy and virulence.
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47
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Niehaus EM, Rindermann L, Janevska S, Münsterkötter M, Güldener U, Tudzynski B. Analysis of the global regulator Lae1 uncovers a connection between Lae1 and the histone acetyltransferase HAT1 in Fusarium fujikuroi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:279-295. [PMID: 29080998 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes "bakanae" disease of rice due to its ability to produce gibberellins (GAs), a family of plant hormones. Recent genome sequencing revealed the genetic capacity for the biosynthesis of 46 additional secondary metabolites besides the industrially produced GAs. Among them are the pigments bikaverin and fusarubins, as well as mycotoxins, such as fumonisins, fusarin C, beauvericin, and fusaric acid. However, half of the potential secondary metabolite gene clusters are silent. In recent years, it has been shown that the fungal specific velvet complex is involved in global regulation of secondary metabolism in several filamentous fungi. We have previously shown that deletion of the three components of the F. fujikuroi velvet complex, vel1, vel2, and lae1, almost totally abolished biosynthesis of GAs, fumonisins and fusarin C. Here, we present a deeper insight into the genome-wide regulatory impact of Lae1 on secondary metabolism. Over-expression of lae1 resulted in de-repression of GA biosynthetic genes under otherwise repressing high nitrogen conditions demonstrating that the nitrogen repression is overcome. In addition, over-expression of one of five tested histone acetyltransferase genes, HAT1, was capable of returning GA gene expression and GA production to the GA-deficient Δlae1 mutant. Deletion and over-expression of HAT1 in the wild type resulted in downregulation and upregulation of GA gene expression, respectively, indicating that HAT1 together with Lae1 plays an essential role in the regulation of GA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Corrensstr. 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Rindermann
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Münsterkötter
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Chair of Genome-oriented Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.
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48
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Zhao X, Spraker JE, Bok JW, Velk T, He ZM, Keller NP. A Cellular Fusion Cascade Regulated by LaeA Is Required for Sclerotial Development in Aspergillus flavus. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1925. [PMID: 29051754 PMCID: PMC5633613 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic soil fungus that poses a serious threat worldwide as it contaminates many food and feed crops with the carcinogenic mycotoxin called aflatoxin. This pathogen persists as sclerotia in the soil which enables fungal survival in harsh environmental conditions. Sclerotia formation by A. flavus depends on successful cell communication and hyphal fusion events. Loss of LaeA, a conserved developmental regulator in fungi, abolishes sclerotia formation in this species whereas overexpression (OE) of laeA results in enhanced sclerotia production. Here we demonstrate that sclerotia loss and inability to form heterokaryons in A. flavusΔlaeA is mediated by homologs of the Neurospora crassa ham (hyphal anastomosis) genes termed hamE-I in A. flavus. LaeA positively regulates ham gene expression and deletion of hamF, G, H, or I phenocopies ΔlaeA as demonstrated by heterokaryon and sclerotia loss and reduced aflatoxin synthesis and virulence of these mutants. Deletion of hamE showed a less severe phenotype. hamE-I homologs are positively regulated by the clock controlled transcription factor ADV-1 in N. crassa. Similarly, the ADV-1 homolog NosA regulates hamE-I expression in A. flavus, is required for sclerotial development and is itself positively regulated by LaeA. We speculate that a putative LaeA>NosA>fusion cascade underlies the previously described circadian clock regulation of sclerotia production in A. flavus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Joseph E Spraker
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jin Woo Bok
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Thomas Velk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Zhu-Mei He
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.,Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Yu Y, Hube B, Kämper J, Meyer V, Krappmann S. When green and red mycology meet: Impressions from an interdisciplinary forum on virulence mechanisms of phyto- and human-pathogenic fungi. Virulence 2017; 8:1435-1444. [PMID: 28723316 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1356502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections pose a constant threat to plants and humans, but detailed knowledge about pathogenesis, immunity, or virulence is rather scarce. Due to the fact that a certain overlap in the armoury of infection exists between plant- and human-pathogenic fungi, an interdisciplinary forum was held in October 2016 at the Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene in Erlangen under the organisational umbrella from two special interest groups of German microbial societies. Scientific exchange and intense discussion of this timely topic was fostered by bringing together renowned experts in their respective fields to present their thoughts and recent findings in the course of a plenary lecture and six themed sessions, accompanied by oral and poster contributions of young researchers. By targeting the topic of fungal virulence mechanisms from various angles and in the context of plant and human hosts, some common grounds and exciting perspectives could be deduced during this vibrant scientific event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Yu
- a Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Bavaria , Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- b Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms , Hans Knöll Institute , Jena , Thuringia , Germany
| | - Jörg Kämper
- c Department of Genetics , Institute of Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology , Karlsruhe , Baden-Wuerttemberg , Germany
| | - Vera Meyer
- d Institute of Biotechnology , Department of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany
| | - Sven Krappmann
- a Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Bavaria , Germany
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