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Brauer EK, Bosnich W, Holy K, Thapa I, Krishnan S, Moatter Syed, Bredow M, Sproule A, Power M, Johnston A, Cloutier M, Haribabu N, Izhar U H Khan, Diallo JS, Monaghan J, Chabot D, Overy DP, Subramaniam R, Piñeros M, Blackwell B, Harris LJ. A cyclic lipopeptide from Fusarium graminearum targets plant membranes to promote virulence. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114384. [PMID: 38970790 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial plant pathogens deploy amphipathic cyclic lipopeptides to reduce surface tension in their environment. While plants can detect these molecules to activate cellular stress responses, the role of these lipopeptides or associated host responses in pathogenesis are not fully clear. The gramillin cyclic lipopeptide is produced by the Fusarium graminearum fungus and is a virulence factor and toxin in maize. Here, we show that gramillin promotes virulence and necrosis in both monocots and dicots by disrupting ion balance across membranes. Gramillin is a cation-conducting ionophore and causes plasma membrane depolarization. This disruption triggers cellular signaling, including a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), transcriptional reprogramming, and callose production. Gramillin-induced ROS depends on expression of host ILK1 and RBOHD genes, which promote fungal induction of virulence genes during infection and host susceptibility. We conclude that gramillin's ionophore activity targets plant membranes to coordinate attack by the F. graminearum fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Brauer
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A7, Canada.
| | - Whynn Bosnich
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Kirsten Holy
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Indira Thapa
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Srinivasan Krishnan
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Moatter Syed
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Melissa Bredow
- Biology Department, Queen's University, Biological Sciences Complex, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Monique Power
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Anne Johnston
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Michel Cloutier
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Naveen Haribabu
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Izhar U H Khan
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Monaghan
- Biology Department, Queen's University, Biological Sciences Complex, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Denise Chabot
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - David P Overy
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Miguel Piñeros
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Barbara Blackwell
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Linda J Harris
- Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
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2
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Zhang Y, Feng L, Hemu X, Tan NH, Wang Z. OSMAC Strategy: A promising way to explore microbial cyclic peptides. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116175. [PMID: 38377824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116175] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Microbial secondary metabolites are pivotal for the development of novel drugs. However, conventional culture techniques, have left a vast array of unexpressed biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in microorganisms, hindering the discovery of metabolites with distinct structural features and diverse biological functions. To address this limitation, several innovative strategies have been emerged. The "One Strain Many Compounds" (OSMAC) strategy, which involves altering microbial culture conditions, has proven to be particularly effective in mining numerous novel secondary metabolites for the past few years. Among these, microbial cyclic peptides stand out. These peptides often comprise rare amino acids, unique chemical structures, and remarkable biological function. With the advancement of the OSMAC strategy, a plethora of new cyclic peptides have been identified from diverse microbial genera. This work reviews the progress in mining novel compounds using the OSMAC strategy and the applications of this strategy in discovering 284 microbial cyclic peptides from 63 endophytic strains, aiming to offer insights for the further explorations into novel active cyclic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Xinya Hemu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ning-Hua Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Zhe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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3
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Huang P, Yu X, Liu H, Ding M, Wang Z, Xu JR, Jiang C. Regulation of TRI5 expression and deoxynivalenol biosynthesis by a long non-coding RNA in Fusarium graminearum. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1216. [PMID: 38332031 PMCID: PMC10853542 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45502-w] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most frequently detected mycotoxin in cereal grains and processed food or feed. Two transcription factors, Tri6 and Tri10, are essential for DON biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. In this study we conduct stranded RNA-seq analysis with tri6 and tri10 mutants and show that Tri10 acts as a master regulator controlling the expression of sense and antisense transcripts of TRI6 and over 450 genes with diverse functions. TRI6 is more specific for regulating TRI genes although it negatively regulates TRI10. Two other TRI genes, including TRI5 that encodes a key enzyme for DON biosynthesis, also have antisense transcripts. Both Tri6 and Tri10 are essential for TRI5 expression and for suppression of antisense-TRI5. Furthermore, we identify a long non-coding RNA (named RNA5P) that is transcribed from the TRI5 promoter region and is also regulated by Tri6 and Tri10. Deletion of RNA5P by replacing the promoter region of TRI5 with that of TRI12 increases TRI5 expression and DON biosynthesis, indicating that RNA5P suppresses TRI5 expression. However, ectopic constitutive overexpression of RNA5P has no effect on DON biosynthesis and TRI5 expression. Nevertheless, elevated expression of RNA5P in situ reduces TRI5 expression and DON production. Our results indicate that TRI10 and TRI6 regulate each other's expression, and both are important for suppressing the expression of RNA5P, a long non-coding RNA with cis-acting inhibitory effects on TRI5 expression and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Xiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Mingyu Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Zeyi Wang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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4
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Shostak K, González-Peña Fundora D, Blackman C, Witte T, Sproule A, Overy D, Eranthodi A, Thakor N, Foroud NA, Subramaniam R. Epistatic Relationship between MGV1 and TRI6 in the Regulation of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:816. [PMID: 37623587 PMCID: PMC10455978 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080816] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies have shown that the MAP kinase MGV1 and the transcriptional regulator TRI6 regulate many of the same biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in Fusarium graminearum. This study sought to investigate the relationship between MGV1 and TRI6 in the regulatory hierarchy. Transgenic F. graminearum strains constitutively expressing MGV1 and TRI6 were generated to address both independent and epistatic regulation of BGCs by MGV1 and TRI6. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis between axenic cultures grown in nutrient-rich and secondary metabolite-inducing conditions. The results indicated that BGCs regulated independently by Mgv1 included genes of BGC52, whereas genes uniquely regulated by TRI6 included the gene cluster (BGC49) that produces gramillin. To understand the epistatic relationship between MGV1 and TRI6, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to insert a constitutive promoter to drive TRI6 expression in the Δmgv1 strain. The results indicate that BGCs that produce deoxynivalenol and fusaoctaxin are co-regulated, with TRI6 being partially regulated by MGV1. Overall, the findings from this study indicate that MGV1 provides an articulation point to differentially regulate various BGCs. Moreover, TRI6, embedded in one of the BGCs provides specificity to regulate the expression of the genes in the BGC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Shostak
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Dianevys González-Peña Fundora
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 4M4, Canada;
| | - Christopher Blackman
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Cell and System Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Tom Witte
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - David Overy
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Anas Eranthodi
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
| | - Nehal Thakor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 4M4, Canada;
| | - Nora A. Foroud
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Cell and System Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
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5
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Hicks C, Witte TE, Sproule A, Hermans A, Shields SW, Colquhoun R, Blackman C, Boddy CN, Subramaniam R, Overy DP. CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing and Secondary Metabolite Screening Confirm Fusarium graminearum C16 Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Products as Decalin-Containing Diterpenoid Pyrones. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:695. [PMID: 37504684 PMCID: PMC10381663 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070695] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a causal organism of Fusarium head blight in cereals and maize. Although a few secondary metabolites produced by F. graminearum are considered disease virulence factors, many molecular products of biosynthetic gene clusters expressed by F. graminearum during infection and their associated role in the disease are unknown. In particular, the predicted meroterpenoid products of the biosynthetic gene cluster historically designated as "C16" are likely associated with pathogenicity. Presented here are the results of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing experiments disrupting the polyketide synthase and terpene synthase genes associated with the C16 biosynthetic gene cluster in F. graminearum. Culture medium screening experiments using transformant strains were profiled by UHPLC-HRMS and targeted MS2 experiments to confirm the associated secondary metabolite products of the C16 biosynthetic gene cluster as the decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones, FDDP-D and FDDP-E. Both decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones were confirmed to be produced in wheat heads challenged with F. graminearum in growth chamber trials. The extent to which the F. graminearum C16 biosynthetic gene cluster is dispersed within the genus Fusarium is discussed along with a proposed role of the FDDPs as pathogen virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Hicks
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Thomas E Witte
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Anne Hermans
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Samuel W Shields
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Ronan Colquhoun
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Chris Blackman
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Christopher N Boddy
- Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - David P Overy
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
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6
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Luo K, Guo J, He D, Li G, Ouellet T. Deoxynivalenol accumulation and detoxification in cereals and its potential role in wheat- Fusarium graminearum interactions. ABIOTECH 2023; 4:155-171. [PMID: 37581023 PMCID: PMC10423186 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-023-00096-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a prominent mycotoxin showing significant accumulation in cereal plants during infection by the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum. It is a virulence factor that is important in the spread of F. graminearum within cereal heads, and it causes serious yield losses and significant contamination of cereal grains. In recent decades, genetic and genomic studies have facilitated the characterization of the molecular pathways of DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum and the environmental factors that influence DON accumulation. In addition, diverse scab resistance traits related to the repression of DON accumulation in plants have been identified, and experimental studies of wheat-pathogen interactions have contributed to understanding detoxification mechanisms in host plants. The present review illustrates and summarizes the molecular networks of DON mycotoxin production in F. graminearum and the methods of DON detoxification in plants based on the current literature, which provides molecular targets for crop improvement programs. This review also comprehensively discusses recent advances and challenges related to genetic engineering-mediated cultivar improvements to strengthen scab resistance. Furthermore, ongoing advancements in genetic engineering will enable the application of these molecular targets to develop more scab-resistant wheat cultivars with DON detoxification traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Luo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000 China
| | - Jiao Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000 China
| | - Dejia He
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000 China
| | - Guangwei Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000 China
| | - Thérèse Ouellet
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6 Canada
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7
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Wei S, Hu C, Zhang Y, Lv Y, Zhang S, Zhai H, Hu Y. AnAzf1 acts as a positive regulator of ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Aspergillus niger. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2501-2514. [PMID: 36809388 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12404-8] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus niger produces genotoxic and carcinogenic ochratoxin A (OTA) that severely threatens human and animal health. Transcription factor Azf1 is essential in regulating fungal cell development and primary metabolism. However, its effect and mechanism on secondary metabolism are unclear. Here, we characterized and deleted a Azf1 homolog gene, An15g00120 (AnAzf1), in A. niger, which completely blocked OTA production, and repressed the OTA cluster genes, p450, nrps, hal, and bzip at the transcriptional level. The results indicated that AnAzf1 was a positive regulator of OTA biosynthesis. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that the AnAzf1 deletion significantly upregulated antioxidant genes and downregulated oxidative phosphorylation genes. Enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, including catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were increased, and the corresponding ROS levels were decreased. Upregulation of genes (cat, catA, hog1, and gfd) in the MAPK pathway and downregulation of genes in iron homeostasis were associated with decreased ROS levels, linking the altered MAPK pathway and iron homeostasis to lower ROS levels caused by AnAzf1 deletion. Additionally, enzymes including complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase), and complex V (ATP synthase), as well as ATP levels, were significantly decreased, indicating impaired oxidative phosphorylation caused by the AnAzf1-deletion. During lower ROS levels and impaired oxidative phosphorylation, OTA was not produced in ∆AnAzf1. Together, these results strongly suggested that AnAzf1 deletion blocked OTA production in A. niger by a synergistic interference of ROS accumulation and oxidative phosphorylation. KEY POINTS: • AnAzf1 positively regulated OTA biosynthesis in A. niger. • Deletion of AnAzf1 decreased ROS levels and impaired oxidative phosphorylation. • An altered MAPK pathway and iron homeostasis were associated with lower ROS levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Wei
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaojiang Hu
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yige Zhang
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyong Lv
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuaibing Zhang
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanchen Zhai
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuansen Hu
- College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Processing and Nutritional Function of Wheat, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Rowland BE, Henriquez MA, Nilsen KT, Subramaniam R, Walkowiak S. Unraveling Plant-Pathogen Interactions in Cereals Using RNA-seq. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2659:103-118. [PMID: 37249889 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3159-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, there have been significant advancements in the realm of transcriptomics, or the study of genes and their expression. Modern RNA sequencing technologies and high-performance computing are creating a "big data" revolution that provides new opportunities to explore the interactions between cereals and pathogens that affect grain yield and food safety. These data are being used to annotate genes and gene variants, as well as identify differentially expressed genes and create global gene co-expression networks. Moreover, these data can unravel the complex interactions between pathogen and host and identify genes and pathways involved in these interactions. This information can then be used for disease mitigation and the development of crops with superior resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn E Rowland
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Antonia Henriquez
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB, Canada
| | - Kirby T Nilsen
- Brandon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon, MB, Canada.
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Sean Walkowiak
- Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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9
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Zhang L, Zhou X, Li P, Wang Y, Hu Q, Shang Y, Chen Y, Zhu X, Feng H, Zhang C. Transcriptome Profile of Fusarium graminearum Treated by Putrescine. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010060. [PMID: 36675881 PMCID: PMC9865016 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) is the main pathogen of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, barley, and corn. Deoxynivalenol (DON), produced by F. graminearum, is the most prevalent toxin associated with FHB. The wheat defense compound putrescine can promote DON production during F. graminearum infection. However, the underlying mechanisms of putrescine-induced DON synthesis are not well-studied. To investigate the effect of putrescine on the global transcriptional regulation of F. graminearum, we treated F. graminearum with putrescine and performed RNA deep sequencing. We found that putrescine can largely affect the transcriptome of F. graminearum. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that having a large amount of DEGs was associated with ribosome biogenesis, carboxylic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism pathways. Co-expression analysis showed that 327 genes had similar expression patterns to FgTRI genes and were assigned to the same module. In addition, three transcription factor genes were identified as hub genes in this module, indicating that they may play important roles in DON synthesis. These results provide important clues for further analysis of the molecular mechanisms of putrescine-induced DON synthesis and will facilitate the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Zhang
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Xishi Zhou
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Pengfeng Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- College of Data Science, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Qianyong Hu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Yuping Shang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
| | - Yunshen Chen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Henan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xiying Zhu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Henan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Hongjie Feng
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (C.Z.)
| | - Cuijun Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (C.Z.)
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10
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Roik A, Reverter M, Pogoreutz C. A roadmap to understanding diversity and function of coral reef-associated fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6615459. [PMID: 35746877 PMCID: PMC9629503 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical coral reefs are hotspots of marine productivity, owing to the association of reef-building corals with endosymbiotic algae and metabolically diverse bacterial communities. However, the functional importance of fungi, well-known for their contribution to shaping terrestrial ecosystems and global nutrient cycles, remains underexplored on coral reefs. We here conceptualize how fungal functional traits may have facilitated the spread, diversification, and ecological adaptation of marine fungi on coral reefs. We propose that functions of reef-associated fungi may be diverse and go beyond their hitherto described roles of pathogens and bioeroders, including but not limited to reef-scale biogeochemical cycles and the structuring of coral-associated and environmental microbiomes via chemical mediation. Recent technological and conceptual advances will allow the elucidation of the physiological, ecological, and chemical contributions of understudied marine fungi to coral holobiont and reef ecosystem functioning and health and may help provide an outlook for reef management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Roik
- Corresponding author: Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany. E-mail:
| | - Miriam Reverter
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, 26046, Germany,School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Pogoreutz
- Corresponding author: Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,
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11
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Sun F, Lv B, Zhang X, Wang C, Zhang L, Chen X, Liang Y, Chen L, Zou S, Dong H. The Endoplasmic Reticulum Cargo Receptor FgErv14 Regulates DON Production, Growth and Virulence in Fusarium graminearum. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12060799. [PMID: 35743830 PMCID: PMC9224835 DOI: 10.3390/life12060799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a plant filamentous pathogenic fungi and the predominant causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals worldwide. The regulators of the secretory pathway contribute significantly to fungal mycotoxin synthesis, development, and virulence. However, their roles in these processes in F. graminearum remain poorly understood. Here, we identified and functionally characterized the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cargo receptor FgErv14 in F. graminearum. Firstly, it was observed that FgErv14 is mainly localized in the ER. Then, we constructed the FgErv14 deletion mutant (ΔFgerv14) and found that the absence of the FgErv14 caused a serious reduction in vegetative growth, significant defects in asexual and sexual reproduction, and severely impaired virulence. Furthermore, we found that the ΔFgerv14 mutant exhibited a reduced expression of TRI genes and defective toxisome generation, both of which are critical for deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis. Importantly, we found the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged FgRud3 was dispersed in the cytoplasm, whereas GFP-FgSnc1-PEM was partially trapped in the late Golgi in ΔFgerv14 mutant. These results demonstrate that FgErv14 mediates anterograde ER-to-Golgi transport as well as late secretory Golgi-to-Plasma membrane transport and is necessary for DON biosynthesis, asexual and sexual reproduction, vegetative growth, and pathogenicity in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjiang Sun
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
| | - Beibei Lv
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201106, China;
| | - Xuemeng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
| | - Chenyu Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Xiaochen Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Yuancun Liang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shenshen Zou
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Hansong Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (F.S.); (X.Z.); (C.W.); (L.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.L.); (H.D.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
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12
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Tang Z, Tang H, Wang W, Xue Y, Chen D, Tang W, Liu W. Biosynthesis of a New Fusaoctaxin Virulence Factor in Fusarium graminearum Relies on a Distinct Path To Form a Guanidinoacetyl Starter Unit Priming Nonribosomal Octapeptidyl Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:19719-19730. [PMID: 34784713 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a pathogenic fungus causing huge economic losses worldwide via crop infection leading to yield reduction and grain contamination. The process through which the fungal invasion occurs remains poorly understood. We recently characterized fusaoctaxin A in F. graminearum, where this octapeptide virulence factor results from an assembly line encoded in fg3_54, a gene cluster proved to be involved in fungal pathogenicity and host adaptation. Focusing on genes in this cluster that are related to fungal invasiveness but not to the biosynthesis of fusaoctaxin A, we here report the identification and characterization of fusaoctaxin B, a new octapeptide virulence factor with comparable activity in wheat infection. Fusaoctaxin B differs from fusaoctaxin A at the N-terminus by possessing a guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) unit, formation of which depends on the combined activities of the protein products of fgm1-3. Fgm1 is a cytochrome P450 protein that oxygenates l-Arg to 4(R)-hydroxyl-l-Arg in a regio- and stereoselective manner. Then, Cβ-Cγ bond cleavage proceeds in the presence of Fgm3, a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent lyase, giving guanidinoacetaldehyde and l-Ala. Rather than being directly oxidized to GAA, the guanidine-containing aldehyde undergoes spontaneous cyclization and subsequent enzymatic dehydrogenation to provide glycociamidine, which is linearized by Fgm2, a metallo-dependent amidohydrolase. The GAA path in F. graminearum is distinct from that previously known to involve l-Arg:l-Gly aminidotransferase activity. To provide this nonproteinogenic starter unit that primes nonribosomal octapeptidyl assembly, F. graminearum employs new chemistry to process l-Arg through inert C-H bond activation, selective C-C bond cleavage, cyclization-based alcohol dehydrogenation, and amidohydrolysis-associated linearization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haoyu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wanqiu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yufeng Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Weihua Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China.,Huzhou Center of Bio-Synthetic Innovation, 1366 Hongfeng Road, Huzhou 313000, China
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13
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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: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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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14
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Bonner C, Sproule A, Rowland O, Overy D, Subramaniam R. DNA Methylation Is Responsive to the Environment and Regulates the Expression of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, Metabolite Production, and Virulence in Fusarium graminearum. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 1:614633. [PMID: 37743878 PMCID: PMC10512235 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2020.614633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Histone modifications play a significant role in the regulation of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum, by contrast, epigenetic regulation by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) is less documented. In this study, we characterized two DNMTs (FgDIM-2 and FgRID) in F. graminearum, with homologies to "Deficient in methylation" (DIM-2) and "Repeat-induced point (RIP) deficient" (RID) from Neurospora. The loss of DNMTs resulted in not only a decrease in average methylation density in the nutrient-poor, compared to nutrient-rich conditions, but also differences in the genes expressed between the WT and the DNMT mutant strains, implicating the external environment as an important trigger in altering DNA methylation patterns. Consequently, we observed significant changes in the regulation of multiple BGCs and alterations in the pathogenicity of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Bonner
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Owen Rowland
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - David Overy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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