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Su J, Wang J, Tang J, Yu W, Liu J, Dong X, Dong J, Chai X, Ji P, Zhang L. Zinc finger transcription factor ZFP1 is associated with growth, conidiation, osmoregulation, and virulence in the Polygonatum kingianum pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16061. [PMID: 38992190 PMCID: PMC11239662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67040-7] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhizome rot is a destructive soil-borne disease of Polygonatum kingianum and adversely affects the yield and sustenance of the plant. Understanding how the causal fungus Fusarium oxysporum infects P. kingianum may suggest effective control measures against rhizome rot. In germinating conidia of infectious F. oxysporum, expression of the zinc finger transcription factor gene Zfp1, consisting of two C2H2 motifs, was up-regulated. To characterize the critical role of ZFP1, we generated independent deletion mutants (zfp1) and complemented one mutant with a transgenic copy of ZFP1 (zfp1 tZFP1). Mycelial growth and conidial production of zfp1 were slower than those of wild type (ZFP1) and zfp1 tZFP1. Additionally, a reduced inhibition of growth suggested zfp1 was less sensitive to conditions promoting cell wall and osmotic stresses than ZFP1 and zfp1 tZFP1. Furthermore pathogenicity tests suggested a critical role for growth of zfp1 in infected leaves and rhizomes of P. kingianum. Thus ZFP1 is important for mycelial growth, conidiation, osmoregulation, and pathogenicity in P. kingianum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyun Su
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jingying Tang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Weimei Yu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xian Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jiahong Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xia Chai
- Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, China.
| | - Pengzhang Ji
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Academy of Southern Medicine, College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China.
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Wu Y, Li X, Dong L, Liu T, Tang Z, Lin R, Norvienyeku J, Xing M. A New Insight into 6-Pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one against Peronophythora litchii via TOR Pathway. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:863. [PMID: 37623635 PMCID: PMC10515317 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080863] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The litchi downy blight disease of litchi caused by Peronophythora litchii accounts for severe losses in the field and during storage. While ample quantitative studies have shown that 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6PP) possesses antifungal activities against multiple plant pathogenic fungi, the regulatory mechanisms of 6PP-mediated inhibition of fungal pathogenesis and growth are still unknown. Here, we investigated the potential molecular targets of 6PP in the phytopathogenic oomycetes P. litchii through integrated deployment of RNA-sequencing, functional genetics, and biochemical techniques to investigate the regulatory effects of 6PP against P. litchii. Previously we demonstrated that 6PP exerted significant oomyticidal activities. Also, comparative transcriptomic evaluation of P. litchii strains treated with 6PP Revealed significant up-regulations in the expression profile of TOR pathway-related genes, including PlCytochrome C and the transcription factors PlYY1. We also noticed that 6PP treatment down-regulated putative negative regulatory genes of the TOR pathway, including PlSpm1 and PlrhoH12 in P. litchii. Protein-ligand binding analyses revealed stable affinities between PlYY1, PlCytochrome C, PlSpm1, PlrhoH12 proteins, and the 6PP ligand. Phenotypic characterization of PlYY1 targeted gene deletion strains generated in this study using CRISPR/Cas9 and homologous recombination strategies significantly reduced the vegetative growth, sporangium, encystment, zoospore release, and pathogenicity of P. litchii. These findings suggest that 6PP-mediated activation of PlYY1 expression positively regulates TOR-related responses and significantly influences vegetative growth and the virulence of P. litchii. The current investigations revealed novel targets for 6PP and underscored the potential of deploying 6PP in developing management strategies for controlling the litchi downy blight pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinggu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Li Dong
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Zhengbin Tang
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Runmao Lin
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Justice Norvienyeku
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Mengyu Xing
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (Y.W.); (X.L.); (L.D.); (T.L.); (Z.T.); (R.L.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
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Navarro‐Velasco GY, Di Pietro A, López‐Berges MS. Constitutive activation of TORC1 signalling attenuates virulence in the cross-kingdom fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:289-301. [PMID: 36840362 PMCID: PMC10013769 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes vascular wilt disease in a wide range of plant species and opportunistic infections in humans. Previous work suggested that invasive growth in this pathogen is controlled by environmental cues such as pH and nutrient status. Here we investigated the role of Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1), a global regulator of eukaryotic cell growth and development. Inactivation of the negative regulator Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 (Tsc2), but not constitutive activation of the positive regulator Gtr1, in F. oxysporum resulted in inappropriate activation of TORC1 signalling under nutrient-limiting conditions. The tsc2Δ mutants showed reduced colony growth on minimal medium with different nitrogen sources and increased sensitivity to cell wall or high temperature stress. Furthermore, these mutants were impaired in invasive hyphal growth across cellophane membranes and exhibited a marked decrease in virulence, both on tomato plants and on the invertebrate animal host Galleria mellonella. Importantly, invasive hyphal growth in tsc2Δ strains was rescued by rapamycin-mediated inhibition of TORC1. Collectively, these results reveal a key role of TORC1 signalling in the development and pathogenicity of F. oxysporum and suggest new potential targets for controlling fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesabel Yaneth Navarro‐Velasco
- Departamento de GenéticaUniversidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
- Present address:
Centro de Investigación e Información de Medicamentos y Tóxicos, Facultad de MedicinaUniversidad de PanamáPanama CityPanama
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Jiao W, Ding W, Rollins JA, Liu J, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Pan H. Cross-Talk and Multiple Control of Target of Rapamycin (TOR) in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0001323. [PMID: 36943069 PMCID: PMC10100786 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00013-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungus that cross-talks with its hosts for control of cell-death pathways for colonization. Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator that controls cell growth, intracellular metabolism, and stress responses in a variety of eukaryotes, but little is known about TOR signaling in S. sclerotiorum. In this study, we identified a conserved TOR signaling pathway and characterized SsTOR as a critical component of this pathway. Hyphal growth of S. sclerotiorum was retarded by silencing SsTOR, moreover, sclerotia and compound appressoria formation were severely disrupted. Notably, pathogenicity assays of strains shows that the virulence of the SsTOR-silenced strains were dramatically decreased. SsTOR was determined to participate in cell wall integrity (CWI) by regulating the phosphorylation level of SsSmk3, a core MAP kinase in the CWI pathway. Importantly, the inactivation of SsTOR induced autophagy in S. sclerotiorum potentially through SsAtg1 and SsAtg13. Taken together, our results suggest that SsTOR is a global regulator controlling cell growth, stress responses, cell wall integrity, autophagy, and virulence of S. sclerotiorum. IMPORTANCE TOR is a conserved protein kinase that regulates cell growth and metabolism in response to growth factors and nutrient abundance. Here, we used gene silencing to characterize SsTOR, which is a critical component of TOR signaling pathway. SsTOR-silenced strains have limited mycelium growth, and the virulence of the SsTOR-silenced strains was decreased. Phosphorylation analysis indicated that SsTOR influenced CWI by regulating the phosphorylation level of SsSmk3. Autophagy is essential to preserve cellular homeostasis in response to cellular and environmental stresses. Inactivation of SsTOR induced autophagy in S. sclerotiorum potentially through SsAtg1 and SsAtg13. These findings further indicated that SsTOR is a global regulator of the growth, development, and pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum in multiple ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Jiao
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Weichen Ding
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jeffrey A. Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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An H, Gan T, Tang M, Chen H. Molecular Mechanism of Overcoming Host Resistance by the Target of Rapamycin Gene in Leptographium qinlingensis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030503. [PMID: 35336079 PMCID: PMC8954470 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptographium qinlingensis is a fungal symbiont of the Chinese white pine beetle (Dendroctonus armandi) and a pathogen of the Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) that must overcome the terpenoid oleoresin defenses of host trees to invade and colonize. L. qinlingensis responds to monoterpene flow with abundant mechanisms that include the decomposing and use of these compounds as a nitrogen source. Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that plays a central role in both plants and animals through integration of nutrients, energies, hormones, growth factors and environmental inputs to control proliferation, growth and metabolism in diverse multicellular organisms. In this study, in order to explore the relationship between TOR gene and carbon sources, nitrogen sources, host nutrients and host volatiles (monoterpenoids) in L. qinlingensis, we set up eight carbon source treatments, ten nitrogen source treatments, two host nutrients and six monoterpenoids (5%, 10% and 20%) treatments, and prepared different media conditions. By measuring the biomass and growth rate of mycelium, the results revealed that, on the whole, the response of L. qinlingensis to nitrogen sources was better than carbon sources, and the fungus grew well in maltose (carbon source), (NH4)2C2O4 (inorganic nitrogen source), asparagine (organic nitrogen source) and P. armandii (host nutrient) versus other treatments. Then, by analyzing the relationship between TOR expression and different nutrients, the data showed that: (i) TOR expression exhibited negative regulation in response to carbon sources and host nutrition. (ii) The treatments of nitrogen sources and terpenoids had positively regulatory effects on TOR gene; moreover, the fungus was most sensitive to β-pinene and 3-carene. In conclusion, our findings reveal that TOR in L. qinlingensis plays a key role in the utilization of host volatiles as nutrient intake, overcoming the physical and chemical host resistances and successful colonization.
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Li L, Zhu T, Song Y, Feng L, Kear PJ, Riseh RS, Sitohy M, Datla R, Ren M. Salicylic acid fights against Fusarium wilt by inhibiting target of rapamycin signaling pathway in Fusarium oxysporum. J Adv Res 2021; 39:1-13. [PMID: 35777900 PMCID: PMC9263656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolating and sequencing the genome of F. oxysporum from potato tubers with dry rot symptoms. SA efficiently arrests hyphal growth, sporular production and pathogenicity of F. oxysporum. SA inhibits the activity of FoTORC1 via activating FoSNF1 in F. oxysporum. Transgenic potato plants with interference of FoTOR1 and FoSAH1 genes prevent the occurrence of Fusarium wilt. Providing insights SA into controlling various fungal diseases by targeting the SNF1-TORC1 pathway of pathogens.
Introduction Objectives Methods Results Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxuan Li
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu 610000, China; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Science of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu 610000, China; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Science of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Yun Song
- School of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Li Feng
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu 610000, China; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Science of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Philip James Kear
- International Potato Center (CIP) China Center Asia Pacific, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Rooallah Saberi Riseh
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Sitohy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Raju Datla
- Global Institute for Food Security in Saskatoon, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N0W9, Canada
| | - Maozhi Ren
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu 610000, China; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Science of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China.
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