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Zhang H, Chen H, Zhang J, Wang K, Huang B, Wang Z. The role of MrUbp4, a deubiquitinase, in conidial yield, thermotolerance, and virulence in Metarhizium robertsii. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 204:108111. [PMID: 38631560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108111] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBPs), the largest subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes, regulate ubiquitin homeostasis and play diverse roles in eukaryotes. Ubp4 is essential for the growth, development, and pathogenicity of various fungal pathogens. However, its functions in the growth, stress responses, and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi remain unclear. In this study, we elucidated the role of the homolog of Ubp4, MrUbp4, in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. Deletion of MrUbp4 led to a notable increase in ubiquitination levels, demonstrating the involvement of MrUbp4 in protein deubiquitination. Furthermore, the ΔMrUbp4 mutant displayed a significant reduction in conidial yield, underscoring the pivotal role of MrUbp4 in conidiation. Additionally, the mutant exhibited heightened resistance to conidial heat treatment, emphasizing the role of MrUbp4 in thermotolerance. Notably, insect bioassays unveiled a substantial impairment in the virulence of the ΔMrUbp4 mutant. This was accompanied by a notable decrease in cuticle penetration ability and appressorium formation upon further analysis. In summary, our findings highlight the essential role of MrUbp4 in regulating the conidial yield, thermotolerance, and contributions to the virulence of M. robertsii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Hanyuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Kui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Zhangxun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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Chen A, Han X, Liu C, Zhou Y, Ren Y, Shen X, Shim WB, Chai Y, Ma Z, Chen Y. Profiling of deubiquitinases that control virulence in the pathogenic plant fungus Fusarium graminearum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:192-210. [PMID: 38332398 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotes have evolved sophisticated post-translational modifications to regulate protein function and numerous biological processes, including ubiquitination controlled by the coordinated action of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes (Dubs). However, the function of deubiquitination in pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. Here, the distribution of Dubs in the fungal kingdom was surveyed and their functions were systematically characterized using the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum as the model species, which causes devastating diseases of all cereal species world-wide. Our findings demonstrate that Dubs are critical for fungal development and virulence, especially the ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (Ubp15). Global ubiquitome analysis and subsequent experiments identified three important substrates of Ubp15, including the autophagy-related protein Atg8, the mitogen-activated protein kinase Gpmk1, and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthetic protein Tri4. Ubp15 regulates the deubiquitination of the Atg8, thereby impacting its subcellular localization and the autophagy process. Moreover, Ubp15 also modulates the deubiquitination of Gpmk1 and Tri4. This modulation subsequently influences their protein stabilities and further affects the formation of penetration structures and the biosynthetic process of DON, respectively. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unknown regulatory pathway of a deubiquitinating enzyme for fungal virulence and highlight the potential of Ubp15 as a target for combating fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- FAFU-UCR Joint Center for Horticultural Biology and Metabolomics, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xingxing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Won Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yunrong Chai
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Noman M, Azizullah, Ahmed T, Gao Y, Wang H, Xiong X, Wang J, Lou J, Li D, Song F. Degradation of α-Subunits, Doa1 and Doa4, are Critical for Growth, Development, Programmed Cell Death Events, Stress Responses, and Pathogenicity in the Watermelon Fusarium Wilt Fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 37486296 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c01785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) regulates protein quality or control and plays essential roles in several biological and biochemical processes in fungi. Here, we present the characterization of two UPS components, FonDoa1 and FonDoa4, in watermelon Fusarium wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), and their biological functions. FonDoa1 localizes in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, while FonDoa4 is predominantly present in the cytoplasm. Both genes show higher expression in germinating macroconidia at 12 h. Deletion of FonDoa1 or FonDoa4 affects vegetative growth, conidiation, conidial germination/morphology, apoptosis, and responses to environmental stressors. FonDoa1, but not FonDoa4, positively regulates autophagy. The targeted disruption mutants exhibit significantly attenuated pathogenicity on watermelon due to defects in the infection process and invasive fungal growth. Further results indicate that the WD40, PFU, and PUL domains are essential for the function of FonDoa1 in Fon pathogenicity and environmental stress responses. These findings demonstrate the previously uncharacterized biological functions of FonDoa1 and FonDoa4 in phytopathogenic fungi, providing potential targets for developing strategies to control watermelon Fusarium wilt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Noman
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Azizullah
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Temoor Ahmed
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311231, China
| | - Yizhou Gao
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaohui Xiong
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jiajing Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jiajun Lou
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Dayong Li
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Fengming Song
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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Wang Z, Chen H, Li H, Chen H, Huang B. The Deubiquitinating Enzyme MrUbp14 Is Involved in Conidiation, Stress Response, and Pathogenicity in Metarhizium robertsii. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:896466. [PMID: 37746165 PMCID: PMC10512391 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.896466] [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: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination, which is involved in various biological processes in eukaryotic cells, is a reversible modification of proteins. Deubiquitinases can maintain ubiquitin homeostasis by removing ubiquitin or modulating protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Metarhizium robertsii, an entomopathogenic fungus, has become a model fungus for investigating the interactions between insects and fungal pathogens. To explore the possible effects of the deubiquitination process on the development, stress response, and virulence of M. robertsii, disruption of MrUbp14 (an ortholog of the yeast ubiquitin-specific protease gene, Ubp14) was performed. The results of this study showed that the deletion of MrUbp14 led to accelerated conidial germination, reduced conidial yields, and decreased expression levels of some genes involved in conidiation. Furthermore, the MrUbp14 mutant (ΔMrUbp14) exhibited decreased tolerance to cell wall-damaging stressors (Congo red and SDS) and heat stress. Importantly, the results of the bioassay demonstrated that the fungal virulence of the ΔMrUbp14 strain was largely reduced in cuticle infection, but not in direct injection, which was accompanied by a significant decline in appressorium formation and cuticle penetration. Moreover, our results demonstrated that the disruption of MrUbp14 resulted in significantly increased ubiquitination levels of total protein, suggesting that MrUbp14 acts as a deubiquitinating enzyme in M. robertsii. In summary, our phenotypic changes in the gene disruption mutants suggest that MrUbp14 is important for conidiation, stress response, and fungal virulence in M. robertsii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangxun Wang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Li
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Hanyuan Chen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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