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Jiang J, He K, Wang X, Zhang Y, Guo X, Qian L, Gao X, Liu S. Transcriptional dynamics of Fusarium pseudograminearum under high fungicide stress and the important role of FpZRA1 in fungal pathogenicity and DON toxin production. Int J Biol Macromol 2024:133662. [PMID: 39025188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133662] [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: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium crown rot, poses a significant threat to cereal crops. Building upon our previous investigation of the transcriptional response of this pathogen to four key fungicides (carbendazim, phenamacril, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole), this study delves into the impact of elevated fungicide concentrations using RNA-seq. Global transcriptomic analysis and gene clustering revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in the ABC transporter pathway. Among these transporters, FPSE_06011 (FpZRA1), a conserved gene in eukaryotes, exhibited consistent upregulation at both low and high fungicide concentrations. Targeted deletion of FpZRA1 resulted in reduced sporulation, spore germination, and tolerance to cell wall stress, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the FpZRA1 knockout mutants exhibited decreased pathogenicity on wheat coleoptiles and reduced production of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), as evidenced by the markedly down-regulated expression of TRI5, TRI6, and TRI10 in the RT-qPCR analysis. In summary, our findings highlight the impact of fungicide concentration on transcriptional reprogramming in F. pseudograminearum and identify FpZRA1 as a critical regulator of fungal development, stress tolerance, and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Jiang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Kai He
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Xuhao Guo
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Le Qian
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Xuheng Gao
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Shengming Liu
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China.
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Zeng W, Lin J, Xie J, Fu Y, Lin Y, Chen T, Li B, Yu X, Chen W, Jiang D, Cheng J. RNA-dependent RNA polymerases regulate ascospore discharge through the exonic-sRNA-mediated RNAi pathway. mBio 2024; 15:e0037724. [PMID: 38752738 PMCID: PMC11237814 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00377-24] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascospores, forcibly released into the air from perithecia, are the primary inoculum for Fusarium head blight. In Fusarium graminearum, the biological functions of four RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) (Fgrdrp1-4) have been reported, but their regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood and the function of Fgrdrp5 is still unknown. In this study, we found that in addition to Fgrdrp1 and Fgrdrp2, Fgrdrp5 also plays an important role in ascospore discharge, and they all participate in the generation of turgor pressure in a polyol-dependent manner. Moreover, these three genes all affect the maturation of ascospores. Deep sequencing and co-analysis of small RNA and mRNA certified that Fgrdrp1, Fgrdrp2, and Fgrdrp5 partly share their functions in the biogenesis and accumulation of exonic small interference RNA (ex-siRNA), and these three RdRPs negatively regulate the expression levels of ex-siRNA corresponding genes, including certain genes associated with ascospore development or discharge. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes of deletion mutants, those involved in lipid and sugar metabolism or transport as well as sexual development-related transcription factors, may also contribute to the defects in ascospore maturation or ascospore discharge. In conclusion, our study suggested that the components of the dicer-dependent ex-siRNA-mediated RNA interference pathway include at least Fgrdrp1, Fgrdrp2, and Fgrdrp5. IMPORTANCE We found that in addition to Fgrdrp1 and Fgrdrp2, Fgrdrp5 also plays important roles in ascospore maturation and ascospore discharge of Fusarium graminearum. These three RNA-dependent RNA polymerases participate in the biogenesis and accumulation of exonic small interference RNA and then regulate ascospore discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Fu
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Lin
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- USA Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Daohong Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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3
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Shao W, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Chen J, Chen Y, Fei Z, Ma Z, Sun X, Jiao C. The jet-like chromatin structure defines active secondary metabolism in fungi. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4906-4921. [PMID: 38407438 PMCID: PMC11109943 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes are spatially organized within the nucleus in a nonrandom manner. However, fungal genome arrangement and its function in development and adaptation remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that the high-order chromosome structure of Fusarium graminearum is sculpted by both H3K27me3 modification and ancient genome rearrangements. Active secondary metabolic gene clusters form a structure resembling chromatin jets. We demonstrate that these jet-like domains, which can propagate symmetrically for 54 kb, are prevalent in the genome and correlate with active gene transcription and histone acetylation. Deletion of GCN5, which encodes a core and functionally conserved histone acetyltransferase, blocks the formation of the domains. Insertion of an exogenous gene within the jet-like domain significantly augments its transcription. These findings uncover an interesting link between alterations in chromatin structure and the activation of fungal secondary metabolism, which could be a general mechanism for fungi to rapidly respond to environmental cues, and highlight the utility of leveraging three-dimensional genome organization in improving gene transcription in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaofan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Chen
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory of Biopesticide Preparation, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhangjun Fei
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuepeng Sun
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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Cong H, Sun Y, Li C, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Ma D, Jiang J, Li L, Li L. The APSES transcription factor CfSwi6 is required for growth, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity of Ceratocystis fimbriata. Microbiol Res 2024; 281:127624. [PMID: 38295680 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127624] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Cell wall integrity (CWI) is crucial for the growth, development, and host invasion of pathogenic fungi. The APSES transcription factor Swi6 in fungi plays a role in mediating cell wall integrity through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Ceratocystis fimbriata is a notorious pathogenic fungus responsible for causing black rot in sweet potatoes. In this study, an orthologous APSES transcription factor Swi6 (CfSwi6) downstream of the CWI regulatory pathway in C. fimbriata was characterized. Deletion of CfSWI6 leads to impaired hyphal development, conidiation, and compromised cell wall integrity, resulting in a significant reduction in virulence. Transcriptome analysis revealed the involvement of CfSWI6 in various pathways, including the MAPK pathway, DNA synthesis and stress response. ChIP-seq data provided predictions of potential target genes regulated by CfSwi6. Through yeast one-hybrid, we confirmed the direct binding of CfSwi6 to the promoter of the chitin synthetase gene. In summary, these findings indicated that CfSwi6 plays an important role in the growth, development, and pathogenicity of C. fimbriata. This study provides new insights into the pathogenic mechanism of C. fimbriata in sweet potato and inspires potential strategies to control sweet potato black rot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cong
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Yong Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Changgen Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Yongjing Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Daifu Ma
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Sweet Potato Research Institute, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221131, China
| | - Jihong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China
| | - Lianwei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
| | - Ludan Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
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Wen Z, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Shao W, Ma Z. Characterization of the fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistant mutants of Fusarium graminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 200:105815. [PMID: 38582573 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is an important fungal pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and other cereal crops worldwide. Due to lack of resistant wheat cultivars, FHB control mainly relies on application of chemical fungicides. Both fludioxonil (a phenylpyrrole compound) and phenamacril (a cyanoacrylate fungicide) have been registered for controlling FHB in China, however, fludioxonil-resistant isolates of F. graminearum have been detected in field. To evaluate the potential risk of dual resistance of F. graminearum to both compounds, fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistant (DR) mutants of F. graminearum were obtained via fungicide domestication in laboratory. Result showed that resistance of the DR mutants to both fludioxonil and phenamacril were genetically stable after sub-cultured for ten generations or stored at 4 °C for 30 days on fungicide-free PDA. Cross-resistance assay showed that the DR mutants remain sensitive to other groups of fungicides, including carbendazim, tebuconazole, pydiflumetofen, and fluazinam. In addition, the DR mutants exhibited defects in mycelia growth, conidiation, mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and virulence Moreover, the DR mutants displayed increased sensitivity to osmotic stress. Sequencing results showed that amino acid point mutations S217L/T in the myosin I protein is responsible for phenamacril resistance in the DR mutants. Our results indicate that mutations leading to fludioxonil and phenamacril dual resistance could result in fitness cost for F. graminearum. Our results also suggest that the potential risk of F. graminearum developing resistance to both fludioxonil and phenamacril in field could be rather low, which provides scientific guidance in controlling FHB with fludioxonil and phenamacril.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Wen
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Wenyong Shao
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Cong H, Li C, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Ma D, Li L, Jiang J. The Mechanism of Transcription Factor Swi6 in Regulating Growth and Pathogenicity of Ceratocystis fimbriata: Insights from Non-Targeted Metabolomics. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2666. [PMID: 38004677 PMCID: PMC10673406 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ceratocystis fimbriata (C. fimbriata) is a notorious pathogenic fungus that causes sweet potato black rot disease. The APSES transcription factor Swi6 in fungi is located downstream of the cell wall integrity (CWI)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and has been identified to be involved in cell wall integrity and virulence in several filamentous pathogenic fungi. However, the specific mechanisms by which Swi6 regulates the growth and pathogenicity of plant pathogenic fungi remain elusive. In this study, the SWI6 deletion mutants and complemented strains of C. fimbriata were generated. Deletion of Swi6 in C. fimbriata resulted in aberrant growth patterns. Pathogenicity assays on sweet potato storage roots revealed a significant decrease in virulence in the mutant. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis using LC-MS identified a total of 692 potential differentially accumulated metabolites (PDAMs) in the ∆Cfswi6 mutant compared to the wild type, and the results of KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment of PDAMs within various metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, GPI-anchored protein synthesis, and ABC transporter metabolism. These metabolic pathways were believed to play a crucial role in mediating the growth and pathogenicity of C. fimbriata through the regulation of CWI. Firstly, the deletion of the SWI6 gene led to abnormal amino acid and lipid metabolism, potentially exacerbating energy storage imbalance. Secondly, significant enrichment of metabolites related to GPI-anchored protein biosynthesis implied compromised cell wall integrity. Lastly, disruption of ABC transport protein metabolism may hinder intracellular transmembrane transport. Importantly, this study represents the first investigation into the potential regulatory mechanisms of SWI6 in plant filamentous pathogenic fungi from a metabolic perspective. The findings provide novel insights into the role of SWI6 in the growth and virulence of C. fimbriata, highlighting its potential as a target for controlling this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cong
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Changgen Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yiming Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yongjing Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Daifu Ma
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Sweet Potato Research Institute, Xuzhou 221131, China;
| | - Lianwei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jihong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China; (H.C.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.)
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O'Mara SP, Broz K, Schwister EM, Singh L, Dong Y, Elmore JM, Kistler HC. The Fusarium graminearum Transporters Abc1 and Abc6 Are Important for Xenobiotic Resistance, Trichothecene Accumulation, and Virulence to Wheat. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:1916-1923. [PMID: 37260101 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-09-22-0345-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease on small-grain cereals. F. graminearum produces trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) that are required for full virulence. DON must be exported outside the cell to cause FHB disease, a process that may require the involvement of membrane-bound transporters. In this study, we show that the deletion of membrane-bound transporters results in reduced DON accumulation as well as reduced FHB symptoms on wheat. Deletion of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene Abc1 results in the greatest reduction in DON accumulation and virulence. Deletion of another ABC transporter gene, Abc6, also reduces FHB symptoms to a lesser degree. Combining deletions fails to reduce DON accumulation or virulence in an additive fashion, even when a ∆abc1 deletion is included. Heterologous expression of F. graminearum transporters in a DON-sensitive strain of yeast confirms Abc1 as a major DON resistance mechanism; furthermore, it suggests that Abc1 is directly participating in DON transport rather than facilitating DON transport though other means. Yeast expression further indicates that multiple transporters, including Abc1, play an important role in resistance to the wheat phytoalexin 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA) and other xenobiotics. Thus, Abc1 may contribute to virulence on wheat both by facilitating export of DON and by providing resistance to the wheat phytoalexin BOA. This research provides useful information that may aid in designing novel management techniques of FHB or other destructive plant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P O'Mara
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - Karen Broz
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - Erin M Schwister
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - Lovepreet Singh
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - Yanhong Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - J Mitch Elmore
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - H Corby Kistler
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
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Hu P, Liu Y, Zhu X, Kang H. ABCC Transporter Gene MoABC-R1 Is Associated with Pyraclostrobin Tolerance in Magnaporthe oryzae. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:917. [PMID: 37755025 PMCID: PMC10532721 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rice blast is a worldwide fungal disease that poses a threat to food security. Fungicide treatment is one of the most effective methods to control rice blast disease. However, the emergence of fungicide tolerance hampers the control efforts against rice blast. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters have been found to be crucial in multidrug tolerance in various phytopathogenic fungi. This study investigated the association between polymorphisms in 50 ABC transporters and pyraclostrobin sensitivity in 90 strains of rice blast fungus. As a result, we identified MoABC-R1, a gene associated with fungicide tolerance. MoABC-R1 belongs to the ABCC-type transporter families. Deletion mutants of MoABC-R1, abc-r1, exhibited high sensitivity to pyraclostrobin at the concentration of 0.01 μg/mL. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of abc-r1 was significantly diminished. These findings indicate that MoABC-R1 not only plays a pivotal role in fungicide tolerance but also regulates the pathogenicity of rice blast. Interestingly, the combination of MoABC-R1 deletion with fungicide treatment resulted in a three-fold increase in control efficiency against rice blast. This discovery highlights MoABC-R1 as a potential target gene for the management of rice blast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Houxiang Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (P.H.); (Y.L.); (X.Z.)
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Chen A, Liu N, Xu C, Wu S, Liu C, Qi H, Ren Y, Han X, Yang K, Liu X, Ma Z, Chen Y. The STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of Fusarium graminearum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1139-1153. [PMID: 37278525 PMCID: PMC10423325 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13359] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAKs) are evolutionarily conserved supramolecular complexes that control various important cellular processes such as signal transduction and development. However, the role of the STRIPAK complex in pathogenic fungi remains elusive. In this study, the components and function of the STRIPAK complex were investigated in Fusarium graminearum, an important plant-pathogenic fungus. The results obtained from bioinformatic analyses and the protein-protein interactome suggested that the fungal STRIPAK complex consisted of six proteins: Ham2, Ham3, Ham4, PP2Aa, Ppg1, and Mob3. Deletion mutations of individual components of the STRIPAK complex were created, and observed to cause a significant reduction in fungal vegetative growth and sexual development, and dramatically attenuae virulence, excluding the essential gene PP2Aa. Further results revealed that the STRIPAK complex interacted with the mitogen-activated protein kinase Mgv1, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway, subsequently regulating the phosphorylation level and nuclear accumulation of Mgv1 to control the fungal stress response and virulence. Our results also suggested that the STRIPAK complex was interconnected with the target of rapamycin pathway through Tap42-PP2A cascade. Taken together, our findings revealed that the STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of F. graminearum and highlighted the importance of the STRIPAK complex in fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Na Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Chenghui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Siqi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hao Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Kunlong Yang
- Department of Biomedicine and Food Science, School of Life ScienceJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of MicrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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Chen A, Zhou Y, Ren Y, Liu C, Han X, Wang J, Ma Z, Chen Y. Ubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5 contributes to fungal virulence in Fusarium graminearum. mBio 2023; 14:e0149923. [PMID: 37504517 PMCID: PMC10470610 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01499-23] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The histone acetyltransferase general control non-depressible 5 (Gcn5) plays a critical role in the epigenetic landscape and chromatin modification for regulating a wide variety of biological events. However, the post-translational regulation of Gcn5 itself is poorly understood. Here, we found that Gcn5 was ubiquitinated and deubiquitinated by E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14, respectively, in the important plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Tom1 interacted with Gcn5 in the nucleus and subsequently ubiquitinated Gcn5 mainly at K252 to accelerate protein degradation. Conversely, Ubp14 deubiquitinated Gcn5 and enhanced its stability. In the deletion mutant Δubp14, protein level of Gcn5 was significantly reduced and resulted in attenuated virulence in the fungus by affecting the mycotoxin production, autophagy process, and the penetration ability. Our findings indicate that Tom1 and Ubp14 show antagonistic functions in the control of the protein stability of Gcn5 via post-translational modification and highlight the importance of Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in the fungal virulence. IMPORTANCE Post-translational modification (PTM) enzymes have been reported to be involved in regulating numerous cellular processes. However, the modification of these PTM enzymes themselves is largely unknown. In this study, we found that the E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14 contributed to the regulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5, respectively, in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight of cereals. Our findings provide deep insights into the modification of acetyltransferase Gcn5 and its dynamic regulation via ubiquitination and deubiquitination. To our knowledge, this work is the most comprehensive analysis of a regulatory network of ubiquitination that impinges on acetyltransferase in filamentous pathogens. Moreover, our findings are important because we present the novel roles of the Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in fungal virulence, providing novel possibilities and targets to control fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Alotaibi NM, Saeed M, Alshammari N, Alabdallah NM, Mahfooz S. Comparative genomics reveals the presence of simple sequence repeats in genes related to virulence in plant pathogenic Pythium ultimum and Pythium vexans. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:256. [PMID: 37270724 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03595-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the occurrence, relative abundance (RA), and density (RD) of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the complete genome and transcriptomic sequences of the plant pathogenic species of Pythium to acquire a better knowledge of their genome structure and evolution. Among the species, P. ultimum had the highest RA and RD of SSRs in the genomic sequences, whereas P. vexans had the highest RA and RD in the transcriptomic sequences. The genomic and transcriptomic sequences of P. aphanidermatum showed the lowest RA and RD of SSRs. Trinucleotide SSRs were the most prevalent class in both genomic and transcriptomic sequences, while dinucleotide SSRs were the least prevalent. The G + C content of the transcriptomic sequences was found to be positively correlated with the number (r = 0.601) and RA (r = 0.710) of SSRs. A motif conservation study revealed the highest number of unique motifs in P. vexans (9.9%). Overall, a low conservation of motifs was observed among the species (25.9%). A gene enrichment study revealed P. vexans and P. ultimum carry SSRs in their genes that are directly connected to virulence, whereas the remaining two species, P. aphanidermatum and P. arrhenomanes, harbour SSRs in genes involved in transcription, translation, and ATP binding. In an effort to enhance the genomic resources, a total of 11,002 primers from the transcribed regions were designed for the pathogenic Pythium species. Furthermore, the unique motifs identified in this work could be employed as molecular probes for species identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahaa M Alotaibi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Saeed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, 2440, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nawaf Alshammari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, 2440, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadiyah M Alabdallah
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia
- Basic and Applied Scientific Research Centre, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahil Mahfooz
- Department of Biotechnology, V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, 222003, India.
- , The Academic Editors, Saryu Enclave, Awadh Vikas Yojna, Lucknow, 226002, India.
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12
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Hu L, Jia R, Sun Y, Chen J, Chen N, Zhang J, Wang Y. Streptomyces pratensis S10 Controls Fusarium Head Blight by Suppressing Different Stages of the Life Cycle and ATP Production. PLANT DISEASE 2023:PDIS09222063RE. [PMID: 36269586 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-09-22-2063-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, predominately caused by Fusarium graminearum, is an economically important plant disease worldwide. With increased fungicide resistance, controlling this filamentous fungal disease has become an enormous challenge. Biocontrol agents alone or integrated with other methods could better manage FHB. Streptomyces pratensis S10 has strong antagonistic activity against FHB as reported in our previous study. We now have investigated S10 controls of FHB in more detail by combining microscope observations, biological assays, and transcriptome profiling. S10 culture filtrates (SCF) significantly inhibited essential stages of the life cycle of F. graminearum in the laboratory and under simulated natural conditions. SCF at different concentrations inhibited conidiation of F. graminearum with an inhibition of 57.49 to 83.83% in the medium and 64.04 to 85.89% in plants. Different concentrations of SCF reduced conidia germination by 47.33 to 67.67%. Two percent (vol/vol) SCF suppressed perithecia formation of F. graminearum by 84 and 81% in the laboratory and under simulated natural conditions, respectively. The S10 also reduced the pathogenicity and penetration ability of F. graminearum by suppressing ATP production. Collectively, these findings indicate that S. pratensis S10 should be explored further for efficacy at controlling FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Ruimin Jia
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Yan Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Na Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, P.R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China
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13
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Shao W, Sun K, Ma T, Jiang H, Hahn M, Ma Z, Jiao C, Yin Y. SUMOylation regulates low-temperature survival and oxidative DNA damage tolerance in Botrytis cinerea. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:817-834. [PMID: 36651012 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
SUMOylation as one of the protein post-translational modifications plays crucial roles in multiple biological processes of eukaryotic organisms. Botrytis cinerea is a devastating fungal pathogen and capable of infecting plant hosts at low temperature. However, the molecular mechanisms of low-temperature adaptation are largely unknown in fungi. Combining with biochemical methods and biological analyses, we report that SUMOylation regulates pathogen survival at low temperature and oxidative DNA damage response during infection in B. cinerea. The heat shock protein (Hsp70) BcSsb and E3 ubiquitin ligase BcRad18 were identified as substrates of SUMOylation; moreover, their SUMOylation both requires a single unique SUMO-interacting motif (SIM). SUMOylated BcSsb regulates β-tubulin accumulation, thereby affecting the stability of microtubules and consequently mycelial growth at low temperature. On the contrary, SUMOylated BcRad18 modulates mono-ubiquitination of the sliding clamp protein proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is involved in response to oxidative DNA damage during infection. Our study uncovers the molecular mechanisms of SUMOylation-mediated low-temperature survival and oxidative DNA damage tolerance during infection in a devastating fungal pathogen, which provides novel insights into low-temperature adaptation and pathogenesis for postharvest pathogens as well as new targets for inhibitor invention in disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kewei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tianling Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Huixian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Matthias Hahn
- Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, PO Box 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chen Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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14
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Zhang Y, He K, Guo X, Jiang J, Qian L, Xu J, Che Z, Huang X, Liu S. Transcriptomic Profiling of Fusarium pseudograminearum in Response to Carbendazim, Pyraclostrobin, Tebuconazole, and Phenamacril. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030334. [PMID: 36983502 PMCID: PMC10057576 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030334] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum has been identified as a significant pathogen. It causes Fusarium crown rot (FCR), which occurs in several major wheat-producing areas in China. Chemical control is the primary measure with which to control this disease. In this study, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to determine the different mechanisms of action of four frequently used fungicides including carbendazim, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and phenamacril on F. pseudograminearum. In brief, 381, 1896, 842, and 814 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under the carbendazim, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and phenamacril treatments, respectively. After the joint analysis, 67 common DEGs were obtained, and further functional analysis showed that the ABC transported pathway was significantly enriched. Moreover, FPSE_04130 (FER6) and FPSE_11895 (MDR1), two important ABC multidrug transporter genes whose expression levels simultaneously increased, were mined under the different treatments, which unambiguously demonstrated the common effects. In addition, Mfuzz clustering analysis and WGCNA analysis revealed that the core DEGs are involved in several critical pathways in each of the four treatment groups. Taken together, these genes may play a crucial function in the mechanisms of F. pseudograminearum's response to the fungicides stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Kai He
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security and School of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuhao Guo
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jia Jiang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Le Qian
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jianqiang Xu
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Zhiping Che
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Xiaobo Huang
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Shengming Liu
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
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15
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Wang H, Zhang Y, Wang J, Chen Y, Hou T, Zhao Y, Ma Z. The sphinganine C4-hydroxylase FgSur2 regulates sensitivity to azole antifungal agents and virulence of Fusarium graminearum. Microbiol Res 2023; 271:127347. [PMID: 36907072 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Lipid rafts consisting of ergosterol and sphingolipids in the lipid membrane of cells play important roles in various cellular processes. However, the functions of sphingolipids and their synthetic genes in phytopathogenic fungi have not been well understood yet. In this study, we conducted genome-wide searches and carried out systematic gene deletion analysis of the sphingolipid synthesis pathway in Fusarium graminearum, a causal agent of Fusarium head blight of wheat and other cereal crops worldwide. Mycelial growth assays showed that deletion of FgBAR1, FgLAC1, FgSUR2 or FgSCS7 resulted in markedly reduced hyphal growth. Fungicide sensitivity tests showed that the sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene FgSUR2 deletion mutant (ΔFgSUR2) exhibited significantly increased susceptibility to azole fungicides. In addition, this mutant displayed a remarkable increase in cell membrane permeability. Importantly, ΔFgSUR2 was defective in deoxynivalenol (DON) toxisome formation, leading to dramatically decreased DON biosynthesis. Moreover, the deletion of FgSUR2 resulted in dramatically decreased virulence of the pathogen on host plants. Taken together, these results indicate that FgSUR2 plays an important role in regulating the susceptibility to azoles and virulence of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and 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 Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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16
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Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Pumilio 1 Regulates Virulence on Watermelon through Interacting with the ARP2/3 Complex and Binding to an A-Rich Motif in the 3' UTR of Diverse Transcripts. mBio 2023; 14:e0015723. [PMID: 36856417 PMCID: PMC10128047 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00157-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), a soilborne phytopathogenic fungus, causes watermelon Fusarium wilt, resulting in serious yield losses worldwide. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of Fon virulence is largely unknown. The present study investigated the biological functions of six FonPUFs, encoding RNA binding Pumilio proteins, and especially explored the molecular mechanism of FonPUF1 in Fon virulence. A series of phenotypic analyses indicated that FonPUFs have distinct but diverse functions in vegetative growth, asexual reproduction, macroconidia morphology, spore germination, cell wall, or abiotic stress response of Fon. Notably, the deletion of FonPUF1 attenuates Fon virulence by impairing the invasive growth and colonization ability inside the watermelon plants. FonPUF1 possesses RNA binding activity, and its biochemical activity and virulence function depend on the RNA recognition motif or Pumilio domains. FonPUF1 associates with the actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex by interacting with FonARC18, which is also required for Fon virulence and plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial functions, such as ATP generation and reactive oxygen species production. Transcriptomic profiling of ΔFonPUF1 identified a set of putative FonPUF1-dependent virulence-related genes in Fon, possessing a novel A-rich binding motif in the 3' untranslated region (UTR), indicating that FonPUF1 participates in additional mechanisms critical for Fon virulence. These findings highlight the functions and molecular mechanism of FonPUFs in Fon virulence. IMPORTANCE Fusarium oxysporum is a devastating plant-pathogenic fungus that causes vascular wilt disease in many economically important crops, including watermelon, worldwide. F. oxysporum f. sp. nievum (Fon) causes serious yield loss in watermelon production. However, the molecular mechanism of Fusarium wilt development by Fon remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that six putative Pumilio proteins-encoding genes (FonPUFs) differentially operate diverse basic biological processes, including stress response, and that FonPUF1 is required for Fon virulence. Notably, FonPUF1 possesses RNA binding activity and associates with the actin-related protein 2/3 complex to control mitochondrial functions. Furthermore, FonPUF1 coordinates the expression of a set of putative virulence-related genes in Fon by binding to a novel A-rich motif present in the 3' UTR of a diverse set of target mRNAs. Our study disentangles the previously unexplored molecular mechanism involved in regulating Fon virulence, providing a possibility for the development of novel strategies for disease management.
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Miltenburg MG, Bonner C, Hepworth S, Huang M, Rampitsch C, Subramaniam R. Proximity-dependent biotinylation identifies a suite of candidate effector proteins from Fusarium graminearum. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:369-382. [PMID: 35986640 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight in cereal crops. The identification of proteins secreted from pathogens to overcome plant defenses and cause disease, collectively known as effectors, can reveal the etiology of a disease process. Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) was used to identify potential effector proteins secreted in planta by F. graminearum during the infection of Arabidopsis. Mass spectrometry analysis of streptavidin affinity-purified proteins revealed over 300 proteins from F. graminearum, of which 62 were candidate effector proteins (CEPs). An independent analysis of secreted proteins from axenic cultures of F. graminearum showed a 42% overlap with CEPs, thereby assuring confidence in the BioID methodology. The analysis also revealed that 19 out of 62 CEPs (approx. 30%) had been previously characterized with virulence function in fungi. The functional characterization of additional CEPs was undertaken through deletion analysis by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, and by overexpression into Triticum aestivum (wheat) leaves by the Ustilago hordei delivery system. Deletion studies of 12 CEPs confirmed the effector function of three previously characterized CEPs and validated the function of another four CEPs on wheat inflorescence or vegetative tissues. Lastly, overexpression in wheat showed that all seven CEPs enhanced resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary G Miltenburg
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Christopher Bonner
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Shelley Hepworth
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mei Huang
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB, R6M 1Y5, Canada
| | - Christof Rampitsch
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB, R6M 1Y5, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
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18
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Wen Z, Wang J, Jiao C, Shao W, Ma Z. Biological and molecular characterizations of field fludioxonil-resistant isolates of Fusarium graminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 184:105101. [PMID: 35715040 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) predominately caused by F. graminearum, is an economical devastating disease for grain cereal crops especially on wheat. The phenylpyrrole fungicide fludioxonil exhibits excellent activity against F. graminearum and has been registered to control FHB in China. In this study, 6 fludioxonil-resistant (FludR) isolates of F. graminearum were identified from 2910 isolates collected from wheat cultivated field in Jiang Su, An Hui and Henan province of China in 2020. The sensitivity assay showed that resistance factor (RF) of FludR isolates ranges from 170.73 to >1000. In comparison with fludioxonil-sensitive (FludS) isolates, all of FludR isolates showed fitness defects in terms of mycelial growth, conidiation and virulence. Under fludioxonil treatment condition, the glycerol accumulation was obviously increased in FludS isolates, but was slightly increased in FludR isolates. Four FludR isolates exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic stresses. Moreover, there is no positive cross-resistance between fludioxonil and other fungicides including phenamacril, carbendazim and tebuconazole. When treated with fludioxonil, the phosphorylation level of Hog1 was significantly decreased in the four FludR isolates, which was in contrast to the observation in the FludS and two FludR isolates where phosphorylation level of Hog1 was increased. Sequencing assay showed that the mutations were identified in different domains in FgOS1, FgOS2 or FgOS4 in FludR isolates. This was first reported that biological and molecular characterizations of field isolates of F. graminearum resistant to fludioxonil. The results can provide scientific directions for controlling FHB using fludioxonil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Zhang L, Sun K, Li Y, Ma T, Zhang Y, Yin Y, Zhang S, Shao W. The Importin FgPse1 Is Required for Vegetative Development, Virulence, and Deoxynivalenol Production by Interacting with the Nuclear Polyadenylated RNA-Binding Protein FgNab2 in Fusarium graminearum. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 112:1072-1080. [PMID: 34784736 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-08-21-0357-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Karyopherins are involved in transport through nuclear pore complexes. Karyopherins are necessary for nuclear import and export pathways and bind to their cargos. Polyadenylation of messenger RNA (mRNA) is necessary for various biological processes, regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. Until now, the association of karyopherin with mRNA polyadenylation has been less understood in plant pathogenic fungi. In our study, we focused on the biological functions of the karyopherin FgPse1 in Fusarium graminearum. The results showed that FgPse1 is involved in mycelial growth, asexual reproduction, virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation showed that FgPse1 interacts with the nuclear polyadenylated RNA-binding protein FgNab2. Moreover, a fluorescence localization assay indicated that FgPse1 is necessary for the nuclear import of FgNab2. The nuclear import of FgNab2 regulates the expression of FgTri4, FgTri5, and FgTri6, which are essential for DON production. Thus, ΔFgPse1 and ΔFgNab2 showed consistent defects in DON production. In summary, our data indicated that FgPse1 is necessary for mycelial growth, virulence, and DON production, interacting with FgNab2 in F. graminearum. These results contribute to our understanding of the functions of importins in phytopathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kewei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yiqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tianling Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Crop Protection, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- National Agro-technology Extension and Service Center, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Wenyong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Huang H, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Yi G, Xie J, Viljoen A, Wang W, Mostert D, Fu G, Peng C, Xiang D, Li C, Liu S. FocECM33, a GPI-anchored protein, regulates vegetative growth and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:213-223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Ding Y, Gardiner DM, Kazan K. Transcriptome analysis reveals infection strategies employed by Fusarium graminearum as a root pathogen. Microbiol Res 2021; 256:126951. [PMID: 34972022 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126951] [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: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg) infects both heads and roots of cereal crops causing several economically important diseases such as head blight, seedling blight, crown rot and root rot. Trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), a well-known virulence factor, produced by Fg during disease development is also an important health concern. Although how Fg infects above-ground tissues is relatively well studied, very little is known about molecular processes employed by the pathogen during below-ground infection. Also unknown is the role of DON during root infection. In the present study, we analyzed the transcriptome of Fg during root infection of the model cereal Brachypodium distachyon (Bd). We also compared our Fg transcriptome data obtained during Bd root infection with those reported during wheat head infection. These analyses suggested that both shared and unique infection strategies were employed by the pathogen during colonization of different host tissues. Several metabolite biosynthesis genes induced in Fg during root infection could be linked to phytohormone production, implying that the pathogen likely interferes with root specific defenses. In addition, to understand the role of DON in Fg root infection, we analyzed the transcriptome of the DON deficient Tri5 mutant. These analyses showed that the absence of DON had a significant effect on fungal transcriptional responses. Although DON was produced in infected roots, this mycotoxin did not act as a Fg virulence factor during root infection. Our results reveal new mechanistic insights into the below-ground strategies employed by Fg that may benefit the development of new genetic tools to combat this important cereal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ding
- The Plant Breeding Institute, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Cobbitty, 2570, New South Wales, Australia; Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Donald M Gardiner
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia; Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kemal Kazan
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia; Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia.
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Toxicity and action mechanisms of silver nanoparticles against the mycotoxin-producing fungus Fusarium graminearum. J Adv Res 2021; 38:1-12. [PMID: 35572400 PMCID: PMC9091762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AgNPs possess high activity towards fungicide-resistant strains. AgNPs exert great activity against mycotoxin-producing fungus F. graminearum. AgNPs induce the expression of two azole resistance-related ABC genes. AgNPs lead to accumulation of toxisome and notorious mycotoxin DON by provoking ROS. AgNPs combined with DON-reducing fungicides are recommended for FHB control.
Introduction Fusarium graminearum is a most destructive fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease in cereal crops, resulting in severe yield loss and mycotoxin contamination in food and feed. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively applied in multiple fields due to their strong antimicrobial activity and are considered alternatives to fungicides. However, the antifungal mechanisms and the effects of AgNPs on mycotoxin production have not been well characterized. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity and mechanisms of AgNPs against both fungicide-resistant and fungicide-sensitive F. graminearum strains, determine their effects on mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and evaluate the potential of AgNPs for FHB management in the field. Methods Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence microscopy were used to examine the fungal morphological changes caused by AgNPs. In addition, RNA-Seq, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were conducted to detect gene transcription and DON levels. Results AgNPs with a diameter of 2 nm exhibited effective antifungal activity against both fungicide-sensitive and fungicide-resistant strains of F. graminearum. Further studies showed that AgNP application could impair the development, cell structure, cellular energy utilization, and metabolism pathways of this fungus. RNA-Seq analysis and sensitivity determination revealed that AgNP treatment significantly induced the expression of azole-related ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters without compromising the control efficacy of azoles in F. graminearum. AgNP treatment stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), subsequently induced transcription of DON biosynthesis genes, toxisome formation, and mycotoxin production. Conclusion This study revealed the underlying mechanisms of AgNPs against F. graminearum, determined their effects on DON production, and evaluated the potential of AgNPs for controlling fungicide-resistant F. graminearum strains. Together, our findings suggest that combinations of AgNPs with DON-reducing fungicides could be used for the management of FHB in the future.
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Shi D, Zhang Y, Wang J, Ren W, Zhang J, Mbadianya JI, Zhu Y, Chen C, Ma H. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase FgSah1 is required for fungal development and virulence in Fusarium graminearum. Virulence 2021; 12:2171-2185. [PMID: 34424830 PMCID: PMC8386609 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1965821] [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] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (Sah1) plays a crucial role in methylation and lipid metabolism in yeast and mammals, yet its function remains elusive in filamentous fungi. In this study, we characterized Sah1 in the phytopathogenic fungus F. graminearum by generating knockout and knockout-complemented strains of FgSAH1. We found that the FgSah1-GFP fusion protein was localized to the cytoplasm, and that deletion of FgSAH1 resulted in defects in vegetative growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, stress responses, virulence, lipid metabolism, and tolerance against fungicides. Moreover, the accumulations of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) (the methyl group donor in most methyl transfer reactions) in ΔFgSah1 were seven- and ninefold higher than those in the wild-type strain, respectively. All of these defective phenotypes in ΔFgSah1 mutants were rescued by target gene complementation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that FgSah1 plays essential roles in methylation metabolism, fungal development, full virulence, multiple stress responses, lipid metabolism, and fungicide sensitivity in F. graminearum. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the systematic functional characterization of Sah1 in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongya Shi
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Crop Protection, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weichao Ren
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jane Ifunanya Mbadianya
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanye Zhu
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changjun Chen
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongyu Ma
- Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Tini F, Beccari G, Marconi G, Porceddu A, Sulyok M, Gardiner DM, Albertini E, Covarelli L. Identification of Putative Virulence Genes by DNA Methylation Studies in the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051192. [PMID: 34068122 PMCID: PMC8152758 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation mediates organisms’ adaptations to environmental changes in a wide range of species. We investigated if a such a strategy is also adopted by Fusarium graminearum in regulating virulence toward its natural hosts. A virulent strain of this fungus was consecutively sub-cultured for 50 times (once a week) on potato dextrose agar. To assess the effect of subculturing on virulence, wheat seedlings and heads (cv. A416) were inoculated with subcultures (SC) 1, 23, and 50. SC50 was also used to re-infect (three times) wheat heads (SC50×3) to restore virulence. In vitro conidia production, colonies growth and secondary metabolites production were also determined for SC1, SC23, SC50, and SC50×3. Seedling stem base and head assays revealed a virulence decline of all subcultures, whereas virulence was restored in SC50×3. The same trend was observed in conidia production. The DNA isolated from SC50 and SC50×3 was subject to a methylation content-sensitive enzyme and double-digest, restriction-site-associated DNA technique (ddRAD-MCSeEd). DNA methylation analysis indicated 1024 genes, whose methylation levels changed in response to the inoculation on a healthy host after subculturing. Several of these genes are already known to be involved in virulence by functional analysis. These results demonstrate that the physiological shifts following sub-culturing have an impact on genomic DNA methylation levels and suggest that the ddRAD-MCSeEd approach can be an important tool for detecting genes potentially related to fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Porceddu
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia, 39a, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Micheal Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse, 20, A-3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia;
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
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Computational analysis of LexA regulons in Proteus species. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:131. [PMID: 33680696 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02683-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain a general understanding of the SOS system in Proteus species, in this study LexA-binding sites and the LexA regulons in 23 Proteus genomes were first predicted by phylogenetic footprinting server, then with Proteus vulgaris as an example, the expression of LexA regulon in iron limitation was investigated by proteomic analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method. The results showed that LexA proteins were highly conserved in Proteus species, and were in a close phylogenetic relationship with those in Gram-negative bacteria; the core SOS response genes lexA and recA were found in all the 23 genomes, indicating that this system was widely distributed in this genus; besides that, putative LexA-binding sites were also found in the upstream sequences of some genes involved in other biological processes such as biosynthesis, drug resistance, and stress response. Proteomic and RT-qPCR analyses showed that under iron deficient condition, the expression of lexA, recA and sulA was transcriptionally upregulated (p < 0.05), lexA was also translationally upregulated but recA was on the contrary (p < 0.05), whereas another SOS response gene dinI was transcriptionally downregulated (p < 0.01). These results indicated that in response to iron deficiency, the members of LexA regulon were not regulated by the same way, suggesting the existence of a precise regulation mechanism of SOS response in P. vulgaris. In conclusion, this study provided a preliminary understanding of the SOS system in Proteus species, which laid the foundation for further investigation of its roles in SOS response and other biological processes.
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Hu M, Chen S. Non-Target Site Mechanisms of Fungicide Resistance in Crop Pathogens: A Review. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030502. [PMID: 33673517 PMCID: PMC7997439 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence of resistance in plant pathogens to the limited number of chemical classes of fungicides challenges sustainability and profitability of crop production worldwide. Understanding mechanisms underlying fungicide resistance facilitates monitoring of resistant populations at large-scale, and can guide and accelerate the development of novel fungicides. A majority of modern fungicides act to disrupt a biochemical function via binding a specific target protein in the pathway. While target-site based mechanisms such as alternation and overexpression of target genes have been commonly found to confer resistance across many fungal species, it is not uncommon to encounter resistant phenotypes without altered or overexpressed target sites. However, such non-target site mechanisms are relatively understudied, due in part to the complexity of the fungal genome network. This type of resistance can oftentimes be transient and noninheritable, further hindering research efforts. In this review, we focused on crop pathogens and summarized reported mechanisms of resistance that are otherwise related to target-sites, including increased activity of efflux pumps, metabolic circumvention, detoxification, standing genetic variations, regulation of stress response pathways, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or mutations. In addition, novel mechanisms of drug resistance recently characterized in human pathogens are reviewed in the context of nontarget-directed resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjun Hu
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (S.C.)
| | - Shuning Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (S.C.)
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Zheng H, Li L, Yu Z, Yuan Y, Zheng Q, Xie Q, Li G, Abubakar YS, Zhou J, Wang Z, Zheng W. FgSpa2 recruits FgMsb3, a Rab8 GAP, to the polarisome to regulate polarized trafficking, growth and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1665-1683. [PMID: 32978966 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In filamentous fungi, hyphal growth depends on the continuous delivery of vesicles to the growing tips. It is unclear how fast-growing hyphae coordinate simultaneous cell extension and expansion in the tip cells. We have functionally characterized 12 TBC (Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16) domain-containing proteins in Fusarium graminearum. Among them, FgMsb3 is found to regulate hyphal tip expansion and to be required for pathogenicity. The regulatory mechanism of FgMsb3 has been further investigated by genetic, high-resolution microscopy and high-throughput co-immunoprecipitation strategies. The FgMsb3 protein localizes at the polarisome and the hyphal apical dome (HAD) where it acts as a GTPase-activating protein for FgRab8 which is required for apical secretion-mediated growth and pathogenicity. Deletion of FgMSB3 causes excessive polarized trafficking but blocks the fusion of FgSnc1-associated vesicles to the plasma membrane. Moreover, we establish that FgSpa2 interacts with FgMsb3, enabling FgMsb3 tethering to the polarisome. Loss of FgSpa2 or other polarisome components (FgBud6 and FgPea2) causes complete shifting of FgMsb3 to the HAD and this affects the polarized growth and pathogenicity of the fungus. In summary, we conclude that FgSpa2 regulates FgMsb3-FgRab8 cascade and this is crucial for creating a steady-state equilibrium that maintains continuous polarized growth and contributes to the pathogenicity of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Zheng
- Marine and Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Lingping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zhi Yu
- Marine and Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yanping Yuan
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qiaojia Zheng
- Marine and Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Qiurong Xie
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatric, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Guangpu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 810211, Nigeria
| | - Jie Zhou
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Marine and Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
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Ali MA, Lou Y, Hafeez R, Li X, Hossain A, Xie T, Lin L, Li B, Yin Y, Yan J, An Q. Functional Analysis and Genome Mining Reveal High Potential of Biocontrol and Plant Growth Promotion in Nodule-Inhabiting Bacteria Within Paenibacillus polymyxa Complex. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:618601. [PMID: 33537018 PMCID: PMC7848036 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.618601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Paenibacillus were frequently isolated from legume nodules. The nodule-inhabiting Paenibacillus as a resource of biocontrol and plant growth-promoting endophytes has rarely been explored. This study explored the nodule-inhabiting Paenibacillus' antifungal activities and biocontrol potentials against broad-spectrum important phytopathogenic fungi. We collected strains which were isolated from nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia, Dendrolobium triangulare, Ormosia semicastrata, Cicer arietinum, Acacia crassicarpa, or Acacia implexa and belong to P. peoriae, P. kribbensis, P. endophyticus, P. enshidis, P. puldeungensis, P. taichungensis, or closely related to P. kribbensis, or P. anseongense. These nodule-inhabiting Paenibacillus showed diverse antagonistic activities against five phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium graminearum, Magnaporthe oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Botrytis cinerea). Six strains within the P. polymyxa complex showed broad-spectrum and potent activities against all the five pathogens, and produced multiple hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, and lipopeptide fusaricidins. Fusaricidins are likely the key antimicrobials responsible for the broad-spectrum antifungal activities. The nodule-inhabiting strains within the P. polymyxa complex were able to epiphytically and endophytically colonize the non-host wheat plants, produce indole acetic acids (IAA), and dissolve calcium phosphate and calcium phytate. P. peoriae strains RP20, RP51, and RP62 could fix N2. P. peoriae RP51 and Paenibacillus sp. RP31, which showed potent plant colonization and plant growth-promotion competence, effectively control fungal infection in planta. Genome mining revealed that all strains (n = 76) within the P. polymyxa complex contain ipdC gene encoding indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase for biosynthesis of IAA, 96% (n = 73) contain the fus cluster for biosynthesis of fusaricidins, and 43% (n = 33) contain the nif cluster for nitrogen fixation. Together, our study highlights that endophytic strains within the P. polymyxa complex have a high probability to be effective biocontrol agents and biofertilizers and we propose an effective approach to screen strains within the P. polymyxa complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Arshad Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rahila Hafeez
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuqing Li
- Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Afsana Hossain
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Plant Pathology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Ting Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Lin
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianli Yan
- Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qianli An
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Kim DW, Shin YK, Lee SW, Wimonmuang K, Kang KB, Lee YS, Yun SH. FgPKS7 is an essential player in mating-type-mediated regulatory pathway required for completing sexual cycle in Fusarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:1972-1990. [PMID: 33169919 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Secondary metabolism is intimately linked to developmental processes in filamentous fungi. In a previous study, we revealed that several polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, including FgPKS7, are specifically induced during formation of the sexual fruiting body (perithecium) in the cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. The function of PKS7, which is essential for perithecial development and hyphal growth, is interchangeable between two phylogenetically related species, F. graminearum and F. asiaticum, but not conserved in the more distantly related species F. fujikuroi and F. neocosmosporiellum. FgPKS7 is under the control of global or upstream regulators including the mating-type (MAT) locus and regulates numerous downstream genes that are transcriptionally specific to and functionally essential for sexual development, several other PKS genes, and ABC transporter genes for azole resistance in F. graminearum. FgPKS7 is an essential element for proper sexual development and participates in a regulatory network controlled by the MAT locus. Although the chemical identity of FgPKS7 remains unclear, FgPKS7 is likely involved in chemical reaction(s) for synthesis of metabolite(s) that control or promote perithecial maturation in F. graminearum. This study provides in-depth insights into the direct role of secondary metabolites in sexual development of filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Woon Kim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo-Kyoung Shin
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Won Lee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Kanphassorn Wimonmuang
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyo Bin Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Sang Lee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan Yun
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Republic of Korea
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Xu L, Wang H, Zhang C, Wang J, Chen A, Chen Y, Ma Z. System-wide characterization of subtilases reveals that subtilisin-like protease FgPrb1 of Fusarium graminearum regulates fungal development and virulence. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 144:103449. [PMID: 32890707 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Subtilases represent the second largest subfamily of serine proteases, and are important for various biological processes. However, the biological function of subtilases has not been systematically characterized in plant pathogens. In present study, 32 subtilases were identified in the genome of wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum, a devastating cereal plant pathogen. Deletion mutants of each subtilase were obtained and functionally characterized. Among them, the deletion of FgPrb1 resulted in greatly reduced virulence of F. graminearum. The regulatory mechanisms of FgPrb1 in virulence were investigated in details. Our results showed that the loss of FgPrb1 led to defects in deoxynivalenol (DON) production, responses to environmental stimuli, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, we found that FgPrb1 was involved in autophagy regulation. Taken together, the systematic functional characterization of subtilases showed that the FgPrb1 of F. graminearum is critical for plant infection by regulating multiple different cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luona Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongkai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chengqi Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Jinli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Chen A, Ju Z, Wang J, Wang J, Wang H, Wu J, Yin Y, Zhao Y, Ma Z, Chen Y. The RasGEF FgCdc25 regulates fungal development and virulence in Fusarium graminearum via cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:5109-5124. [PMID: 32537857 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ras GTPases act as molecular switches to control various cellular processes by coupling integrated signals in eukaryotes. Activities of Ras GTPases are triggered by Ras GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) in general, whereas the role of RasGEF in plant pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the only RasGEF protein in Fusarium graminearum, FgCdc25, by combining genetic, cytological and phenotypic strategies. FgCdc25 directly interacted with RasGTPase FgRas2, but not FgRas1, to regulate growth and sexual reproduction. Mutation of the FgCDC25 gene resulted in decreased toxisome formation and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, which was largely depended on cAMP signalling. In addition, FgCdc25 indirectly interacted with FgSte11 in FgSte11-Ste7-Gpmk1 cascade, and the ΔFgcdc25 strain totally abolished the formation of infection structures and was nonpathogenic in planta, which was partially recovered by addition of exogenous cAMP. In contrast, FgCdc25 directly interplayed with FgBck1 in FgBck1-MKK1-Mgv1 cascade to negatively control cell wall integrity. Collectively, these results suggest that FgCdc25 modulates cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways and further regulates fungal development, DON production and plant infection in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jinli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongkai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiayu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Hubbard M, Zhai C, Peng G. Exploring Mechanisms of Quantitative Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans (Blackleg) in the Cotyledons of Canola ( Brassica napus) Based on Transcriptomic and Microscopic Analyses. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9070864. [PMID: 32650490 PMCID: PMC7411684 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Using resistant cultivars is a common approach to managing blackleg of canola/rapeseed caused by Leptosphaeria maculans (Lm). Quantitative resistance (QR), as opposed to major-gene resistance, is of interest because it is generally more durable, due to its multi-genetic basis. However, the mechanisms and genes underlying QR are mostly unknown. In this study, potential QR modes of action in “74-44 BL” was explored. This Canadian canola cultivar showed moderate but consistent race-nonspecific resistance at the cotyledon and adult-plant stages. A susceptible cultivar, “Westar”, was used as a control. After inoculation, the lesions developed more slowly on the cotyledons of 74-44 BL than those of Westar. We used RNA sequencing (-RNA-seq) to identify genes and their functions, putatively related to this resistance, and found that genes involved in programmed cell death (PCD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), signal transduction or intracellular endomembrane transport were most differentially expressed. ROS production was assessed in relation to Lm hyphal growth and lesion size; it occurred beyond the tissue colonized by Lm in 74-44 BL and appeared to trigger rapid cell death, limiting cotyledon colonization by Lm. In contrast, Lm grew more rapidly in Westar, often catching up with the ring of ROS and surpassing lesion boundaries. It appears that QR in 74-44 BL cotyledons is associated with limited colonization by Lm possibly mediated via ROS. The RNA-seq data also showed a link between ROS, signal transduction, and endomembrane vesicle trafficking, as well as PCD in the resistance. These results provide a starting point for a better understanding of the mechanisms behind QR against Lm in canola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Hubbard
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S7N 0X2, Canada;
| | - Chun Zhai
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, Canada;
| | - Gary Peng
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-306-385-9410
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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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Shao W, Sun J, Zhang X, Chen C. Amino Acid Polymorphism in Succinate Dehydrogenase Subunit C Involved in Biological Fitness of Botrytis cinerea. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2020; 33:580-589. [PMID: 31922928 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-07-19-0187-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is an important respiratory enzyme which participates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. A previous study of the baseline sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea against SDH inhibitors (SDHIs) showed that intrinsic sensitivity of the small population against the SDHIs exhibited significant differences. In the sequencing assay, we found five kinds of amino acid polymorphism in SDH subunit C (SdhC) of B. cinerea isolates which were never exposed to the SDHIs. To validate that amino acid polymorphism in the SdhC of B. cinerea confers intrinsic sensitivity against the SDHIs, the replacement mutants containing each kind of amino acid polymorphism of SdhC exhibited phenotype differences in intrinsic sensitivity to SDHIs, mycelial growth, sporulation, virulence, oxidative stress response, and carbon source utilization. These results indicated that SdhC of B. cinerea experienced positive selection during evolution and resulted in amino acid polymorphism which is involved in intrinsic sensitivity to SDHIs and biological fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyong Shao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jingtao Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoke Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Changjun Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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Liu N, Wu S, Dawood DH, Tang G, Zhang C, Liang J, Chen Y, Ma Z. The b-ZIP transcription factor FgTfmI is required for the fungicide phenamacril tolerance and pathogenecity in Fusarium graminearum. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:3312-3322. [PMID: 31025482 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of cereal crops worldwide mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum. Due to the unavailability of FHB-resistant wheat cultivars, chemical fungicide application is currently the most effective approach for controlling FHB now. In the last few years, a novel cyanoacrylate fungicide, phenamacril, has been widely used in China for FHB disease management. In previous studies, we identified that myosin I (FgMyo1) is the target of phenamacril and is essential for mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis and fungal growth. However, the regulation of FgMYO1 gene expression is still largely unknown. RESULTS In this study, we identified a b-ZIP transcription factor, FgTfmI, which regulates the mRNA expression of FgMYO1 upon phenamacril treatment. The FgTfmI directly binds to the promoter region of FgMYO1, and is required for the upregulation of FgMYO1 in response to phenamacril treatment. The deletion mutant of FgTFMI (ΔFgTfmI) displayed a slight growth defect, while it showed hypersensitivity to phenamacril, but not to other tested fungicides. FgTfmI also contributed to DON biosynthesis and the infection process in planta. CONCLUSIONS The transcription factor FgTfmI plays an important role in regulating transcription of the genes involved in phenamacril tolerance, DON biosynthesis and virulence in F. graminearum. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Siqi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dawood H Dawood
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Agriculture Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Guangfei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingting Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Comparative acetylome analysis reveals the potential roles of lysine acetylation for DON biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:841. [PMID: 31718553 PMCID: PMC6852988 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6227-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fusarium graminearum is a destructive fungal pathogen of wheat, barley and other small grain cereals. During plant infection, the pathogen produces trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), which is harmful to human and livestock. FgGCN5 encodes a GCN5 acetyltransferase. The gene deletion mutant Fggcn5 failed to produce DON. We assumed that lysine acetylation might play a key regulatory role in DON biosynthesis in the fungus. Results In this study, the acetylome comparison between Fggcn5 mutant and wild-type strain PH-1 was performed by using affinity enrichment and high resolution LC-MS/MS analysis. Totally, 1875 acetylated proteins were identified in Fggcn5 mutant and PH-1. Among them, 224 and 267 acetylated proteins were identified exclusively in Fggcn5 mutant and PH-1, respectively. Moreover, 95 differentially acetylated proteins were detected at a significantly different level in the gene deletion mutant:43 were up-regulated and 52 were down-regulated. GO enrichment and KEGG-pathways enrichment analyses revealed that acetylation plays a key role in metabolism process in F. graminearum. Conclusions Seeing that the gens playing critical roles in DON biosynthesis either in Fggcn5 mutant or PH-1. Therefore, we can draw the conclusion that the regulatory roles of lysine acetylation in DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum results from the positive and negative regulation of the related genes. The study would be a foundation to insight into the regulatory mechanism of lysine acetylation on DON biosynthesis.
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Wang Z, Ma T, Huang Y, Wang J, Chen Y, Kistler HC, Ma Z, Yin Y. A fungal ABC transporter FgAtm1 regulates iron homeostasis via the transcription factor cascade FgAreA-HapX. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007791. [PMID: 31545842 PMCID: PMC6788720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron homeostasis is important for growth, reproduction and other metabolic processes in all eukaryotes. However, the functions of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in iron homeostasis are largely unknown. Here, we found that one ABC transporter (named FgAtm1) is involved in regulating iron homeostasis, by screening sensitivity to iron stress for 60 ABC transporter mutants of Fusarium graminearum, a devastating fungal pathogen of small grain cereal crops worldwide. The lack of FgAtm1 reduces the activity of cytosolic Fe-S proteins nitrite reductase and xanthine dehydrogenase, which causes high expression of FgHapX via activating transcription factor FgAreA. FgHapX represses transcription of genes for iron-consuming proteins directly but activates genes for iron acquisition proteins by suppressing another iron regulator FgSreA. In addition, the transcriptional activity of FgHapX is regulated by the monothiol glutaredoxin FgGrx4. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of FgHapX, mediated by the Ser/Thr kinase FgYak1, is required for its functions in iron homeostasis. Taken together, this study uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism of iron homeostasis mediated by an ABC transporter in an important pathogenic fungus. Essential element iron plays important roles in many cellular processes in all organisms. The function of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter Atm1 in iron homeostasis has been characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our study found that FgAtm1 regulates iron homeostasis via the transcription factor cascade FgAreA-HapX in F. graminearum and the function of FgHapX is dependent on its interaction with FgGrx4 and phosphorylation by the Ser/Thr kinase FgYak1. This study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of iron homeostasis in an important plant pathogenic fungus, and advances our understanding in iron homeostasis and functions of ABC transporters in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianling Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunyan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - H. Corby Kistler
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZM); (YY)
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZM); (YY)
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