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Wu X, Du Z, Liu L, Chen Z, Li Y, Fu S. Integrative Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Sheds Light on Flavonoid Biosynthesis in the Fruiting Body of Stropharia rugosoannulata. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:254. [PMID: 38667925 PMCID: PMC11051051 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040254] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Flavonoids are a diverse family of natural compounds that are widely distributed in plants and play a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. In recent years, the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants has been well-researched, with the successive discovery of key genes driving this process. However, the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in fungi remains unclear. Stropharia rugosoannulata is an edible mushroom known for its high nutritional and pharmacological value, with flavonoids being one of its main active components. To investigate the flavonoid content of S. rugosoannulata, a study was conducted to extract and determine the total flavonoids at four stages: young mushroom (Ym), gill (Gi), maturation (Ma), and parachute-opening (Po). The findings revealed a gradual increase in total flavonoid concentration as the fruiting body developed, with significant variations observed between the Ym, Gi, and Ma stages. Subsequently, we used UPLC-MS/MS and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to quantify the flavonoids and identify regulatory genes of Ym, Gi, and Ma. In total, 53 flavonoid-related metabolites and 6726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, we identified 59 structural genes encoding flavonoid biosynthesis-related enzymes, most of which were up-regulated during the development of the fruiting body, consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This research led to the establishment of a comprehensive transcriptional metabolic regulatory network encompassing flavonoids, flavonoid synthases, and transcription factors (TFs). This represents the first systematic exploration of the molecular mechanism of flavonoids in the fruiting of fungi, offering a foundation for further research on flavonoid mechanisms and the breeding of high-quality S. rugosoannulata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China;
| | - Zhihui Du
- Guizhou Horticulture Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; (Z.D.); (L.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Lian Liu
- Guizhou Horticulture Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; (Z.D.); (L.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zhilin Chen
- Guizhou Horticulture Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; (Z.D.); (L.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Yurong Li
- Guizhou Horticulture Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; (Z.D.); (L.L.); (Z.C.)
| | - Shaobin Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China;
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Kim H, Hu J, Kang H, Kim W. Phylogenetic and functional analyses of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation factors in the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum. mSphere 2024; 9:e0055223. [PMID: 38085094 PMCID: PMC10826363 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00552-23] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification plays a crucial role in governing the fate of RNA molecules and has been linked to various developmental processes. However, the phyletic distribution and functions of genetic factors responsible for m6A modification remain largely unexplored in fungi. To get insights into the evolution of m6A machineries, we reconstructed global phylogenies of potential m6A writers, readers, and erasers in fungi. Substantial copy number variations were observed, ranging from up to five m6A writers in early-diverging fungi to a single copy in the subphylum Pezizomycotina, which primarily comprises filamentous fungi. To characterize m6A factors in a phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum, we generated knockout mutants lacking potential m6A factors including the sole m6A writer MTA1. However, the resulting knockouts did not exhibit any noticeable phenotypic changes during vegetative and sexual growth stages. As obtaining a homozygous knockout lacking MTA1 was likely hindered by its essential role, we generated MTA1-overexpressing strains (MTA1-OE). The MTA1-OE5 strain showed delayed conidial germination and reduced hyphal branching, suggesting its involvement during vegetative growth. Consistent with these findings, the expression levels of MTA1 and a potential m6A reader YTH1 were dramatically induced in germinating conidia, followed by the expression of potential m6A erasers at later vegetative stages. Several genes including transcription factors, transporters, and various enzymes were found to be significantly upregulated and downregulated in the MTA1-OE5 strain. Overall, our study highlights the functional importance of the m6A methylation during conidial germination in F. graminearum and provides a foundation for future investigations into m6A modification sites in filamentous fungi.IMPORTANCEN6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is a reversible posttranscriptional modification that regulates RNA function and plays a crucial role in diverse developmental processes. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding phyletic distribution and functions of m6A factors in fungi. The identification of copy number variations among fungal groups enriches our knowledge regarding the evolution of m6A machinery in fungi. Functional characterization of m6A factors in a phytopathogenic filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum provides insights into the essential role of the m6A writer MTA1 in conidial germination and hyphal branching. The observed effects of overexpressing MTA1 on fungal growth and gene expression patterns of m6A factors throughout the life cycle of F. graminearum further underscore the importance of m6A modification in conidial germination. Overall, this study significantly advances our understanding of m6A modification in fungi, paving the way for future research into its roles in filamentous growth and potential applications in disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeonjae Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Jianzhong Hu
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Hunseung Kang
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Wonyong Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
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Breuer J, Busche T, Kalinowski J, Nowrousian M. Histone binding of ASF1 is required for fruiting body development but not for genome stability in the filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora. mBio 2024; 15:e0289623. [PMID: 38112417 PMCID: PMC10790691 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02896-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Histone chaperones are proteins that are involved in nucleosome assembly and disassembly and can therefore influence all DNA-dependent processes including transcription, DNA replication, and repair. ASF1 is a histone chaperone that is conserved throughout eukaryotes. In contrast to most other multicellular organisms, a deletion mutant of asf1 in the fungus Sordaria macrospora is viable; however, the mutant is sterile. In this study, we could show that the histone-binding ability of ASF1 is required for fertility in S. macrospora, whereas the function of ASF1 in maintenance of genome stability does not require histone binding. We also showed that the histone modifications H3K27me3 and H3K56ac are misregulated in the Δasf1 mutant. Furthermore, we identified a large duplication on chromosome 2 of the mutant strain that is genetically linked to the Δasf1 allele present on chromosome 6, suggesting that viability of the mutant might depend on the presence of the duplicated region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Breuer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Nowrousian M. The Role of Chromatin and Transcriptional Control in the Formation of Sexual Fruiting Bodies in Fungi. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0010422. [PMID: 36409109 PMCID: PMC9769939 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00104-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal fruiting bodies are complex, three-dimensional structures that arise from a less complex vegetative mycelium. Their formation requires the coordinated action of many genes and their gene products, and fruiting body formation is accompanied by major changes in the transcriptome. In recent years, numerous transcription factor genes as well as chromatin modifier genes that play a role in fruiting body morphogenesis were identified, and through research on several model organisms, the underlying regulatory networks that integrate chromatin structure, gene expression, and cell differentiation are becoming clearer. This review gives a summary of the current state of research on the role of transcriptional control and chromatin structure in fruiting body development. In the first part, insights from transcriptomics analyses are described, with a focus on comparative transcriptomics. In the second part, examples of more detailed functional characterizations of the role of chromatin modifiers and/or transcription factors in several model organisms (Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, Sordaria macrospora, Coprinopsis cinerea, and Schizophyllum commune) that have led to a better understanding of regulatory networks at the level of chromatin structure and transcription are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Wilson AM, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD. Truncation of MAT1-2-7 Deregulates Developmental Pathways Associated with Sexual Reproduction in Huntiella omanensis. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0142522. [PMID: 36154282 PMCID: PMC9602353 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01425-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 genes are thought to be the master regulators of sexual development in most ascomycete fungi, and they are often essential for this process. In contrast, it has been suggested that the secondary mating-type genes act to calibrate the sexual cycle and can be dispensable. Recent functional characterization of genes such as Aspergillus fumigatus MAT1-2-4, Huntiella omanensis MAT1-2-7, and Botrytis cinerea MAT1-1-5 has, however, shown that these secondary genes may play more central roles in the sexual pathway and are essential for the production of mature fruiting structures. We used a comparative transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) experiment to show that the truncation of MAT1-2-7 in the wood inhabiting H. omanensis residing in the Ceratocystidaceae is associated with the differential expression of approximately 25% of all the genes present in the genome, including the transcriptional regulators ste12, wc-2, sub1, VeA, HMG8, and pro1. This suggests that MAT1-2-7 may act as a transcription factor and that ΔMAT1-2-7 mutant sterility is the result of layered deregulation of a variety of signaling and developmental pathways. This study is one of only a few that details the functional characterization of a secondary MAT gene in a nonmodel species. Given that this gene is present in other Ceratocystidaceae species and that there are diverse secondary MAT genes present throughout the Pezizomycotina, further investigation into this gene and others like it will provide a clearer understanding of sexual development in these eukaryotes. IMPORTANCE Secondary mating-type genes are being described almost as quickly as new fungal genomes are being sequenced. Understanding the functions of these genes has lagged behind their description, in part due to limited taxonomic distribution, lack of conserved functional domains, and difficulties with regard to genetic manipulation protocols. This study aimed to address this by investigating a novel mating-type gene, MAT1-2-7, for which two independent mutant strains were generated in a previous study. We characterized the molecular response to the truncation of this gene in a nonmodel, wood-infecting fungus and showed that it resulted in widespread differential expression throughout the transcriptome of this fungus. This suggests that secondary MAT genes may play a more important role than previously thought. This study also emphasizes the need for further research into the life cycles of nonmodel fungi, which often exhibit unique features that are very different from the systems understood from model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. M. Wilson
- Forestry & Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - M. J. Wingfield
- Forestry & Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - B. D. Wingfield
- Forestry & Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Sordaria macrospora Sterile Mutant pro34 Is Impaired in Respiratory Complex I Assembly. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101015. [PMID: 36294581 PMCID: PMC9605262 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of fruiting bodies is a highly regulated process that requires the coordinated formation of different cell types. By analyzing developmental mutants, many developmental factors have already been identified. Yet, a complete understanding of fruiting body formation is still lacking. In this study, we analyzed developmental mutant pro34 of the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. Genome sequencing revealed a deletion in the pro34 gene encoding a putative mitochondrial complex I assembly factor homologous to Neurospora crassa CIA84. We show that PRO34 is required for fast vegetative growth, fruiting body and ascospore formation. The pro34 transcript undergoes adenosine to inosine editing, a process correlated with sexual development in fruiting body-forming ascomycetes. Fluorescence microscopy and western blot analysis showed that PRO34 is a mitochondrial protein, and blue-native PAGE revealed that the pro34 mutant lacks mitochondrial complex I. Inhibitor experiments revealed that pro34 respires via complexes III and IV, but also shows induction of alternative oxidase, a shunt pathway to bypass complexes III and IV. We discuss the hypothesis that alternative oxidase is induced to prevent retrograde electron transport to complex I intermediates, thereby protecting from oxidative stress.
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Groth A, Ahlmann S, Werner A, Pöggeler S. The vacuolar morphology protein VAC14 plays an important role in sexual development in the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. Curr Genet 2022; 68:407-427. [PMID: 35776170 PMCID: PMC9279277 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-022-01244-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The multiprotein Fab1p/PIKfyve-complex regulating the abundance of the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,5)P2) is highly conserved among eukaryotes. In yeast/mammals, it is composed of the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate 5-kinase Fab1p/PIKfyve, the PtdIns(3,5)P2 phosphatase Fig4p/Sac3 and the scaffolding subunit Vac14p/ArPIKfyve. The complex is located to vacuolar membranes in yeast and to endosomal membranes in mammals, where it controls the synthesis and turnover of PtdIns(3,5)P2. In this study, we analyzed the role and function of the Fab1p/PIKfyve-complex scaffold protein SmVAC14 in the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora (Sm). We generated the Smvac14 deletion strain ∆vac14 and performed phenotypic analysis of the mutant. Furthermore, we conducted fluorescence microscopic localization studies of fluorescently labeled SmVAC14 with vacuolar and late endosomal marker proteins. Our results revealed that SmVAC14 is important for maintaining vacuolar size and appearance as well as proper sexual development in S. macrospora. In addition, SmVAC14 plays an important role in starvation stress response. Accordingly, our results propose that the turnover of PtdIns(3,5)P2 is of great significance for developmental processes in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Groth
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Svenja Ahlmann
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Antonia Werner
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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Abstract
Gene expression divergence through evolutionary processes is thought to be important for achieving programmed development in multicellular organisms. To test this premise in filamentous fungi, we investigated transcriptional profiles of 3,942 single-copy orthologous genes (SCOGs) in five related sordariomycete species that have morphologically diverged in the formation of their flask-shaped perithecia. We compared expression of the SCOGs to inferred gene expression levels of the most recent common ancestor of the five species, ranking genes from their largest increases to smallest increases in expression during perithecial development in each of the five species. We found that a large proportion of the genes that exhibited evolved increases in gene expression were important for normal perithecial development in Fusarium graminearum. Many of these genes were previously uncharacterized, encoding hypothetical proteins without any known functional protein domains. Interestingly, the developmental stages during which aberrant knockout phenotypes appeared largely coincided with the elevated expression of the deleted genes. In addition, we identified novel genes that affected normal perithecial development in Magnaporthe oryzae and Neurospora crassa, which were functionally and transcriptionally diverged from the orthologous counterparts in F. graminearum. Furthermore, comparative analysis of developmental transcriptomes and phylostratigraphic analysis suggested that genes encoding hypothetical proteins are generally young and transcriptionally divergent between related species. This study provides tangible evidence of shifts in gene expression that led to acquisition of novel function of orthologous genes in each lineage and demonstrates that several genes with hypothetical function are crucial for shaping multicellular fruiting bodies. IMPORTANCE The fungal class Sordariomycetes includes numerous important plant and animal pathogens. It also provides model systems for studying fungal fruiting body development, as its members develop fruiting bodies with a few well-characterized tissue types on common growth media and have rich genomic resources that enable comparative and functional analyses. To understand transcriptional divergence of key developmental genes between five related sordariomycete fungi, we performed targeted knockouts of genes inferred to have evolved significant upward shifts in expression. We found that many previously uncharacterized genes play indispensable roles at different stages of fruiting body development, which have undergone transcriptional activation in specific lineages. These novel genes are predicted to be phylogenetically young and tend to be involved in lineage- or species-specific function. Transcriptional activation of genes with unknown function seems to be more frequent than ever thought, which may be crucial for rapid adaption to changing environments for successful sexual reproduction.
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Passer AR, Clancey SA, Shea T, David-Palma M, Averette AF, Boekhout T, Porcel BM, Nowrousian M, Cuomo CA, Sun S, Heitman J, Coelho MA. Obligate sexual reproduction of a homothallic fungus closely related to the Cryptococcus pathogenic species complex. eLife 2022; 11:79114. [PMID: 35713948 PMCID: PMC9296135 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
<title>eLife digest</title>. Fungi are enigmatic organisms that flourish in soil, on decaying plants, or during infection of animals or plants. Growing in myriad forms, from single-celled yeast to multicellular molds and mushrooms, fungi have also evolved a variety of strategies to reproduce. Normally, fungi reproduce in one of two ways: either they reproduce asexually, with one individual producing a new individual identical to itself, or they reproduce sexually, with two individuals of different 'mating types' contributing to produce a new individual. However, individuals of some species exhibit 'homothallism' or self-fertility: these individuals can produce reproductive cells that are universally compatible, and therefore can reproduce sexually with themselves or with any other cell in the population. Homothallism has evolved multiple times throughout the fungal kingdom, suggesting it confers advantage when population numbers are low or mates are hard to find. Yet some homothallic fungi been overlooked compared to heterothallic species, whose mating types have been well characterised. Understanding the genetic basis of homothallism and how it evolved in different species can provide insights into pathogenic species that cause fungal disease. With that in mind, Passer, Clancey et al. explored the genetic basis of homothallism in Cryptococcus depauperatus, a close relative of C. neoformans, a species that causes fungal infections in humans. A combination of genetic sequencing techniques and experiments were applied to analyse, compare, and manipulate C. depauperatus' genome to see how this species evolved self-fertility. Passer, Clancey et al. showed that C. depauperatus evolved the ability to reproduce sexually by itself via a unique evolutionary pathway. The result is a form of homothallism never reported in fungi before. C. depauperatus lost some of the genes that control mating in other species of fungi, and acquired genes from the opposing mating types of a heterothallic ancestor to become self-fertile. Passer, Clancey et al. also found that, unlike other Cryptococcus species that switch between asexual and sexual reproduction, C. depauperatus grows only as long, branching filaments called hyphae, a sexual form. The species reproduces sexually with itself throughout its life cycle and is unable to produce a yeast (asexual) form, in contrast to other closely related species. This work offers new insights into how different modes of sexual reproduction have evolved in fungi. It also provides another interesting case of how genome plasticity and evolutionary pressures can produce similar outcomes, homothallism, via different evolutionary paths. Lastly, assembling the complete genome of C. depauperatus will foster comparative studies between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Cryptococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ryan Passer
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Shelly Applen Clancey
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Terrance Shea
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeUnited States
| | - Márcia David-Palma
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Anna Floyd Averette
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Teun Boekhout
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity InstituteUtrechtNetherlands,Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Betina M Porcel
- Génomique Métabolique, CNRS, University Evry, Université Paris-SaclayEvryFrance
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität BochumBochumGermany
| | | | - Sheng Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
| | - Marco A Coelho
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical CenterDurhamUnited States
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Lütkenhaus R, Breuer J, Nowrousian M. Functional characterization of the developmental genes asm2, asm3, and spt3 required for fruiting body formation in the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. Genetics 2021; 219:iyab103. [PMID: 34849873 PMCID: PMC8633134 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of fruiting bodies is one of the most complex developmental processes in filamentous ascomycetes. It requires the development of sexual structures that give rise to meiosporangia (asci) and meiotic spores (ascospores) as well as surrounding structures for protection and dispersal of the spores. Previous studies have shown that these developmental processes are accompanied by significant changes of the transcriptome, and comparative transcriptomics of different fungi as well as the analysis of transcriptome changes in developmental mutants have aided in the identification of differentially regulated genes that are themselves involved in regulating fruiting body development. In previous analyses, we used transcriptomics to identify the genes asm2 and spt3, which result in developmental phenotypes when deleted in Sordaria macrospora. In this study, we identified another gene, asm3, required for fruiting body formation, and performed transcriptomics analyses of Δasm2, Δasm3, and Δspt3. Deletion of spt3, which encodes a subunit of the SAGA complex, results in a block at an early stage of development and drastic changes in the transcriptome. Deletion mutants of asm2 and asm3 are able to form fruiting bodies, but have defects in ascospore maturation. Transcriptomics analysis of fruiting bodies revealed a large overlap in differentially regulated genes in Δasm2 and Δasm3 compared to the wild type. Analysis of nuclear distribution during ascus development showed that both mutants undergo meiosis and postmeiotic divisions, suggesting that the transcriptomic and morphological changes might be related to defects in the morphogenesis of structural features of the developing asci and ascospores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Lütkenhaus
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Jan Breuer
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany
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Harting R, Starke J, Kusch H, Pöggeler S, Maurus I, Schlüter R, Landesfeind M, Bulla I, Nowrousian M, de Jonge R, Stahlhut G, Hoff KJ, Aßhauer KP, Thürmer A, Stanke M, Daniel R, Morgenstern B, Thomma BPHJ, Kronstad JW, Braus‐Stromeyer SA, Braus GH. A 20-kb lineage-specific genomic region tames virulence in pathogenic amphidiploid Verticillium longisporum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:939-953. [PMID: 33955130 PMCID: PMC8295516 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Amphidiploid fungal Verticillium longisporum strains Vl43 and Vl32 colonize the plant host Brassica napus but differ in their ability to cause disease symptoms. These strains represent two V. longisporum lineages derived from different hybridization events of haploid parental Verticillium strains. Vl32 and Vl43 carry same-sex mating-type genes derived from both parental lineages. Vl32 and Vl43 similarly colonize and penetrate plant roots, but asymptomatic Vl32 proliferation in planta is lower than virulent Vl43. The highly conserved Vl43 and Vl32 genomes include less than 1% unique genes, and the karyotypes of 15 or 16 chromosomes display changed genetic synteny due to substantial genomic reshuffling. A 20 kb Vl43 lineage-specific (LS) region apparently originating from the Verticillium dahliae-related ancestor is specific for symptomatic Vl43 and encodes seven genes, including two putative transcription factors. Either partial or complete deletion of this LS region in Vl43 did not reduce virulence but led to induction of even more severe disease symptoms in rapeseed. This suggests that the LS insertion in the genome of symptomatic V. longisporum Vl43 mediates virulence-reducing functions, limits damage on the host plant, and therefore tames Vl43 from being even more virulent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Harald Kusch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic MicroorganismsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Isabel Maurus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Rabea Schlüter
- Imaging Center of the Department of BiologyUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Manuel Landesfeind
- Department of BioinformaticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Ingo Bulla
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer ScienceUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BotanyRuhr‐Universität BochumBochumGermany
| | - Ronnie de Jonge
- Plant–Microbe Interactions, Department of Biology, Science4LifeUtrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityWageningenNetherlands
| | - Gertrud Stahlhut
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic MicroorganismsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Katharina J. Hoff
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer ScienceUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- Center for Functional Genomics of MicrobesUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Kathrin P. Aßhauer
- Department of BioinformaticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Andrea Thürmer
- Department of Genomic and Applied MicrobiologyInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer ScienceUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- Center for Functional Genomics of MicrobesUniversity of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied MicrobiologyInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Burkhard Morgenstern
- Department of BioinformaticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | | | - James W. Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Susanna A. Braus‐Stromeyer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and GeneticsInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
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12
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Golden Gate vectors for efficient gene fusion and gene deletion in diverse filamentous fungi. Curr Genet 2020; 67:317-330. [PMID: 33367953 PMCID: PMC8032637 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01143-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The cloning of plasmids can be time-consuming or expensive. Yet, cloning is a prerequisite for many standard experiments for the functional analysis of genes, including the generation of deletion mutants and the localization of gene products. Here, we provide Golden Gate vectors for fast and easy cloning of gene fusion as well as gene deletion vectors applicable to diverse fungi. In Golden Gate cloning, restriction and ligation occur simultaneously in a one-pot reaction. Our vector set contains recognition sites for the commonly used type IIS restriction endonuclease BsaI. We generated plasmids for C- as well as N-terminal tagging with GFP, mRFP and 3xFLAG. For gene deletion, we provide five different donor vectors for selection marker cassettes. These include standard cassettes for hygromycin B, nourseothricin and phleomycin resistance genes as well as FLP/FRT-based marker recycling cassettes for hygromycin B and nourseothricin resistance genes. To make cloning most feasible, we provide robust protocols, namely (1) an overview of cloning procedures described in this paper, (2) specific Golden Gate reaction protocols and (3) standard primers for cloning and sequencing of plasmids and generation of deletion cassettes by PCR and split-marker PCR. We show that our vector set is applicable for the biotechnologically relevant Penicillium chrysogenum and the developmental model system Sordaria macrospora. We thus expect these vectors to be beneficial for other fungi as well. Finally, the vectors can easily be adapted to organisms beyond the kingdom fungi.
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13
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Mela AP, Rico-Ramírez AM, Glass NL. Syncytia in Fungi. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102255. [PMID: 33050028 PMCID: PMC7600787 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi typically grow as interconnected multinucleate syncytia that can be microscopic to many hectares in size. Mechanistic details and rules that govern the formation and function of these multinucleate syncytia are largely unexplored, including details on syncytial morphology and the regulatory controls of cellular and molecular processes. Recent discoveries have revealed various adaptations that enable fungal syncytia to accomplish coordinated behaviors, including cell growth, nuclear division, secretion, communication, and adaptation of the hyphal network for mixing nuclear and cytoplasmic organelles. In this review, we highlight recent studies using advanced technologies to define rules that govern organizing principles of hyphal and colony differentiation, including various aspects of nuclear and mitochondrial cooperation versus competition. We place these findings into context with previous foundational literature and present still unanswered questions on mechanistic aspects, function, and morphological diversity of fungal syncytia across the fungal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P. Mela
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (A.P.M.); (A.M.R.-R.)
| | - Adriana M. Rico-Ramírez
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (A.P.M.); (A.M.R.-R.)
| | - N. Louise Glass
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (A.P.M.); (A.M.R.-R.)
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Correspondence:
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14
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Merényi Z, Prasanna AN, Wang Z, Kovács K, Hegedüs B, Bálint B, Papp B, Townsend JP, Nagy LG. Unmatched Level of Molecular Convergence among Deeply Divergent Complex Multicellular Fungi. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:2228-2240. [PMID: 32191325 PMCID: PMC7403615 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Convergent evolution is pervasive in nature, but it is poorly understood how various constraints and natural selection limit the diversity of evolvable phenotypes. Here, we analyze the transcriptome across fruiting body development to understand the independent evolution of complex multicellularity in the two largest clades of fungi-the Agarico- and Pezizomycotina. Despite >650 My of divergence between these clades, we find that very similar sets of genes have convergently been co-opted for complex multicellularity, followed by expansions of their gene families by duplications. Over 82% of shared multicellularity-related gene families were expanding in both clades, indicating a high prevalence of convergence also at the gene family level. This convergence is coupled with a rich inferred repertoire of multicellularity-related genes in the most recent common ancestor of the Agarico- and Pezizomycotina, consistent with the hypothesis that the coding capacity of ancestral fungal genomes might have promoted the repeated evolution of complex multicellularity. We interpret this repertoire as an indication of evolutionary predisposition of fungal ancestors for evolving complex multicellular fruiting bodies. Our work suggests that evolutionary convergence may happen not only when organisms are closely related or are under similar selection pressures, but also when ancestral genomic repertoires render certain evolutionary trajectories more likely than others, even across large phylogenetic distances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Merényi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Arun N Prasanna
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Károly Kovács
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine, Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Botond Hegedüs
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Bálint
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Papp
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine, Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - László G Nagy
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
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15
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Teichert I, Pöggeler S, Nowrousian M. Sordaria macrospora: 25 years as a model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms of fruiting body development. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:3691-3704. [PMID: 32162092 PMCID: PMC7162830 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10504-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Fruiting bodies are among the most complex multicellular structures formed by fungi, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their development are far from understood. However, studies with a number of fungal model organisms have started to shed light on this developmental process. One of these model organisms is Sordaria macrospora, a filamentous ascomycete from the order Sordariales. This fungus has been a genetic model organism since the 1950s, but its career as a model organism for molecular genetics really took off in the 1990s, when the establishment of a transformation protocol, a mutant collection, and an indexed cosmid library provided the methods and resources to start revealing the molecular mechanisms of fruiting body development. In the 2000s, “omics” methods were added to the S. macrospora tool box, and by 2020, 58 developmental genes have been identified in this fungus. This review gives a brief overview of major method developments for S. macrospora, and then focuses on recent results characterizing different processes involved in regulating development including several regulatory protein complexes, autophagy, transcriptional and chromatin regulation, and RNA editing. Key points •Sordaria macrospora is a model system for analyzing fungal fruiting body development. •More than 100 developmental mutants are available for S. macrospora. •More than 50 developmental genes have been characterized in S. macrospora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Teichert
- General and Molecular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, ND 7/176 Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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16
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Lütkenhaus R, Traeger S, Breuer J, Carreté L, Kuo A, Lipzen A, Pangilinan J, Dilworth D, Sandor L, Pöggeler S, Gabaldón T, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, Nowrousian M. Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics To Analyze Fruiting Body Development in Filamentous Ascomycetes. Genetics 2019; 213:1545-1563. [PMID: 31604798 PMCID: PMC6893386 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many filamentous ascomycetes develop three-dimensional fruiting bodies for production and dispersal of sexual spores. Fruiting bodies are among the most complex structures differentiated by ascomycetes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are insufficiently understood. Previous comparative transcriptomics analyses of fruiting body development in different ascomycetes suggested that there might be a core set of genes that are transcriptionally regulated in a similar manner across species. Conserved patterns of gene expression can be indicative of functional relevance, and therefore such a set of genes might constitute promising candidates for functional analyses. In this study, we have sequenced the genome of the Pezizomycete Ascodesmis nigricans, and performed comparative transcriptomics of developing fruiting bodies of this fungus, the Pezizomycete Pyronema confluens, and the Sordariomycete Sordaria macrospora With only 27 Mb, the A. nigricans genome is the smallest Pezizomycete genome sequenced to date. Comparative transcriptomics indicated that gene expression patterns in developing fruiting bodies of the three species are more similar to each other than to nonsexual hyphae of the same species. An analysis of 83 genes that are upregulated only during fruiting body development in all three species revealed 23 genes encoding proteins with predicted roles in vesicle transport, the endomembrane system, or transport across membranes, and 13 genes encoding proteins with predicted roles in chromatin organization or the regulation of gene expression. Among four genes chosen for functional analysis by deletion in S. macrospora, three were shown to be involved in fruiting body formation, including two predicted chromatin modifier genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Lütkenhaus
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Stefanie Traeger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Jan Breuer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Laia Carreté
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alan Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
| | - Anna Lipzen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
| | - Jasmyn Pangilinan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
| | - David Dilworth
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
| | - Laura Sandor
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kerrie Barry
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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17
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Combination of Proteogenomics with Peptide De Novo Sequencing Identifies New Genes and Hidden Posttranscriptional Modifications. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02367-19. [PMID: 31615963 PMCID: PMC6794485 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02367-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing techniques have considerably increased the number of completely sequenced eukaryotic genomes. These genomes are mostly automatically annotated, and ab initio gene prediction is commonly combined with homology-based search approaches and often supported by transcriptomic data. The latter in particular improve the prediction of intron splice sites and untranslated regions. However, correct prediction of translation initiation sites (TIS), alternative splice junctions, and protein-coding potential remains challenging. Here, we present an advanced proteogenomics approach, namely, the combination of proteogenomics and de novo peptide sequencing analysis, in conjunction with Blast2GO and phylostratigraphy. Using the model fungus Sordaria macrospora as an example, we provide a comprehensive view of the proteome that not only increases the functional understanding of this multicellular organism at different developmental stages but also immensely enhances the genome annotation quality. Proteogenomics combines proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics and has considerably improved genome annotation in poorly investigated phylogenetic groups for which homology information is lacking. Furthermore, it can be advantageous when reinvestigating well-annotated genomes. Here, we applied an advanced proteogenomics approach, combining standard proteogenomics with peptide de novo sequencing, to refine annotation of the well-studied model fungus Sordaria macrospora. We investigated samples from different developmental and physiological conditions, resulting in the detection of 104 so-far hidden proteins and annotation changes in 575 genes, including 389 splice site refinements. Significantly, our approach provides peptide-level evidence for 113 single-amino-acid variations and 15 C-terminal protein elongations originating from A-to-I RNA editing, a phenomenon recently detected in fungi. Coexpression and phylostratigraphic analysis of the refined proteome suggest that new functions in evolutionarily young genes correlate with distinct developmental stages. In conclusion, our advanced proteogenomics approach supports and promotes functional studies of fungal model systems.
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18
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Noar RD, Thomas E, Xie DY, Carter ME, Ma D, Daub ME. A polyketide synthase gene cluster associated with the sexual reproductive cycle of the banana pathogen, Pseudocercospora fijiensis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220319. [PMID: 31344104 PMCID: PMC6657885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease spread of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, causal agent of the black Sigatoka disease of banana, depends on ascospores produced through the sexual reproductive cycle. We used phylogenetic analysis to identify P. fijiensis homologs (PKS8-4 and Hybrid8-3) to the PKS4 polyketide synthases (PKS) from Neurospora crassa and Sordaria macrospora involved in sexual reproduction. These sequences also formed a clade with lovastatin, compactin, and betaenone-producing PKS sequences. Transcriptome analysis showed that both the P. fijiensis Hybrid8-3 and PKS8-4 genes have higher expression in infected leaf tissue compared to in culture. Domain analysis showed that PKS8-4 is more similar than Hybrid8-3 to PKS4. pPKS8-4:GFP transcriptional fusion transformants showed expression of GFP in flask-shaped structures in mycelial cultures as well as in crosses between compatible and incompatible mating types. Confocal microscopy confirmed expression in spermagonia in leaf substomatal cavities, consistent with a role in sexual reproduction. A disruption mutant of pks8-4 retained normal pathogenicity on banana, and no differences were observed in growth, conidial production, and spermagonia production. GC-MS profiling of the mutant and wild type did not identify differences in polyketide metabolites, but did identify changes in saturated fatty acid methyl esters and alkene and alkane derivatives. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a polyketide synthase pathway associated with spermagonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roslyn D. Noar
- Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - De-Yu Xie
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Morgan E. Carter
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Dongming Ma
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Margaret E. Daub
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
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19
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Kim W, Cavinder B, Proctor RH, O'Donnell K, Townsend JP, Trail F. Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics During Sexual Development Gives Insight Into the Life History of the Cosmopolitan Fungus Fusarium neocosmosporiellum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1247. [PMID: 31231336 PMCID: PMC6568001 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium neocosmosporiellum (formerly Neocosmospora vasinfecta) is a cosmopolitan fungus that has been reported from soil, herbivore dung, and as a fruit- and root-rot pathogen of numerous field crops, although it is not known to cause significant losses on any crop. Taking advantage of the fact that this species produces prolific numbers of perithecia in culture, the genome of F. neocosmosporiellum was sequenced and transcriptomic analysis across five stages of perithecium development was performed to better understand the metabolic potential for sexual development and gain insight into its life history. Perithecium morphology together with the genome and transcriptome were compared with those of the plant pathogen F. graminearum, a model for studying perithecium development. Larger ascospores of F. neocosmosporiellum and their tendency to discharge as a cluster demonstrated a duality of dispersal: the majority are passively dispersed through the formation of cirrhi, while a minority of spores are shot longer distances than those of F. graminearum. The predicted gene number in the F. neocosmosporiellum genome was similar to that in F. graminearum, but F. neocosmosporiellum had more carbohydrate metabolism-related and transmembrane transport genes. Many transporter genes were differentially expressed during perithecium development in F. neocosmosporiellum, which may account for its larger perithecia. Comparative analysis of the secondary metabolite gene clusters identified several polyketide synthase genes that were induced during later stages of perithecium development. Deletion of a polyketide synthase gene in F. neocosmosporiellum resulted in a defective perithecium phenotype, suggesting an important role of the corresponding metabolite, which has yet to be identified, in perithecium development. Results of this study have provided novel insights into the genomic underpinning of development in F. neocosmosporiellum, which may help elucidate its ability to occupy diverse ecological niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyong Kim
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Brad Cavinder
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Robert H Proctor
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Kerry O'Donnell
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Frances Trail
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Aspergillus nidulans in the post-genomic era: a top-model filamentous fungus for the study of signaling and homeostasis mechanisms. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:5-22. [DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00064-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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21
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Schumacher DI, Lütkenhaus R, Altegoer F, Teichert I, Kück U, Nowrousian M. The transcription factor PRO44 and the histone chaperone ASF1 regulate distinct aspects of multicellular development in the filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora. BMC Genet 2018; 19:112. [PMID: 30545291 PMCID: PMC6293562 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-018-0702-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fungal fruiting bodies are complex three-dimensional structures that are formed to protect and disperse the sexual spores. Their morphogenesis requires the concerted action of numerous genes; however, at the molecular level, the spatio-temporal sequence of events leading to the mature fruiting body is largely unknown. In previous studies, the transcription factor gene pro44 and the histone chaperone gene asf1 were shown to be essential for fruiting body formation in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. Both PRO44 and ASF1 are predicted to act on the regulation of gene expression in the nucleus, and mutants in both genes are blocked at the same stage of development. Thus, we hypothesized that PRO44 and ASF1 might be involved in similar aspects of transcriptional regulation. In this study, we characterized their roles in fruiting body development in more detail. Results The PRO44 protein forms homodimers, localizes to the nucleus, and is strongly expressed in the outer layers of the developing young fruiting body. Analysis of single and double mutants of asf1 and three other chromatin modifier genes, cac2, crc1, and rtt106, showed that only asf1 is essential for fruiting body formation whereas cac2 and rtt106 might have redundant functions in this process. RNA-seq analysis revealed distinct roles for asf1 and pro44 in sexual development, with asf1 acting as a suppressor of weakly expressed genes during morphogenesis. This is most likely not due to global mislocalization of nucleosomes as micrococcal nuclease-sequencing did not reveal differences in nucleosome spacing and positioning around transcriptional start sites between Δasf1 and the wild type. However, bisulfite sequencing revealed a decrease in DNA methylation in Δasf1, which might be a reason for the observed changes in gene expression. Transcriptome analysis of gene expression in young fruiting bodies showed that pro44 is required for correct expression of genes involved in extracellular metabolism. Deletion of the putative transcription factor gene asm2, which is downregulated in young fruiting bodies of Δpro44, results in defects during ascospore maturation. Conclusions In summary, the results indicate distinct roles for the transcription factor PRO44 and the histone chaperone ASF1 in the regulation of sexual development in fungi. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12863-018-0702-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramona Lütkenhaus
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Florian Altegoer
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany.,LOEWE-Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie & Department of Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ines Teichert
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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22
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J Reschka E, Nordzieke S, Valerius O, Braus GH, Pöggeler S. A novel STRIPAK complex component mediates hyphal fusion and fruiting-body development in filamentous fungi. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:513-532. [PMID: 30107058 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The STRIPAK complex is involved in growth, cell fusion, development and signaling pathways, and thus malfunctions in the human STRIPAK complex often result in severe neuronal diseases and cancer. Despite the high degree of general conservation throughout the complex, several STRIPAK complex-associated small coiled-coil proteins of animals and yeasts are not conserved across species. As there are no data for filamentous ascomycetes, we addressed this through affinity purification with HA-tagged striatin ortholog PRO11 in Sordaria macrospora. Combining the method with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we were able to co-purify STRIPAK complex interactor 1 (SCI1), the first STRIPAK-associated small coiled-coil protein in filamentous ascomycetes. Using yeast two-hybrid experiments, we identified SCI1 protein regions required for SCI1-PRO11 interaction, dimerization of SCI1 and interaction with other STRIPAK components. Further, both proteins PRO11 and SCI1 co-localize with the nuclear basket protein SmPOM152 at the nuclear envelope. Expression of the gene sci1 occurs during early developmental stages of S. macrospora, and the protein SCI1 in combination with PRO11 is required for cell fusion, vegetative growth and sexual development. The results of the present study will help to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of STRIPAK signaling and function in cellular development and diseases in higher eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva J Reschka
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Nordzieke
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Genetics, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Genetics, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
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Wang Z, Gudibanda A, Ugwuowo U, Trail F, Townsend JP. Using evolutionary genomics, transcriptomics, and systems biology to reveal gene networks underlying fungal development. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Radchenko D, Teichert I, Pöggeler S, Kück U. A Hippo Pathway-Related GCK Controls Both Sexual and Vegetative Developmental Processes in the Fungus Sordaria macrospora. Genetics 2018; 210:137-153. [PMID: 30012560 PMCID: PMC6116960 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The supramolecular striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAK) complex is conserved from yeast to human, and regulates a variety of key biological processes. In animals, this complex consists of the scaffold protein striatin, the protein phosphatase 2A, and kinases, such as germinal center kinase (GCK) III and GCKIV family members, as well as other associated proteins. The STRIPAK complex was identified as a negative regulator of the Hippo pathway, a large eukaryotic signaling network with a core composed of a GCK and a nuclear Dbf2-related kinase. The signaling architecture of the Hippo core resembles the fungal septation initiation network (SIN) that regulates cytokinesis in fission yeast as well as septation in filamentous fungi. In the filamentous model fungus Sordaria macrospora, core components of the STRIPAK complex have been functionally described and the striatin homolog PRO11 has been shown to interact with the GCK SmKIN3. However, the exact role of SmKIN3 in fungal development has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we provide comprehensive genetic and functional analysis of SmKIN3 from S. macrospora Using deletion mutants and site-directed mutagenesis, along with phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, we provide compelling evidence that SmKIN3 is involved in fruiting body formation, hyphal fusion, and septation. Strains carrying the ATP-binding mutant SmKIN3K39R, as well as a double-deletion strain lacking SmKIN3 and the core STRIPAK subunit PRO11, also revealed severe developmental defects. Collectively, this study suggests that SmKIN3 links both the SIN and STRIPAK complex, thereby regulating multiple key cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Radchenko
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Ines Teichert
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Genetik Eukaryotischer Mikroorganismen, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Universität Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Germany
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PaPro1 and IDC4, Two Genes Controlling Stationary Phase, Sexual Development and Cell Degeneration in Podospora anserina. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4030085. [PMID: 29997371 PMCID: PMC6162560 DOI: 10.3390/jof4030085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi frequently undergo bistable phenotypic switches. Crippled Growth of Podospora anserina is one such bistable switch, which seems to rely upon the mis-activation of a self-regulated PaMpk1 MAP kinase regulatory pathway. Here, we identify two new partners of this pathway: PaPro1, a transcription factor orthologous to Sordaria macrospora pro1 and Neurospora crassa ADV-1, and IDC4, a protein with an AIM24 domain. Both PaPro1 and IDC4 regulate stationary phase features, as described for the other actors of the PaMpk1 signaling pathway. However, PaPro1 is also involved in the control of fertilization by activating the transcription of the HMG8 and the mating type transcription factors, as well as the sexual pheromones and receptor genes. The roles of two components of the STRIPAK complex were also investigated by inactivating their encoding genes: PaPro22 and PaPro45. The mutants of these genes were found to have the same phenotypes as PaPro1 and IDC4 mutants as well as additional phenotypes including slow growth, abnormally shaped hyphae, pigment accumulation and blockage of the zygotic tissue development, indicating that the STRIPAK complex regulates, in addition to the PaMpk1 one, other pathways in P. anserina. Overall, the mutants of these four genes confirm the model by which Crippled Growth is due to the abnormal activation of the PaMpk1 MAP kinase cascade.
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Riquelme M, Aguirre J, Bartnicki-García S, Braus GH, Feldbrügge M, Fleig U, Hansberg W, Herrera-Estrella A, Kämper J, Kück U, Mouriño-Pérez RR, Takeshita N, Fischer R. Fungal Morphogenesis, from the Polarized Growth of Hyphae to Complex Reproduction and Infection Structures. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2018; 82:e00068-17. [PMID: 29643171 PMCID: PMC5968459 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00068-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi constitute a large group of eukaryotic microorganisms that grow by forming simple tube-like hyphae that are capable of differentiating into more-complex morphological structures and distinct cell types. Hyphae form filamentous networks by extending at their tips while branching in subapical regions. Rapid tip elongation requires massive membrane insertion and extension of the rigid chitin-containing cell wall. This process is sustained by a continuous flow of secretory vesicles that depends on the coordinated action of the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons and the corresponding motors and associated proteins. Vesicles transport cell wall-synthesizing enzymes and accumulate in a special structure, the Spitzenkörper, before traveling further and fusing with the tip membrane. The place of vesicle fusion and growth direction are enabled and defined by the position of the Spitzenkörper, the so-called cell end markers, and other proteins involved in the exocytic process. Also important for tip extension is membrane recycling by endocytosis via early endosomes, which function as multipurpose transport vehicles for mRNA, septins, ribosomes, and peroxisomes. Cell integrity, hyphal branching, and morphogenesis are all processes that are largely dependent on vesicle and cytoskeleton dynamics. When hyphae differentiate structures for asexual or sexual reproduction or to mediate interspecies interactions, the hyphal basic cellular machinery may be reprogrammed through the synthesis of new proteins and/or the modification of protein activity. Although some transcriptional networks involved in such reprogramming of hyphae are well studied in several model filamentous fungi, clear connections between these networks and known determinants of hyphal morphogenesis are yet to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Jesús Aguirre
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Salomon Bartnicki-García
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ursula Fleig
- Institute for Functional Genomics of Microorganisms, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Hansberg
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Mexico
| | - Jörg Kämper
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Ruhr University Bochum, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosa R Mouriño-Pérez
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Norio Takeshita
- University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Nagy LG, Kovács GM, Krizsán K. Complex multicellularity in fungi: evolutionary convergence, single origin, or both? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1778-1794. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- László G. Nagy
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit; Institute of Biochemistry, BRC-HAS, 62 Temesvári krt; 6726 Szeged Hungary
| | - Gábor M. Kovács
- Department of Plant Anatomy; Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C; H-1117 Budapest Hungary
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research; Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA-ATK); PO Box 102, H-1525 Budapest Hungary
| | - Krisztina Krizsán
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit; Institute of Biochemistry, BRC-HAS, 62 Temesvári krt; 6726 Szeged Hungary
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Rodenburg SYA, Terhem RB, Veloso J, Stassen JHM, van Kan JAL. Functional Analysis of Mating Type Genes and Transcriptome Analysis during Fruiting Body Development of Botrytis cinerea. mBio 2018; 9:e01939-17. [PMID: 29440571 PMCID: PMC5821092 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01939-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a plant-pathogenic fungus producing apothecia as sexual fruiting bodies. To study the function of mating type (MAT) genes, single-gene deletion mutants were generated in both genes of the MAT1-1 locus and both genes of the MAT1-2 locus. Deletion mutants in two MAT genes were entirely sterile, while mutants in the other two MAT genes were able to develop stipes but never formed an apothecial disk. Little was known about the reprogramming of gene expression during apothecium development. We analyzed transcriptomes of sclerotia, three stages of apothecium development (primordia, stipes, and apothecial disks), and ascospores by RNA sequencing. Ten secondary metabolite gene clusters were upregulated at the onset of sexual development and downregulated in ascospores released from apothecia. Notably, more than 3,900 genes were differentially expressed in ascospores compared to mature apothecial disks. Among the genes that were upregulated in ascospores were numerous genes encoding virulence factors, which reveals that ascospores are transcriptionally primed for infection prior to their arrival on a host plant. Strikingly, the massive transcriptional changes at the initiation and completion of the sexual cycle often affected clusters of genes, rather than randomly dispersed genes. Thirty-five clusters of genes were jointly upregulated during the onset of sexual reproduction, while 99 clusters of genes (comprising >900 genes) were jointly downregulated in ascospores. These transcriptional changes coincided with changes in expression of genes encoding enzymes participating in chromatin organization, hinting at the occurrence of massive epigenetic regulation of gene expression during sexual reproduction.IMPORTANCE Fungal fruiting bodies are formed by sexual reproduction. We studied the development of fruiting bodies ("apothecia") of the ubiquitous plant-pathogenic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea The role of mating type genes in apothecium development was investigated by targeted mutation. Two genes are essential for the initiation of sexual development; mutants in these genes are sterile. Two other genes were not essential for development of stipes; however, they were essential for stipes to develop a disk and produce sexual ascospores. We examined gene expression profiles during apothecium development, as well as in ascospores sampled from apothecia. We provide the first study ever of the transcriptome of pure ascospores in a filamentous fungus. The expression of numerous genes involved in plant infection was induced in the ascospores, implying that ascospores are developmentally primed for infection before their release from apothecia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Y A Rodenburg
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen University, Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Razak B Terhem
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Javier Veloso
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Joost H M Stassen
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A L van Kan
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Teichert I, Dahlmann TA, Kück U, Nowrousian M. RNA Editing During Sexual Development Occurs in Distantly Related Filamentous Ascomycetes. Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:855-868. [PMID: 28338982 PMCID: PMC5381528 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that modifies RNA molecules leading to transcript sequences that differ from their template DNA. A-to-I editing was found to be widely distributed in nuclear transcripts of metazoa, but was detected in fungi only recently in a study of the filamentous ascomycete Fusarium graminearum that revealed extensive A-to-I editing of mRNAs in sexual structures (fruiting bodies). Here, we searched for putative RNA editing events in RNA-seq data from Sordaria macrospora and Pyronema confluens, two distantly related filamentous ascomycetes, and in data from the Taphrinomycete Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Like F. graminearum, S. macrospora is a member of the Sordariomycetes, whereas P. confluens belongs to the early-diverging group of Pezizomycetes. We found extensive A-to-I editing in RNA-seq data from sexual mycelium from both filamentous ascomycetes, but not in vegetative structures. A-to-I editing was not detected in different stages of meiosis of S. pombe. A comparison of A-to-I editing in S. macrospora with F. graminearum and P. confluens, respectively, revealed little conservation of individual editing sites. An analysis of RNA-seq data from two sterile developmental mutants of S. macrospora showed that A-to-I editing is strongly reduced in these strains. Sequencing of cDNA fragments containing more than one editing site from P. confluens showed that at the beginning of sexual development, transcripts were incompletely edited or unedited, whereas in later stages transcripts were more extensively edited. Taken together, these data suggest that A-to-I RNA editing is an evolutionary conserved feature during fruiting body development in filamentous ascomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Teichert
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
| | - Tim A Dahlmann
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
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León-Ramírez CG, Cabrera-Ponce JL, Martínez-Soto D, Sánchez-Arreguin A, Aréchiga-Carvajal ET, Ruiz-Herrera J. Transcriptomic analysis of basidiocarp development in Ustilago maydis (DC) Cda. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 101:34-45. [PMID: 28285895 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated that when Ustilago maydis (DC) Cda., a phytopathogenic basidiomycete and the causal agent of corn smut, is grown in the vicinity of maize embryogenic calli in a medium supplemented with the herbicide Dicamba, it developed gastroid-like basidiocarps. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the basidiocarp development by the fungus, we proceeded to analyze the transcriptome of the process, identifying a total of 2002 and 1064 differentially expressed genes at two developmental stages, young and mature basidiocarps, respectively. Function of these genes was analyzed with the use of different databases. MIPS analysis revealed that in the stage of young basidiocarp, among the ca. two thousand differentially expressed genes, there were some previously described for basidiocarp development in other fungal species. Additional elements that operated at this stage included, among others, genes encoding the transcription factors FOXO3, MIG3, PRO1, TEC1, copper and MFS transporters, and cytochromes P450. During mature basidiocarp development, important up-regulated genes included those encoding hydrophobins, laccases, and ferric reductase (FRE/NOX). The demonstration that a mapkk mutant was unable to form basidiocarps, indicated the importance of the MAPK signaling pathway in this developmental process.
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Affiliation(s)
- C G León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36825 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - J L Cabrera-Ponce
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36825 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
| | - D Martínez-Soto
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36825 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - A Sánchez-Arreguin
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36825 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - E T Aréchiga-Carvajal
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - J Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36825 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
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Teichert I, Lutomski M, Märker R, Nowrousian M, Kück U. New insights from an old mutant: SPADIX4 governs fruiting body development but not hyphal fusion in Sordaria macrospora. Mol Genet Genomics 2016; 292:93-104. [DOI: 10.1007/s00438-016-1258-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Steffens EK, Becker K, Krevet S, Teichert I, Kück U. Transcription factor PRO1 targets genes encoding conserved components of fungal developmental signaling pathways. Mol Microbiol 2016; 102:792-809. [PMID: 27560538 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora is a model system to study multicellular development during fruiting body formation. Previously, we demonstrated that this major process in the sexual life cycle is controlled by the Zn(II)2 Cys6 zinc cluster transcription factor PRO1. Here, we further investigated the genome-wide regulatory network controlled by PRO1 by employing chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify binding sites for PRO1. We identified several target regions that occur in the promoter regions of genes encoding components of diverse signaling pathways. Furthermore, we identified a conserved DNA-binding motif that is bound specifically by PRO1 in vitro. In addition, PRO1 controls in vivo the expression of a DsRed reporter gene under the control of the esdC target gene promoter. Our ChIP-seq data suggest that PRO1 also controls target genes previously shown to be involved in regulating the pathways controlling cell wall integrity, NADPH oxidase and pheromone signaling. Our data point to PRO1 acting as a master regulator of genes for signaling components that comprise a developmental cascade controlling fruiting body formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Katharina Steffens
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Kordula Becker
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Sabine Krevet
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Ines Teichert
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany
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Noar RD, Daub ME. Transcriptome sequencing of Mycosphaerella fijiensis during association with Musa acuminata reveals candidate pathogenicity genes. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:690. [PMID: 27576702 PMCID: PMC5006380 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3031-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycosphaerella fijiensis, causative agent of the black Sigatoka disease of banana, is considered the most economically damaging banana disease. Despite its importance, the genetics of pathogenicity are poorly understood. Previous studies have characterized polyketide pathways with possible roles in pathogenicity. To identify additional candidate pathogenicity genes, we compared the transcriptome of this fungus during the necrotrophic phase of infection with that during saprophytic growth in medium. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis was conducted, and the functions of differentially expressed genes were predicted by identifying conserved domains, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and GO enrichment analysis, Carbohydrate-Active EnZymes (CAZy) annotation, and identification of genes encoding effector-like proteins. The analysis showed that genes commonly involved in secondary metabolism have higher expression in infected leaf tissue, including genes encoding cytochrome P450s, short-chain dehydrogenases, and oxidoreductases in the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase superfamily. Other pathogenicity-related genes with higher expression in infected leaf tissue include genes encoding salicylate hydroxylase-like proteins, hydrophobic surface binding proteins, CFEM domain-containing proteins, and genes encoding secreted cysteine-rich proteins characteristic of effectors. More genes encoding amino acid transporters, oligopeptide transporters, peptidases, proteases, proteinases, sugar transporters, and proteins containing Domain of Unknown Function (DUF) 3328 had higher expression in infected leaf tissue, while more genes encoding inhibitors of peptidases and proteinases had higher expression in medium. Sixteen gene clusters with higher expression in leaf tissue were identified including clusters for the synthesis of a non-ribosomal peptide. A cluster encoding a novel fusicoccane was also identified. Two putative dispensable scaffolds were identified with a large proportion of genes with higher expression in infected leaf tissue, suggesting that they may play a role in pathogenicity. For two other scaffolds, no transcripts were detected in either condition, and PCR assays support the hypothesis that at least one of these scaffolds corresponds to a dispensable chromosome that is not required for survival or pathogenicity. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed major changes in the transcriptome of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, when associating with its host compared to during saprophytic growth in medium. This analysis identified putative pathogenicity genes and also provides support for the existence of dispensable chromosomes in this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roslyn D. Noar
- Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7616 USA
| | - Margaret E. Daub
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612 USA
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Schafhauser T, Kirchner N, Kulik A, Huijbers MM, Flor L, Caradec T, Fewer DP, Gross H, Jacques P, Jahn L, Jokela J, Leclère V, Ludwig-Müller J, Sivonen K, van Berkel WJ, Weber T, Wohlleben W, van Pée KH. The cyclochlorotine mycotoxin is produced by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase CctN inTalaromyces islandicus(‘Penicillium islandicum’). Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:3728-3741. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schafhauser
- Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin; Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 28 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Norbert Kirchner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology; Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 8 72076 Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen; 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Andreas Kulik
- Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin; Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 28 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Mieke M.E. Huijbers
- Laboratory of Biochemistry; Wageningen University; Dreijenlaan 3 6703 HA Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Liane Flor
- Allgemeine Biochemie, Technische Universität Dresden; 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Thibault Caradec
- Research Laboratory in Agro-Food and Biotechnology; Charles Viollette Institute, Team ProBioGEM, Polytech-Lille, Université Lille1- Sciences et Technologies; 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq France
| | - David P. Fewer
- Microbiology and Biotechnology Division, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki; Viikinkaari 9 FIN-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Harald Gross
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology; Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 8 72076 Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen; 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Philippe Jacques
- Research Laboratory in Agro-Food and Biotechnology; Charles Viollette Institute, Team ProBioGEM, Polytech-Lille, Université Lille1- Sciences et Technologies; 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq France
| | - Linda Jahn
- Institut für Botanik; Technische Universität Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Jouni Jokela
- Microbiology and Biotechnology Division, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki; Viikinkaari 9 FIN-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Valérie Leclère
- Research Laboratory in Agro-Food and Biotechnology; Charles Viollette Institute, Team ProBioGEM, Polytech-Lille, Université Lille1- Sciences et Technologies; 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq France
| | | | - Kaarina Sivonen
- Microbiology and Biotechnology Division, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki; Viikinkaari 9 FIN-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Willem J.H. van Berkel
- Laboratory of Biochemistry; Wageningen University; Dreijenlaan 3 6703 HA Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Tilmann Weber
- Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin; Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 28 72076 Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen; 72076 Tübingen Germany
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark; Kogle Alle 6 2970 Hørsholm Denmark
| | - Wolfgang Wohlleben
- Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin; Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Auf der Morgenstelle 28 72076 Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Tübingen; 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz van Pée
- Allgemeine Biochemie, Technische Universität Dresden; 01069 Dresden Germany
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Beier A, Teichert I, Krisp C, Wolters DA, Kück U. Catalytic Subunit 1 of Protein Phosphatase 2A Is a Subunit of the STRIPAK Complex and Governs Fungal Sexual Development. mBio 2016; 7:e00870-16. [PMID: 27329756 PMCID: PMC4916389 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00870-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The generation of complex three-dimensional structures is a key developmental step for most eukaryotic organisms. The details of the molecular machinery controlling this step remain to be determined. An excellent model system to study this general process is the generation of three-dimensional fruiting bodies in filamentous fungi like Sordaria macrospora Fruiting body development is controlled by subunits of the highly conserved striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex, which has been described in organisms ranging from yeasts to humans. The highly conserved heterotrimeric protein phosphatase PP2A is a subunit of STRIPAK. Here, catalytic subunit 1 of PP2A was functionally characterized. The Δpp2Ac1 strain is sterile, unable to undergo hyphal fusion, and devoid of ascogonial septation. Further, PP2Ac1, together with STRIPAK subunit PRO22, governs vegetative and stress-related growth. We revealed in vitro catalytic activity of wild-type PP2Ac1, and our in vivo analysis showed that inactive PP2Ac1 blocks the complementation of the sterile deletion strain. Tandem affinity purification, followed by mass spectrometry and yeast two-hybrid analysis, verified that PP2Ac1 is a subunit of STRIPAK. Further, these data indicate links between the STRIPAK complex and other developmental signaling pathways, implying the presence of a large interconnected signaling network that controls eukaryotic developmental processes. The insights gained in our study can be transferred to higher eukaryotes and will be important for understanding eukaryotic cellular development in general. IMPORTANCE The striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex is highly conserved from yeasts to humans and is an important regulator of numerous eukaryotic developmental processes, such as cellular signaling and cell development. Although functional insights into the STRIPAK complex are accumulating, the detailed molecular mechanisms of single subunits are only partially understood. The first fungal STRIPAK was described in Sordaria macrospora, which is a well-established model organism used to study the formation of fungal fruiting bodies, three-dimensional organ-like structures. We analyzed STRIPAK subunit PP2Ac1, catalytic subunit 1 of protein phosphatase PP2A, to study the importance of the catalytic activity of this protein during sexual development. The results of our yeast two-hybrid analysis and tandem affinity purification, followed by mass spectrometry, indicate that PP2Ac1 activity connects STRIPAK with other signaling pathways and thus forms a large interconnected signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Beier
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ines Teichert
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph Krisp
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk A Wolters
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
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Werner A, Herzog B, Frey S, Pöggeler S. Autophagy-Associated Protein SmATG12 Is Required for Fruiting-Body Formation in the Filamentous Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157960. [PMID: 27309377 PMCID: PMC4911038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In filamentous fungi, autophagy functions as a catabolic mechanism to overcome starvation and to control diverse developmental processes under normal nutritional conditions. Autophagy involves the formation of double-membrane vesicles, termed autophagosomes that engulf cellular components and bring about their degradation via fusion with vacuoles. Two ubiquitin-like (UBL) conjugation systems are essential for the expansion of the autophagosomal membrane: the UBL protein ATG8 is conjugated to the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine and the UBL protein ATG12 is coupled to ATG5. We recently showed that in the homothallic ascomycete Sordaria macrospora autophagy-related genes encoding components of the conjugation systems are required for fruiting-body development and/or are essential for viability. In the present work, we cloned and characterized the S. macrospora (Sm)atg12 gene. Two-hybrid analysis revealed that SmATG12 can interact with SmATG7 and SmATG3. To examine its role in S. macrospora, we replaced the open reading frame of Smatg12 with a hygromycin resistance cassette and generated a homokaryotic ΔSmatg12 knockout strain, which displayed slower vegetative growth under nutrient starvation conditions and was unable to form fruiting bodies. In the hyphae of S. macrospora EGFP-labeled SmATG12 was detected in the cytoplasm and as punctate structures presumed to be phagophores or phagophore assembly sites. Delivery of EGFP-labelled SmATG8 to the vacuole was entirely dependent on SmATG12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Werner
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Britta Herzog
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Frey
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Zhang Y, Teichert I, Kück U, Fischer R. Laser capture microdissection to identify septum-associated proteins in Aspergillus nidulans. Mycologia 2016; 108:528-32. [PMID: 26951366 DOI: 10.3852/15-218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
To spatially resolve genetic differences at the cellular level, the laser-capture microdissection technique was developed. With this method cells can be cut from tissues with a laser beam and analyzed for DNA, RNA or protein composition. Here we adapted the technique to isolate septal microtubule-organizing center (MTOC)-associated proteins in Aspergillus nidulans About 3000 septa were collected and subjected to peptide fingerprinting by mass-spectrometric analysis. We identified the microtubule polymerase AlpA and found it interacts with ApsB specifically at sMTOCs, suggesting that AlpA might be involved in the assembly or the functioning of this protein complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences Dept. of Microbiology, Hertzstrasse 16, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ines Teichert
- Ruhr Universität, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Ruhr Universität, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences Dept. of Microbiology, Hertzstrasse 16, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Oiartzabal-Arano E, Perez-de-Nanclares-Arregi E, Espeso EA, Etxebeste O. Apical control of conidiation in Aspergillus nidulans. Curr Genet 2016; 62:371-7. [PMID: 26782172 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-015-0556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The infection cycle of filamentous fungi consists of two main stages: invasion (growth) and dispersion (development). After the deposition of a spore on a host, germination, polar extension and branching of vegetative cells called hyphae allow a fast and efficient invasion. Under suboptimal conditions, genetic reprogramming of hyphae results in the generation of asexual spores, allowing dissemination to new hosts and the beginning of a new infection cycle. In the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, asexual development or conidiation is induced by the upstream developmental activation (UDA) pathway. UDA proteins transduce signals from the tip, the polarity site of hyphae, to nuclei, where developmental programs are transcriptionally activated. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on this tip-to-nucleus communication mechanism, emphasizing its dependence on hyphal polarity. Future approaches to the topic will also be suggested, as stimulating elements contributing to the understanding of how apical signals are coupled with the transcriptional control of development and pathogenesis in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elixabet Oiartzabal-Arano
- Biochemistry II Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Manuel de Lardizabal, 3, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Elixabet Perez-de-Nanclares-Arregi
- Biochemistry II Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Manuel de Lardizabal, 3, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Eduardo A Espeso
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oier Etxebeste
- Biochemistry II Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Manuel de Lardizabal, 3, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain.
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Frey S, Reschka EJ, Pöggeler S. Germinal Center Kinases SmKIN3 and SmKIN24 Are Associated with the Sordaria macrospora Striatin-Interacting Phosphatase and Kinase (STRIPAK) Complex. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139163. [PMID: 26418262 PMCID: PMC4587736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex is composed of striatin, protein phosphatase PP2A and protein kinases that regulate development in animals and fungi. In the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora, it is required for fruiting-body development and cell fusion. Here, we report on the presence and function of STRIPAK-associated kinases in ascomycetes. Using the mammalian germinal center kinases (GCKs) MST4, STK24, STK25 and MINK1 as query, we identified the two putative homologs SmKIN3 and SmKIN24 in S. macrospora. A BLASTP search revealed that both kinases are conserved among filamentous ascomycetes. The physical interaction of the striatin homolog PRO11 with SmKIN3 and SmKIN24 were verified by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) interaction studies and for SmKIN3 by co-Immunoprecipitation (co-IP). In vivo localization found that both kinases were present at the septa and deletion of both Smkin3 and Smkin24 led to abnormal septum distribution. While deletion of Smkin3 caused larger distances between adjacent septa and increased aerial hyphae, deletion of Smkin24 led to closer spacing of septa and to sterility. Although phenotypically distinct, both kinases appear to function independently because the double-knockout strain ΔSmkin3/ΔSmkin24 displayed the combined phenotypes of each single-deletion strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Frey
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva J. Reschka
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Lin T, Lashbrook CC, Cho SK, Butler NM, Sharma P, Muppirala U, Severin AJ, Hannapel DJ. Transcriptional analysis of phloem-associated cells of potato. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:665. [PMID: 26335434 PMCID: PMC4558636 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1844-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous signal molecules, including proteins and mRNAs, are transported through the architecture of plants via the vascular system. As the connection between leaves and other organs, the petiole and stem are especially important in their transport function, which is carried out by the phloem and xylem, especially by the sieve elements in the phloem system. The phloem is an important conduit for transporting photosynthate and signal molecules like metabolites, proteins, small RNAs, and full-length mRNAs. Phloem sap has been used as an unadulterated source to profile phloem proteins and RNAs, but unfortunately, pure phloem sap cannot be obtained in most plant species. Results Here we make use of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA-seq for an in-depth transcriptional profile of phloem-associated cells of both petioles and stems of potato. To expedite our analysis, we have taken advantage of the potato genome that has recently been fully sequenced and annotated. Out of the 27 k transcripts assembled that we identified, approximately 15 k were present in phloem-associated cells of petiole and stem with greater than ten reads. Among these genes, roughly 10 k are affected by photoperiod. Several RNAs from this day length-regulated group are also abundant in phloem cells of petioles and encode for proteins involved in signaling or transcriptional control. Approximately 22 % of the transcripts in phloem cells contained at least one binding motif for Pumilio, Nova, or polypyrimidine tract-binding proteins in their downstream sequences. Highlighting the predominance of binding processes identified in the gene ontology analysis of active genes from phloem cells, 78 % of the 464 RNA-binding proteins present in the potato genome were detected in our phloem transcriptome. Conclusions As a reasonable alternative when phloem sap collection is not possible, LCM can be used to isolate RNA from specific cell types, and along with RNA-seq, provides practical access to expression profiles of phloem tissue. The combination of these techniques provides a useful approach to the study of phloem and a comprehensive picture of the mechanisms associated with long-distance signaling. The data presented here provide valuable insights into potentially novel phloem-mobile mRNAs and phloem-associated RNA-binding proteins. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1844-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Lin
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA.
| | - Coralie C Lashbrook
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA.
| | - Sung Ki Cho
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA.
| | - Nathaniel M Butler
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA. .,Department of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Pooja Sharma
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA.
| | - Usha Muppirala
- Office of Biotechnology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011-3210, USA.
| | - Andrew J Severin
- Office of Biotechnology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011-3210, USA.
| | - David J Hannapel
- Plant Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-1100, USA.
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Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in the Basal Filamentous Ascomycete Pyronema confluens. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:2061-71. [PMID: 26254031 PMCID: PMC4592989 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.020461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms use circadian clocks to adapt to daily changes in the environment. Major insights into the molecular mechanisms of circadian oscillators have been gained through studies of the model organism Neurospora crassa; however, little is known about molecular components of circadian clocks in other fungi. An important part of the N. crassa circadian clock is the frequency (frq) gene, homologs of which can be found in Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Leotiomycetes, but not Eurotiomycetes. Recently, we identified a frq homolog in Pyronema confluens, a member of the early-diverging Pezizomycete lineage of filamentous ascomycetes. The P. confluens FRQ shares many conserved domains with the N. crassa FRQ. However, there is no known morphological phenotype showing overt circadian rhythmicity in P. confluens. To investigate whether a molecular clock is present, we analyzed frq transcription in constant darkness, and found circadian oscillation of frq with a peak in the subjective morning. This rhythm was temperature compensated. To identify additional clock-controlled genes, we performed RNA sequencing of two time points (subjective morning and evening). Circadian expression of two morning-specific genes was verified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) over a full time course, whereas expression of two putative morning-specific and five putative evening-specific genes could not be verified as circadian. frq expression was synchronized, but not entrained by light. In summary, we have found evidence for two of the three main properties of circadian rhythms (free-running rhythm, temperature compensation) in P. confluens, suggesting that a circadian clock with rhythmically expressed frq is present in this basal filamentous ascomycete.
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Functional Analysis of Developmentally Regulated Genes chs7 and sec22 in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:1233-45. [PMID: 25873638 PMCID: PMC4478551 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.017681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
During sexual development, filamentous ascomycetes form complex, three-dimensional fruiting bodies for the generation and dispersal of spores. In previous studies, we identified genes with evolutionary conserved expression patterns during fruiting body formation in several fungal species. Here, we present the functional analysis of two developmentally up-regulated genes, chs7 and sec22, in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The genes encode a class VII (division III) chitin synthase and a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, respectively. Deletion mutants of chs7 had normal vegetative growth and were fully fertile but showed sensitivity toward cell wall stress. Deletion of sec22 resulted in a reduced number of ascospores and in defects in ascospore pigmentation and germination, whereas vegetative growth was normal in the mutant. A SEC22-EGFP fusion construct under control of the native sec22 promoter and terminator regions was expressed during different stages of sexual development. Expression of several development-related genes was deregulated in the sec22 mutant, including three genes involved in melanin biosynthesis. Our data indicate that chs7 is dispensable for fruiting body formation in S. macrospora, whereas sec22 is required for ascospore maturation and germination and thus involved in late stages of sexual development.
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Llanos A, François JM, Parrou JL. Tracking the best reference genes for RT-qPCR data normalization in filamentous fungi. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:71. [PMID: 25757610 PMCID: PMC4342825 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1224-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A critical step in the RT-qPCR workflow for studying gene expression is data normalization, one of the strategies being the use of reference genes. This study aimed to identify and validate a selection of reference genes for relative quantification in Talaromyces versatilis, a relevant industrial filamentous fungus. Beyond T. versatilis, this study also aimed to propose reference genes that are applicable more widely for RT-qPCR data normalization in filamentous fungi. RESULTS A selection of stable, potential reference genes was carried out in silico from RNA-seq based transcriptomic data obtained from T. versatilis. A dozen functionally unrelated candidate genes were analysed by RT-qPCR assays over more than 30 relevant culture conditions. By using geNorm, we showed that most of these candidate genes had stable transcript levels in most of the conditions, from growth environments to conidial germination. The overall robustness of these genes was explored further by showing that any combination of 3 of them led to minimal normalization bias. To extend the relevance of the study beyond T. versatilis, we challenged their stability together with sixteen other classically used genes such as β-tubulin or actin, in a representative sample of about 100 RNA-seq datasets. These datasets were obtained from 18 phylogenetically distant filamentous fungi exposed to prevalent experimental conditions. Although this wide analysis demonstrated that each of the chosen genes exhibited sporadic up- or down-regulation, their hierarchical clustering allowed the identification of a promising group of 6 genes, which presented weak expression changes and no tendency to up- or down-regulation over the whole set of conditions. This group included ubcB, sac7, fis1 and sarA genes, as well as TFC1 and UBC6 that were previously validated for their use in S. cerevisiae. CONCLUSIONS We propose a set of 6 genes that can be used as reference genes in RT-qPCR data normalization in any field of fungal biology. However, we recommend that the uniform transcription of these genes is tested by systematic experimental validation and to use the geometric averaging of at least 3 of the best ones. This will minimize the bias in normalization and will support trustworthy biological conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Llanos
- Université de Toulouse; INSA, UPS, INP; LISBP, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, F-31077, Toulouse, France. .,INRA, UMR792 Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, F-31400, Toulouse, France. .,CNRS, UMR5504, F-31400, Toulouse, France. .,Cinabio-Adisseo France S.A.S., 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077, Toulouse, France.
| | - Jean Marie François
- Université de Toulouse; INSA, UPS, INP; LISBP, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, F-31077, Toulouse, France. .,INRA, UMR792 Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, F-31400, Toulouse, France. .,CNRS, UMR5504, F-31400, Toulouse, France.
| | - Jean-Luc Parrou
- Université de Toulouse; INSA, UPS, INP; LISBP, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, F-31077, Toulouse, France. .,INRA, UMR792 Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, F-31400, Toulouse, France. .,CNRS, UMR5504, F-31400, Toulouse, France.
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Saint-Marcoux D, Billoud B, Langdale JA, Charrier B. Laser capture microdissection in Ectocarpus siliculosus: the pathway to cell-specific transcriptomics in brown algae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:54. [PMID: 25713580 PMCID: PMC4322613 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Laser capture microdissection (LCM) facilitates the isolation of individual cells from tissue sections, and when combined with RNA amplification techniques, it is an extremely powerful tool for examining genome-wide expression profiles in specific cell-types. LCM has been widely used to address various biological questions in both animal and plant systems, however, no attempt has been made so far to transfer LCM technology to macroalgae. Macroalgae are a collection of widespread eukaryotes living in fresh and marine water. In line with the collective effort to promote molecular investigations of macroalgal biology, here we demonstrate the feasibility of using LCM and cell-specific transcriptomics to study development of the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus. We describe a workflow comprising cultivation and fixation of algae on glass slides, laser microdissection, and RNA amplification. To illustrate the effectiveness of the procedure, we show qPCR data and metrics obtained from cell-specific transcriptomes generated from both upright and prostrate filaments of Ectocarpus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernard Billoud
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de RoscoffRoscoff, France
| | | | - Bénédicte Charrier
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de RoscoffRoscoff, France
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Zhang YJ, Wang XJ, Wu JX, Chen SY, Chen H, Chai LJ, Yi HL. Comparative transcriptome analyses between a spontaneous late-ripening sweet orange mutant and its wild type suggest the functions of ABA, sucrose and JA during citrus fruit ripening. PLoS One 2014; 9:e116056. [PMID: 25551568 PMCID: PMC4281182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A spontaneous late-ripening mutant of 'Jincheng' (C. sinensis L. Osbeck) sweet orange exhibited a delay of fruit pigmentation and harvesting. In this work, we studied the processes of orange fruit ripening through the comparative analysis between the Jincheng mutant and its wild type. This study revealed that the fruit quality began to differ on 166th days after anthesis. At this stage, fruits were subjected to transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing. 13,412 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) were found. Of these unigenes, 75.8% were down-regulated in the wild type, suggesting that the transcription level of wild type was lower than that of the mutant during this stage. These DEGs were mainly clustered into five pathways: metabolic pathways, plant-pathogen interaction, spliceosome, biosynthesis of plant hormones and biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. Therefore, the expression profiles of the genes that are involved in abscisic acid, sucrose, and jasmonic acid metabolism and signal transduction pathways were analyzed during the six fruit ripening stages. The results revealed the regulation mechanism of sweet orange fruit ripening metabolism in the following four aspects: First, the more mature orange fruits were, the lower the transcription levels were. Second, the expression level of PME boosted with the maturity of the citrus fruit. Therefore, the expression level of PME might represent the degree of the orange fruit ripeness. Third, the interaction of PP2C, PYR/PYL, and SnRK2 was peculiar to the orange fruit ripening process. Fourth, abscisic acid, sucrose, and jasmonic acid all took part in orange fruit ripening process and might interact with each other. These findings provide an insight into the intricate process of sweet orange fruit ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xing-Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ju-Xun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shan-Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Kunming Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Engineering Technology College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Li-Jun Chai
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- * E-mail: (LJC); (HLY)
| | - Hua-Lin Yi
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- * E-mail: (LJC); (HLY)
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A fungal sarcolemmal membrane-associated protein (SLMAP) homolog plays a fundamental role in development and localizes to the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2014; 14:345-58. [PMID: 25527523 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00241-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sarcolemmal membrane-associated protein (SLMAP) is a tail-anchored protein involved in fundamental cellular processes, such as myoblast fusion, cell cycle progression, and chromosomal inheritance. Further, SLMAP misexpression is associated with endothelial dysfunctions in diabetes and cancer. SLMAP is part of the conserved striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex required for specific signaling pathways in yeasts, filamentous fungi, insects, and mammals. In filamentous fungi, STRIPAK was initially discovered in Sordaria macrospora, a model system for fungal differentiation. Here, we functionally characterize the STRIPAK subunit PRO45, a homolog of human SLMAP. We show that PRO45 is required for sexual propagation and cell-to-cell fusion and that its forkhead-associated (FHA) domain is essential for these processes. Protein-protein interaction studies revealed that PRO45 binds to STRIPAK subunits PRO11 and SmMOB3, which are also required for sexual propagation. Superresolution structured-illumination microscopy (SIM) further established that PRO45 localizes to the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. SIM also showed that localization to the nuclear envelope requires STRIPAK subunits PRO11 and PRO22, whereas for mitochondria it does not. Taken together, our study provides important insights into fundamental roles of the fungal SLMAP homolog PRO45 and suggests STRIPAK-related and STRIPAK-unrelated functions.
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Chinnici JL, Fu C, Caccamise LM, Arnold JW, Free SJ. Neurospora crassa female development requires the PACC and other signal transduction pathways, transcription factors, chromatin remodeling, cell-to-cell fusion, and autophagy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110603. [PMID: 25333968 PMCID: PMC4204872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Using a screening protocol we have identified 68 genes that are required for female development in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. We find that we can divide these genes into five general groups: 1) Genes encoding components of the PACC signal transduction pathway, 2) Other signal transduction pathway genes, including genes from the three N. crassa MAP kinase pathways, 3) Transcriptional factor genes, 4) Autophagy genes, and 5) Other miscellaneous genes. Complementation and RIP studies verified that these genes are needed for the formation of the female mating structure, the protoperithecium, and for the maturation of a fertilized protoperithecium into a perithecium. Perithecia grafting experiments demonstrate that the autophagy genes and the cell-to-cell fusion genes (the MAK-1 and MAK-2 pathway genes) are needed for the mobilization and movement of nutrients from an established vegetative hyphal network into the developing protoperithecium. Deletion mutants for the PACC pathway genes palA, palB, palC, palF, palH, and pacC were found to be defective in two aspects of female development. First, they were unable to initiate female development on synthetic crossing medium. However, they could form protoperithecia when grown on cellophane, on corn meal agar, or in response to the presence of nearby perithecia. Second, fertilized perithecia from PACC pathway mutants were unable to produce asci and complete female development. Protein localization experiments with a GFP-tagged PALA construct showed that PALA was localized in a peripheral punctate pattern, consistent with a signaling center associated with the ESCRT complex. The N. crassa PACC signal transduction pathway appears to be similar to the PacC/Rim101 pathway previously characterized in Aspergillus nidulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In N. crassa the pathway plays a key role in regulating female development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Chinnici
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Ci Fu
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Lauren M. Caccamise
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Jason W. Arnold
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Schliebner I, Becher R, Hempel M, Deising HB, Horbach R. New gene models and alternative splicing in the maize pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola revealed by RNA-Seq analysis. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:842. [PMID: 25281481 PMCID: PMC4194422 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An annotated genomic sequence of the corn anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola has been published previously, but correct identification of gene models by means of automated gene annotation remains a challenge. RNA-Seq offers the potential for substantially improved gene annotations and for the identification of posttranscriptional RNA modifications, such as alternative splicing and RNA editing. RESULTS Based on the nucleotide sequence information of transcripts, we identified 819 novel transcriptionally active regions (nTARs) and revised 906 incorrectly predicted gene models, including revisions of exon-intron structure, gene orientation and sequencing errors. Among the nTARs, 146 share significant similarity with proteins that have been identified in other species suggesting that they are hitherto unidentified genes in C. graminicola. Moreover, 5'- and 3'-UTR sequences of 4378 genes have been retrieved and alternatively spliced variants of 69 genes have been identified. Comparative analysis of RNA-Seq data and the genome sequence did not provide evidence for RNA editing in C. graminicola. CONCLUSIONS We successfully employed deep sequencing RNA-Seq data in combination with an elaborate bioinformatics strategy in order to identify novel genes, incorrect gene models and mechanisms of transcript processing in the corn anthracnose fungus C. graminicola. Sequence data of the revised genome annotation including several hundreds of novel transcripts, improved gene models and candidate genes for alternative splicing have been made accessible in a comprehensive database. Our results significantly contribute to both routine laboratory experiments and large-scale genomics or transcriptomic studies in C. graminicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Schliebner
- />Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Rayko Becher
- />Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marcus Hempel
- />Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Holger B Deising
- />Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- />Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ralf Horbach
- />Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Teichert I, Steffens EK, Schnaß N, Fränzel B, Krisp C, Wolters DA, Kück U. PRO40 is a scaffold protein of the cell wall integrity pathway, linking the MAP kinase module to the upstream activator protein kinase C. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004582. [PMID: 25188365 PMCID: PMC4154660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are crucial signaling instruments in eukaryotes. Most ascomycetes possess three MAPK modules that are involved in key developmental processes like sexual propagation or pathogenesis. However, the regulation of these modules by adapters or scaffolds is largely unknown. Here, we studied the function of the cell wall integrity (CWI) MAPK module in the model fungus Sordaria macrospora. Using a forward genetic approach, we found that sterile mutant pro30 has a mutated mik1 gene that encodes the MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) of the proposed CWI pathway. We generated single deletion mutants lacking MAPKKK MIK1, MAPK kinase (MAPKK) MEK1, or MAPK MAK1 and found them all to be sterile, cell fusion-deficient and highly impaired in vegetative growth and cell wall stress response. By searching for MEK1 interaction partners via tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identified previously characterized developmental protein PRO40 as a MEK1 interaction partner. Although fungal PRO40 homologs have been implicated in diverse developmental processes, their molecular function is currently unknown. Extensive affinity purification, mass spectrometry, and yeast two-hybrid experiments showed that PRO40 is able to bind MIK1, MEK1, and the upstream activator protein kinase C (PKC1). We further found that the PRO40 N-terminal disordered region and the central region encompassing a WW interaction domain are sufficient to govern interaction with MEK1. Most importantly, time- and stress-dependent phosphorylation studies showed that PRO40 is required for MAK1 activity. The sum of our results implies that PRO40 is a scaffold protein for the CWI pathway, linking the MAPK module to the upstream activator PKC1. Our data provide important insights into the mechanistic role of a protein that has been implicated in sexual and asexual development, cell fusion, symbiosis, and pathogenicity in different fungal systems. The specific response to environmental cues is crucial for cell differentiation and is often mediated by highly conserved eukaryotic MAP kinase (MAPK) pathways. How these pathways react specifically to huge numbers of different cues is still unclear, and current literature about adapter and scaffolding proteins remains scarce. However, gaining fundamental insight into molecular signaling determinants is pivotal for combating diseases with impaired signal transduction processes, such as Alzheimer's disease or cancer. Importantly, signal transduction can easily be studied in lower eukaryotes like filamentous fungi that are readily genetically tractable. The fungus Sordaria macrospora has a long history as an ideal model system for cell differentiation, and we show here that the proposed cell wall integrity (CWI) MAPK module of this fungus controls differentiation of sexual fruiting bodies, cell fusion, polar growth and cell wall stress response. We further discovered that developmental protein PRO40 binds the MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK), the MAPK kinase (MAPKK) and upstream activator protein kinase C (PKC1) of the CWI pathway and is required for MAK1 activity, thereby providing evidence that PRO40 is a scaffold protein. Collectively, our findings reveal a molecular role for a protein implicated in development, cell fusion, symbiosis, and pathogenicity in different fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Teichert
- Department for General and Molecular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Schnaß
- Department for General and Molecular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Benjamin Fränzel
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph Krisp
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk A. Wolters
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Department for General and Molecular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Ugalde U, Rodriguez-Urra AB. The Mycelium Blueprint: insights into the cues that shape the filamentous fungal colony. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8809-19. [PMID: 25172134 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6019-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The mycelium is an organised cellular network that develops according to a functionally coherent plan. As it expands, the mycelium is capable of modulating the relative abundance of different cell types to suit the prevailing environmental conditions. This versatile pattern of multicellular development involves sophisticated environmental sensing and intercellular communication systems that have barely been recognised. This review describes an insight into our current understanding of the signalling molecules and mechanisms that take part in the ordered and timely emergence of various cell types and their biological significance. The prospects that this emerging knowledge may offer for the sustainable control of fungal colonisation or dispersal will also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unai Ugalde
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, Manuel Lardizabal Ibilbidea, 3 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain,
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