cDNA Subtractive Cloning of Genes Expressed during Early Stage of Appressorium Formation by Magnaporthe grisea

Chloramphenicol inhibits eukaryotic Ser/Thr phosphatase and infection-specific cell differentiation in the rice blast fungus

Chloramphenicol (Cm) is a broad-spectrum classic antibiotic active against prokaryotic organisms. However, Cm has severe side effects in eukaryotes of which the cause remains unknown. The plant pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which causes rice blast, forms an appressorium to infect the host cell via single-cell differentiation. Chloramphenicol specifically inhibits appressorium formation, which indicates that Cm has a novel molecular target (or targets) in the rice blast fungus. Application of the T7 phage display method inferred that MoDullard, a Ser/Thr-protein phosphatase, may be a target of Cm. In animals Dullard functions in cell differentiation and protein synthesis, but in fungi its role is poorly understood. In vivo and in vitro analyses showed that MoDullard is required for appressorium formation, and that Cm can bind to and inhibit MoDullard function. Given that human phosphatase CTDSP1 complemented the MoDullard function during appressorium formation by M. oryzae, CTDSP1 may be a novel molecular target of Cm in eukaryotes.

Identification and characterization of a novel gene encoding the NBS1 protein in Pyricularia oryzae

The ascomycete Pyricularia oryzae (teleomorph: Magnaporthe oryzae) causes one of the most serious diseases known as rice blast. The Nijmegen breakage syndrome protein (NBS1) is essential for DNA repair; thus, we studied the P. oryzae NBS1 homolog (PoNBS1). A PoNBS1 null mutant exhibited high sensitivity to DNA damage-inducing agents. The mutant also exhibited the retarded hyphal growth, and induced abnormal conidial germination and shape, but showed normal appressorium formation. The phenotypes of the null mutant were complemented by introducing the cDNA of PoNBS1 driven by a TrpC promoter of Aspergillus nidulans. In addition, the null mutant similarly complemented with the PoNBS1 cDNA lacking the FHA domain that had a normal phenotype except for hyphal growth. These results suggest that PoNBS1 is involved in DNA repair and normal development in P. oryzae. Moreover, the FHA domain of PoNBS1 participates in normal hyphal growth.

A novel FUT1 allele was identified in a Chinese individual with para-Bombay phenotype

BACKGROUND

The para-Bombay phenotype is characterised by H-deficient or H partially deficient red blood cells (RBCs) in individuals who secrete ABH antigens in their saliva. Samples from an individual whose RBCs had an apparent para-Bombay phenotype and his family members were investigated and a novel FUT1 allele was identified.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RBCs' phenotype was characterised by standard serologic technique. Genomic DNA was sequenced with primers that amplified the coding sequence of FUT1 and FUT2, respectively. Routine ABO genotyping analysis was performed. Haplotypes of FUT1 were identified by TOPO cloning sequencing. Recombination expression vectors of FUT1 mutation alleles were constructed and transfected into COS-7 cells. The pα-(1,2)-fucosyltransferase activity of expression protein was determined.

RESULTS

B101/O02 genotype of the proband was correlated with ABH substances in saliva. The proband carried a new FUT1 allele which showed 35C/T, 235G/C and 682A/G heterozygote by directly DNA sequencing. Two haplotypes, 235C and 35T+682G, were identified by TOPO cloning sequencing and COS-7 cells transfected with five recombination vectors including wild-type, 35T, 235C, 682G and 35T+682G alleles were established respectively. The α-(1,2)-fucosyltransferase activities of cell lysates which had transfected with 35T, 235C, 682G and 35T+682G recombination vectors showed 79·45, 16·23, 80·32 and 24·59%, respectively, compared with that of the wild-type FUT1-transfected cell lysates.

CONCLUSION

A novel FUT1 allele 235C was identified, which greatly diminished the activity of α-(1,2)-fucosyltransferase.

Expression specificity of CBP1 is regulated by transcriptional repression during vegetative growth of Magnaporthe oryzae

The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae produces appressoria during the infection of a host. In M. oryzae, the appressorium formation-related gene CBP1 (Chitin Binding Protein 1) is specifically expressed during the early stage of appressorium differentiation. The transcription factor CON7 activates CBP1 expression. However, many aspects of the regulation of CBP1 expression are still unknown. In this report, the CBP1 5' upstream region was analyzed using an egfp reporter. Deletion of the CBP1 5 ' upstream region caused derepression of reporter gene activity during vegetative growth. This result suggests that CBP1 expression is repressed during vegetative growth. The key 5 ' upstream sequences for CBP1 repression were examined. Furthermore, cis- and trans-acting elements of the negative regulatory region were investigated. Here, we discuss the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of CBP1.

A simple and effective method for total RNA isolation of appressoria in Magnaporthe oryzae

Appressorium formation is an important event in establishing a successful interaction between the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and its host plant, rice. An understanding of molecular events occurring in appressorium differentiation will give new strategies to control rice blast. A quick and reliable method to extract total RNA from appressorium is essential for studying gene expression during appressorium formation and its mechanism. We found that duplicate film is an efficient substratum for appressorium formation, even when inoculated with high density conidia. When inoculated with conidia at 1x10(6) ml(-1), the percentages of conidium germination and appressorium formation were (97.98+/-0.67)% and (97.88+/-0.45)%, respectively. We applied Trizol before appressorium collection for total RNA isolation, and as much as 113.6 microg total RNA was isolated from the mature appressoria at 24 h after inoculation. Functional analysis of two genes, MNH6 and MgATG1, isolated from the cDNA subtractive library, revealed that the quantity of RNA was good enough to construct a cDNA (complementary DNA) library or a cDNA subtractive library. This method may be also applicable for the appressorium RNA isolation of other pathogenic fungi in which conidia differentiate into appressoria in the early stages of host infection.

Application of cDNA array for studying the gene expression profile of mature appressoria of Magnaporthe grisea

Appressorium is an infection structure of the phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe grisea. Analysis of gene expression profiles of appressorium development provides insight into the molecular basis of pathogenicity and control of this fungal plant disease. A cDNA array representing 2927 unique genes based on a large EST (expressed sequence tag) database of M. grisea strain Y34 was constructed and used to profile the gene expression patterns at mycelium and appressorium maturation stages. Compared with mycelia, 55 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated genes were identified in mature appressoria. Among 77 genes, 16 genes showed no similarity to the genome sequences of M. grisea. A novel homologue of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase was found to be expressed at low-level in mature appressoria of M. grisea. The results indicated that the genes such as pyruvate carboxylase, phospholipid metabolism-related protein and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase involved in gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism and glycolysis, showed differential expression in mature appressoria. Furthermore, genes such as PTH11, beta subunit of G protein and SGT1 involved in cell signalling, were expressed differentially in mature appressoria. Northern blot analysis was used to confirm the cDNA array results.

Identification of an endo-beta-1,4-D-xylanase from Magnaporthe grisea by gene knockout analysis, purification, and heterologous expression

Magnaporthe grisea, a destructive ascomycetous pathogen of rice, secretes cell wall-degrading enzymes into a culture medium containing purified rice cell walls as the sole carbon source. From M. grisea grown under the culture conditions described here, we have identified an expressed sequenced tag, XYL-6, a gene that is also expressed in M. grisea-infected rice leaves 24 h postinoculation with conidia. This gene encodes a protein about 65% similar to endo-beta-1,4-D-glycanases within glycoside hydrolase family GH10. A M. grisea knockout mutant for XYL-6 was created, and it was shown to be as virulent as the parent strain in infecting the rice host. The proteins secreted by the parent strain and by the xyl-6Delta mutant were each fractionated by liquid chromatography, and the collected fractions were assayed for endo-beta-1,4-D-glucanase or endo-beta-1,4-D-xylanase activities. Two protein-containing peaks with endo-beta-1,4-D-xylanase activity secreted by the parent strain are not detectable in the column eluant of the proteins secreted by the mutant. The two endoxylanases (XYL-6alpha and XYL-6beta) from the parent were each purified to homogeneity. N-terminal amino acid sequencing indicated that XYL-6alpha is a fragment of XYL-6beta and that XYL-6beta is identical to the deduced protein sequence encoded by the XYL-6 gene. Finally, XYL-6 was introduced into Pichia pastoris for heterologous expression, which resulted in the purification of a fusion protein, XYL-6H, from the Pichia pastoris culture filtrate. XYL-6H is active in cleaving arabinoxylan. These experiments unequivocally established that the XYL-6 gene encodes a secreted endo-beta-1,4-D-xylanase.

Promoter trapping in Magnaporthe grisea

Application of promoter trapping based on transformation in Magnaporthe grisea is reported in this paper. Two promoter-trapping vectors, designated as pCBGFP and pEGFPHPH, were constructed and transformed into protoplasts of M. grisea. A library of 1,077 transformants resistant to hygromycin B was generated. Of which, 448 transformants were found to express eGFP gene in different structures of M. grisea. Three transformants grew slowly, 5 transformants decreased in conidiation and 7 transformants reduced in pathogenicity greatly among these 448 transformants. Eleven transformants were checked by genomic southern blot randomly, and 9 of which were single-copy insertions. The promoter trapping technique has been applied successfully in M. grisea and can be used as a tool for functional genomic analysis.

Identification of mature appressorium-enriched transcripts in Magnaporthe grisea, the rice blast fungus, using suppression subtractive hybridization

We have constructed a fungal subtractive suppressive library enriched in genes expressed during appressorium maturation in Magnaporthe grisea. Sequencing of 250 clones from the subtracted appressorium cDNA library revealed 142 unique genes, represented by 155 non-redundant ESTs (expressed sequence tags). Of these ESTs, 72 have not been previously isolated in M. grisea. RT-PCR analysis of 105 of the genes discovered found transcripts corresponding to 71 of the ESTs only in mature appressoria while transcripts corresponding to a further 34 of the isolated ESTs were expressed both in appressoria and conidia/mycelia. Genes specifically expressed in appressorium identified by SSH included a number that have been previously implicated in appressorium formation or function including GAS1, GAS3, and PTH11.

Representative appressorium stage cDNA library of Magnaporthe grisea

A mature appressorium cDNA library of rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea, was constructed in a lambdaTriplEx2 vector by SMART cDNA library containing 2.37x10(6) independent clones about 100% of which harbor foreign cDNA inserts with average size of 660 bp. Of 9 randomly selected clones, 2 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) sequences did not have homologous EST sequences of M. grisea in GenBank. The appressorium cDNA library is suitable for gene expression analysis and function analysis of the late stages of appressorium formation and the early stages of penetration of M. grisea.

Molecular basis for para-Bombay phenotypes in Chinese persons, including a novel nonfunctional FUT1 allele

BACKGROUND

The para-Bombay phenotype is characterized by H-deficient or H-partially deficient red blood cells (RBCs) in persons who secrete ABH antigens in their saliva. The studies that determined the genotypes for two Chinese individuals with the para-Bombay phenotype are described.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

RBC phenotypes were characterized by conventional serologic methods. Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were amplified, as well as the entire coding region for FUT1 and FUT2, with four independence polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) from genomic DNA. PCR products were excised, purified from agarose gels, and sequenced directly. Mutations of FUT1 were identified by TOPO cloning sequencing.

RESULTS

For both individuals, RBC ABO genotypes correlated with ABH substances in their saliva. One individual (a patient) had two heterozygous mutations of FUT1 by direct DNA sequencing, namely, a C-->T heterozygous mutation at position 293(C293T) and AG heterozygous deletion (CAGAGAG-->CAGAG) at position 547 to 552. These two mutations were confirmed to be compound heterozygotes; that is, each mutation was determined to be on a separate homologous chromosome by TOPO cloning sequencing. The FUT2 genotype was Se(357)Se(357). The other individual (a blood donor) had an AG deletion at position 547 to 552 homozygous allele in FUT1. The FUT2 genotype was Se(357)Se(357,385). C293T mutation can cause Thr/Met at amino acid position 98. AG deletion at position 547 to 552 caused a reading frameshift and a premature stop codon.

CONCLUSION

A novel nonfunctional FUT1 allele C293T was identified in a person with the para-Bombay phenotype. This rare H-deficient phenotype may result from different nonfunctional alleles.

Large scale parallel analysis of gene expression during infection-related morphogenesis of Magnaporthe grisea

SUMMARY The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea causes one of the most destructive diseases of rice. To initiate the infection of host tissues, conidia elaborate germ tubes that differentiate specialized infection structures called appressoria. Microarrays composed of 3500 cDNAs of M. grisea were prepared for the identification of genes that are specifically up- or down-regulated during appressorium formation. Gene expression in ungerminated conidia, during appressorium formation, and during mycelial growth was investigated with a novel highly sensitive dendrimer based detection system. Transcripts of 85 different genes were found to be more abundant in ungerminated conidia and/or in conidia with developing appressoria than in vegetative mycelia. Nineteen of these showed higher expression in both ungerminated conidia and developing appressoria than in mycelia, suggesting that their expression remains elevated during the early stage of fungal infection. The expression of 18 genes was higher in ungerminated conidia than in developing appressoria, indicating their possible role in the germination process or maintaining dormancy. Transcripts of 47 genes were found to be more abundant in developing appressoria than in ungerminated conidia, suggesting that their expression is induced during appressorium formation. Several of these genes, including a chitin binding protein and infection structure specific protein MIF23, were previously shown to be preferentially expressed during appressorium formation. However, the expression of many of these genes has not been reported prior to this analysis. In contrast, transcripts of 38 different genes were found to be more abundant in mycelia than in developing appressoria. A Northern blot analysis of selected genes was consistent with the microarray results. Results from this study provide a powerful resource for furthering our understanding of gene expression during infection-related morphogenesis and for the functional analysis of M. grisea genes involved in fungal infection.

Targeted gene disruption of the neuronal calcium sensor 1 homologue in rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea

We isolated a neuronal calcium sensor 1/frequenin-like gene, Mg-NCS-1, from Magnaporthe grisea and evaluated the phenotypes of null-mutants of the gene. The putative Mg-NCS-1 protein showed high similarity to the other NCS-1 proteins. The null-mutants had normal growth and pathogenicity similar to the parental strain, but their growth was suppressed in high concentrations of Ca2+ or acidic conditions.

Transcript profiling in the barley mildew pathogen Blumeria graminis by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE)

The fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei develops on the barley leaf via distinct, morphologically well-defined stages. After landing on a host plant, the conidia rapidly germinate to form a primary germ tube. Subsequently, an appressorial germ tube emerges from the conidium and differentiates an appressorium from which penetration of the host cell wall is attempted. We have used serial analysis of gene expression to provide a measurement of messenger RNA contents in ungerminated conidia, during conidial germination, and during appressorium formation. The resulting data provide a resource for the characterization of changes in transcript accumulation during early development of B. graminis.

A novel gene, CBP1, encoding a putative extracellular chitin-binding protein, may play an important role in the hydrophobic surface sensing of Magnaporthe grisea during appressorium differentiation

The conidial germ tube of the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea, differentiates a specialized cell, an appressorium, required for penetration into the host plant. Formation of the appressorium is also observed on artificial solid substrata such as polycarbonate. A novel emerging germ tube-specific gene, CBP1 (chitin-binding protein), was found in a cDNA subtractive differential library. CBP1 coded for a putative extracellular protein (signal peptide) with two similar chitin-binding domains at both ends of a central domain with homology to fungal chitin deacetylases and with a C-terminus domain rich in Ser/Thr related extracellular matrix protein such as agglutinin. The consensus sequence of the chitin-binding domain found in CBP1 has never been reported in fungi and is similar to the chitin-binding motif in plant lectins and plant chitinases classes I and IV. CBPI was disrupted in order to identify its function. Null mutants of CBP1 failed to differentiate appressoria normally on artificial surface but succeeded in normally differentiating appressoria on the plant leaf surface. Since the null mutant Cbp1- showed abnormal appressorium differentiation only on artificial surfaces and was sensitive to the chemical inducers, CBP1 seemed to play an important role in the recognition of physical factors on solid surfaces.

Time for a blast: genomics of Magnaporthe grisea

Summary The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea causes one of the most destructive diseases of rice. Genetic studies of this important pathogen during the past decade have made it an excellent system for investigating fungal-plant interactions. Recently, the well coordinated efforts by the rice blast community have also made significant progresses in genomics studies of M. grisea. BAC contigs were assembled and integrated with the high density genetic map, and 12 674 BAC-ends were sequenced as genome survey sequences. Over ten BAC clones have been sequenced by the shot-gun approach. Preliminary analysis with one completely sequenced BAC clone indicated that M. grisea may have a gene density of 4.2 kb/gene and contain approximately 9000 genes. In addition, > 10 000 ESTs have been sequenced from several cDNA libraries representing different stages of fungal growth, differentiation and plant infection. Currently, there are ongoing projects to sequence additional ESTs, telomeres, and 6X coverage of the M. grisea genome. A large-scale functional genomics project on M. grisea and its interaction with rice is also underway. It is an exciting time for genomics studies in M. grisea, and the resources generated in these studies will certainly enhance our understanding of fungal pathogenicity.