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Luo Z, Xiong D, Tian C. The Roles of Gti1/Pac2 Family Proteins in Fungal Growth, Morphogenesis, Stress Response, and Pathogenicity. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:488-497. [PMID: 38427716 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-11-23-0198-cr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Gti1/Pac2 is a fungal-specific transcription factor family with a stable and conserved N-terminal domain. Generally, there are two members in this family, named Gti1/Wor1/Rpy1/Mit1/Reg1/Ros1/Sge1 and Pac2, which are involved in fungal growth, development, stress response, spore production, pathogenicity, and so on. The Gti1/Pac2 family proteins share some conserved and distinct functions. For example, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Gti1 promotes the initiation of gluconate uptake during glucose starvation, while Pac2 controls the onset of sexual development in a pathway independent of the cAMP cascade. In the last two decades, more attention was focused on the Gti1 and its orthologs because of their significant effect on morphological switching and fungal virulence. By contrast, limited work was published on the functions of Pac2, which is required for stress responses and conidiation, but plays a minor role in fungal virulence. In this review, we present an overview of our current understanding of the Gti1/Pac2 proteins that contribute to fungal development and/or pathogenicity and of the regulation mechanisms during infection related development. Understanding the working networks of the conserved Gti1/Pac2 transcription factors in fungal pathogenicity not only advances our knowledge of the highly elaborate infection process but may also lead to the development of novel strategies for the control of plant disease. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Luo
- State Key laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- State Key laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chengming Tian
- State Key laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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Ou X, Hua Q, Dong J, Guo K, Wu M, Deng Y, Wu Z. Functional identification of DNA demethylase gene CaROS1 in pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) involved in salt stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1396902. [PMID: 38756961 PMCID: PMC11097670 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1396902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Pepper, which is a widely cultivated important vegetable, is sensitive to salt stress, and the continuous intensification of soil salinization has affected pepper production worldwide. However, genes confer to salt tolerance are rarely been cloned in pepper. Since the REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1) is a DNA demethylase that plays a crucial regulatory role in plants in response to various abiotic stresses, including salt stress. We cloned a ROS1 gene in pepper, named CaROS1 (LOC107843637). Bioinformatic analysis showed that the CaROS1 protein contains the HhH-GPD glycosylase and RRM_DME domains. qRT-PCR analyses showed that the CaROS1 was highly expressed in young and mature fruits of pepper and rapidly induced by salt stress. Functional characterization of the CaROS1 was performed by gene silencing in pepper and overexpressing in tobacco, revealed that the CaROS1 positively regulates salt tolerance ability. More detailly, CaROS1-silenced pepper were more sensitive to salt stress, and their ROS levels, relative conductivity, and malondialdehyde content were significantly higher in leaves than those of the control plants. Besides, CaROS1-overexpressing tobacco plants were more tolerant to salt stress, with a higher relative water content, total chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity in leaves compared to those of WT plants during salt stress. These results revealed the CaROS1 dose play a role in salt stress response, providing the theoretical basis for salt tolerance genetic engineering breeding in pepper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhiming Wu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
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Schuster M, Schweizer G, Reißmann S, Happel P, Aßmann D, Rössel N, Güldener U, Mannhaupt G, Ludwig N, Winterberg S, Pellegrin C, Tanaka S, Vincon V, Presti LL, Wang L, Bender L, Gonzalez C, Vranes M, Kämper J, Seong K, Krasileva K, Kahmann R. Novel Secreted Effectors Conserved Among Smut Fungi Contribute to the Virulence of Ustilago maydis. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:250-263. [PMID: 38416124 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-23-0139-fi] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens deploy a set of molecules (proteins, specialized metabolites, and sRNAs), so-called effectors, to aid the infection process. In comparison to other plant pathogens, smut fungi have small genomes and secretomes of 20 Mb and around 500 proteins, respectively. Previous comparative genomic studies have shown that many secreted effector proteins without known domains, i.e., novel, are conserved only in the Ustilaginaceae family. By analyzing the secretomes of 11 species within Ustilaginaceae, we identified 53 core homologous groups commonly present in this lineage. By collecting existing mutants and generating additional ones, we gathered 44 Ustilago maydis strains lacking single core effectors as well as 9 strains containing multiple deletions of core effector gene families. Pathogenicity assays revealed that 20 of these 53 mutant strains were affected in virulence. Among the 33 mutants that had no obvious phenotypic changes, 13 carried additional, sequence-divergent, structurally similar paralogs. We report a virulence contribution of seven previously uncharacterized single core effectors and of one effector family. Our results help to prioritize effectors for understanding U. maydis virulence and provide genetic resources for further characterization. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Schuster
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Gabriel Schweizer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Independent Data Lab UG, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Reißmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Happel
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Aßmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Rössel
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, 80636 München, Germany
| | - Gertrud Mannhaupt
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Ludwig
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Research & Development, Weed Control Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, 65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sarah Winterberg
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Clément Pellegrin
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Shigeyuki Tanaka
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Volker Vincon
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Libera Lo Presti
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lei Wang
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lena Bender
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Phillips-University Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Carla Gonzalez
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Miroslav Vranes
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Genetics, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jörg Kämper
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Genetics, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Kyungyong Seong
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
| | - Ksenia Krasileva
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Li S, Yang M, Yao T, Xia W, Ye Z, Zhang S, Li Y, Zhang Z, Song R. Diploid mycelia of Ustilago esculenta fails to maintain sustainable proliferation in host plant. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1199907. [PMID: 37555064 PMCID: PMC10405623 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1199907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Smut fungi display a uniform life cycle including two phases: a saprophytic phase in vitro and a parasitic phase in host plants. Several apathogenic smut fungi are found, lacking suitable hosts in their habitat. Interestingly, MT-type Ustilago esculenta was found to maintain a parasitic life, lacking the saprophytic phase. Its long period of asexual proliferation in plant tissue results in severe defects in certain functions. In this study, the growth dynamics of U. esculenta in plant tissues were carefully observed. The mycelia of T- and MT-type U. esculenta exhibit rapid growth after karyogamy and aggregate between cells. While T-type U. esculenta successfully forms teliospores after aggregation, the aggregated mycelia of MT-type U. esculenta gradually disappeared after a short period of massive proliferation. It may be resulted by the lack of nutrition such as glucose and sucrose. After overwintering, infected Zizania latifolia plants no longer contained diploid mycelia resulting from karyogamy. This indicated that diploid mycelia failed to survive in plant tissues. It seems that diploid mycelium only serves to generate teliospores. Notably, MT-type U. esculenta keeps the normal function of karyogamy, though it is not necessary for its asexual life in plant tissue. Further investigations are required to uncover the underlying mechanism, which would improve our understanding of the life cycle of smut fungi and help the breeding of Z. latifolia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengfei Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Characteristic Aquatic Vegetable Breeding and Cultivation, Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tongfu Yao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenqiang Xia
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shangfa Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Characteristic Aquatic Vegetable Breeding and Cultivation, Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yipeng Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Characteristic Aquatic Vegetable Breeding and Cultivation, Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhongjin Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruiqi Song
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Characteristic Aquatic Vegetable Breeding and Cultivation, Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
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Aparicio Chacón MV, Van Dingenen J, Goormachtig S. Characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Effector Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119125. [PMID: 37298075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are colonized by various fungi with both pathogenic and beneficial lifestyles. One type of colonization strategy is through the secretion of effector proteins that alter the plant's physiology to accommodate the fungus. The oldest plant symbionts, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), may exploit effectors to their benefit. Genome analysis coupled with transcriptomic studies in different AMFs has intensified research on the effector function, evolution, and diversification of AMF. However, of the current 338 predicted effector proteins from the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, only five have been characterized, of which merely two have been studied in detail to understand which plant proteins they associate with to affect the host physiology. Here, we review the most recent findings in AMF effector research and discuss the techniques used for the functional characterization of effector proteins, from their in silico prediction to their mode of action, with an emphasis on high-throughput approaches for the identification of plant targets of the effectors through which they manipulate their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- María V Aparicio Chacón
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Judith Van Dingenen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Goormachtig
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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Yu C, Qi J, Han H, Wang P, Liu C. Progress in pathogenesis research of Ustilago maydis, and the metabolites involved along with their biosynthesis. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:495-509. [PMID: 36808861 PMCID: PMC10098057 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a pathogenic fungus that causes corn smut. Because of its easy cultivation and genetic transformation, U. maydis has become an important model organism for plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes. U. maydis is able to infect maize by producing effectors and secreted proteins as well as surfactant-like metabolites. In addition, the production of melanin and iron carriers is also associated with its pathogenicity. Here, advances in our understanding of the pathogenicity of U. maydis, the metabolites involved in the pathogenic process, and the biosynthesis of these metabolites, are reviewed and discussed. This summary will provide new insights into the pathogenicity of U. maydis and the functions of associated metabolites, as well as new clues for deciphering the biosynthesis of metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Yu
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Jianzhao Qi
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & PharmacyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Haiyan Han
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Pengchao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Chengwei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
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Lovelace AH, Dorhmi S, Hulin MT, Li Y, Mansfield JW, Ma W. Effector Identification in Plant Pathogens. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:637-650. [PMID: 37126080 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-09-22-0337-kd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Effectors play a central role in determining the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions. As key virulence proteins, effectors are collectively indispensable for disease development. By understanding the virulence mechanisms of effectors, fundamental knowledge of microbial pathogenesis and disease resistance have been revealed. Effectors are also considered double-edged swords because some of them activate immunity in disease resistant plants after being recognized by specific immune receptors, which evolved to monitor pathogen presence or activity. Characterization of effector recognition by their cognate immune receptors and the downstream immune signaling pathways is instrumental in implementing resistance. Over the past decades, substantial research effort has focused on effector biology, especially concerning their interactions with virulence targets or immune receptors in plant cells. A foundation of this research is robust identification of the effector repertoire from a given pathogen, which depends heavily on bioinformatic prediction. In this review, we summarize methodologies that have been used for effector mining in various microbial pathogens which use different effector delivery mechanisms. We also discuss current limitations and provide perspectives on how recently developed analytic tools and technologies may facilitate effector identification and hence generation of a more complete vision of host-pathogen interactions. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Dorhmi
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, U.K
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A
| | | | - Yufei Li
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, U.K
| | - John W Mansfield
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2BX, U.K
| | - Wenbo Ma
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UH, U.K
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Mukherjee S, Bhakta K, Ghosh A, Ghosh A. Ger1 is a secreted aspartic acid protease essential for spore germination in Ustilago maydis. Yeast 2023; 40:102-116. [PMID: 36562128 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis expresses a number of proteases during its pathogenic lifecycle. Some of the proteases including both intracellular and extracellular ones have previously been shown to influence the virulence of the pathogen. However, any role of secreted proteases in the sporulation process of U. maydis have not been explored earlier. In this study we have investigated the biological function of one such secreted protease, Ger1 belonging to aspartic protease A1 family. An assessment of the real time expression of ger1 revealed an infection specific expression of the protein especially during late phases of infection. We also evaluated any contribution of the protein in the pathogenicity of the fungus. Our data revealed an involvement of Ger1 in the sporulation and spore germination processes of U. maydis. Ger1 also showed positive influence on the pathogenicity of the fungus and accordingly the ger1 deletion mutant exhibited reduced pathogenicity. The study also demonstrated the protease activity associated with Ger1 to be essential for its biological function. Fluorescence microscopy of maize plants infected with U. maydis cells expressing Ger1-mcherry-HA also revealed that Ger1 is efficiently secreted within maize apoplast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Koustav Bhakta
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Anupama Ghosh
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
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Soberanes-Gutiérrez CV, Castillo-Jiménez A, Pérez-Rueda E, Galán-Vásquez E. Construction and analysis of gene co-expression network in the pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1048694. [PMID: 36569046 PMCID: PMC9767968 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1048694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Biological systems respond to environmental disturbances and a wide range of compounds through complex gene interaction networks. The enormous growth of experimental information obtained using large-scale genomic techniques such as microarrays and RNA sequencing led to the construction of a wide variety of gene co-expression networks in recent years. These networks allow the discovery of clusters of co-expressed genes that potentially work in the same process linking them to biological processes often of interest to industrial, medicinal, and academic research. Methods In this study, we built the gene co-expression network of Ustilago maydis from the gene expression data of 168 samples belonging to 19 series, which correspond to the GPL3681 platform deposited in the NCBI using WGCNA software. This network was analyzed to identify clusters of co-expressed genes, gene hubs and Gene Ontology terms. Additionally, we identified relevant modules through a hypergeometric approach based on a predicted set of transcription factors and virulence genes. Results and Discussion We identified 13 modules in the gene co-expression network of U. maydis. The TFs enriched in the modules of interest belong to the superfamilies of Nucleic acid-binding proteins, Winged helix DNA-binding, and Zn2/Cys6 DNA-binding. On the other hand, the modules enriched with virulence genes were classified into diseases related to corn smut, Invasive candidiasis, among others. Finally, a large number of hypothetical, a large number of hypothetical genes were identified as highly co-expressed with virulence genes, making them possible experimental targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthia V. Soberanes-Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Ciencias Agrogenómicas, de la Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad León, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Castillo-Jiménez
- Licenciatura en Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Pérez-Rueda
- Unidad Académica Yucatán, Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Edgardo Galán-Vásquez
- Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas Computacionales y Automatización, Instituto de Investigación en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico,*Correspondence: Edgardo Galán-Vásquez,
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10
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Coccidioides Species: A Review of Basic Research: 2022. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080859. [PMID: 36012847 PMCID: PMC9409882 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioides immitis and posadasii are closely related fungal species that cause coccidioidomycosis. These dimorphic organisms cause disease in immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals and as much as 40% of the population is infected in the endemic area. Although most infections resolve spontaneously, the infection can be prolonged and, in some instances, fatal. Coccidioides has been studied for more than 100 years and many aspects of the organism and the disease it causes have been investigated. There are over 500 manuscripts concerning Coccidioides (excluding clinical articles) referenced in PubMed over the past 50 years, so there is a large body of evidence to review. We reviewed the most accurate and informative basic research studies of these fungi including some seminal older studies as well as an extensive review of current research. This is an attempt to gather the most important basic research studies about this fungus into one publication. To focus this review, we will discuss the mycology of the organism exclusively rather than the studies of the host response or clinical studies. We hope that this review will be a useful resource to those interested in Coccidioides and coccidioidomycosis.
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11
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Kretschmer M, Damoo D, Sun S, Lee CWJ, Croll D, Brumer H, Kronstad J. Organic acids and glucose prime late-stage fungal biotrophy in maize. Science 2022; 376:1187-1191. [PMID: 35679407 DOI: 10.1126/science.abo2401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Many plant-associated fungi are obligate biotrophs that depend on living hosts to proliferate. However, little is known about the molecular basis of the biotrophic lifestyle, despite the impact of fungi on the environment and food security. In this work, we show that combinations of organic acids and glucose trigger phenotypes that are associated with the late stage of biotrophy for the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis. These phenotypes include the expression of a set of effectors normally observed only during biotrophic development, as well as the formation of melanin associated with sporulation in plant tumors. U. maydis and other hemibiotrophic fungi also respond to a combination of carbon sources with enhanced proliferation. Thus, the response to combinations of nutrients from the host may be a conserved feature of fungal biotrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Kretschmer
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Djihane Damoo
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sherry Sun
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christopher W J Lee
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Harry Brumer
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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12
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Kahmann R. My Personal Journey from the Fascination for Phages to a Tumor-Inducing Fungal Pathogen of Corn. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:1-19. [PMID: 35395169 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-121721-111032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
My path in science began with a fascination for microbiology and phages and later involved a switch of subjects to the fungus Ustilago maydis and how it causes disease in maize. I will not provide a review of my work but rather focus on decisive findings, serendipitous, lucky moments when major advances made the U. maydis-maize system what it is now-a well-established model for biotrophic fungi. I also want to share with you the joy of finding the needle in a haystack at the very end of my scientific career, a fungal structure likely used for effector delivery, and how we were able to translate this into a potential application in agriculture. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany;
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Duttke SH, Beyhan S, Singh R, Neal S, Viriyakosol S, Fierer J, Kirkland TN, Stajich JE, Benner C, Carlin AF. Decoding Transcription Regulatory Mechanisms Associated with Coccidioides immitis Phase Transition Using Total RNA. mSystems 2022; 7:e0140421. [PMID: 35076277 PMCID: PMC8788335 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01404-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
New or emerging infectious diseases are commonly caused by pathogens that cannot be readily manipulated or studied under common laboratory conditions. These limitations hinder standard experimental approaches and our abilities to define the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis. The advance of capped small RNA sequencing (csRNA-seq) now enables genome-wide mapping of actively initiated transcripts from genes and other regulatory transcribed start regions (TSRs) such as enhancers at a precise moment from total RNA. As RNA is nonpathogenic and can be readily isolated from inactivated infectious samples, csRNA-seq can detect acute changes in gene regulation within or in response to a pathogen with remarkable sensitivity under common laboratory conditions. Studying valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), an emerging endemic fungal infection that increasingly impacts livestock, pet, and human health, we show how csRNA-seq can unravel transcriptional programs driving pathogenesis. Performing csRNA-seq on RNA isolated from different stages of the valley fever pathogen Coccidioides immitis revealed alternative promoter usage, connected cis-regulatory domains, and a WOPR family transcription factor, which are known regulators of virulence in other fungi, as being critical for pathogenic growth. We further demonstrate that a C. immitis WOPR homologue, CIMG_02671, activates transcription in a WOPR motif-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into valley fever pathogenesis and provide a proof of principle for csRNA-seq as a powerful means to determine the genes, regulatory mechanisms, and transcription factors that control the pathogenesis of highly infectious agents. IMPORTANCE Infectious pathogens like airborne viruses or fungal spores are difficult to study; they require high-containment facilities, special equipment, and expertise. As such, establishing approaches such as genome editing or other means to identify the factors and mechanisms underlying caused diseases, and, thus, promising drug targets, is costly and time-intensive. These obstacles particularly hinder the analysis of new, emerging, or rare infectious diseases. We recently developed a method termed capped small RNA sequencing (csRNA-seq) that enables capturing acute changes in active gene expression from total RNA. Prior to csRNA-seq, such an analysis was possible only by using living cells or nuclei, in which pathogens are highly infectious. The process of RNA purification, however, inactivates pathogens and thus enables the analysis of gene expression during disease progression under standard laboratory conditions. As a proof of principle, here, we use csRNA-seq to unravel the gene regulatory programs and factors likely critical for the pathogenesis of valley fever, an emerging endemic fungal infection that increasingly impacts livestock, pet, and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha H. Duttke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sinem Beyhan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Rajendra Singh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sonya Neal
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Suganya Viriyakosol
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Joshua Fierer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
- Infectious Diseases Section, VA Healthcare San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Theo N. Kirkland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California—Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Christopher Benner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Aaron F. Carlin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
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Gao X, Wang Q, Feng Q, Zhang B, He C, Luo H, An B. Heat Shock Transcription Factor CgHSF1 Is Required for Melanin Biosynthesis, Appressorium Formation, and Pathogenicity in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020175. [PMID: 35205929 PMCID: PMC8876323 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are a family of transcription regulators. Although HSFs’ functions in controlling the transcription of the molecular chaperone heat shock proteins and resistance to stresses are well established, their effects on the pathogenicity of plant pathogenic fungi remain unknown. In this study, we analyze the role of CgHSF1 in the pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and investigate the underlying mechanism. Failure to generate the Cghsf1 knock-out mutant suggested that the gene is essential for the viability of the fungus. Then, genetic depletion of the Cghsf1 was achieved by inserting the repressive promoter of nitrite reductase gene (PniiA) before its coding sequence. The mutant showed significantly decrease in the pathogenicity repression of appressorium formation, and severe defects in melanin biosynthesis. Moreover, four melanin synthetic genes were identified as direct targets of CgHSF1. Taken together, this work highlights the role of CgHSF1 in fungal pathogenicity via the transcriptional activation of melanin biosynthesis. Our study extends the understanding of fungal HSF1 proteins, especially their involvement in pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuesheng Gao
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Qiannan Wang
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Qingdeng Feng
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
| | - Bei Zhang
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Chaozu He
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Hongli Luo
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Correspondence: (H.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Bang An
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; (X.G.); (Q.W.); (Q.F.); (B.Z.); (C.H.)
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Correspondence: (H.L.); (B.A.)
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15
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Sperschneider J, Dodds PN. EffectorP 3.0: Prediction of Apoplastic and Cytoplasmic Effectors in Fungi and Oomycetes. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:146-156. [PMID: 34698534 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-21-0201-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Many fungi and oomycete species are devasting plant pathogens. These eukaryotic filamentous pathogens secrete effector proteins to facilitate plant infection. Fungi and oomycete pathogens have diverse infection strategies and their effectors generally do not share sequence homology. However, they occupy similar host environments, either the plant apoplast or plant cytoplasm, and, therefore, may share some unifying properties based on the requirements of these host compartments. Here, we exploit these biological signals and present the first classifier (EffectorP 3.0) that uses two machine-learning models: one trained on apoplastic effectors and one trained on cytoplasmic effectors. EffectorP 3.0 accurately predicts known apoplastic and cytoplasmic effectors in fungal and oomycete secretomes with low estimated false-positive rates of 3 and 8%, respectively. Cytoplasmic effectors have a higher proportion of positively charged amino acids, whereas apoplastic effectors are enriched for cysteine residues. The combination of fungal and oomycete effectors in training leads to a higher number of predicted cytoplasmic effectors in biotrophic fungi. EffectorP 3.0 expands predicted effector repertoires beyond small, cysteine-rich secreted proteins in fungi and RxLR-motif containing secreted proteins in oomycetes. We show that signal peptide prediction is essential for accurate effector prediction, because EffectorP 3.0 recognizes a cytoplasmic signal also in intracellular, nonsecreted proteins.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Sperschneider
- Biological Data Science Institute, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Peter N Dodds
- Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australia
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16
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Zuo W, Depotter JRL, Gupta DK, Thines M, Doehlemann G. Cross-species analysis between the maize smut fungi Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum highlights the role of transcriptional change of effector orthologs for virulence and disease. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:719-733. [PMID: 34270791 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The constitution and regulation of effector repertoires shape host-microbe interactions. Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum are two closely related smut fungi, which both infect maize but cause distinct disease symptoms. Understanding how effector orthologs are regulated in these two pathogens can therefore provide insights into the evolution of different infection strategies. We tracked the infection progress of U. maydis and S. reilianum in maize leaves and used two distinct infection stages for cross-species RNA-sequencing analyses. We identified 207 of 335 one-to-one effector orthologs as differentially regulated during host colonization, which might reflect the distinct disease development strategies. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene conversion, we identified two differentially expressed effector orthologs with conserved function between two pathogens. Thus, differential expression of functionally conserved genes might contribute to species-specific adaptation and symptom development. Interestingly, another differentially expressed orthogroup (UMAG_05318/Sr10075) showed divergent protein function, providing a possible case for neofunctionalization. Collectively, we demonstrated that the diversification of effector genes in related pathogens can be caused both by alteration on the transcriptional level and through functional diversification of the encoded effector proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiliang Zuo
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47a, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Jasper R L Depotter
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47a, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Deepak K Gupta
- Department for Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Integrative Fungal Research Cluster (IPF), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Marco Thines
- Department for Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Integrative Fungal Research Cluster (IPF), Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Gunther Doehlemann
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47a, Cologne, 50674, Germany
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17
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Qiu L, Zhang TS, Song JZ, Zhang J, Li Z, Wang JJ. BbWor1, a Regulator of Morphological Transition, Is Involved in Conidium-Hypha Switching, Blastospore Propagation, and Virulence in Beauveria bassiana. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0020321. [PMID: 34319134 PMCID: PMC8552717 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00203-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological transition is an important adaptive mechanism in the host invasion process. Wor1 is a conserved fungal regulatory protein that controls the phenotypic switching and pathogenicity of Candida albicans. By modulating growth conditions, we simulated three models of Beauveria bassiana morphological transitions, including CTH (conidia to hyphae), HTC (hyphae to conidia), and BTB (blastospore to blastospore). Disruption of BbWor1 (an ortholog of Wor1) resulted in a distinct reduction in the time required for conidial germination (CTH), a significant increase in hyphal growth, and a decrease in the yield of conidia (HTC), indicating that BbWor1 positively controls conidium production and negatively regulates hyphal growth in conidium-hypha switching. Moreover, ΔBbWor1 prominently decreased blastospore yield, shortened the G0/G1 phase, and prolonged the G2/M phase under the BTB model. Importantly, BbWor1 contributed to conidium-hypha switching and blastospore propagation via different genetic pathways, and yeast one-hybrid testing demonstrated the necessity of BbWor1 to control the transcription of an allergen-like protein gene (BBA_02580) and a conidial wall protein gene (BBA_09998). Moreover, the dramatically weakened virulence of ΔBbWor1 was examined by immersion and injection methods. Our findings indicate that BbWor1 is a vital participant in morphological transition and pathogenicity in entomopathogenic fungi. IMPORTANCE As a well-known entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana has a complex life cycle and involves transformations among single-cell conidia, blastospores, and filamentous hyphae. This study provides new insight into the regulation of the fungal cell morphological transitions by simulating three models. Our research identified BbWor1 as a core transcription factor of morphological differentiation that positively regulates the production of conidia and blastospores but negatively regulates hyphal growth. More importantly, BbWor1 affects fungal pathogenicity and the global transcription profiles within three models of growth stage transformation. The present study lays a foundation for the exploration of the transition mechanism of entomopathogenic fungi and provides material for the morphological study of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qiu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Tong-Sheng Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ji-Zheng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ze Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Juan-Juan Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
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18
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John E, Singh KB, Oliver RP, Tan K. Transcription factor control of virulence in phytopathogenic fungi. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:858-881. [PMID: 33973705 PMCID: PMC8232033 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi are a significant threat to economic and food security worldwide. Novel protection strategies are required and therefore it is critical we understand the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause disease. Virulence factors and pathogenicity genes have been identified, but in many cases their roles remain elusive. It is becoming increasingly clear that gene regulation is vital to enable plant infection and transcription factors play an essential role. Efforts to determine their regulatory functions in plant-pathogenic fungi have expanded since the annotation of fungal genomes revealed the ubiquity of transcription factors from a broad range of families. This review establishes the significance of transcription factors as regulatory elements in plant-pathogenic fungi and provides a systematic overview of those that have been functionally characterized. Detailed analysis is provided on regulators from well-characterized families controlling various aspects of fungal metabolism, development, stress tolerance, and the production of virulence factors such as effectors and secondary metabolites. This covers conserved transcription factors with either specialized or nonspecialized roles, as well as recently identified regulators targeting key virulence pathways. Fundamental knowledge of transcription factor regulation in plant-pathogenic fungi provides avenues to identify novel virulence factors and improve our understanding of the regulatory networks linked to pathogen evolution, while transcription factors can themselves be specifically targeted for disease control. Areas requiring further insight regarding the molecular mechanisms and/or specific classes of transcription factors are identified, and direction for future investigation is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan John
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- Agriculture and FoodCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationFloreatWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Richard P. Oliver
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Kar‐Chun Tan
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
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19
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Lin JS, Happel P, Kahmann R. Nuclear status and leaf tumor formation in the Ustilago maydis-maize pathosystem. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:399-415. [PMID: 33786841 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic fungus causing smut disease in corn. The infectious forms are dikaryotic hyphae. Here we analyze mutants lacking the nlt1 transcription factor and investigate why these mutants are unable to induce leaf tumors. The study involved reverse genetics, complementation, epistasis analysis, microscopy, gene expression analysis by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and virulence assays. We show that nlt1 mutants colonize maize leaves efficiently but fail to undergo karyogamy and are attenuated in late proliferation. Nlt1 activates transcription of ros1, a transcription factor controlling karyogamy, and represses see1, an effector previously shown to contribute to leaf tumor induction. In mononuclate solopathogenic strains, nlt1 mutants cause attenuated leaf tumor formation. In actively dividing maize organs, nlt1 mutants undergo karyogamy and induce tumor formation. Sporisorium reilianum, a smut fungus unable to induce leaf tumors, possesses an ortholog of nlt1 that controls the fusion of dikaryotic nuclei late in infection during cob colonization. Our results have established a regulatory connection between nlt1, ros1 and see1 and suggest the existence of two stages contributing to leaf tumor formation, one before nuclear fusion and involving nlt1 and one after karyogamy that is nlt1 independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jer-Sheng Lin
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Petra Happel
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
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20
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Zuriegat Q, Zheng Y, Liu H, Wang Z, Yun Y. Current progress on pathogenicity-related transcription factors in Fusarium oxysporum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:882-895. [PMID: 33969616 PMCID: PMC8232035 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum is a well-known soilborne plant pathogen that causes severe vascular wilt in economically important crops worldwide. During the infection process, F. oxysporum not only secretes various virulence factors, such as cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), effectors, and mycotoxins, that potentially play important roles in fungal pathogenicity but it must also respond to extrinsic abiotic stresses from the environment and the host. Over 700 transcription factors (TFs) have been predicted in the genome of F. oxysporum, but only 26 TFs have been functionally characterized in various formae speciales of F. oxysporum. Among these TFs, a total of 23 belonging to 10 families are required for pathogenesis through various mechanisms and pathways, and the zinc finger TF family is the largest family among these 10 families, which consists of 15 TFs that have been functionally characterized in F. oxysporum. In this review, we report current research progress on the 26 functionally analysed TFs in F. oxysporum and sort them into four groups based on their roles in F. oxysporum pathogenicity. Furthermore, we summarize and compare the biofunctions, involved pathways, putative targets, and homologs of these TFs and analyse the relationships among them. This review provides a systematic analysis of the regulation of virulence-related genes and facilitates further mechanistic analysis of TFs important in F. oxysporum virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qussai Zuriegat
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Yuru Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Fujian Institute for Food and Drug Quality ControlFuzhouChina
| | - Hong Liu
- College of Resources and EnvironmentFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Zonghua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Institute of OceanographyMinjiang UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsCollege of Life SciencesFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
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21
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Fukada F, Rössel N, Münch K, Glatter T, Kahmann R. A small Ustilago maydis effector acts as a novel adhesin for hyphal aggregation in plant tumors. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:416-431. [PMID: 33843063 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biotrophic basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis causes smut disease in maize. Hallmarks of the disease are characteristic large tumors in which dark pigmented spores are formed. Here, we functionally characterized a novel core effector lep1 (late effector protein 1) which is highly expressed during tumor formation and contributes to virulence. We characterize lep1 mutants, localize the protein, determine phenotypic consequences upon deletion as well as constitutive expression, and analyze relationships with the repellent protein Rep1 and hydrophobins. In tumors, lep1 mutants show attenuated hyphal aggregation, fail to undergo massive late proliferation and produce only a few spores. Upon constitutive expression, cell aggregation is induced and the surface of filamentous colonies displays enhanced hydrophobicity. Lep1 is bound to the cell wall of biotrophic hyphae and associates with Rep1 when constitutively expressed in hyphae. We conclude that Lep1 acts as a novel kind of cell adhesin which functions together with other surface-active proteins to allow proliferation of diploid hyphae as well as for induction of the morphological changes associated with spore formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumi Fukada
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Chuo 2-20-1, Kurashiki, 710-0046, Japan
| | - Nicole Rössel
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Karin Münch
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Timo Glatter
- Mass Spectroscopy and Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, Marburg, 35043, Germany
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22
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Darino M, Chia K, Marques J, Aleksza D, Soto‐Jiménez LM, Saado I, Uhse S, Borg M, Betz R, Bindics J, Zienkiewicz K, Feussner I, Petit‐Houdenot Y, Djamei A. Ustilago maydis effector Jsi1 interacts with Topless corepressor, hijacking plant jasmonate/ethylene signaling. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:3393-3407. [PMID: 33247447 PMCID: PMC8126959 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is the causal agent of maize smut disease. During the colonization process, the fungus secretes effector proteins that suppress immune responses and redirect the host metabolism in favor of the pathogen. As effectors play a critical role during plant colonization, their identification and functional characterization are essential to understanding biotrophy and disease. Using biochemical, molecular, and transcriptomic techniques, we performed a functional characterization of the U. maydis effector Jasmonate/Ethylene signaling inducer 1 (Jsi1). Jsi1 interacts with several members of the plant corepressor family Topless/Topless related (TPL/TPR). Jsi1 expression in Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana leads to transcriptional induction of the ethylene response factor (ERF) branch of the jasmonate/ethylene (JA/ET) signaling pathway. In A. thaliana, activation of the ERF branch leads to biotrophic susceptibility. Jsi1 likely activates the ERF branch via an EAR (ET-responsive element binding-factor-associated amphiphilic repression) motif, which resembles EAR motifs from plant ERF transcription factors, that interacts with TPL/TPR proteins. EAR-motif-containing effector candidates were identified from different fungal species, including Magnaporthe oryzae, Sporisorium scitamineum, and Sporisorium reilianum. Interaction between plant TPL proteins and these effector candidates from biotrophic and hemibiotrophic fungi indicates the convergent evolution of effectors modulating the TPL/TPR corepressor hub.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Darino
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - Khong‐Sam Chia
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)OT Gatersleben06466Germany
| | - Joana Marques
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - David Aleksza
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)Vienna1180Austria
| | - Luz Mayela Soto‐Jiménez
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - Indira Saado
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)OT Gatersleben06466Germany
| | - Simon Uhse
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - Michael Borg
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - Ruben Betz
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)OT Gatersleben06466Germany
| | - Janos Bindics
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
| | - Krzysztof Zienkiewicz
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and LipidomicsGoettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GoettingenGoettingenD‐37077Germany
- Department of Plant BiochemistryAlbrecht von Haller Institute and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GöttingenGöttingenD‐37077Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and LipidomicsGoettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GoettingenGoettingenD‐37077Germany
- Department of Plant BiochemistryAlbrecht von Haller Institute and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GöttingenGöttingenD‐37077Germany
| | - Yohann Petit‐Houdenot
- UMR BIOGERINRAAgroParisTechUniversité Paris‐SaclayThiverval‐Grignon78850France
- The Sainsbury LaboratoryUniversity of East AngliaNorwich,NR4 7UKUK
| | - Armin Djamei
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI)Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)Vienna1030Austria
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)OT Gatersleben06466Germany
- Present address:
Department of PhytopathologyInstitute of Crop Science and Resource ConservationUniversity of BonnBonn53115Germany
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Zhu J, Li W, Zhou Y, Pei L, Liu J, Xia X, Che R, Li H. Molecular characterization, expression and functional analysis of acyl-CoA-binding protein gene family in maize (Zea mays). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:94. [PMID: 33588749 PMCID: PMC7883581 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-02863-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs) possess a conserved acyl-CoA-binding (ACB) domain that facilitates binding to acyl-CoA esters and trafficking in eukaryotic cells. Although the various functions of ACBP have been characterized in several plant species, their structure, molecular evolution, expression profile, and function have not been fully elucidated in Zea mays L. RESULTS Genome-wide analysis identified nine ZmACBP genes in Z. mays, which could be divided into four distinct classes (class I, class II, class III, and class IV) via construction of a phylogenetic tree that included 48 ACBP genes from six different plant species. Transient expression of a ZmACBP-GFP fusion protein in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) epidermal cells revealed that ZmACBPs localized to multiple different locations. Analyses of expression profiles revealed that ZmACBPs exhibited temporal and spatial expression changes during abiotic and biotic stresses. Eight of the nine ZmACBP genes were also found to have significant association with agronomic traits in a panel of 500 maize inbred lines. The heterologous constitutive expression of ZmACBP1 and ZmACBP3 in Arabidopsis enhanced the resistance of these plants to salinity and drought stress, possibly through alterations in the level of lipid metabolic and stress-responsive genes. CONCLUSION The ACBP gene family was highly conserved across different plant species. ZmACBP genes had clear tissue and organ expression specificity and were responsive to both biotic and abiotic stresses, suggesting their roles in plant growth and stress resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantang Zhu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Weijun Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Laming Pei
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Xinyao Xia
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Ronghui Che
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
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24
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Han Z, Yu R, Xiong D, Tian C. A Sge1 homolog in Cytospora chrysosperma governs conidiation, virulence and the expression of putative effectors. Gene 2021; 778:145474. [PMID: 33549711 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
SIX Gene Expression 1 (Sge1) is an important and well-recognized fungal-specific transcription regulator from the Gti1/Pac2 family that exhibits a conserved function in the vegetative growth, regulating the expression of effector genes and pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi. However, its functions in Cytospora chrysosperma, a notorious phytopathogenic fungus in forestry, remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized a Sge1 orthologue, CcSge1, in C. chrysosperma and deleted its Gti1/Pac2 domain for functional analysis. The CcSge1 deletion mutants showed obvious defects in hyphal growth, conidial production and response to hydrogen peroxide. Correspondingly, significantly lower expression of conidiation related genes were found in deletion mutants compared to that of the wild type. Importantly, the CcSge1 deletion mutants totally lost their pathogenicity to the host. Further analysis demonstrated that CcSge1 was responsible for the expression of putative effector genes and the transcription of CcSge1 was under tight control by pathogenicity-related MAP Kinase 1 (CcPmk1). What's more, one of the putative effector gene CCG_07874 was positively regulated by both CcSge1 and CcPmk1. Taken together, these data indicate that CcSge1is indispensable for hyphal radial growth, conidiation, the expression of effector genes and fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Han
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ran Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Chengming Tian
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
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25
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van der Linde K, Göhre V. How Do Smut Fungi Use Plant Signals to Spatiotemporally Orientate on and In Planta? J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:107. [PMID: 33540708 PMCID: PMC7913117 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Smut fungi represent a large group of biotrophic plant pathogens that cause extensive yield loss and are also model organisms for studying plant-pathogen interactions. In recent years, they have become biotechnological tools. After initial penetration of the plant epidermis, smut fungi grow intra-and intercellularly without disrupting the plant-plasma membrane. Following the colonialization step, teliospores are formed and later released. While some smuts only invade the tissues around the initial penetration site, others colonize in multiple plant organs resulting in spore formation distal from the original infection site. The intimate contact zone between fungal hyphae and the host is termed the biotrophic interaction zone and enables exchange of signals and nutrient uptake. Obviously, all steps of on and in planta growth require fine sensing of host conditions as well as reprogramming of the host by the smut fungus. In this review, we highlight selected examples of smut fungal colonization styles, directional growth in planta, induction of spore formation, and the signals required, pointing to excellent reviews for details, to draw attention to some of the open questions in this important research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina van der Linde
- Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Vera Göhre
- Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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26
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Kijpornyongpan T, Aime MC. Investigating the Smuts: Common Cues, Signaling Pathways, and the Role of MAT in Dimorphic Switching and Pathogenesis. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040368. [PMID: 33339287 PMCID: PMC7766764 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis serves as a model species for studying fungal dimorphism and its role in phytopathogenic development. The pathogen has two growth phases: a saprobic yeast phase and a pathogenic filamentous phase. Dimorphic transition of U. maydis involves complex processes of signal perception, mating, and cellular reprogramming. Recent advances in improvement of reference genomes, high-throughput sequencing and molecular genetics studies have been expanding research in this field. However, the biology of other non-model species is frequently overlooked. This leads to uncertainty regarding how much of what is known in U. maydis is applicable to other dimorphic fungi. In this review, we will discuss dimorphic fungi in the aspects of physiology, reproductive biology, genomics, and molecular genetics. We also perform comparative analyses between U. maydis and other fungi in Ustilaginomycotina, the subphylum to which U. maydis belongs. We find that lipid/hydrophobicity is a potential common cue for dimorphic transition in plant-associated dimorphic fungi. However, genomic profiles alone are not adequate to explain dimorphism across different fungi.
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27
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Leaping into the Unknown World of Sporisorium scitamineum Candidate Effectors. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040339. [PMID: 33291820 PMCID: PMC7762069 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporisorium scitamineum is a biotrophic fungus causing sugarcane smut disease. In this study, we set up a pipeline and used genomic and dual transcriptomic data previously obtained by our group to identify candidate effectors of S. scitamineum and their expression profiles in infected smut-resistant and susceptible sugarcane plants. The expression profile of different genes after infection in contrasting sugarcane genotypes assessed by RT-qPCR depended on the plant genotypes and disease progression. Three candidate effector genes expressed earlier only in resistant plants, four expressed in both genotypes, and three later in susceptible plants. Ten genes were cloned and transiently expressed in N. benthamiana leaves to determine their subcellular location, while four localized in more than one compartment. Two candidates, g3890 having a nucleoplasmic and mitochondrial location and g5159 targeting the plant cell wall, were selected to obtain their possible corresponding host targets using co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) experiments and mass spectrometry. Various potential interactors were identified, including subunits of the protein phosphatase 2A and an endochitinase. We investigated the presence of orthologs in sugarcane and using transcriptome data present their expression profiles. Orthologs of sugarcane shared around 70% similarity. Identifying a set of putative fungal effectors and their plant targets provides a valuable resource for functional characterization of the molecular events leading to smut resistance in sugarcane plants and uncovers further opportunities for investigation.
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28
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Gene expression in the smut fungus Ustilago esculenta governs swollen gall metamorphosis in Zizania latifolia. Microb Pathog 2020; 143:104107. [PMID: 32120003 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Ustilago esculenta, a smut fungus, can induce the formation of culm galls in Zizania latifolia, a vegetable consumed in many Asian countries. Specifically, the mycelia-teliospore (M-T) strain of U. esculenta induces the Jiaobai (JB) type of gall, while the teliospore (T) strain induces the Huijiao (HJ) type. The underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the formation of the two distinct types of gall remains unclear. Our results showed that most differentially expressed genes relevant to effector proteins were up-regulated in the T strain compared to those in the M-T strain during gall formation, and the expression of teliospore formation-related genes was higher in the T strain than the M-T strain. Melanin biosynthesis was also clearly induced in the T strain. The T strain exhibited stronger pathogenicity and greater teliospore production than the M-T strain. We evaluated the implications of the gene regulatory networks in the development of these two type of culm gall in Z. latifolia infected with U. esculenta and suggested potential targets for genetic manipulation to modify the gall type for this crop.
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29
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N-glycosylation of the protein disulfide isomerase Pdi1 ensures full Ustilago maydis virulence. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007687. [PMID: 31730668 PMCID: PMC6881057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogenesis depends on accurate secretion and location of virulence factors which drive host colonization. Protein glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification of cell wall components and other secreted factors, typically required for correct protein localization, secretion and function. Thus, the absence of glycosylation is associated with animal and plant pathogen avirulence. While the relevance of protein glycosylation for pathogenesis has been well established, the main glycoproteins responsible for the loss of virulence observed in glycosylation-defective fungi have not been identified. Here, we devise a proteomics approach to identify such proteins and use it to demonstrate a role for the highly conserved protein disulfide isomerase Pdi1 in virulence. We show that efficient Pdi1 N-glycosylation, which promotes folding into the correct protein conformation, is required for full pathogenic development of the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis. Remarkably, the observed virulence defects are reminiscent of those seen in glycosylation-defective cells suggesting that the N-glycosylation of Pdi1 is necessary for the full secretion of virulence factors. All these observations, together with the fact that Pdi1 protein and RNA expression levels rise upon virulence program induction, suggest that Pdi1 glycosylation is important for normal pathogenic development in U. maydis. Our results provide new insights into the role of glycosylation in fungal pathogenesis.
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30
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Hanano A, Almousally I, Shaban M. Exposure of Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3357 to the Environmental Toxin, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorinated Dibenzo- p-Dioxin, Results in a Hyper Aflatoxicogenic Phenotype: A Possible Role for Caleosin/Peroxygenase (AfPXG). Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2338. [PMID: 31681203 PMCID: PMC6803392 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins (AFs) as potent food contaminants are highly detrimental to human and animal health. The production of such biological toxins is influenced by environmental factors including pollutants, such as dioxins. Here, we report the biological feedback of an active AF-producer strain of A. flavus upon in vitro exposure to the most toxic congener of dioxins, the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The phenotype of TCDD-exposed A. flavus was typified by a severe limitation in vegetative growth, activation of conidia formation and a significant boost in AF production. Furthermore, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fungal protoplast was increased (3.1- to 3.8-fold) in response to TCDD exposure at 10 and 50 ng mL-1, respectively. In parallel, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were, respectively, increased by a factor of 2 and 3. In contrast to controls, transcript, protein and enzymatic activity of caleosin/peroxygenase (AfPXG) was also significantly induced in TCDD-exposed fungi. Subsequently, fungal cells accumulated fivefold more lipid droplets (LDs) than controls. Moreover, the TCDD-exposed fungi exhibited twofold higher levels of AFB1. Interestingly, TCDD-induced hyperaflatoxicogenicity was drastically abolished in the AfPXG-silencing strain of A. flavus, suggesting a role for AfPXG in fungal response to TCDD. Finally, TCDD-exposed fungi showed an increased in vitro virulence in terms of sporulation and AF production. The data highlight the possible effects of dioxin on aflatoxicogenicity of A. flavus and suggest therefore that attention should be paid in particular to the potential consequences of climate change on global food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulsamie Hanano
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
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31
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Vijayakrishnapillai LMK, Desmarais JS, Groeschen MN, Perlin MH. Deletion of ptn1, a PTEN/ TEP1 Orthologue, in Ustilago maydis Reduces Pathogenicity and Teliospore Development. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 5:E1. [PMID: 30577430 PMCID: PMC6462984 DOI: 10.3390/jof5010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The PTEN/PI3K/mTOR signal transduction pathway is involved in the regulation of biological processes such as metabolism, cell growth, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. This pathway has been extensively studied in mammals, leading to the conclusion that PTEN is a major tumor suppressor gene. PTEN orthologues have been characterized in a variety of organisms, both vertebrates and non-vertebrates, and studies of the associated PTEN/PI3K/mTOR pathway indicate that it is widely conserved. Studies in fungal systems indicated a role of PTEN in fungal defense mechanisms in Candida albicans, and in the developmental process of sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The present study was aimed at investigating the role of the PTEN ortholog, ptn1, in Ustilago maydis, the pathogen of maize. U. maydis ptn1 mutant strains where ptn1 gene is deleted or overexpressed were examined for phenotypes associate with mating, virulence and spore formation. While the overexpression of ptn1 had no substantial effects on virulence, ptn1 deletion strains showed slight reductions in mating efficiency and significant reductions in virulence; tumor formation on stem and/or leaves were severely reduced. Moreover, tumors, when present, had significantly lower levels of mature teliospores, and the percent germination of such spores was similarly reduced. Thus, ptn1 is required for these important aspects of virulence in this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John S Desmarais
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
| | - Michael N Groeschen
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
| | - Michael H Perlin
- Department of Biology, Program on Disease Evolution, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
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32
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Tanaka S, Schweizer G, Rössel N, Fukada F, Thines M, Kahmann R. Neofunctionalization of the secreted Tin2 effector in the fungal pathogen Ustilago maydis. Nat Microbiol 2018; 4:251-257. [PMID: 30510169 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0304-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi hijack their hosts by secreting effector proteins. Effectors serve to suppress plant immune responses and modulate the host metabolism to benefit the pathogen. Smut fungi are biotrophic pathogens that also parasitize important cereals, including maize1. Symptom development is usually restricted to the plant inflorescences. Ustilago maydis is an exception in its ability to cause tumours in both inflorescences and leaves of maize, and in inducing anthocyanin biosynthesis through the secreted Tin2 effector2,3. How the unique lifestyle of U. maydis has evolved remains to be elucidated. Here we show that Tin2 in U. maydis has been neofunctionalized. We functionally compared Tin2 effectors of U. maydis and the related smut Sporisorium reilianum, which results in symptoms only in the inflorescences of maize and fails to induce anthocyanin. We show that Tin2 effectors from both fungi target distinct paralogues of a maize protein kinase, leading to stabilization and inhibition, respectively. An ancestral Tin2 effector functionally replaced the virulence function of S. reilianum Tin2 but failed to induce anthocyanin, and was unable to substitute for Tin2 in U. maydis. This shows that Tin2 in U. maydis has acquired a specialized function, probably connected to the distinct pathogenic lifestyle of this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyuki Tanaka
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Schweizer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.,University of Zurich, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Rössel
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Fumi Fukada
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marco Thines
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
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33
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Schmitz L, McCotter S, Kretschmer M, Kronstad JW, Heimel K. Transcripts and tumors: regulatory and metabolic programming during biotrophic phytopathogenesis. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30519451 PMCID: PMC6248262 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.16404.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Biotrophic fungal pathogens of plants must sense and adapt to the host environment to complete their life cycles. Recent transcriptome studies of the infection of maize by the biotrophic pathogen
Ustilago maydis are providing molecular insights into an ordered program of changes in gene expression and the deployment of effectors as well as key features of nutrient acquisition. In particular, the transcriptome data provide a deeper appreciation of the complexity of the transcription factor network that controls the biotrophic program of invasion, proliferation, and sporulation. Additionally, transcriptome analysis during tumor formation, a key late stage in the life cycle, revealed features of the remodeling of host and pathogen metabolism that may support the formation of tremendous numbers of spores. Transcriptome studies are also appearing for other smut species during interactions with their hosts, thereby providing opportunities for comparative approaches to understand biotrophic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Schmitz
- Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University-Göttingen, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, D-37077, Germany
| | - Sean McCotter
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Matthias Kretschmer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kai Heimel
- Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University-Göttingen, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, D-37077, Germany
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34
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Krombach S, Reissmann S, Kreibich S, Bochen F, Kahmann R. Virulence function of the Ustilago maydis sterol carrier protein 2. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 220:553-566. [PMID: 29897130 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The peroxisomal sterol carrier protein 2 (Scp2) of the biotrophic maize pathogen Ustilago maydis was detected in apoplastic fluid, suggesting that it might function as a secreted effector protein. Here we analyze the role of the scp2 gene during plant colonization. We used reverse genetics approaches to delete the scp2 gene, determined stress sensitivity and fatty acid utilization of mutants, demonstrated secretion of Scp2, used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for expression analysis and expressed GFP-Scp2 fusion proteins for protein localization. scp2 mutants were strongly attenuated in virulence and this defect manifested itself during penetration. Scp2 localized to peroxisomes and peroxisomal targeting was necessary for its virulence function. Deletion of scp2 in U. maydis interfered neither with growth nor with peroxisomal β-oxidation. Conventionally secreted Scp2 protein could not rescue the virulence defect. scp2 mutants displayed an altered localization of peroxisomes. Our results show a virulence function for Scp2 during penetration that is probably carried out by Scp2 in peroxisomes. We speculate that Scp2 affects the lipid composition of membranes and in this way ensures the even cellular distribution of peroxisomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Krombach
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Reissmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Kreibich
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Bochen
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
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35
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Sperschneider J, Dodds PN, Gardiner DM, Singh KB, Taylor JM. Improved prediction of fungal effector proteins from secretomes with EffectorP 2.0. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:2094-2110. [PMID: 29569316 PMCID: PMC6638006 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi secrete effector proteins to facilitate infection. We describe extensive improvements to EffectorP, the first machine learning classifier for fungal effector prediction. EffectorP 2.0 is now trained on a larger set of effectors and utilizes a different approach based on an ensemble of classifiers trained on different subsets of negative data, offering different views on classification. EffectorP 2.0 achieves an accuracy of 89%, compared with 82% for EffectorP 1.0 and 59.8% for a small size classifier. Important features for effector prediction appear to be protein size, protein net charge as well as the amino acids serine and cysteine. EffectorP 2.0 decreases the number of predicted effectors in secretomes of fungal plant symbionts and saprophytes by 40% when compared with EffectorP 1.0. However, EffectorP 1.0 retains value, and combining EffectorP 1.0 and 2.0 results in a stringent classifier with a low false positive rate of 9%. EffectorP 2.0 predicts significant enrichments of effectors in 12 of 13 sets of infection-induced proteins from diverse fungal pathogens, whereas a small cysteine-rich classifier detects enrichment in only seven of 13. EffectorP 2.0 will fast track the prioritization of high-confidence effector candidates for functional validation and aid in improving our understanding of effector biology. EffectorP 2.0 is available at http://effectorp.csiro.au.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Sperschneider
- Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, CSIRO Agriculture and FoodPerth, WA 6014Australia
| | - Peter N. Dodds
- Black Mountain Laboratories, CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberra, ACT 2601Australia
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- CSIRO Agriculture and FoodQueensland Bioscience PrecinctBrisbane, Qld 4067Australia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, CSIRO Agriculture and FoodPerth, WA 6014Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentley, WA 6102Australia
| | - Jennifer M. Taylor
- Black Mountain Laboratories, CSIRO Agriculture and FoodCanberra, ACT 2601Australia
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36
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Sánchez-Vallet A, Fouché S, Fudal I, Hartmann FE, Soyer JL, Tellier A, Croll D. The Genome Biology of Effector Gene Evolution in Filamentous Plant Pathogens. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2018; 56:21-40. [PMID: 29768136 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes, pose major threats to global food security. Crop pathogens cause damage by secreting effectors that manipulate the host to the pathogen's advantage. Genes encoding such effectors are among the most rapidly evolving genes in pathogen genomes. Here, we review how the major characteristics of the emergence, function, and regulation of effector genes are tightly linked to the genomic compartments where these genes are located in pathogen genomes. The presence of repetitive elements in these compartments is associated with elevated rates of point mutations and sequence rearrangements with a major impact on effector diversification. The expression of many effectors converges on an epigenetic control mediated by the presence of repetitive elements. Population genomics analyses showed that rapidly evolving pathogens show high rates of turnover at effector loci and display a mosaic in effector presence-absence polymorphism among strains. We conclude that effective pathogen containment strategies require a thorough understanding of the effector genome biology and the pathogen's potential for rapid adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sánchez-Vallet
- Plant Pathology, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Fouché
- Plant Pathology, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Fudal
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Fanny E Hartmann
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Jessica L Soyer
- UMR BIOGER, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Aurélien Tellier
- Section of Population Genetics, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland;
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37
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Geiser E, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Meyer S, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Evolutionary freedom in the regulation of the conserved itaconate cluster by Ria1 in related Ustilaginaceae. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2018; 5:14. [PMID: 30065845 PMCID: PMC6064134 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-018-0058-1] [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: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Itaconate is getting growing biotechnological significance, due to its use as a platform compound for the production of bio-based polymers, chemicals, and novel fuels. Currently, Aspergillus terreus is used for its industrial production. The Ustilaginaceae family of smut fungi, especially Ustilago maydis, has gained biotechnological interest, due to its ability to naturally produce this dicarboxylic acid. The unicellular, non-filamentous growth form makes these fungi promising alternative candidates for itaconate production. Itaconate production was also observed in other Ustilaginaceae species such as U. cynodontis, U. xerochloae, and U. vetiveriae. The investigated species and strains varied in a range of 0-8 g L-1 itaconate. The genes responsible for itaconate biosynthesis are not known for these strains and therefore not characterized to explain this variability. Results Itaconate production of 13 strains from 7 species known as itaconate producers among the family Ustilaginaceae were further characterized. The sequences of the gene cluster for itaconate synthesis were analyzed by a complete genome sequencing and comparison to the annotated itaconate cluster of U. maydis. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationship and inter-species transferability of the itaconate cluster transcription factor Ria1 was investigated in detail. Doing so, itaconate production could be activated or enhanced by overexpression of Ria1 originating from a related species, showing their narrow phylogenetic relatedness. Conclusion Itaconate production by Ustilaginaceae species can be considerably increased by changing gene cluster regulation by overexpression of the Ria1 protein, thus contributing to the industrial application of these fungi for the biotechnological production of this valuable biomass derived chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Geiser
- 1iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,BioSC, c/o Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- 1iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Svenja Meyer
- 1iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- 1iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- 1iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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38
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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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39
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Uhse
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Armin Djamei
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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40
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Ma LS, Wang L, Trippel C, Mendoza-Mendoza A, Ullmann S, Moretti M, Carsten A, Kahnt J, Reissmann S, Zechmann B, Bange G, Kahmann R. The Ustilago maydis repetitive effector Rsp3 blocks the antifungal activity of mannose-binding maize proteins. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1711. [PMID: 29703884 PMCID: PMC5923269 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04149-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To cause disease in maize, the biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis secretes a large arsenal of effector proteins. Here, we functionally characterize the repetitive effector Rsp3 (repetitive secreted protein 3), which shows length polymorphisms in field isolates and is highly expressed during biotrophic stages. Rsp3 is required for virulence and anthocyanin accumulation. During biotrophic growth, Rsp3 decorates the hyphal surface and interacts with at least two secreted maize DUF26-domain family proteins (designated AFP1 and AFP2). AFP1 binds mannose and displays antifungal activity against the rsp3 mutant but not against a strain constitutively expressing rsp3. Maize plants silenced for AFP1 and AFP2 partially rescue the virulence defect of rsp3 mutants, suggesting that blocking the antifungal activity of AFP1 and AFP2 by the Rsp3 effector is an important virulence function. Rsp3 orthologs are present in all sequenced smut fungi, and the ortholog from Sporisorium reilianum can complement the rsp3 mutant of U. maydis, suggesting a novel widespread fungal protection mechanism. The fungus Ustilago maydis secretes many effector proteins to cause disease in maize. Here, Ma et al. show that the repetitive effector Rsp3 is required for virulence by inhibiting the antifungal activity of two mannose-binding proteins that are secreted by the plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lay-Sun Ma
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Christine Trippel
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Plant Cell Biology, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, Georg-August-University-Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Artemio Mendoza-Mendoza
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, PO Box 64, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Steffen Ullmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,, Düsseldorfer Straße 177, 45481, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Marino Moretti
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Carsten
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Kahnt
- Mass Spectroscopy Facility, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Reissmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Zechmann
- Center for Microscopy and Imaging (CMI), Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 76798-7046, USA
| | - Gert Bange
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology and Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
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41
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Zhang W, Gui Y, Short DPG, Li T, Zhang D, Zhou L, Liu C, Bao Y, Subbarao KV, Chen J, Dai X. Verticillium dahliae transcription factor VdFTF1 regulates the expression of multiple secreted virulence factors and is required for full virulence in cotton. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:841-857. [PMID: 28520093 PMCID: PMC6638078 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Fungal transcription factors (TFs) implicated in the regulation of virulence gene expression have been identified in a number of plant pathogens. In Verticillium dahliae, despite its agricultural importance, few regulators of transcription have been characterized. In this study, a T-DNA insertion mutant with significantly reduced virulence towards cotton was identified. The T-DNA was traced to VdFTF1, a gene encoding a TF containing a Fungal_trans domain. Transient expression in onion epidermal cells indicated that VdFTF1 is localized to the nucleus. The VdFTF1-deletion strains displayed normal vegetative growth, mycelial pigmentation and conidial morphology, but exhibited significantly reduced virulence on cotton, suggesting that VdFTF1 is required exclusively for pathogenesis. Comparisons of global transcription patterns of wild-type and VdFTF1-deletion strains indicated that VdFTF1 affected the expression of 802 genes, 233 of which were associated with catalytic processes. These genes encoded 69 potentially secreted proteins, 43 of which contained a carbohydrate enzyme domain known to participate in pathogenesis during infection of cotton. Targeted gene deletion of one VdFTF1-regulated gene resulted in significantly impaired vascular colonization, as measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, as well as aggressiveness and symptom severity in cotton. In conclusion, VdFTF1, which encodes a TF containing a Fungal_trans domain, regulates the gene expression of plant cell wall degradation enzymes in V. dahliae, which are required for full virulence on cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen‐Qi Zhang
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Yue‐Jing Gui
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Dylan P. G. Short
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA 95616USA
| | - Ting‐Gang Li
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Dan‐Dan Zhang
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Chun Liu
- BGI‐ShenzhenShenzhenGuangdong 518083China
| | - Yu‐Ming Bao
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | | | - Jie‐Yin Chen
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
| | - Xiao‐Feng Dai
- Laboratory of Cotton Disease, Institute of Food Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing 100193China
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42
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Hanano A, Alkara M, Almousally I, Shaban M, Rahman F, Hassan M, Murphy DJ. The Peroxygenase Activity of the Aspergillus flavus Caleosin, AfPXG, Modulates the Biosynthesis of Aflatoxins and Their Trafficking and Extracellular Secretion via Lipid Droplets. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:158. [PMID: 29467750 PMCID: PMC5808235 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins (AF) are highly detrimental to human and animal health. We recently demonstrated that the Aspergillus flavus caleosin, AfPXG, had peroxygenase activity and mediated fungal development and AF accumulation. We now report the characterization of an AfPXG-deficient line using reference strain NRRL3357. The resulting fungal phenotype included a severe decrease in mycelium growth, failure to sporulate, and reduced AF production. Increasing cellular oxidative status by administration of hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide did not restore the AfPXG-deficient phenotype, which suggests that AfPXG-deficiency is not directly related to oxidative stress. To investigate possible alternative roles of AfPXG, a gain of function approach was used to overexpress AfPXG, with the reporter gene Gfp, in an AfPXG-deficient line, termed AfPXG+ . The resulting phenotype included elevated numbers of stable lipid droplets (LDs) plus enhanced AF production. Highly purified LDs from AfPXG+ cultures sequestered AF and this ability was positively correlated with overall LD number. Site-specific mutagenesis of AfPXG to delete Histidine 85 (AfPXGHis85), a residue essential for its catalytic activity, or deletion of the putative LD targeting domain (AfPXGD126-140), showed that AfPXG-peroxygenase activity was required for AF biosynthesis and that integration of AF into LDs was required for their export via a LD-dependent pathway. Ectopic expression in fungal cells of the plant LD-associated protein, oleosin, also resulted in both additional LD accumulation and enhanced AF secretion. These results suggest that both fungal LDs and their associated caleosin proteins are intimately involved in the biosynthesis, trafficking, and secretion of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulsamie Hanano
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
| | - Mari Alkara
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
| | - Ibrahem Almousally
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
| | - Mouhnad Shaban
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
| | - Farzana Rahman
- Genomics and Computational Biology Research Group, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, United Kingdom
| | - Mehedi Hassan
- Genomics and Computational Biology Research Group, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, United Kingdom
| | - Denis J. Murphy
- Genomics and Computational Biology Research Group, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, United Kingdom
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43
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Lanver D, Müller AN, Happel P, Schweizer G, Haas FB, Franitza M, Pellegrin C, Reissmann S, Altmüller J, Rensing SA, Kahmann R. The Biotrophic Development of Ustilago maydis Studied by RNA-Seq Analysis. THE PLANT CELL 2018; 30:300-323. [PMID: 29371439 PMCID: PMC5868686 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.17.00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The maize smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a model organism for elucidating host colonization strategies of biotrophic fungi. Here, we performed an in depth transcriptional profiling of the entire plant-associated development of U. maydis wild-type strains. In our analysis, we focused on fungal metabolism, nutritional strategies, secreted effectors, and regulatory networks. Secreted proteins were enriched in three distinct expression modules corresponding to stages on the plant surface, establishment of biotrophy, and induction of tumors. These modules are likely the key determinants for U. maydis virulence. With respect to nutrient utilization, we observed that expression of several nutrient transporters was tied to these virulence modules rather than being controlled by nutrient availability. We show that oligopeptide transporters likely involved in nitrogen assimilation are important virulence factors. By measuring the intramodular connectivity of transcription factors, we identified the potential drivers for the virulence modules. While known components of the b-mating type cascade emerged as inducers for the plant surface and biotrophy module, we identified a set of yet uncharacterized transcription factors as likely responsible for expression of the tumor module. We demonstrate a crucial role for leaf tumor formation and effector gene expression for one of these transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lanver
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - André N Müller
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Happel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Schweizer
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Fabian B Haas
- Philipps Universität Marburg, Fb17 Biologie, AG Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marek Franitza
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Clément Pellegrin
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Reissmann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefan A Rensing
- Philipps Universität Marburg, Fb17 Biologie, AG Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Abteilung Organismische Interaktionen, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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44
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Kretschmer M, Lambie S, Croll D, Kronstad JW. Acetate provokes mitochondrial stress and cell death in Ustilago maydis. Mol Microbiol 2018; 107:488-507. [PMID: 29235175 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Ustilago maydis causes disease on maize by mating to establish an infectious filamentous cell type that invades the host and induces tumours. We previously found that β-oxidation mutants were defective in virulence and did not grow on acetate. Here, we demonstrate that acetate inhibits filamentation during mating and in response to oleic acid. We therefore examined the influence of different carbon sources by comparing the transcriptomes of cells grown on acetate, oleic acid or glucose, with expression changes for the fungus during tumour formation in planta. Guided by the transcriptional profiling, we found that acetate negatively influenced resistance to stress, promoted the formation of reactive oxygen species, triggered cell death in stationary phase and impaired virulence on maize. We also found that acetate induced mitochondrial stress by interfering with mitochondrial functions. Notably, the disruption of oxygen perception or inhibition of the electron transport chain also influenced filamentation and mating. Finally, we made use of the connections between acetate and β-oxidation to test metabolic inhibitors for an influence on growth and virulence. These experiments identified diclofenac as a potential inhibitor of virulence. Overall, these findings support the possibility of targeting mitochondrial metabolic functions to control fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Kretschmer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Scott Lambie
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Daniel Croll
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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45
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Alkafeef SS, Yu C, Huang L, Liu H. Wor1 establishes opaque cell fate through inhibition of the general co-repressor Tup1 in Candida albicans. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007176. [PMID: 29337983 PMCID: PMC5786334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans can undergo phenotypic switching between two heritable states: white and opaque. This phenotypic plasticity facilitates its colonization in distinct host niches. The master regulator WOR1 is exclusively expressed in opaque phase cells. Positive feedback regulation by Wor1 on the WOR1 promoter is essential for opaque formation, however the underlying mechanism of how Wor1 functions is not clear. Here, we use tandem affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry to identify Wor1-interacting proteins. Tup1 and its associated complex proteins are found as the major factors associated with Wor1. Tup1 occupies the same regions of the WOR1 promoter as Wor1 preferentially in opaque cells. Loss of Tup1 is sufficient to induce the opaque phase, even in the absence of Wor1. This is the first such report of a bypass of Wor1 in opaque formation. These genetic analyses suggest that Tup1 is a key repressor of the opaque state, and Wor1 functions via alleviating Tup1 repression at the WOR1 promoter. Opaque cells convert to white en masse at 37°C. We show that this conversion occurs only in the presence of glycolytic carbon sources. The opaque state is stabilized when cells are cultured on non-glycolytic carbon sources, even in a MTLa/α background. We further show that temperature and carbon source affect opaque stability by altering the levels of Wor1 and Tup1 at the WOR1 promoter. We propose that Wor1 and Tup1 form the core regulatory circuit controlling the opaque transcriptional program. This model provides molecular insights on how C. albicans adapts to different host signals to undergo phenotypic switching for colonization in distinct host niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma S. Alkafeef
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Clinton Yu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Haoping Liu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
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van der Does HC, Rep M. Adaptation to the Host Environment by Plant-Pathogenic Fungi. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2017; 55:427-450. [PMID: 28645233 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Many fungi can live both saprophytically and as endophyte or pathogen inside a living plant. In both environments, complex organic polymers are used as sources of nutrients. Propagation inside a living host also requires the ability to respond to immune responses of the host. We review current knowledge of how plant-pathogenic fungi do this. First, we look at how fungi change their global gene expression upon recognition of the host environment, leading to secretion of effectors, enzymes, and secondary metabolites; changes in metabolism; and defense against toxic compounds. Second, we look at what is known about the various cues that enable fungi to sense the presence of living plant cells. Finally, we review literature on transcription factors that participate in gene expression in planta or are suspected to be involved in that process because they are required for the ability to cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martijn Rep
- Molecular Plant Pathology, University of Amsterdam, 1098XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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47
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Svetaz LA, Bustamante CA, Goldy C, Rivero N, Müller GL, Valentini GH, Fernie AR, Drincovich MF, Lara MV. Unravelling early events in the Taphrina deformans-Prunus persica interaction: an insight into the differential responses in resistant and susceptible genotypes. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2017; 40:1456-1473. [PMID: 28244594 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Leaf peach curl is a devastating disease affecting leaves, flowers and fruits, caused by the dimorphic fungus Taphrina deformans. To gain insight into the mechanisms of fungus pathogenesis and plant responses, leaves of a resistant and two susceptible Prunus persica genotypes were inoculated with blastospores (yeast), and the infection was monitored during 120 h post inoculation (h.p.i.). Fungal dimorphism to the filamentous form and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), callose synthesis, cell death and defence compound production were observed independently of the genotype. Fungal load significantly decreased after 120 h.p.i. in the resistant genotype, while the pathogen tended to grow in the susceptible genotypes. Metabolic profiling revealed a biphasic re-programming of plant tissue in susceptible genotypes, with an initial stage co-incident with the yeast form of the fungus and a second when the hypha is developed. Transcriptional analysis of PRs and plant hormone-related genes indicated that pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are involved in P. persica defence responses against T. deformans and that salicylic acid is induced in the resistant genotype. Conducted experiments allowed the elucidation of common and differential responses in susceptible versus resistant genotypes and thus allow us to construct a picture of early events during T. deformans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Svetaz
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
- Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Claudia A Bustamante
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Camila Goldy
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nery Rivero
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Gabriela L Müller
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Gabriel H Valentini
- Estación Experimental San Pedro, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Ruta Nacional no. 9 Km 170, San Pedro, Argentina
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - María F Drincovich
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - María V Lara
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
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48
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Abstract
Biotrophic fungal plant pathogens establish an intimate relationship with their host to support the infection process. Central to this strategy is the secretion of a range of protein effectors that enable the pathogen to evade plant immune defences and modulate host metabolism to meet its needs. In this Review, using the smut fungus Ustilago maydis as an example, we discuss new insights into the effector repertoire of smut fungi that have been gained from comparative genomics and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which U. maydis effectors change processes in the plant host. Finally, we examine how the expression of effector genes and effector secretion are coordinated with fungal development in the host.
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49
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Oeser B, Kind S, Schurack S, Schmutzer T, Tudzynski P, Hinsch J. Cross-talk of the biotrophic pathogen Claviceps purpurea and its host Secale cereale. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:273. [PMID: 28372538 PMCID: PMC5379732 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3619-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The economically important Ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea is an interesting biotrophic model system because of its strict organ specificity (grass ovaries) and the lack of any detectable plant defense reactions. Though several virulence factors were identified, the exact infection mechanisms are unknown, e.g. how the fungus masks its attack and if the host detects the infection at all. RESULTS We present a first dual transcriptome analysis using an RNA-Seq approach. We studied both, fungal and plant gene expression in young ovaries infected by the wild-type and two virulence-attenuated mutants. We can show that the plant recognizes the fungus, since defense related genes are upregulated, especially several phytohormone genes. We present a survey of in planta expressed fungal genes, among them several confirmed virulence genes. Interestingly, the set of most highly expressed genes includes a high proportion of genes encoding putative effectors, small secreted proteins which might be involved in masking the fungal attack or interfering with host defense reactions. As known from several other phytopathogens, the C. purpurea genome contains more than 400 of such genes, many of them clustered and probably highly redundant. Since the lack of effective defense reactions in spite of recognition of the fungus could very well be achieved by effectors, we started a functional analysis of some of the most highly expressed candidates. However, the redundancy of the system made the identification of a drastic effect of a single gene most unlikely. We can show that at least one candidate accumulates in the plant apoplast. Deletion of some candidates led to a reduced virulence of C. purpurea on rye, indicating a role of the respective proteins during the infection process. CONCLUSIONS We show for the first time that- despite the absence of effective plant defense reactions- the biotrophic pathogen C. purpurea is detected by its host. This points to a role of effectors in modulation of the effective plant response. Indeed, several putative effector genes are among the highest expressed genes in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitt Oeser
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Sabine Kind
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Selma Schurack
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmutzer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Paul Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Janine Hinsch
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48143 Münster, Germany
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50
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Abstract
Effectors are molecules used by microbial pathogens to facilitate infection via effector-triggered susceptibility or tissue necrosis in their host. Much research has been focussed on the identification and elucidating the function of fungal effectors during plant pathogenesis. By comparison, knowledge of how phytopathogenic fungi regulate the expression of effector genes has been lagging. Several recent studies have illustrated the role of various transcription factors, chromosome-based control, effector epistasis, and mobilisation of endosomes within the fungal hyphae in regulating effector expression and virulence on the host plant. Improved knowledge of effector regulation is likely to assist in improving novel crop protection strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kar-Chun Tan
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Richard P. Oliver
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
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