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Yin K, Cui G, Bi X, Liang M, Hu Z, Deng YZ. Intracellular polyamines regulate redox homeostasis with cAMP-PKA signalling during sexual mating/filamentation and pathogenicity of Sporisorium scitamineum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e13393. [PMID: 37814404 PMCID: PMC10782646 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum seriously impairs sugarcane production and quality. Sexual mating/filamentation is a critical step of S. scitamineum pathogenesis, yet the regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we identified the SsAGA, SsODC, and SsSAMDC genes, which are involved in polyamine biosynthesis in S. scitamineum. Deletion of SsODC led to complete loss of filamentous growth after sexual mating, and deletion of SsAGA or SsSAMDC caused reduced filamentation. Double deletion of SsODC and SsSAMDC resulted in auxotrophy for putrescine (PUT) and spermidine (SPD) when grown on minimal medium (MM), indicating that these two genes encode enzymes that are critical for PUT and SPD biosynthesis. We further showed that low PUT concentrations promoted S. scitamineum filamentation, while high PUT concentrations suppressed filamentation. Disrupted fungal polyamine biosynthesis also resulted in a loss of pathogenicity and reduced fungal biomass within infected plants at the early infection stage. SPD formed a gradient from the diseased part to nonsymptom parts of the cane stem, suggesting that SPD is probably favourable for fungal virulence. Mutants of the cAMP-PKA (SsGPA3-SsUAC1-SsADR1) signalling pathway displayed up-regulation of the SsODC gene and elevated intracellular levels of PUT. SsODC directly interacted with SsGPA3, and sporidia of the ss1uac1ΔodcΔ mutant displayed abundant pseudohyphae. Furthermore, we found that elevated PUT levels caused accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), probably by suppressing transcription of ROS-scavenging enzymes, while SPD played the opposite role. Overall, our work proves that polyamines play important roles in the pathogenic development of sugarcane smut fungus, probably by collaboratively regulating intracellular redox homeostasis with the cAMP-PKA signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yin
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, College of Plant ProtectionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Guobing Cui
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, College of Plant ProtectionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xinping Bi
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, College of Plant ProtectionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Meiling Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant ProtectionResearch Institute of Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhijian Hu
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, College of Plant ProtectionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yi Zhen Deng
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, College of Plant ProtectionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Cai E, Jia H, Feng R, Zheng W, Li L, Zhang L, Jiang Z, Chang C. Cytochrome c-peroxidase modulates ROS homeostasis to regulate the sexual mating of Sporisorium scitamineum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0205723. [PMID: 37819114 PMCID: PMC10714796 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02057-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Reactive oxygen species play an important role in pathogen-plant interactions. In fungi, cytochrome c-peroxidase maintains intracellular ROS homeostasis by utilizing H2O2 as an electron acceptor to oxidize ferrocytochrome c, thereby contributing to disease pathogenesis. In this study, our investigation reveals that the cytochrome c-peroxidase encoding gene, SsCCP1, not only plays a key role in resisting H2O2 toxicity but is also essential for the mating/filamentation and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum. We further uncover that SsCcp1 mediates the expression of SsPrf1 by maintaining intracellular ROS homeostasis to regulate S. scitamineum mating/filamentation. Our findings provide novel insights into how cytochrome c-peroxidase regulates sexual reproduction in phytopathogenic fungi, presenting a theoretical foundation for designing new disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enping Cai
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan Jia
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruqing Feng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Zheng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Li
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zide Jiang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Changqing Chang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Cui G, Bi X, Lu S, Jiang Z, Deng Y. A Genetically Engineered Escherichia coli for Potential Utilization in Fungal Smut Disease Control. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1564. [PMID: 37375066 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporisorium scitamineum, the basidiomycetous fungus that causes sugarcane smut and leads to severe losses in sugarcane quantity and quality, undergoes sexual mating to form dikaryotic hyphae capable of invading the host cane. Therefore, suppressing dikaryotic hyphae formation would potentially be an effective way to prevent host infection by the smut fungus, and the following disease symptom developments. The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has been shown to induce plant defenses against insects and microbial pathogens. In this study, we will verify that the exogenous addition of MeJA-suppressed dikaryotic hyphae formation in S. scitamineum and Ustilago maydis under in vitro culture conditions, and the maize smut symptom caused by U. maydis, could be effectively suppressed by MeJA in a pot experiment. We constructed an Escherichia coli-expressing plant JMT gene, encoding a jasmonic acid carboxyl methyl transferase that catalyzes conversion from jasmonic acid (JA) to MeJA. By GC-MS, we will confirm that the transformed E. coli, designated as the pJMT strain, was able to produce MeJA in the presence of JA and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM as methyl donor). Furthermore, the pJMT strain was able to suppress S. scitamineum filamentous growth under in vitro culture conditions. It waits to further optimize JMT expression under field conditions in order to utilize the pJMT strain as a biocontrol agent (BCA) of sugarcane smut disease. Overall, our study provides a potentially novel method for controlling crop fungal diseases by boosting phytohormone biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobing Cui
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Henry Fork School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512000, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xinping Bi
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Ago-Bioresouces Ministry and Province Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zide Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yizhen Deng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Cai Y, Bai F, Chen J, Li W, Bao H, Zhang Y, Chen J, Shen W. Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Gene SsCI51640 Is Required for Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation by Regulating cAMP Pathway and Improving Sporidia Environmental Adaptability. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:484-496. [PMID: 36173285 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-05-22-0153-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane smut is a serious disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, which causes significant losses to the sugar industry. It is critical to reveal the molecular pathogenic mechanism of S. scitamineum to explore a new control strategy for sugarcane smut. On the basis of transcriptome sequencing data of two S. scitamineum strains with different pathogenicity, we identified the gene, SsCI51640, which was predicted to encode kynurenine 3-monooxygenase. In this study, we obtained knockout mutants and complementary mutants of this gene and identified gene function. The results showed that the sporidial growth rate and acid production ability of knockout mutants were significantly higher and stronger than those of the wild-type and complementary mutants. The growth of knockout mutants under abiotic stress (osmotic stress and cell wall stress) was significantly inhibited. In addition, the sexual mating ability and pathogenicity of knockout mutants were significantly reduced, while this phenomenon could be restored by adding exogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It is thus speculated that the SsCI51640 gene may regulate sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum by the cAMP signaling pathway. Moreover, the SsCI51640 gene enhanced the sporidial environmental adaptability, which promoted sexual mating and development of pathogenicity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Feng Bai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Jiaoyun Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Wenjia Li
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
- Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China
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Shuai L, Huang H, Liao L, Duan Z, Zhang X, Wang Z, Lei J, Huang W, Chen X, Huang D, Li Q, Song X, Yan M. Variety-Specific Flowering of Sugarcane Induced by the Smut Fungus Sporisorium scitamineum. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:316. [PMID: 36679029 PMCID: PMC9863003 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane smut is the most severe sugarcane disease in China. The typical symptom is the emerging of a long, black whip from the top of the plant cane. However, in 2018, for the first time we observed the floral structures of sugarcane infected by smut fungus in the planting fields of China. Such smut-associated inflorescence in sugarcane was generally curved and short, with small black whips emerging from glumes of a single floret on the cane stalk. Compatible haploid strains, named Ssf1-7 (MAT-1) and Ssf1-8 (MAT-2), isolated from teliospores that formed black whips in inflorescence of sugarcane were selected for sexual mating assay, ITS DNA sequencing analysis and pathogenicity assessment. The isolates Ssf1-7 and Ssf1-8 showed stronger sexual mating capability than the reported Sporisorium scitamineum strains Ss17 and Ss18. The ITS DNA sequence of the isolates Ssf1-7 and Ssf1-8 reached 100% similarity to the isolates of S. scitamineum strains available in GenBank. Inoculating Ssf1-7 + Ssf1-8 to six sugarcane varieties, i.e., GT42, GT44, GT49, GT55, LC05-136 and ROC22, resulted in different smut morphological modifications. The symptoms of floral structure only occurred in LC05-136, indicating that the flowering induction by S. scitamineum is variety-specific. Furthermore, six selected flowering-related genes were found to be differentially expressed in infected Ssf1-7 + Ssf1-8 LC05-13 plantlets compared to uninfected ones. It is concluded that the flowering induction by S. scitamineum depends on specific fungal race and sugarcane variety, suggesting a specific pathogen-host interaction and expression of some flowering-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shuai
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food Research, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China
| | - Hairong Huang
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Lingyan Liao
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food Research, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China
| | - Zhenhua Duan
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food Research, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Zhang
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Zeping Wang
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Jingchao Lei
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Weihua Huang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Xiaohang Chen
- Baise Agricultural Scientific Research Institute, Baise 533612, China
| | - Dongmei Huang
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Qiufang Li
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Xiupeng Song
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Meixin Yan
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
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Lu S, Zhang H, Guo F, Yang Y, Shen X, Chen B. SsUbc2, a determinant of pathogenicity, functions as a key coordinator controlling global transcriptomic reprogramming during mating in sugarcane smut fungus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:954767. [PMID: 36204604 PMCID: PMC9530204 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.954767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basidiomycete fungus Sporisorium scitamineum is the causative agent of sugarcane smut disease. Mating between two strains of the opposite mating type is essential for filamentous growth and infection in sugarcane plants. However, the mechanisms underlying mating and pathogenicity are still not well understood. In this work we used gene disruption to investigate the role of Ssubc2, the gene encoding a kinase regulator in S. scitamineum. Deletion of Ssubc2 did not alter the haploid cell morphology or growth rate in vitro or tolerance to stress, but mutants with both alleles deleted lost mating ability and infectivity. Deletion of one Ssubc2 allele in a pair with a wild-type strain resulted in impaired mating and reduced virulence. Transcriptome profiling revealed that about a third of genes underwent reprogramming in the wild types during mating. Although gene expression reprogramming occurred in the pairing of Ssubc2-null mutants, their transcriptomic profile differed significantly from that of the wild types, in which 625 genes differed from those present in the wild types that seemed to be among the required genes for a successful mating. These genes include those known to regulate mating and pathogenicity, such as components of the MAPK pathway and hgl1. Additionally, a total of 908 genes were differentially expressed in an out-of-control manner in the mutants. We conclude that SsUbc2 functions as a key factor to coordinate the reprogramming of gene expression at the global level and is essential for the transition from monokaryotic basidial growth to dikaryotic hyphal growth through mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Ministry and Province Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Haoyang Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Feng Guo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yanfang Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaorui Shen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Ministry and Province Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Baoshan Chen,
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Aminotransferase SsAro8 Regulates Tryptophan Metabolism Essential for Filamentous Growth of Sugarcane Smut Fungus
Sporisorium scitamineum. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0057022. [PMID: 35862944 PMCID: PMC9431617 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00570-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane smut caused by the basidiomycetous fungus Sporisorium scitamineum leads to severe economic losses globally. Sexual mating/filamentation of S. scitamineum is critical for its pathogenicity, as only the dikaryotic hyphae formed after sexual mating are capable of invading the host cane. Our comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the AGC kinase Agc1 (orthologous to yeast Rim15), both governing S. scitamineum mating/filamentation, were induced by elevated tryptophol level, supporting a positive regulation of S. scitamineum mating/filamentation by tryptophol. However, the biosynthesis pathway of tryptophol remains unknown in S. scitamineum. Here, we identified an aminotransferase orthologous to the established tryptophan aminotransferase Tam1/Aro8, catalyzing the first step of tryptophan-dependent indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production as well as that of the Ehrlich pathway for tryptophol production. We designated this S. scitamineum aminotransferase as SsAro8 and found that it was essential for mating/filamentation. Comparative metabolomics analysis revealed that SsAro8 was involved in tryptophan metabolism, likely for producing important intermediate products, including tryptophol. Exogenous addition of tryptophan or tryptophol could differentially restore mating/filamentation in the ssaro8Δ mutant, indicating that in addition to tryptophol, other product(s) of tryptophan catabolism may also be involved in S. scitamineum mating/filamentation regulation. S. scitamineum could also produce IAA, partially dependent on SsAro8 function. Surprisingly, photodestruction of IAA produced the compound(s) able to suppress S. scitamineum growth/differentiation. Lastly, we found that SsAro8 was required for proper biofilm formation, oxidative stress tolerance, and full pathogenicity in S. scitamineum. Overall, our study establishes the aminotransferase SsAro8 as an essential regulator of S. scitamineum pathogenic differentiation, as well as fungus-host interaction, and therefore of great potential as a molecular target for sugarcane smut disease control. IMPORTANCE Sugarcane smut caused by the basidiomycete fungus S. scitamineum leads to massive economic losses in sugarcane plantation globally. Dikaryotic hyphae formation (filamentous growth) and biofilm formation are two important aspects in S. scitamineum pathogenesis, yet the molecular regulation of these two processes was not as extensively investigated as that in the model pathogenic fungi, e.g., Candida albicans, Ustilago maydis, or Cryptococcus neoformans. In this study, a tryptophan aminotransferase ortholog was identified in S. scitamineum, designated SsAro8. Functional characterization showed that SsAro8 positively regulates both filamentous growth and biofilm formation, respectively, via tryptophol-dependent and -independent manners. Furthermore, SsAro8 is required for full pathogenicity and, thus, is a promising molecular target for designing anti-smut strategy.
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Cai Y, Zhang Y, Bao H, Chen J, Chen J, Shen W. Squalene Monooxygenase Gene SsCI80130 Regulates Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation and Pathogenicity. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050470. [PMID: 35628726 PMCID: PMC9143649 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane is an important sugar crop and energy crop worldwide. Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is a serious fungal disease that occurs worldwide, seriously affecting the yield and quality of sugarcane. It is essential to reveal the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum to explore a new control strategy of sugarcane smut. Based on transcriptome sequencing data of two S. scitamineum strains Ss16 and Ss47, each with a different pathogenicity, our laboratory screened out the SsCI80130 gene predicted to encode squalene monooxygenase. In this study, we obtained the knockout mutants (ΔSs80130+ and ΔSs80130−) and complementary mutants (COM80130+ and COM80130−) of this gene by the polyethylene glycol-mediated (PEG-mediated) protoplast transformation technology, and then performed a functional analysis of the gene. The results showed that the deletion of the SsCI80130 gene resulted in the increased content of squalene (substrate for squalene monooxygenase) and decreased content of ergosterol (the final product of the ergosterol synthesis pathway) in S. scitamineum. Meanwhile, the sporidial growth rate of the knockout mutants was significantly slower than that of the wild type and complementary mutants; under cell-wall stress or oxidative stress, the growth of the knockout mutants was significantly inhibited. In addition, the sexual mating ability and pathogenicity of knockout mutants were significantly weakened, while the sexual mating ability could be restored by adding exogenous small-molecular signal substance cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) or tryptophol. It is speculated that the SsCI80130 gene was involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis in S. scitamineum and played an important role in the sporidial growth, stress response to different abiotic stresses (including cell wall stress and oxidative stress), sexual mating/filamentation and pathogenicity. Moreover, the SsCI80130 gene may affect the sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum by regulating the ergosterol synthesis and the synthesis of the small-molecular signal substance cAMP or tryptophol required for sexual mating. This study reveals for the first time that the gene encoding squalene monooxygenase is involved in regulating the sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum, providing a basis for the molecular pathogenic mechanism of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaoyun Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (H.B.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-20-8528-0306; Fax: +86-20-8528-0203
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9
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A Plant-Derived Alkanol Induces Teliospore Germination in Sporisorium scitamineum. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020209. [PMID: 35205963 PMCID: PMC8878970 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane smut caused by the basidiomycetes fungus Sporisorium scitamineum is a devastating disease for the sugarcane industry worldwide. As the initial step, the smut teliospores germinate on sugarcane buds, and subsequently, the mycelium infects the bud tissues. However, chemical signals that induce spore germination are still unknown. By comparison of the behavior of the teliospores on the buds of both resistant and susceptible varieties, we found that spore germination rates were significantly lower on the buds of resistant cultivars ZZ1, ZZ6, and ZZ9 than on the susceptible varieties GT42 and ROC22. It was found that the levels of hexacosanol and octacosanol were higher on the buds of smut-susceptible varieties than on the smut-resistant varieties. These observations were extended to the smut-resistant and smut-susceptible sub-genetic populations derived from the cross of ROC25 and YZ89-7. In artificial surface assays, we found that hexacosanol and octacosanol promoted smut teliospore germination. Transcriptome analysis of smut teliospores under the induction by octacosanol revealed that genes in the MAPK signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism were significantly differentially expressed. Overall, our results provide evidence that alkanol plays important roles in smut teliospore germination and thus could be used as a potential marker for smut resistance in sugarcane breeding programs.
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10
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Li H, Cai Y, Deng Q, Bao H, Chen J, Shen W. Cytochrome P450 Sterol 14 Alpha-Demethylase Gene SsCI72380 Is Required for Mating/Filamentation and Pathogenicity in Sporisorium scitamineum. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:696117. [PMID: 35002988 PMCID: PMC8733404 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.696117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane smut is a significant sugarcane disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum and is a large threat to the sugar industry in China and the world. Accordingly, it is important to study the pathogenic mechanism by which this disease occurs to identify effective prevention and control strategies. Gene SsCI72380, which encodes cytochrome P450 sterol 14 alpha-demethylase (CYP51), was screened out from the transcriptome of S. scitamineum. In this study, the functions of gene SsCI72380 were identified via the knockout mutants ΔSs72380+ and ΔSs72380−, which were obtained by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation technology, as well as the complementary mutants COM72380+ and COM72380−. The results showed that the CYP51 gene SsCI72380 played an important role in sporidial growth, sexual mating/filamentation, hyphae growth, and pathogenicity in S. scitamineum. Gene SsCI72380 may regulate the biosynthesis process of ergosterol by encoding CYP51 enzymes and then affecting the structure and function of the cell membrane. Gene SsCI72380 also played an important role in the response toward different abiotic stresses, including hyperosmotic stress, oxidative stress, and cell wall stress, by regulating the permeability of the cell membrane. In addition, gene SsCI72380 is a new type of pathogenic gene from S. scitamineum that enhances the pathogenicity of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhong Li
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quanqing Deng
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Guangzhou, China
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11
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Lu S, Guo F, Wang Z, Shen X, Deng Y, Meng J, Jiang Z, Chen B. Genetic Dissection of T-DNA Insertional Mutants Reveals Uncoupling of Dikaryotic Filamentation and Virulence in Sugarcane Smut Fungus. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:2303-2308. [PMID: 33978448 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-03-21-0114-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biotrophic basidiomycetous fungus Sporisorium scitamineum causing smut disease in sugarcane is characterized by a life cycle composed of a yeast-like nonpathogenic haploid basidiosporial stage outside the plant and filamentous pathogenic dikaryotic hyphae within the plant. Under field conditions, dikaryotic hyphae are formed after mating of two opposite mating-type strains. However, the mechanisms underlying genetic regulation of filamentation and its association with pathogenicity and development of teliospores are unclear. This study has focused on the characterization and genetic dissection of haploid filamentous mutants derived from T-DNA insertional mutagenesis. Our results support the existence of at least three genotypes among the six haploid filamentous mutants that differentially contribute to virulence and development of the whip and teliospore, providing a novel foundation for further investigation of the regulatory networks associated with pathogenicity and teliospore development in S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Feng Guo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Xiaorui Shen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Yizhen Deng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Jiaorong Meng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Zide Jiang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
- Ministry & Province co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, Nanning, 530004 China
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12
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SsPEP1, an Effector with Essential Cellular Functions in Sugarcane Smut Fungus. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110954. [PMID: 34829241 PMCID: PMC8618092 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biotrophic fungi have to infect their host to obtain nutrients and must establish an interaction with the host to complete their life cycle. In this process, effectors play important roles in manipulating the host's immune system to avoid being attacked. Sporisorium scitamineum is the causative agent of sugarcane smut, the most important disease in sugarcane-producing regions worldwide. In this work, we functionally characterized the conserved effector PEP1 in S. scitamineum. The mating process and the expression of genes in the MAPK signaling pathway and the a and b loci were adversely affected in Sspep1-null mutants. The requirement for SsPEP1 in pathogenicity and symptom development was allele dosage-dependent, i.e., deleting one Sspep1 allele in the mating pair turned a normal black whip with abundant teliospores into a white whip with few teliospores; however, deleting both alleles almost abolished infectivity and whip development. ΔSspep1 mutants produced significantly less mycelium mass within infected plants. Additionally, SsPEP1 was identified as a potent inhibitor of sugarcane POD-1a peroxidase activity, implying that SsPEP1 may function to relieve reactive oxygen species-related stress within the host plant. Taken together, our work demonstrated that SsPEP1 is a multifaceted effector essential for S. scitamineum growth, development, and pathogenicity.
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13
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Li H, Cai Y, Deng Q, Bao H, Chen J, Shen W. Ovarian Tumor Domain-Containing Proteases-Deubiquitylation Enzyme Gene SsCI33130 Involved in the Regulation of Mating/Filamentation and Pathogenicity in Sporisorium scitamineum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:746550. [PMID: 34675909 PMCID: PMC8523855 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.746550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane is an important sugar crop. Sugarcane smut, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is a worldwide sugarcane disease with serious economic losses and lack of effective control measures. Revealing the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum is very helpful to the development of effective prevention and control technology. Deubiquitinase removes ubiquitin molecules from their binding substrates and participates in a variety of physiological activities in eukaryotes. Based on the transcriptome sequencing data of two isolates (Ss16 and Ss47) of S. scitamineum with different pathogenicities, SsCI33130, a gene encoding an OTU1-deubiquitin enzyme, was identified. The positive knockout mutants and complementary mutants of the SsCI33130 gene were successfully obtained through polyethylene glycol-mediated protoplast transformation technology. In order to study the possible function of this gene in pathogenicity, phenotypic comparison of the growth, morphology, abiotic stress, sexual mating, pathogenicity, and gene expression levels of the knockout mutants, complementary mutants, and their wild type strains were conducted. The results demonstrated that the gene had almost no effect on abiotic stress, cell wall integrity, growth, and morphology, but was related to the sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum. The sexual mating ability and pathogenicity between the knockout mutants or between the knockout mutant and wild type were more significantly reduced than between the wild types, the complementary mutants, or the wild types and complementary mutants. The sexual mating between the knockout mutants or between the knockout mutant and wild type could be restored by the exogenous addition of small-molecule signaling substances such as 5 mM cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or 0.02 mM tryptophol. In addition, during sexual mating, the expression levels of tryptophol and cAMP synthesis-related genes in the knockout mutant combinations were significantly lower than those in the wild type combinations, while the expression levels in the complementary mutant combinations were restored to the level of the wild type. It is speculated that the SsCI33130 gene may be involved in the development of sexual mating and pathogenicity in S. scitamineum by regulating the synthesis of the small-molecule signaling substances (cAMP or tryptophol) required during the sexual mating of S. scitamineum, thereby providing a molecular basis for the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhong Li
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yichang Cai
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quanqing Deng
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han Bao
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wankuan Shen
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Sugarcane Research Laboratory, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, China
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14
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Agisha VN, Ashwin NMR, Vinodhini RT, Nalayeni K, Ramesh Sundar A, Malathi P, Viswanathan R. Protoplast-mediated transformation in Sporisorium scitamineum facilitates visualization of in planta developmental stages in sugarcane. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:7921-7932. [PMID: 34655406 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06823-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporisorium scitamineum is the causative agent of smut disease in sugarcane. The tricky life cycle of S. scitamineum consists of three distinct growth stages: diploid teliospores, haploid sporidia and dikaryotic mycelia. Compatible haploid sporidia representing opposite mating types (MAT-1 and MAT-2) of the fungus fuse to form infective dikaryotic mycelia in the host tissues, leading to the development of a characteristic whip shaped sorus. In this study, the transition of distinct stages of in vitro life cycle and in planta developmental stages of S. scitamineum are presented by generating stable GFP transformants of S. scitamineum. METHODS AND RESULTS Haploid sporidia were isolated from the teliospores of Ss97009, and the opposite mating types (MAT-1 and MAT-2) were identified by random mating assay and mating type-specific PCR. Both haploid sporidia were individually transformed with pNIIST plasmid, harboring an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene and hygromycin gene by a modified protoplast-based PEG-mediated transformation method. Thereafter, the distinct in vitro developmental stages including fusion of haploid sporidia and formation of dikaryotic mycelia expressing GFP were demonstrated. To visualize in planta colonization, transformed haploids (MAT-1gfp and MAT-2gfp) were fused and inoculated onto the smut susceptible sugarcane cultivar, Co 97009 and examined microscopically at different stages of colonization. GFP fluorescence-based analysis presented an extensive fungal colonization of the bud surface as well as inter- and intracellular colonization of the transformed S. scitamineum in sugarcane tissues during initial stages of disease development. Noticeably, the GFP-tagged S. scitamineum led to the emergence of smut whips, which established their pathogenicity, and demonstrated initial colonization, active sporogenesis and teliospore maturation stages. CONCLUSION Overall, for the first time, an efficient protoplast-based transformation method was employed to depict clear-cut developmental stages in vitro and in planta using GFP-tagged strains for better understanding of S. scitamineum life cycle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N Agisha
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
| | - N M R Ashwin
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
| | - R T Vinodhini
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
| | - Kumaravel Nalayeni
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
| | - Amalraj Ramesh Sundar
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India.
| | - Palaniyandi Malathi
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
| | - Rasappa Viswanathan
- Plant Pathology Section, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641007, India
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15
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Cai E, Sun S, Deng Y, Huang P, Sun X, Wang Y, Chang C, Jiang Z. Histidine Kinase Sln1 and cAMP/PKA Signaling Pathways Antagonistically Regulate Sporisorium scitamineum Mating and Virulence via Transcription Factor Prf1. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7080610. [PMID: 34436149 PMCID: PMC8397173 DOI: 10.3390/jof7080610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many prokaryotes and eukaryotes utilize two-component signaling pathways to counter environmental stress and regulate virulence genes associated with infection. In this study, we identified and characterized a conserved histidine kinase (SsSln1), which is the sensor of the two-component system of Sln1-Ypd1-Ssk1 in Sporisorium scitamineum. SsSln1 null mutant exhibited enhanced mating and virulence capabilities in S. scitamineum, which is opposite to what has been reported in Candida albicans. Further investigations revealed that the deletion of SsSLN1 enhanced SsHog1 phosphorylation and nuclear localization and thus promoted S. scitamineum mating. Interestingly, SsSln1 and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways antagonistically regulated the transcription of pheromone-responsive transcription factor SsPrf1, for regulating S. scitamineum mating and virulence. In short, the study depicts a novel mechanism in which the cross-talk between SsSln1 and cAMP/PKA pathways antagonistically regulates mating and virulence by balancing the transcription of the SsPRF1 gene in S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enping Cai
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Shuquan Sun
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Engineering Technology Research Center, School of Environmental Engineering, Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yizhen Deng
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Peishen Huang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Xian Sun
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Yuting Wang
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Changqing Chang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Integrate Microbiology Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (Z.J.); Tel.: +86-020-757-3225 (C.C.); +86-020-3860-4779 (Z.J.)
| | - Zide Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (E.C.); (S.S.); (Y.D.); (P.H.); (X.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (Z.J.); Tel.: +86-020-757-3225 (C.C.); +86-020-3860-4779 (Z.J.)
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16
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Francisco CS, Zwyssig MM, Palma-Guerrero J. The role of vegetative cell fusions in the development and asexual reproduction of the wheat fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. BMC Biol 2020; 18:99. [PMID: 32782023 PMCID: PMC7477884 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00838-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ability of fungal cells to undergo cell-to-cell communication and anastomosis, the process of vegetative hyphal fusion, allows them to maximize their overall fitness. Previous studies in a number of fungal species have identified the requirement of several signaling pathways for anastomosis, including the so far best characterized soft (So) gene, and the MAPK pathway components MAK-1 and MAK-2 of Neurospora crassa. Despite the observations of hyphal fusions’ involvement in pathogenicity and host adhesion, the connection between cell fusion and fungal lifestyles is still unclear. Here, we address the role of anastomosis in fungal development and asexual reproduction in Zymoseptoria tritici, the most important fungal pathogen of wheat in Europe. Results We show that Z. tritici undergoes self-fusion between distinct cellular structures, and its mechanism is dependent on the initial cell density. Contrary to other fungi, cell fusion in Z. tritici only resulted in cytoplasmic mixing but not in multinucleated cell formation. The deletion of the So orthologous ZtSof1 disrupted cell-to-cell communication affecting both hyphal and germling fusion. We show that Z. tritici mutants for MAPK-encoding ZtSlt2 (orthologous to MAK-1) and ZtFus3 (orthologous to MAK-2) genes also failed to undergo anastomosis, demonstrating the functional conservation of this signaling mechanism across species. Additionally, the ΔZtSof1 mutant was severely impaired in melanization, suggesting that the So gene function is related to melanization. Finally, we demonstrated that anastomosis is dispensable for pathogenicity, but essential for the pycnidium development, and its absence abolishes the asexual reproduction of Z. tritici. Conclusions We demonstrate the role for ZtSof1, ZtSlt2, and ZtFus3 in cell fusions of Z. tritici. Cell fusions are essential for different aspects of the Z. tritici biology, and the ZtSof1 gene is a potential target to control septoria tritici blotch (STB) disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Manuela Zwyssig
- Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Javier Palma-Guerrero
- Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland. .,New Address: Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK.
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17
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Martínez-Soto D, Ortiz-Castellanos L, Robledo-Briones M, León-Ramírez CG. Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Multicellular Growth of Ustilaginomycetes. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1072. [PMID: 32708448 PMCID: PMC7409079 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8071072] [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: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellularity is defined as the developmental process by which unicellular organisms became pluricellular during the evolution of complex organisms on Earth. This process requires the convergence of genetic, ecological, and environmental factors. In fungi, mycelial and pseudomycelium growth, snowflake phenotype (where daughter cells remain attached to their stem cells after mitosis), and fruiting bodies have been described as models of multicellular structures. Ustilaginomycetes are Basidiomycota fungi, many of which are pathogens of economically important plant species. These fungi usually grow unicellularly as yeasts (sporidia), but also as simple multicellular forms, such as pseudomycelium, multicellular clusters, or mycelium during plant infection and under different environmental conditions: Nitrogen starvation, nutrient starvation, acid culture media, or with fatty acids as a carbon source. Even under specific conditions, Ustilago maydis can form basidiocarps or fruiting bodies that are complex multicellular structures. These fungi conserve an important set of genes and molecular mechanisms involved in their multicellular growth. In this review, we will discuss in-depth the signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation, required polyamines, cell wall synthesis/degradation, polarized cell growth, and other cellular-genetic processes involved in the different types of Ustilaginomycetes multicellular growth. Finally, considering their short life cycle, easy handling in the laboratory and great morphological plasticity, Ustilaginomycetes can be considered as model organisms for studying fungal multicellularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domingo Martínez-Soto
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Los Reyes, Los Reyes 60300, Mexico
| | - Lucila Ortiz-Castellanos
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Mexico; (L.O.-C.); (C.G.L.-R.)
| | - Mariana Robledo-Briones
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Instituto Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (CIALE), Universidad de Salamanca, 37185 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Claudia Geraldine León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Mexico; (L.O.-C.); (C.G.L.-R.)
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18
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Zhang Y, Hu Y, Cao Q, Yin Y, Xia W, Cui H, Yu X, Ye Z. Functional Properties of the MAP Kinase UeKpp2 in Ustilago esculenta. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1053. [PMID: 32582058 PMCID: PMC7295950 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago esculenta undergoes an endophytic life cycle in Zizania latifolia. It induces the stem of its host to swell, forming the edible galls called jiaobai in China, which are the second most commonly cultivated aquatic vegetable in China. Z. latifolia raised for jiaobai can only reproduce asexually because the U. esculenta infection completely inhibits flowering. The infection and proliferation in the host plants during the formation of edible gall differ from those of conventional pathogens. Previous studies have shown a close relationship between mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and fungal pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the functional properties of the MAPK UeKpp2. Cross-species complementation assays were carried out, which indicated a functional complementation between the UeKpp2 of U. esculenta and the Kpp2 of Ustilago maydis. Next, UeKpp2 mutants of the UeT14 and the UeT55 sporidia background were generated; these showed an aberrant morphology of budding cells, and attenuated mating and filamentous growth in vitro, in the context of normal pathogenicity. Interestingly, we identified another protein kinase, UeUkc1, which acted downstream of UeKpp2 and may participate in the regulation of cell shape. We also found a defect of filamentous growth in UeKpp2 mutants that was not related to a defect of the induction of mating-type genes but was directly related to a defect in UeRbf1 induction. Overall, our results indicate an important role for UeKpp2 in U. esculenta that is slightly different from those reported for other smut fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingli Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qianchao Cao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Yin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Xia
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Cui
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
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Xia W, Yu X, Ye Z. Smut fungal strategies for the successful infection. Microb Pathog 2020; 142:104039. [PMID: 32027975 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The smut fungi include a large number of plant pathogens that establish obligate biotrophic relationships with their host. Throughout the whole life inside plant tissue, smut fungi keep plant cells alive and acquire nutrients via biotrophic interfaces. This mini-review mainly summarizes the interactions between smut fungi and their host plants during the infection process. Despite various strategies recruited by plants to defense invading pathogens, smut fungi successfully evolved an arsenal for colonization. Mating of two compatible haploids gives rise to parasitic mycelium, which can sense plant surface cues such as fatty acids and hydrophobic surface, and induce the formation of appressoria for surface penetration. Plants can recognize fungal invading and activate defense response, including callose and lignin deposition, programmed cell death, and SA signaling pathway. To suppress plant immunity and alter the metabolic pathway of host plants, a cocktail of effectors is secreted by smut fungi depending on the plant organ and cell type that is infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiang Xia
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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Sun S, Deng Y, Cai E, Yan M, Li L, Chen B, Chang C, Jiang Z. The Farnesyltransferase β-Subunit Ram1 Regulates Sporisorium scitamineum Mating, Pathogenicity and Cell Wall Integrity. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:976. [PMID: 31134021 PMCID: PMC6517510 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basidiomycetous fungus Sporisorium scitamineum causes a serious sugarcane smut disease in major sugarcane growing areas. Sexual mating is essential for infection to the host; however, its underlying molecular mechanism has not been fully studied. In this study, we identified a conserved farnesyltransferase (FTase) β subunit Ram1 in S. scitamineum. The ram1Δ mutant displayed significantly reduced mating/filamentation, thus of weak pathogenicity to the host cane. The ram1Δ mutant sporidia showed more tolerant toward cell wall stressor Congo red compared to that of the wild-type. Transcriptional profiling showed that Congo red treatment resulted in notable up-regulation of the core genes involving in cell wall integrity pathway in ram1Δ sporidia compared with that of WT, indicating that Ram1 may be involved in cell wall integrity regulation. In yeast the heterodimeric FTase is responsible for post-translational modification of Ras (small G protein) and a-factor (pheromone). We also identified and characterized two conserved Ras proteins, Ras1 and Ras2, respectively, and a MAT-1 pheromone precursor Mfa1. The ras1Δ, ras2Δ and mfa1Δ mutants all displayed reduced mating/filamentation similar as the ram1Δ mutant. However, both ras1Δ and ras2Δ mutants were hypersensitive to Congo red while the mfa1Δ mutant was the same as wild-type. Overall our study displayed that RAM1 plays an essential role in S. scitamineum mating/filamentation, pathogenicity, and cell wall stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuquan Sun
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhen Deng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Enping Cai
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meixin Yan
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Lingyu Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Changqing Chang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zide Jiang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Zhong Y, Yan M, Jiang J, Zhang Z, Huang J, Zhang L, Deng Y, Zhou X, He F. Mycophenolic Acid as a Promising Fungal Dimorphism Inhibitor to Control Sugar Cane Disease Caused by Sporisorium scitamineum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:112-119. [PMID: 30543296 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The morphological changes from single-cell yeast to filamentous hypha form are critical in plant pathogenic smut fungi. This dimorphic switch is tightly regulated by complex gene pathways in pathogenic development. The phytopathogenic basidiomycetes Sporisorium scitamineum displays a morphological transition from budding growth of haploid cells to filamentous growth of the dikaryon, which enables fungi to forage for nutrients and evade the host plant immune system. In the search for compounds that affect dimorphic switch instead of killing the cell directly, a natural product, mycophenolic acid (MPA), was purified and exhibited significant dimorphism inhibitory activities with minimum effective concentrations of 0.3 μg/mL. RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative transcription-PCR analysis showed that treatment of 100 μg/mL MPA dramatically repressed the expression of the ammonium transporter gene Ssa2 . A further subcellular localization experiment, ammonium response assay, and Western blot assay confirmed that Ssa2 could be one of the most important molecular targets of MPA in regulating dimorphism of S. scitamineum. These observations suggest that Ssa2 serves as a molecular target of MPA and could be used in the treatment of sugar cane smut diseases caused by S. scitamineum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhong
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Meixin Yan
- Sugarcane Research Institute , Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Guangxi , Nanning 530007 , China
| | - Jinyan Jiang
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Zhihan Zhang
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Junjun Huang
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacology , Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510182 , China
| | - Lianhui Zhang
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Yinyue Deng
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
| | - Fei He
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control , South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China
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