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Gutiérrez-Sánchez A, Plasencia J, Monribot-Villanueva JL, Rodríguez-Haas B, Ruíz-May E, Guerrero-Analco JA, Sánchez-Rangel D. Virulence factors of the genus Fusarium with targets in plants. Microbiol Res 2023; 277:127506. [PMID: 37783182 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127506] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium spp. comprise various species of filamentous fungi that cause severe diseases in plant crops of both agricultural and forestry interest. These plant pathogens produce a wide range of molecules with diverse chemical structures and biological activities. Genetic functional analyses of some of these compounds have shown their role as virulence factors (VF). However, their mode of action and contributions to the infection process for many of these molecules are still unknown. This review aims to analyze the state of the art in Fusarium VF, emphasizing their biological targets on the plant hosts. It also addresses the current experimental approaches to improve our understanding of their role in virulence and suggests relevant research questions that remain to be answered with a greater focus on species of agroeconomic importance. In this review, a total of 37 confirmed VF are described, including 22 proteinaceous and 15 non-proteinaceous molecules, mainly from Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum and, to a lesser extent, in Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium solani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Gutiérrez-Sánchez
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico; Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Javier Plasencia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Juan L Monribot-Villanueva
- Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Rodríguez-Haas
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Eliel Ruíz-May
- Laboratorio de Proteómica, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - José A Guerrero-Analco
- Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico.
| | - Diana Sánchez-Rangel
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico; Investigador por México - CONAHCyT en la Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados del Instituto de Ecología, A. C. (INECOL), Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico.
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2
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Severinsen MM, Westphal KR, Terp M, Sørensen T, Olsen A, Bachleitner S, Studt-Reinhold L, Wimmer R, Sondergaard TE, Sørensen JL. Filling out the gaps - identification of fugralins as products of the PKS2 cluster in Fusarium graminearum. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1264366. [PMID: 38025899 PMCID: PMC10667903 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1264366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
As one of the grain crop pathogenic fungi with the greatest impacts on agricultural economical as well as human health, an elaborate understanding of the life cycle and subsequent metabolome of Fusarium graminearum is of great interest. Throughout the lifetime of the fungus, it is known to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites, including polyketides. One of the F. graminearum polyketides which has remained a mystery until now has been elucidated in this work. Previously, it was suggested that the biosynthetic product of the PKS2 gene cluster was involved in active mycelial growth, the exact mechanism, however, remained unclear. In our work, disruption and overexpression of the PKS2 gene in F. graminearum enabled structural elucidation of a linear and a cyclic tetraketide with a double methyl group, named fugralin A and B, respectively. Further functional characterization showed that the compounds are not produced during infection, and that deletion and overexpression did not affect pathogenicity or visual growth. The compounds were shown to be volatile, which could point to possible functions that can be investigated further in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Mølgaard Severinsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mikael Terp
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Trine Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anders Olsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Simone Bachleitner
- Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Studt-Reinhold
- Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Wimmer
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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3
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Wei X, Chan TK, Kong CTD, Matsuda Y. Biosynthetic Characterization, Heterologous Production, and Genomics-Guided Discovery of GABA-Containing Fungal Heptapeptides. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:416-422. [PMID: 36715406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c01065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The biosynthetic gene cluster of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing fungal cyclic heptapeptides unguisins A (1) and B (2) was identified in the fungus Aspergillus violaceofuscus CBS 115571. In vitro enzymatic reactions and gene deletion experiments revealed that the unguisin pathway involves the alanine racemase UngC to provide d-alanine, which is then accepted by the first adenylation domain of the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) UngA. Intriguingly, the hydrolase UngD was found to transform unguisins into previously undescribed linear peptides. Subsequently, heterologous production of these peptides in Aspergillus oryzae was achieved, in which we established a methodology to readily introduce a large NRPS gene into the fungal host. Finally, genome mining revealed new unguisin congeners, each containing a (2R,3R)-β-methylphenylalanine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Wei
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsz Ki Chan
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Che Tung Derek Kong
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yudai Matsuda
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China
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4
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Mapuranga J, Chang J, Zhang L, Zhang N, Yang W. Fungal Secondary Metabolites and Small RNAs Enhance Pathogenicity during Plant-Fungal Pathogen Interactions. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010004. [PMID: 36675825 PMCID: PMC9862911 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal plant pathogens use proteinaceous effectors as well as newly identified secondary metabolites (SMs) and small non-coding RNA (sRNA) effectors to manipulate the host plant's defense system via diverse plant cell compartments, distinct organelles, and many host genes. However, most molecular studies of plant-fungal interactions have focused on secreted effector proteins without exploring the possibly equivalent functions performed by fungal (SMs) and sRNAs, which are collectively known as "non-proteinaceous effectors". Fungal SMs have been shown to be generated throughout the plant colonization process, particularly in the early biotrophic stages of infection. The fungal repertoire of non-proteinaceous effectors has been broadened by the discovery of fungal sRNAs that specifically target plant genes involved in resistance and defense responses. Many RNAs, particularly sRNAs involved in gene silencing, have been shown to transmit bidirectionally between fungal pathogens and their hosts. However, there are no clear functional approaches to study the role of these SM and sRNA effectors. Undoubtedly, fungal SM and sRNA effectors are now a treasured land to seek. Therefore, understanding the role of fungal SM and sRNA effectors may provide insights into the infection process and identification of the interacting host genes that are targeted by these effectors. This review discusses the role of fungal SMs and sRNAs during plant-fungal interactions. It will also focus on the translocation of sRNA effectors across kingdoms, the application of cross-kingdom RNA interference in managing plant diseases and the tools that can be used to predict and study these non-proteinaceous effectors.
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5
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Seidl B, Rehak K, Bueschl C, Parich A, Buathong R, Wolf B, Doppler M, Mitterbauer R, Adam G, Khewkhom N, Wiesenberger G, Schuhmacher R. Gramiketides, Novel Polyketide Derivatives of Fusarium graminearum, Are Produced during the Infection of Wheat. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:1030. [PMID: 36294594 PMCID: PMC9605136 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum is a proficient producer of mycotoxins and other in part still unknown secondary metabolites, some of which might act as virulence factors on wheat. The PKS15 gene is expressed only in planta, so far hampering the identification of an associated metabolite. Here we combined the activation of silent gene clusters by chromatin manipulation (kmt6) with blocking the metabolic flow into the competing biosynthesis of the two major mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach, two closely related metabolites were found in triple mutants (kmt6 tri5 pks4,13) deficient in production of the major mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, but not in strains with an additional deletion in PKS15 (kmt6 tri5 pks4,13 pks15). Characterization of the metabolites, by LC-HRMS/MS in combination with a stable isotope-assisted tracer approach, revealed that they are likely hybrid polyketides comprising a polyketide part consisting of malonate-derived acetate units and a structurally deviating part. We propose the names gramiketide A and B for the two metabolites. In a biological experiment, both gramiketides were formed during infection of wheat ears with wild-type but not with pks15 mutants. The formation of the two gramiketides during infection correlated with that of the well-known virulence factor deoxynivalenol, suggesting that they might play a role in virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Seidl
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Katrin Rehak
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Christoph Bueschl
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Alexandra Parich
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Raveevatoo Buathong
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Ngamwongwan Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Bernhard Wolf
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Maria Doppler
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- Core Facility Bioactive Molecules: Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Rudolf Mitterbauer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Gerhard Adam
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Netnapis Khewkhom
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Ngamwongwan Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Gerlinde Wiesenberger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Rainer Schuhmacher
- Department of Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
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6
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Atanasoff-Kardjalieff AK, Studt L. Secondary Metabolite Gene Regulation in Mycotoxigenic Fusarium Species: A Focus on Chromatin. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:96. [PMID: 35202124 PMCID: PMC8880415 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium is a species-rich group of mycotoxigenic plant pathogens that ranks as one of the most economically important fungal genera in the world. During growth and infection, they are able to produce a vast spectrum of low-molecular-weight compounds, so-called secondary metabolites (SMs). SMs often comprise toxic compounds (i.e., mycotoxins) that contaminate precious food and feed sources and cause adverse health effects in humans and livestock. In this context, understanding the regulation of their biosynthesis is crucial for the development of cropping strategies that aim at minimizing mycotoxin contamination in the field. Nevertheless, currently, only a fraction of SMs have been identified, and even fewer are considered for regular monitoring by regulatory authorities. Limitations to exploit their full chemical potential arise from the fact that the genes involved in their biosynthesis are often silent under standard laboratory conditions and only induced upon specific stimuli mimicking natural conditions in which biosynthesis of the respective SM becomes advantageous for the producer. This implies a complex regulatory network. Several components of these gene networks have been studied in the past, thereby greatly advancing the understanding of SM gene regulation and mycotoxin biosynthesis in general. This review aims at summarizing the latest advances in SM research in these notorious plant pathogens with a focus on chromatin structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lena Studt
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria;
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7
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Nielsen MR, Sørensen JL. Investigating Fungal Biosynthetic Pathways Using Heterologous Gene Expression: Fusarium sp. as a Heterologous Host. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2489:53-74. [PMID: 35524045 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2273-5_4] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Heterologous expression of uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters is a popular strategy for exploring the chemical potential of filamentous fungi. Here, we describe the process of PCR-amplifying fungal gene clusters and re-assembling them in a cloning vector via target-associated recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The gene cluster-carrying construct is validated and used to transform protoplasts of Fusarium graminearum , a well-studied host that is able to express the gene cluster. Chemical analysis of transformants expressing biosynthetic genes can lead to the detection and isolation of novel compounds, such as polyketides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Rank Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University Esbjerg, Esbjerg, Denmark.
| | - Jens Laurids Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University Esbjerg, Esbjerg, Denmark
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8
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Tang Z, Tang H, Wang W, Xue Y, Chen D, Tang W, Liu W. Biosynthesis of a New Fusaoctaxin Virulence Factor in Fusarium graminearum Relies on a Distinct Path To Form a Guanidinoacetyl Starter Unit Priming Nonribosomal Octapeptidyl Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:19719-19730. [PMID: 34784713 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a pathogenic fungus causing huge economic losses worldwide via crop infection leading to yield reduction and grain contamination. The process through which the fungal invasion occurs remains poorly understood. We recently characterized fusaoctaxin A in F. graminearum, where this octapeptide virulence factor results from an assembly line encoded in fg3_54, a gene cluster proved to be involved in fungal pathogenicity and host adaptation. Focusing on genes in this cluster that are related to fungal invasiveness but not to the biosynthesis of fusaoctaxin A, we here report the identification and characterization of fusaoctaxin B, a new octapeptide virulence factor with comparable activity in wheat infection. Fusaoctaxin B differs from fusaoctaxin A at the N-terminus by possessing a guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) unit, formation of which depends on the combined activities of the protein products of fgm1-3. Fgm1 is a cytochrome P450 protein that oxygenates l-Arg to 4(R)-hydroxyl-l-Arg in a regio- and stereoselective manner. Then, Cβ-Cγ bond cleavage proceeds in the presence of Fgm3, a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent lyase, giving guanidinoacetaldehyde and l-Ala. Rather than being directly oxidized to GAA, the guanidine-containing aldehyde undergoes spontaneous cyclization and subsequent enzymatic dehydrogenation to provide glycociamidine, which is linearized by Fgm2, a metallo-dependent amidohydrolase. The GAA path in F. graminearum is distinct from that previously known to involve l-Arg:l-Gly aminidotransferase activity. To provide this nonproteinogenic starter unit that primes nonribosomal octapeptidyl assembly, F. graminearum employs new chemistry to process l-Arg through inert C-H bond activation, selective C-C bond cleavage, cyclization-based alcohol dehydrogenation, and amidohydrolysis-associated linearization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haoyu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wanqiu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yufeng Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Weihua Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China.,Huzhou Center of Bio-Synthetic Innovation, 1366 Hongfeng Road, Huzhou 313000, China
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9
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Westphal KR, Bachleitner S, Severinsen MM, Brundtø ML, Hansen FT, Sørensen T, Wollenberg RD, Lysøe E, Studt L, Sørensen JL, Sondergaard TE, Wimmer R. Cyclic, Hydrophobic Hexapeptide Fusahexin Is the Product of a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase in Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2021; 84:2070-2080. [PMID: 34292732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum is known to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites during plant infection. This includes several nonribosomal peptides. Recently, the fusaoctaxin (NRPS5/9) and gramilin (NRPS8) gene clusters were shown to be induced by host interactions. To widen our understanding of this important pathogen, we investigated the involvement of the NRPS4 gene cluster during infection and oxidative and osmotic stress. Overexpression of NRPS4 led to the discovery of a new cyclic hexapeptide, fusahexin (1), with the amino acid sequence cyclo-(d-Ala-l-Leu-d-allo-Thr-l-Pro-d-Leu-l-Leu). The structural analyses revealed an unusual ether bond between a proline Cδ to Cβ of the preceding threonine resulting in an oxazine ring system. The comparative genomic analyses showed that the small gene cluster only encodes an ABC transporter in addition to the five-module nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). Based on the structure of fusahexin and the domain architecture of NRPS4, we propose a biosynthetic model in which the terminal module is used to incorporate two leucine units. So far, iterative use of NRPS modules has primarily been described for siderophore synthetases, which makes NRPS4 a rare example of a fungal nonsiderophore NRPS with distinct iterative module usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus R Westphal
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Simone Bachleitner
- Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Manja M Severinsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mathias L Brundtø
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Frederik T Hansen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Trine Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Rasmus D Wollenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Erik Lysøe
- Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Høgskoleveien 7, NO-1433 Ås, Norway
| | - Lena Studt
- Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Jens L Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, DK-6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Teis E Sondergaard
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Reinhard Wimmer
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark
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10
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Siupka P, Hansen FT, Schier A, Rocco S, Sørensen T, Piotrowska-Seget Z. Antifungal Activity and Biosynthetic Potential of New Streptomyces sp. MW-W600-10 Strain Isolated from Coal Mine Water. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147441. [PMID: 34299061 PMCID: PMC8303363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop infections by fungi lead to severe losses in food production and pose risks for human health. The increasing resistance of pathogens to fungicides has led to the higher usage of these chemicals, which burdens the environment and highlights the need to find novel natural biocontrol agents. Members of the genus Streptomyces are known to produce a plethora of bioactive compounds. Recently, researchers have turned to extreme and previously unexplored niches in the search for new strains with antimicrobial activities. One such niche are underground coal mine environments. We isolated the new Streptomyces sp. MW-W600-10 strain from coal mine water samples collected at 665 m below ground level. We examined the antifungal activity of the strain against plant pathogens Fusarium culmorum DSM62188 and Nigrospora oryzae roseF7. Furthermore, we analyzed the strain’s biosynthetic potential with the antiSMASH tool. The strain showed inhibitory activity against both fungi strains. Genome mining revealed that it has 39 BGCs, among which 13 did not show similarity to those in databases. Additionally, we examined the activity of the Streptomyces sp. S-2 strain isolated from black soot against F. culmorum DSM62188. These results show that coal-related strains could be a source of novel bioactive compounds. Future studies will elucidate their full biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Siupka
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40032 Katowice, Poland; (A.S.); (S.R.); (Z.P.-S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Frederik Teilfeldt Hansen
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, University of Aalborg, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (F.T.H.); (T.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Schier
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40032 Katowice, Poland; (A.S.); (S.R.); (Z.P.-S.)
| | - Simone Rocco
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40032 Katowice, Poland; (A.S.); (S.R.); (Z.P.-S.)
| | - Trine Sørensen
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, University of Aalborg, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark; (F.T.H.); (T.S.)
| | - Zofia Piotrowska-Seget
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40032 Katowice, Poland; (A.S.); (S.R.); (Z.P.-S.)
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11
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Schüller A, Wolansky L, Berger H, Studt L, Gacek-Matthews A, Sulyok M, Strauss J. A novel fungal gene regulation system based on inducible VPR-dCas9 and nucleosome map-guided sgRNA positioning. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:9801-9822. [PMID: 33006690 PMCID: PMC7595996 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10900-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Programmable transcriptional regulation is a powerful tool to study gene functions. Current methods to selectively regulate target genes are mainly based on promoter exchange or on overexpressing transcriptional activators. To expand the discovery toolbox, we designed a dCas9-based RNA-guided synthetic transcription activation system for Aspergillus nidulans that uses enzymatically disabled "dead" Cas9 fused to three consecutive activation domains (VPR-dCas9). The dCas9-encoding gene is under the control of an estrogen-responsive promoter to allow induction timing and to avoid possible negative effects by strong constitutive expression of the highly active VPR domains. Especially in silent genomic regions, facultative heterochromatin and strictly positioned nucleosomes can constitute a relevant obstacle to the transcriptional machinery. To avoid this negative impact and to facilitate optimal positioning of RNA-guided VPR-dCas9 to targeted promoters, we have created a genome-wide nucleosome map from actively growing cells and stationary cultures to identify the cognate nucleosome-free regions (NFRs). Based on these maps, different single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed and tested for their targeting and activation potential. Our results demonstrate that the system can be used to regulate several genes in parallel and, depending on the VPR-dCas9 positioning, expression can be pushed to very high levels. We have used the system to turn on individual genes within two different biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) which are silent under normal growth conditions. This method also opens opportunities to stepwise activate individual genes in a cluster to decipher the correlated biosynthetic pathway. Graphical abstract KEYPOINTS: • An inducible RNA-guided transcriptional regulator based on VPR-dCas9 was established in Aspergillus nidulans. • Genome-wide nucleosome positioning maps were created that facilitate sgRNA positioning. • The system was successfully applied to activate genes within two silent biosynthetic gene clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schüller
- Fungal Genetics Lab, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, A-3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Lisa Wolansky
- Institute Krems Bioanalytics , IMC FH Krems University of Applied Sciences , Krems, Austria
| | - Harald Berger
- Fungal Genetics Lab, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, A-3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Lena Studt
- Fungal Genetics Lab, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, A-3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Gacek-Matthews
- Fungal Genetics Lab, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, A-3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Institute of Microbiology, Functional Microbiology Division, University of Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agrometabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Fungal Genetics Lab, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU-Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, A-3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
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12
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Shostak K, Bonner C, Sproule A, Thapa I, Shields SWJ, Blackwell B, Vierula J, Overy D, Subramaniam R. Activation of biosynthetic gene clusters by the global transcriptional regulator TRI6 in Fusarium graminearum. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:664-680. [PMID: 32692880 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In F. graminearum, the transcription factor TRI6 positively regulates the trichothecene biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) leading to the production of the secondary metabolite 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol. Secondary metabolites are not essential for survival, instead, they enable the pathogen to successfully infect its host. F. graminearum has the potential to produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites (SMs). However, given high functional specificity and energetic cost, most of these clusters remain silent, unless the organism is subjected to an environment conducive to SM production. Alternatively, secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMCs) can be activated by genetically manipulating their activators or repressors. In this study, a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses with a deletion and overexpressor mutants of TRI6 was used to establish the role of TRI6 in the regulation of several BGCs in F. graminearum. Evidence for direct and indirect regulation of BGCs by TRI6 was obtained by chromatin immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid experiments. The results showed that the trichothecene genes are under direct control, while the gramillin gene cluster is indirectly controlled by TRI6 through its interaction with the pathway-specific transcription factor GRA2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Shostak
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher Bonner
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Indira Thapa
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Samuel W J Shields
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara Blackwell
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - John Vierula
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - David Overy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Gautier C, Pinson-Gadais L, Richard-Forget F. Fusarium Mycotoxins Enniatins: An Updated Review of Their Occurrence, the Producing Fusarium Species, and the Abiotic Determinants of Their Accumulation in Crop Harvests. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:4788-4798. [PMID: 32243758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cereal grains and their processed food products are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins produced by the Fusarium genus. Enniatins (ENNs), which belong to the so-called "emerging mycotoxins" family, are among the most frequently found in small grain cereals. Health hazards induced by a chronic exposure to ENNs or an association of ENNs with other major mycotoxins is a risk that cannot be excluded given the current toxicological data. Thus, efforts must be pursued to define efficient control strategies to mitigate their presence in cereal grains. A key condition for achieving this aim is to gain deep and comprehensive knowledge of the factors promoting the appearance of ENNs in crop harvests. After an update of ENN occurrence data, this review surveys the scientific literature on the Fusarium species responsible for ENN contamination and covers the recent advances concerning the abiotic determinants and the genetic regulation of ENN biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Gautier
- INRAE, UR 1264, Unité MycSA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Laetitia Pinson-Gadais
- INRAE, UR 1264, Unité MycSA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France
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Nielsen MR, Sondergaard TE, Giese H, Sørensen JL. Advances in linking polyketides and non-ribosomal peptides to their biosynthetic gene clusters in Fusarium. Curr Genet 2019; 65:1263-1280. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-00998-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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