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Zhu Y, Yang X, Bai N, Liu Q, Yang J. AoRab7A interacts with AoVps35 and AoVps41 to regulate vacuole assembly, trap formation, conidiation, and functions of proteasomes and ribosomes in Arthrobotrys oligospora. Microbiol Res 2024; 280:127573. [PMID: 38103468 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127573] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Rab GTPases regulate vesicle trafficking in organisms and play crucial roles in growth and development. Arthrobotrys oligospora is a ubiquitous nematode-trapping (NT) fungus, it can form elaborate traps to capture nematodes. Our previous study found that deletion of Aorab7A abolished the trap formation and sporulation. Here, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of AoRab7A using transcriptomic, biochemical, and phenotypic comparisons. Transcriptome analysis, yeast library screening, and yeast two-hybrid assay identified two vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) proteins, AoVps41 and AoVps35, as putative targets of AoRab7A. The deletion of Aovps41 and Aovps35 caused considerable defects in multiple phenotypic traits, such as conidiation and trap formation. We further found a close connection between AoRab7A and Vps proteins in vesicle-vacuole fusion, which triggered vacuolar fragmentation. Further transcriptome analysis showed that AoRab7A and AoVps35 play essential roles in many cellular processes and components including proteasomes, autophagy, fatty acid degradation, and ribosomes in A. oligospora. Furthermore, we verified that AoRab7A, AoVps41, and AoVps35 are involved in ribosome and proteasome functions. The absence of these proteins inhibited the biosynthesis of nascent proteins and enhanced ubiquitination. Our findings suggest that AoRab7A interacts with AoVps41 and AoVps35 to mediate vacuolar fusion and influence lipid droplet accumulation, autophagy, and stress response. These proteins are especially required for the conidiation and trap development of A. oligospora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Xuewei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Na Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Qianqian Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
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Zhu Z, Yang M, Yang G, Zhang B, Cao X, Yuan J, Ge F, Wang S. PP2C phosphatases Ptc1 and Ptc2 dephosphorylate PGK1 to regulate autophagy and aflatoxin synthesis in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus flavus. mBio 2023; 14:e0097723. [PMID: 37754565 PMCID: PMC10653812 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00977-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Aspergillus flavus is a model filamentous fungus that can produce aflatoxins when it infects agricultural crops. This study evaluated the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family as a potential drug target with important physiological functions and pathological significance in A. flavus. We found that two redundant PP2C phosphatases, Ptc1 and Ptc2, regulate conidia development, aflatoxin synthesis, autophagic vesicle formation, and seed infection. The target protein phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) that interacts with Ptc1 and Ptc2 is essential to regulate metabolism and the autophagy process. Furthermore, Ptc1 and Ptc2 regulate the phosphorylation level of PGK1 S203, which is important for influencing aflatoxin synthesis. Our results provide a potential target for interdicting the toxicity of A. flavus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mingkun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Wang Y, Lin R, Liu M, Wang S, Chen H, Zeng W, Nie X, Wang S. N-Myristoyltransferase, a Potential Antifungal Candidate Drug-Target for Aspergillus flavus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0421222. [PMID: 36541770 PMCID: PMC9927591 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04212-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus causes devastating diseases not only to cash crops but also to humans by secreting a series of secondary metabolites called aflatoxins. In the cotranslational or posttranslational process, N-myristoyltransferase (Nmt) is a crucial enzyme that catalyzes the myristate group from myristoyl-coenzyme A (myristoyl-CoA) to the N terminus or internal glycine residue of a protein by forming a covalent bond. Members of the Nmt family execute a diverse range of biological functions across a broad range of fungi. However, the underlying mechanism of AflNmt action in the A. flavus life cycle is unclear, particularly during the growth, development, and secondary metabolic synthesis stages. In the present study, AlfNmt was found to be essential for the development of spore and sclerotia, based on the regulation of the xylose-inducible promoter. AflNmt, located in the cytoplasm of A. flavus, is also involved in modulating aflatoxin (AFB1) in A. flavus, which has not previously been reported in Aspergillus spp. In addition, we purified, characterized, and crystallized the recombinant AflNmt protein (rAflNmt) from the Escherichia coli expression system. Interestingly, the crystal structure of rAlfNmt is moderately different from the models predicted by AlphaFold2 in the N-terminal region, indicating the limitations of machine-learning prediction. In conclusion, these results provide a molecular basis for the functional role of AflNmt in A. flavus and structural insights concerning protein prediction. IMPORTANCE As an opportunistic pathogen, A. flavus causes crop loss due to fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination. Investigating the role of virulence factors during infection and searching for novel drug targets have been popular scientific topics in the field of fungal control. Nmt has become a potential target in some organisms. However, whether Nmt is involved in the developmental stages of A. flavus and aflatoxin synthesis, and whether AlfNmt is an ideal target for structure-based drug design, remains unclear. This study systematically explored and identified the role of AlfNmt in the development of spore and sclerotia, especially in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Moreover, although there is not much difference between the AflNmt model predicted using the AlphaFold2 technique and the structure determined using the X-ray method, current AI prediction models may not be suitable for structure-based drug development. There is still room for further improvements in protein prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ranxun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Mengxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Wanlin Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xinyi Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Shihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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