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Zeng W, Lin J, Xie J, Fu Y, Lin Y, Chen T, Li B, Yu X, Chen W, Jiang D, Cheng J. RNA-dependent RNA polymerases regulate ascospore discharge through the exonic-sRNA-mediated RNAi pathway. mBio 2024; 15:e0037724. [PMID: 38752738 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00377-24] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascospores, forcibly released into the air from perithecia, are the primary inoculum for Fusarium head blight. In Fusarium graminearum, the biological functions of four RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) (Fgrdrp1-4) have been reported, but their regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood and the function of Fgrdrp5 is still unknown. In this study, we found that in addition to Fgrdrp1 and Fgrdrp2, Fgrdrp5 also plays an important role in ascospore discharge, and they all participate in the generation of turgor pressure in a polyol-dependent manner. Moreover, these three genes all affect the maturation of ascospores. Deep sequencing and co-analysis of small RNA and mRNA certified that Fgrdrp1, Fgrdrp2, and Fgrdrp5 partly share their functions in the biogenesis and accumulation of exonic small interference RNA (ex-siRNA), and these three RdRPs negatively regulate the expression levels of ex-siRNA corresponding genes, including certain genes associated with ascospore development or discharge. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes of deletion mutants, those involved in lipid and sugar metabolism or transport as well as sexual development-related transcription factors, may also contribute to the defects in ascospore maturation or ascospore discharge. In conclusion, our study suggested that the components of the dicer-dependent ex-siRNA-mediated RNA interference pathway include at least Fgrdrp1, Fgrdrp2, and Fgrdrp5. IMPORTANCE We found that in addition to Fgrdrp1 and Fgrdrp2, Fgrdrp5 also plays important roles in ascospore maturation and ascospore discharge of Fusarium graminearum. These three RNA-dependent RNA polymerases participate in the biogenesis and accumulation of exonic small interference RNA and then regulate ascospore discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Fu
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Lin
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- USA Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Daohong Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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2
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Pardo-Medina J, Dahlmann TA, Nowrousian M, Limón MC, Avalos J. The RNAi Machinery in the Fungus Fusarium fujikuroi Is Not Very Active in Synthetic Medium and Is Related to Transposable Elements. Noncoding RNA 2024; 10:31. [PMID: 38804363 PMCID: PMC11130915 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna10030031] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Small RNAS (sRNAs) participate in regulatory RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms, including fungi. The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi, a model for the study of secondary metabolism, contains a complete set of genes for RNAi pathways. We have analyzed by high-throughput sequencing the content of sRNAs in total RNA samples of F. fujikuroi grown in synthetic medium in the dark or after 1 h of illumination, using libraries below 150 nt, covering sRNAs and their precursors. For comparison, a parallel analysis with Fusarium oxysporum was carried out. The sRNA reads showed a higher proportion of 5' uracil in the RNA samples of the expected sizes in both species, indicating the occurrence of genuine sRNAs, and putative miRNA-like sRNAs (milRNAS) were identified with prediction software. F. fujikuroi carries at least one transcriptionally expressed Ty1/copia-like retrotransposable element, in which sRNAs were found in both sense and antisense DNA strands, while in F. oxysporum skippy-like elements also show sRNA formation. The finding of sRNA in these mobile elements indicates an active sRNA-based RNAi pathway. Targeted deletion of dcl2, the only F. fujikuroi Dicer gene with significant expression under the conditions tested, did not produce appreciable phenotypic or transcriptomic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Pardo-Medina
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain;
| | - Tim A. Dahlmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, ND 7/176 Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (T.A.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, ND 7/176 Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany; (T.A.D.); (M.N.)
| | - M. Carmen Limón
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain;
| | - Javier Avalos
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain;
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Ma G, Hu B, Yang S, Cen Z, Zheng Y, Dong Y. Benzoxazinoids secreted by wheat root weaken the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae by inhibiting linoleic acid and nucleotide metabolisms. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:109. [PMID: 38564014 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03188-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE The regulatory action of BXs secreted by wheat on the pathogenicity of FOF causing Fusarium wilt in faba bean were analyzed. DIMBOA and MBOA weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. A large number of pathogenic bacteria in continuous cropping soil infect faba bean plants, leading to the occurrence of wilt disease, which restricts their production. Faba bean-wheat intercropping is often used to alleviate this disease. This study investigates the effect of benzoxazinoids (BXs) secreted by wheat root on the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Fabae (FOF) and underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of DIMBOA(2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-4-one) and MBOA(6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2-one) on the activity of cell-wall-degrading enzymes in FOF(cellulase, pectinase, amylase, and protease), FOF Toxin (fusaric acid, FA) content were investigated through indoor culture experiments. The effect of BXs on the metabolic level of FOF was analyzed by metabonomics to explore the ecological function of benzoxazines intercropping control of Fusarium wilt in faba bean. The results show that the Exogenous addition of DIMBOA and MBOA decreased the activity of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes and fusaric acid content and significantly weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. DIMBOA and MBOA significantly inhibited the pathogenicity of FOF, and metabolome analysis showed that DIMBOA and MBOA reduced the pathogenicity of FOF by down-regulating related pathways such as nucleotide metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism, thus effectively controlling the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in faba bean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanglei Ma
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Bijie Hu
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Siyin Yang
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Zixuan Cen
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yiran Zheng
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Dong
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
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4
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Cheng AP, Lederer B, Oberkofler L, Huang L, Johnson NR, Platten F, Dunker F, Tisserant C, Weiberg A. A fungal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a novel player in plant infection and cross-kingdom RNA interference. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011885. [PMID: 38117848 PMCID: PMC10766185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Small RNAs act as fungal pathogen effectors that silence host target genes to promote infection, a virulence mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi). The essential pathogen factors of cross-kingdom small RNA production are largely unknown. We here characterized the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR)1 in the fungal plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea that is required for pathogenicity and cross-kingdom RNAi. B. cinerea bcrdr1 knockout (ko) mutants exhibited reduced pathogenicity and loss of cross-kingdom small RNAs. We developed a "switch-on" GFP reporter to study cross-kingdom RNAi in real-time within the living plant tissue which highlighted that bcrdr1 ko mutants were compromised in cross-kingdom RNAi. Moreover, blocking seven pathogen cross-kingdom small RNAs by expressing a short-tandem target mimic RNA in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana led to reduced infection levels of the fungal pathogen B. cinerea and the oomycete pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. These results demonstrate that cross-kingdom RNAi is significant to promote host infection and making pathogen small RNAs an effective target for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Po Cheng
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Bernhard Lederer
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lorenz Oberkofler
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lihong Huang
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nathan R. Johnson
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program-Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Fabian Platten
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Florian Dunker
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Constance Tisserant
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Arne Weiberg
- Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
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Regmi R, Newman TE, Khentry Y, Kamphuis LG, Derbyshire MC. Genome-wide identification of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum small RNAs and their endogenous targets. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:582. [PMID: 37784009 PMCID: PMC10544508 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09686-7] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several phytopathogens produce small non-coding RNAs of approximately 18-30 nucleotides (nt) which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Commonly called small RNAs (sRNAs), these small molecules were also reported to be present in the necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. S. sclerotiorum causes diseases in more than 400 plant species, including the important oilseed crop Brassica napus. sRNAs can further be classified as microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Certain miRNAs can activate loci that produce further sRNAs; these secondary sRNA-producing loci are called 'phased siRNA' (PHAS) loci and have only been described in plants. To date, very few studies have characterized sRNAs and their endogenous targets in S. sclerotiorum. RESULTS We used Illumina sequencing to characterize sRNAs from fungal mycelial mats of S. sclerotiorum spread over B. napus leaves. In total, eight sRNA libraries were prepared from in vitro, 12 h post-inoculation (HPI), and 24 HPI mycelial mat samples. Cluster analysis identified 354 abundant sRNA clusters with reads of more than 100 Reads Per Million (RPM). Differential expression analysis revealed upregulation of 34 and 57 loci at 12 and 24 HPI, respectively, in comparison to in vitro samples. Among these, 25 loci were commonly upregulated. Altogether, 343 endogenous targets were identified from the major RNAs of 25 loci. Almost 88% of these targets were annotated as repeat element genes, while the remaining targets were non-repeat element genes. Fungal degradome reads confirmed cleavage of two transposable elements by one upregulated sRNA. Altogether, 24 milRNA loci were predicted with both mature and milRNA* (star) sequences; these are both criteria associated previously with experimentally verified miRNAs. Degradome sequencing data confirmed the cleavage of 14 targets. These targets were related to repeat element genes, phosphate acetyltransferases, RNA-binding factor, and exchange factor. A PHAS gene prediction tool identified 26 possible phased interfering loci with 147 phasiRNAs from the S. sclerotiorum genome, suggesting this pathogen might produce sRNAs that function similarly to miRNAs in higher eukaryotes. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into sRNA populations and add a new resource for the study of sRNAs in S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Regmi
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Floreat, WA, 6014, Australia
- Present address: Microbiome for One Systems Health, CSIRO, Urrbrae, South Australia, Australia
| | - Toby E Newman
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Yuphin Khentry
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Lars G Kamphuis
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Floreat, WA, 6014, Australia
| | - Mark C Derbyshire
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
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Zhang L, Wang S, Ruan S, Nzabanita C, Wang Y, Guo L. A Mycovirus VIGS Vector Confers Hypovirulence to a Plant Pathogenic Fungus to Control Wheat FHB. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302606. [PMID: 37587761 PMCID: PMC10582431 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Mycovirus-mediated hypovirulence has the potential to control fungal diseases. However, the availability of hypovirulence-conferring mycoviruses for plant fungal disease control is limited as most fungal viruses are asymptomatic. In this study, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector p26-D4 of Fusarium graminearum gemytripvirus 1 (FgGMTV1), a tripartite circular single-stranded DNA mycovirus, is successfully constructed to convert the causal fungus of cereal Fusarium head blight (FHB) into a hypovirulent strain. p26-D4, with an insert of a 75-150 bp fragment of the target reporter transgene transcript in both sense and antisense orientations, efficiently triggered gene silencing in Fusarium graminearum. Notably, the two hypovirulent strains, p26-D4-Tri101, and p26-D4-FgPP1, obtained by silencing the virulence-related genes Tri101 and FgPP1 with p26-D4, can be used as biocontrol agents to protect wheat from a fungal disease FHB and mycotoxin contamination at the field level. This study not only describes the first mycovirus-derived VIGS system but also proves that the VIGS vector can be used to establish multiple hypovirulent strains to control pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
| | - Shuangchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
| | - Shaojian Ruan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
| | - Clement Nzabanita
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
| | - Yanfei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
| | - Lihua Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100193China
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7
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Mann CWG, Sawyer A, Gardiner DM, Mitter N, Carroll BJ, Eamens AL. RNA-Based Control of Fungal Pathogens in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12391. [PMID: 37569766 PMCID: PMC10418863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Our duty to conserve global natural ecosystems is increasingly in conflict with our need to feed an expanding population. The use of conventional pesticides not only damages the environment and vulnerable biodiversity but can also still fail to prevent crop losses of 20-40% due to pests and pathogens. There is a growing call for more ecologically sustainable pathogen control measures. RNA-based biopesticides offer an eco-friendly alternative to the use of conventional fungicides for crop protection. The genetic modification (GM) of crops remains controversial in many countries, though expression of transgenes inducing pathogen-specific RNA interference (RNAi) has been proven effective against many agronomically important fungal pathogens. The topical application of pathogen-specific RNAi-inducing sprays is a more responsive, GM-free approach to conventional RNAi transgene-based crop protection. The specific targeting of essential pathogen genes, the development of RNAi-nanoparticle carrier spray formulations, and the possible structural modifications to the RNA molecules themselves are crucial to the success of this novel technology. Here, we outline the current understanding of gene silencing pathways in plants and fungi and summarize the pioneering and recent work exploring RNA-based biopesticides for crop protection against fungal pathogens, with a focus on spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS). Further, we discuss factors that could affect the success of RNA-based control strategies, including RNA uptake, stability, amplification, and movement within and between the plant host and pathogen, as well as the cost and design of RNA pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. G. Mann
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
| | - Anne Sawyer
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Neena Mitter
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
| | - Andrew L. Eamens
- School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
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8
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Kelani AA, Bruch A, Rivieccio F, Visser C, Krüger T, Weaver D, Pan X, Schäuble S, Panagiotou G, Kniemeyer O, Bromley MJ, Bowyer P, Barber AE, Brakhage AA, Blango MG. Disruption of the Aspergillus fumigatus RNA interference machinery alters the conidial transcriptome. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1033-1050. [PMID: 37019633 PMCID: PMC10275271 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079350.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway has evolved numerous functionalities in eukaryotes, with many on display in Kingdom Fungi. RNAi can regulate gene expression, facilitate drug resistance, or even be altogether lost to improve growth potential in some fungal pathogens. In the WHO fungal priority pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, the RNAi system is known to be intact and functional. To extend our limited understanding of A. fumigatus RNAi, we first investigated the genetic variation in RNAi-associated genes in a collection of 217 environmental and 83 clinical genomes, where we found that RNAi components are conserved even in clinical strains. Using endogenously expressed inverted-repeat transgenes complementary to a conditionally essential gene (pabA) or a nonessential gene (pksP), we determined that a subset of the RNAi componentry is active in inverted-repeat transgene silencing in conidia and mycelium. Analysis of mRNA-seq data from RNAi double-knockout strains linked the A. fumigatus dicer-like enzymes (DclA/B) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RrpA/B) to regulation of conidial ribosome biogenesis genes; however, surprisingly few endogenous small RNAs were identified in conidia that could explain this broad change. Although RNAi was not clearly linked to growth or stress response defects in the RNAi knockouts, serial passaging of RNAi knockout strains for six generations resulted in lineages with diminished spore production over time, indicating that loss of RNAi can exert a fitness cost on the fungus. Cumulatively, A. fumigatus RNAi appears to play an active role in defense against double-stranded RNA species alongside a previously unappreciated housekeeping function in regulation of conidial ribosomal biogenesis genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman A Kelani
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Bruch
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Flora Rivieccio
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Corissa Visser
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Danielle Weaver
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael J Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Amelia E Barber
- Junior Research Group Fungal Informatics, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Matthew G Blango
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
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9
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Qu Q, Liu N, Su Q, Liu X, Jia H, Liu Y, Sun M, Cao Z, Dong J. MicroRNAs involved in the trans-kingdom gene regulation in the interaction of maize kernels and Fusarium verticillioides. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125046. [PMID: 37245767 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Maize ear rot is a widespread disease and the main pathogen is Fusarium verticillioides. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have great effects on disease resistance and it has been reported that maize miRNA participates in defense responses in maize ear rot. However, the trans-kingdom regulation of miRNAs between maize and F. verticillioides remains uncharacterized. In this study, the relationship between miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) of F. verticillioides and pathogenicity was investigated, followed by sRNA analysis and degradome sequencing of miRNA profiles and the target genes of maize and F. verticillioides after inoculation. It was found that the milRNA biogenesis positively regulated the pathogenicity of F. verticillioides by knocking out the gene FvDicer2-encoded Dicer-like protein in F. verticillioides. Following inoculation with F. verticillioides, 284 known and 6571 novel miRNAs were obtained in maize, including 28 miRNAs differentially expressed at multiple time points. The target genes of maize differentially expressed miRNAs in F. verticillioides mediated multiple pathways, including autophagy and MAPK signaling pathway. Fifty-one novel F. verticillioides milRNAs were predicted to target 333 genes in maize involved in MAPK signaling pathways, plant hormone signaling transduction and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Additionally, the miR528b-5p in maize targeted the mRNA of FvTTP which encoded a twice transmembrane protein in F. verticillioides. The FvTTP-knockout mutants displayed decreased pathogenicity and reduced synthesis of fumonisins. Thus, by interfering with the translation of FvTTP, the miR528b-5p inhibited F. verticillioides infection. These findings suggested a novel function of miR528 in resisting F. verticillioides infection. The miRNAs identified in this research and their putative target genes can be used to further elucidate the trans-kingdom functions of microRNAs in plant pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Qu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Qianfu Su
- Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin 130033, China
| | - Xinfang Liu
- Corn Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China
| | - Hui Jia
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Yuwei Liu
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Manli Sun
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Zhiyan Cao
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China.
| | - Jingao Dong
- Plant Pathogenic Mycotoxin and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agriculture University, Baoding 071001, China.
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10
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Degnan RM, McTaggart AR, Shuey LS, Pame LJS, Smith GR, Gardiner DM, Nock V, Soffe R, Sale S, Garrill A, Carroll BJ, Mitter N, Sawyer A. Exogenous double-stranded RNA inhibits the infection physiology of rust fungi to reduce symptoms in planta. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:191-207. [PMID: 36528383 PMCID: PMC9923395 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Rust fungi (Pucciniales) are a diverse group of plant pathogens in natural and agricultural systems. They pose ongoing threats to the diversity of native flora and cause annual crop yield losses. Agricultural rusts are predominantly managed with fungicides and breeding for resistance, but new control strategies are needed on non-agricultural plants and in fragile ecosystems. RNA interference (RNAi) induced by exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has promise as a sustainable approach for managing plant-pathogenic fungi, including rust fungi. We investigated the mechanisms and impact of exogenous dsRNA on rust fungi through in vitro and whole-plant assays using two species as models, Austropuccinia psidii (the cause of myrtle rust) and Coleosporium plumeriae (the cause of frangipani rust). In vitro, dsRNA either associates externally or is internalized by urediniospores during the early stages of germination. The impact of dsRNA on rust infection architecture was examined on artificial leaf surfaces. dsRNA targeting predicted essential genes significantly reduced germination and inhibited development of infection structures, namely appressoria and penetration pegs. Exogenous dsRNA sprayed onto 1-year-old trees significantly reduced myrtle rust symptoms. Furthermore, we used comparative genomics to assess the wide-scale amenability of dsRNA to control rust fungi. We sequenced genomes of six species of rust fungi, including three new families (Araucariomyceaceae, Phragmidiaceae, and Skierkaceae) and identified key genes of the RNAi pathway across 15 species in eight families of Pucciniales. Together, these findings indicate that dsRNA targeting essential genes has potential for broad-use management of rust fungi across natural and agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Degnan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Alistair R. McTaggart
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Horticultural ScienceThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Louise S. Shuey
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and FisheriesEcosciences PrecinctDutton ParkQueenslandAustralia
| | - Leny Jane S. Pame
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Grant R. Smith
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research LimitedLincolnNew Zealand
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Horticultural ScienceThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Volker Nock
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Rebecca Soffe
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
- Present address:
School of EngineeringRMIT UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Sarah Sale
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Ashley Garrill
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Neena Mitter
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Horticultural ScienceThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Anne Sawyer
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Horticultural ScienceThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
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11
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Dalakouras A, Katsaouni A, Avramidou M, Dadami E, Tsiouri O, Vasileiadis S, Makris A, Georgopoulou ME, Papadopoulou KK. A beneficial fungal root endophyte triggers systemic RNA silencing and DNA methylation of a host reporter gene. RNA Biol 2023; 20:20-30. [PMID: 36573793 PMCID: PMC9809956 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2159158] [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] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that RNA interference (RNAi) plays a pivotal role in the communication between plants and pathogenic fungi, where a bi-directional trans-kingdom RNAi is established to the advantage of either the host or the pathogen. Similar mechanisms acting during plant association with non-pathogenic symbiotic microorganisms have been elusive to this date. To determine whether root endophytes can induce systemic RNAi responses to their host plants, we designed an experimental reporter-based system consisting of the root-restricted, beneficial fungal endophyte, Fusarium solani strain K (FsK) and its host Nicotiana benthamiana. Since not all fungi encode the RNAi machinery, we first needed to validate that FsK does so, by identifying its core RNAi enzymes (2 Dicer-like genes, 2 Argonautes and 4 RNA-dependent RNA polymerases) and by showing its susceptibility to in vitro RNAi upon exogenous application of double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Upon establishing this, we transformed FsK with a hairpin RNA (hpRNA) construct designed to target a reporter gene in its host N. benthamiana. The hpRNA was processed by FsK RNAi machinery predominantly into 21-24-nt small RNAs that triggered RNA silencing but not DNA methylation in the fungal hyphae. Importantly, when the hpRNA-expressing FsK was used to inoculate N. benthamiana, systemic RNA silencing and DNA methylation of the host reporter gene was recorded. Our data suggest that RNAi signals can be translocated by root endophytes to their hosts and can modulate gene expression during mutualism, which may be translated to beneficial phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Dalakouras
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece,Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Larissa, Greece,CONTACT Athanasios Dalakouras University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece; Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Larissa, Greece
| | - Afrodite Katsaouni
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
| | - Marianna Avramidou
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
| | - Elena Dadami
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
| | - Olga Tsiouri
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
| | - Sotirios Vasileiadis
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
| | - Athanasios Makris
- University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Larissa, Greece
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12
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Maksimov IV, Shein MY, Burkhanova GF. RNA Interference in Plant Protection from Fungal and Oomycete Infection. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822100106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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13
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Wang S, Ruan S, Zhang M, Nie J, Nzabanita C, Guo L. Interference of Small RNAs in Fusarium graminearum through FgGMTV1 Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121237. [PMID: 36547570 PMCID: PMC9781238 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Small RNA (sRNA) plays a central role in RNA silencing in fungi. The genome of Fusarium graminearum gemytripvirus 1 (FgGMTV1) is comprised of three DNA segments: DNA-A, DNA-B, and DNA-C. DNA-A and DNA-B are associated with fungal growth and virulence reduction. To elucidate the role of RNA silencing during the interactions of fungi and viruses, the sRNA profiles of F. graminearum in association with FgGMTV1 were established, using an FgGMTV1-free library (S-S), a library for infection with the DNA-A and DNA-B segments (S-AB), and a library for infection with the DNA-A, DNA-B, and DNA-C segments (S-ABC). A large amount of virus-derived sRNA (vsiRNA) was detected in the S-AB and S-ABC libraries, accounting for 9.9% and 13.8% of the total sRNA, respectively, indicating that FgGMTV1 triggers host RNA silencing. The total numbers of sRNA reads differed among the three libraries, suggesting that FgGMTV1 infection interferes with host RNA silencing. In addition, the relative proportions of the different sRNA lengths were altered in the S-AB and S-ABC libraries. The genome distribution patterns of the mapping of vsiRNA to DNA-A and DNA-B in the S-AB and S-ABC libraries were also different. These results suggest the influence of DNA-C on host RNA silencing. Transcripts targeted by vsiRNAs were enriched in pathways that included flavin adenine dinucleotide binding, protein folding, and filamentous growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Shaojian Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Jianhua Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Clement Nzabanita
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-01082105928
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14
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Regmi R, Penton CR, Anderson J, Gupta VVSR. Do small RNAs unlock the below ground microbiome-plant interaction mystery? Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1017392. [PMID: 36406267 PMCID: PMC9670543 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1017392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, regulatory RNAs, such as small RNAs (sRNAs), have received increasing attention in the context of host-microbe interactions due to their diverse roles in controlling various biological processes in eukaryotes. In addition, studies have identified an increasing number of sRNAs with novel functions across a wide range of bacteria. What is not well understood is why cells regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms rather than at the initiation of transcription. The finding of a multitude of sRNAs and their identified associated targets has allowed further investigation into the role of sRNAs in mediating gene regulation. These foundational data allow for further development of hypotheses concerning how a precise control of gene activity is accomplished through the combination of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Recently, sRNAs have been reported to participate in interkingdom communication and signalling where sRNAs originating from one kingdom are able to target or control gene expression in another kingdom. For example, small RNAs of fungal pathogens that silence plant genes and vice-versa plant sRNAs that mediate bacterial gene expression. However, there is currently a lack of evidence regarding sRNA-based inter-kingdom signalling across more than two interacting organisms. A habitat that provides an excellent opportunity to investigate interconnectivity is the plant rhizosphere, a multifaceted ecosystem where plants and associated soil microbes are known to interact. In this paper, we discuss how the interconnectivity of bacteria, fungi, and plants within the rhizosphere may be mediated by bacterial sRNAs with a particular focus on disease suppressive and non-suppressive soils. We discuss the potential roles sRNAs may play in the below-ground world and identify potential areas of future research, particularly in reference to the regulation of plant immunity genes by bacterial and fungal communities in disease-suppressive and non-disease-suppressive soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Regmi
- CSIRO Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
| | - C. Ryan Penton
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, United States
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Jonathan Anderson
- CSIRO Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, SA, Australia
| | - Vadakattu V. S. R. Gupta
- CSIRO Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Waite Campus, Canberra, SA, Australia
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15
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Small RNA Analyses of a Ceratobasidium Isolate Infected with Three Endornaviruses. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102276. [PMID: 36298830 PMCID: PMC9610886 DOI: 10.3390/v14102276] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolates of three endornavirus species were identified co-infecting an unidentified species of Ceratobasidium, itself identified as a symbiont from within the roots of a wild plant of the terrestrial orchid Pterostylis vittata in Western Australia. Isogenic lines of the fungal isolate lacking all three mycoviruses were derived from the virus-infected isolate. To observe how presence of endornaviruses influenced gene expression in the fungal host, we sequenced fungus-derived small RNA species from the virus-infected and virus-free isogenic lines and compared them. The presence of mycoviruses influenced expression of small RNAs. Of the 3272 fungus-derived small RNA species identified, the expression of 9.1% (300 of 3272) of them were up-regulated, and 0.6% (18 of 3272) were down-regulated in the presence of the viruses. Fourteen novel micro-RNA-like RNAs (Cer-milRNAs) were predicted. Gene target prediction of the differentially expressed Cer-milRNAs was quite ambiguous; however, fungal genes involved in transcriptional regulation, catalysis, molecular binding, and metabolic activities such as gene expression, DNA metabolic processes and regulation activities were differentially expressed in the presence of the mycoviruses.
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16
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Rodriguez Coy L, Plummer KM, Khalifa ME, MacDiarmid RM. Mycovirus-encoded suppressors of RNA silencing: Possible allies or enemies in the use of RNAi to control fungal disease in crops. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:965781. [PMID: 37746227 PMCID: PMC10512228 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.965781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Plants, fungi, and many other eukaryotes have evolved an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism that is key for regulating gene expression and the control of pathogens. RNAi inhibits gene expression, in a sequence-specific manner, by recognizing and deploying cognate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) either from endogenous sources (e.g. pre-micro RNAs) or exogenous origin (e.g. viruses, dsRNA, or small interfering RNAs, siRNAs). Recent studies have demonstrated that fungal pathogens can transfer siRNAs into plant cells to suppress host immunity and aid infection, in a mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNAi. New technologies, based on RNAi are being developed for crop protection against insect pests, viruses, and more recently against fungal pathogens. One example, is host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), which is a mechanism whereby transgenic plants are modified to produce siRNAs or dsRNAs targeting key transcripts of plants, or their pathogens or pests. An alternative gene regulation strategy that also co-opts the silencing machinery is spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), in which dsRNAs or single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) are applied to target genes within a pathogen or pest. Fungi also use their RNA silencing machinery against mycoviruses (fungal viruses) and mycoviruses can deploy virus-encoded suppressors of RNAi (myco-VSRs) as a counter-defence. We propose that myco-VSRs may impact new dsRNA-based management methods, resulting in unintended outcomes, including suppression of management by HIGS or SIGS. Despite a large diversity of mycoviruses being discovered using high throughput sequencing, their biology is poorly understood. In particular, the prevalence of mycoviruses and the cellular effect of their encoded VSRs are under-appreciated when considering the deployment of HIGS and SIGS strategies. This review focuses on mycoviruses, their VSR activities in fungi, and the implications for control of pathogenic fungi using RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Rodriguez Coy
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Kim M. Plummer
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Mahmoud E. Khalifa
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - Robin M. MacDiarmid
- BioProtection, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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17
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Paudel B, Pedersen C, Yen Y, Marzano SYL. Fusarium Graminearum Virus-1 Strain FgV1-SD4 Infection Eliminates Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol Synthesis by Fusarium graminearum in FHB. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081484. [PMID: 35893542 PMCID: PMC9394287 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) toxin production during the infection of F. graminearum in small grain crops is one of the most harmful virulence factors associated with economic losses. Metatranscriptome sequencing and RT-qPCR traced back that the only mycovirus infecting an F. graminearum isolate, designated as Fg-4-2, was a novel strain of Fusarium graminearum virus 1 (FgV1), designated as FgV1-SD4. The isolate Fg-4-2 showed significantly reduced virulence against wheat compared to the virus-free culture, designated as isolate Fg-4-1, which was obtained by deep freezing and single conidial germination. Notably, no DON accumulation was detected in the harvested wheat seeds infected by Fg-4-2, whereas ~18 ppm DON was detected in seeds infected by Fg-4-1. Comparison of the genome sequence of FgV1-SD4 with other identified strains of FgV1, i.e., FgV1-DK21 and FgV1-ch, indicates mutations on ORF-2 and the 3′-UTR in the genome that might be associated with hypovirulence. This mycovirus strain alone and specific genetic components of FgV1-SD4 can be further optimized to be developed as a biocontrol agent to reduce Fusarium head blight and to lower the DON accumulation levels in small grain crops due to this fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bimal Paudel
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (B.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Connor Pedersen
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (B.P.); (C.P.)
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Yang Yen
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (B.P.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (S.-Y.L.M.)
| | - Shin-Yi Lee Marzano
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (B.P.); (C.P.)
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Toledo, OH 43606, USA
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (S.-Y.L.M.)
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18
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Li M, Xie L, Wang M, Lin Y, Zhong J, Zhang Y, Zeng J, Kong G, Xi P, Li H, Ma LJ, Jiang Z. FoQDE2-dependent milRNA promotes Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense virulence by silencing a glycosyl hydrolase coding gene expression. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010157. [PMID: 35512028 PMCID: PMC9113603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate protein-coding gene expression primarily found in plants and animals. Fungi produce microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) that are structurally similar to miRNAs and functionally important in various biological processes. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is the causal agent of Banana Fusarium vascular wilt that threatens global banana production. It remains uncharacterized about the biosynthesis and functions of milRNAs in Foc. In this study, we investigated the biological function of milRNAs contributing to Foc pathogenesis. Within 24 hours post infecting the host, the Argonaute coding gene FoQDE2, and two Dicer coding genes FoDCL1 and FoDCL2, all of which are involved in milRNA biosynthesis, were significantly induced. FoQDE2 deletion mutant exhibited decreased virulence, suggesting the involvement of milRNA biosynthesis in the Foc pathogenesis. By small RNA sequencing, we identified 364 small RNA-producing loci in the Foc genome, 25 of which were significantly down-regulated in the FoQDE2 deletion mutant, from which milR-87 was verified as a FoQDE2-depedent milRNA based on qRT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. Compared to the wild-type, the deletion mutant of milR-87 was significantly reduced in virulence, while overexpression of milR-87 enhanced disease severity, confirming that milR-87 is crucial for Foc virulence in the infection process. We furthermore identified FOIG_15013 (a glycosyl hydrolase-coding gene) as the direct target of milR-87 based on the expression of FOIG_15013-GFP fusion protein. The FOIG_15013 deletion mutant displayed similar phenotypes as the overexpression of milR-87, with a dramatic increase in the growth, conidiation and virulence. Transient expression of FOIG_15013 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves activates the host defense responses. Collectively, this study documents the involvement of milRNAs in the manifestation of the devastating fungal disease in banana, and demonstrates the importance of milRNAs in the pathogenesis and other biological processes. Further analyses of the biosynthesis and expression regulation of fungal milRNAs may offer a novel strategy to combat devastating fungal diseases. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is the causal agent of Banana Fusarium vascular wilt that threatens global banana production. However, knowledge about pathogenesis of Foc is limited. In particular, pathogenic regulatory mechanism of the microRNA like small RNAs (milRNAs) found in Foc is unknown. Here, we found that FoQDE2, an Argonaute coding gene, and two Dicer coding genes FoDCL1 and FoDCL2, which are involved in milRNA biosynthesis, are significantly induced during the early infection stage of Foc. The results suggested that the milRNAs biosynthesis mediated by these genes may play an active role in the infection process of Foc. Based on this assumption, we subsequently found a FoQDE2-dependent milRNA (milR-87) and identified its target gene. Functional analysis showed that FoQDE2, milR-87 and its target gene were involved in the pathogenicity of Foc in different degree. The studies help us gain insight into the pathogenesis with FoQDE2, milR-87, and its target gene as central axis in Foc. The identified pathogenicity-involved milRNA provides an active target for developing novel and efficient biocontrol agents against Banana Fusarium wilt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Li
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- * E-mail: (ML); (LJM); (ZJ)
| | - Lifei Xie
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yilian Lin
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jiaqi Zhong
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Bioinformatics section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jing Zeng
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Guanghui Kong
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Pinggen Xi
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Huaping Li
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Li-Jun Ma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ML); (LJM); (ZJ)
| | - Zide Jiang
- Department of Plant Pathology / Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- * E-mail: (ML); (LJM); (ZJ)
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Exploring the Effectiveness and Durability of Trans-Kingdom Silencing of Fungal Genes in the Vascular Pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052742. [PMID: 35269884 PMCID: PMC8910871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052742] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) based on trans-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) has been successfully exploited to engineer host resistance to pests and pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes. However, revealing the mechanisms underlying trans-kingdom RNAi between hosts and pathogens lags behind applications. The effectiveness and durability of trans-kingdom silencing of pathogenic genes are uncharacterized. In this study, using our transgenic 35S-VdH1i cotton plants in which dsVdH1-derived small RNAs (siVdH1) accumulated, small RNA sequencing analysis revealed that siVdH1s exclusively occur within the double-stranded (ds)VdH1 region, and no transitive siRNAs were produced beyond this region in recovered hyphae of Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae). Accordingly, we found that VdH1 silencing was reduced over time in recovered hyphae cultured in vitro, inferring that once the fungus got rid of the 35S-VdH1i cotton plants would gradually regain their pathogenicity. To explore whether continually exporting dsRNAs/siRNAs from transgenic plants into recipient fungal cells guaranteed the effectiveness and stability of HIGS, we created GFP/RFP double-labeled V. dahliae and transgenic Arabidopsis expressing dsGFP (35S-GFPi plants). Confocal images visually demonstrate the efficient silencing of GFP in V. dahliae that colonized host vascular tissues. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HIGS effectively triggers long-lasting trans-kingdom RNAi during plant vasculature V. dahliae interactions, despite no amplification or transitivity of RNAi being noted in this soil-borne fungal pathogen.
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20
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Xu M, Li G, Guo Y, Gao Y, Zhu L, Liu Z, Tian R, Gao C, Han P, Wang N, Guo F, Bao J, Jia C, Feng H, Huang L. A fungal microRNA-like RNA subverts host immunity and facilitates pathogen infection by silencing two host receptor-like kinase genes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 233:2503-2519. [PMID: 34981514 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) play important roles in various biological processes by silencing their corresponding target genes in most eukaryotes. However, cross-kingdom regulation mediated by fungal microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) in plant-pathogen interactions is still largely unknown. Using molecular, genetic, histological, and biochemical approaches, we found that the apple tree Valsa canker pathogen Valsa mali milRNA Vm-milR1 could suppress the host immunity by silencing two host receptor-like kinase genes, MdRLKT1 and MdRLKT2. Vm-milR1 was highly induced during V. mali infection. Deletion of Vm-milR1 precursor abolished the generation of Vm-milR1 and reduced the virulence of V. mali. Inoculation of Vm-milR1 deletion mutants induced the host defence responses, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, callose deposition, and high expression of defence-related genes. Furthermore, Vm-milR1 was confirmed to be able to suppress the expression of MdRLKT1 and MdRLKT2 in a sequence-specific manner. Moreover, overexpression of either MdRLKT1 or MdRLKT2 enhanced apple resistance to V. mali by activating the host defence responses. Furthermore, knockdown of MdRLKT1 or MdRLKT2 compromised the host resistance to V. mali. Our study revealed that V. mali was equipped with Vm-milR1 as an sRNA effector to silence host receptor-like kinase genes, suppress the host defence responses, and facilitate pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Guangyao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yuqi Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Lihua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Zhaoyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Runze Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Pengliang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Jiyuan Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Conghui Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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21
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Jeseničnik T, Štajner N, Radišek S, Mishra AK, Košmelj K, Kunej U, Jakše J. Discovery of microRNA-like Small RNAs in Pathogenic Plant Fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae Using High-Throughput Sequencing and qPCR and RLM-RACE Validation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:900. [PMID: 35055083 PMCID: PMC8778906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Verticillium nonalfalfae (V. nonalfalfae) is one of the most problematic hop (Humulus lupulus L.) pathogens, as the highly virulent fungal pathotypes cause severe annual yield losses due to infections of entire hop fields. In recent years, the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism has become one of the main areas of focus in plant-fungal pathogen interaction studies and has been implicated as one of the major contributors to fungal pathogenicity. MicroRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) have been identified in several important plant pathogenic fungi; however, to date, no milRNA has been reported in the V. nonalfalfae species. In the present study, using a high-throughput sequencing approach and extensive bioinformatics analysis, a total of 156 milRNA precursors were identified in the annotated V. nonalfalfae genome, and 27 of these milRNA precursors were selected as true milRNA candidates, with appropriate microRNA hairpin secondary structures. The stem-loop RT-qPCR assay was used for milRNA validation; a total of nine V. nonalfalfae milRNAs were detected, and their expression was confirmed. The milRNA expression patterns, determined by the absolute quantification approach, imply that milRNAs play an important role in the pathogenicity of highly virulent V. nonalfalfae pathotypes. Computational analysis predicted milRNA targets in the V. nonalfalfae genome and in the host hop transcriptome, and the activity of milRNA-mediated RNAi target cleavage was subsequently confirmed for two selected endogenous fungal target gene models using the 5' RLM-RACE approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taja Jeseničnik
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.J.); (N.Š.); (K.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Nataša Štajner
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.J.); (N.Š.); (K.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Sebastjan Radišek
- Plant Protection Department, Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, 3310 Žalec, Slovenia;
| | - Ajay Kumar Mishra
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
| | - Katarina Košmelj
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.J.); (N.Š.); (K.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Urban Kunej
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.J.); (N.Š.); (K.K.); (U.K.)
| | - Jernej Jakše
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.J.); (N.Š.); (K.K.); (U.K.)
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22
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Guo F, Liang J, Xu M, Zhang G, Huang L, Feng H. A Novel DCL2-Dependent Micro-Like RNA Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 Affects Pathogenicity by Regulating the Expression of Vm- VPS10 in Valsa mali. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:721399. [PMID: 34759897 PMCID: PMC8575173 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.721399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dicer proteins are mainly responsible for generating small RNAs (sRNAs), which are involved in gene silencing in most eukaryotes. In previous research, two DCL proteins in Valsa mali, the pathogenic fungus causing apple tree Valsa canker, were found associated with both the pathogenicity and generation of sRNAs. In this study, the differential expression of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) was analyzed based on the deep sequencing of the wild type and Vm-DCL2 mutant, respectively. Overall, the generation of 40 siRNAs and 18 milRNAs was evidently associated with Vm-DCL2. The target genes of milRNAs were then identified using degradome sequencing; according to the prediction results, most candidate targets are related to pathogenicity. Further, expression of Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 was confirmed in the wild type but not in the Vm-DCL2 mutant. Moreover, the pathogenicity of Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 deletion mutants (ΔVm-PC-3p-92107_6) and the over-expression transformants (Vm-PC-3p-92107_6-OE) was significantly increased and decreased, respectively. Based on those degradome results, vacuolar protein sorting 10 (Vm-VPS10) was identified as the target of Vm-PC-3p-92107_6. Co-expression analysis in tobacco leaves further confirmed that Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 could suppress the expression of Vm-VPS10. Meanwhile, the expression levels of Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 and Vm-VPS10 displayed divergent trends in ΔVm-PC-3p-92107_6 and Vm-PC-3p-92107_6-OE, respectively. Perhaps most importantly, ΔVm-VPS10 featured a significant reduction in pathogenicity. Taken together, our results indicate that a DCL2-dependent milRNA Vm-PC-3p-92107_6 plays roles in pathogenicity by regulating the expression of Vm-VPS10. This study lays a foundation for the comprehensive analysis of pathogenic mechanisms of V. mali and deepens our understanding of the generation and function of fungal sRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiahao Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Gao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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23
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Hao G, McCormick S, Vaughan MM. Effects of Double-Stranded RNAs Targeting Fusarium graminearum TRI6 on Fusarium Head Blight and Mycotoxins. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:2080-2087. [PMID: 33823648 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-10-20-0468-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), which reduces crop yield and contaminates grains with poisonous trichothecene mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON). DON functions as an important virulence factor that promotes FHB spread in wheat; therefore, reducing DON production will decrease yield losses to FHB and increase food safety. Recent progress in the topical application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to reduce F. graminearum infection has provided encouraging results. In this study, we designed and synthesized dsRNA targeting the transcription factor TRI6 (TRI6-dsRNA), which is a key regulator of DON biosynthesis. The expression of F. graminearum TRI6 was significantly lower in detached wheat heads treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution compared with the controls. Furthermore, TRI6-dsRNA treatments reduced disease and DON accumulation in inoculated detached wheat heads. Therefore, topical applications of TRI6-dsRNA on wheat heads of intact plants were assessed for their ability to reduce FHB and DON under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. When wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution in growth chamber conditions, TRI6-dsRNA treatments failed to prevent FHB spread. However, when wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution under greenhouse conditions, FHB and DON were significantly reduced, and infection was restricted to the inoculated floret. In addition, addition of TRI6-dsRNA to toxin induction liquid media had no effect on F. graminearum 15-ADON production. Our study demonstrates that the efficacy of dsRNA applications is strongly dependent on application methods and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixia Hao
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Susan McCormick
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Martha M Vaughan
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
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24
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Rajput M, Choudhary K, Kumar M, Vivekanand V, Chawade A, Ortiz R, Pareek N. RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing for Crop Improvement: Paradigm Shift towards Sustainable Agriculture. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10091914. [PMID: 34579446 PMCID: PMC8467553 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid population growth, there is an urgent need for innovative crop improvement approaches to meet the increasing demand for food. Classical crop improvement approaches involve, however, a backbreaking process that cannot equipoise with increasing crop demand. RNA-based approaches i.e., RNAi-mediated gene regulation and the site-specific nuclease-based CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing has made advances in the efficient targeted modification in many crops for the higher yield and resistance to diseases and different stresses. In functional genomics, RNA interference (RNAi) is a propitious gene regulatory approach that plays a significant role in crop improvement by permitting the downregulation of gene expression by small molecules of interfering RNA without affecting the expression of other genes. Gene editing technologies viz. the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) have appeared prominently as a powerful tool for precise targeted modification of nearly all crops' genome sequences to generate variation and accelerate breeding efforts. In this regard, the review highlights the diverse roles and applications of RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 system as powerful technologies to improve agronomically important plants to enhance crop yields and increase tolerance to environmental stress (biotic or abiotic). Ultimately, these technologies can prove to be important in view of global food security and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Rajput
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Khushboo Choudhary
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - V. Vivekanand
- Centre for Energy and Environment, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, Rajasthan, India;
| | - Aakash Chawade
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 101, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (N.P.)
| | - Rodomiro Ortiz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 101, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;
| | - Nidhi Pareek
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (N.P.)
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25
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Qiao Y, Xia R, Zhai J, Hou Y, Feng L, Zhai Y, Ma W. Small RNAs in Plant Immunity and Virulence of Filamentous Pathogens. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 59:265-288. [PMID: 34077241 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-121520-023514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gene silencing guided by small RNAs governs a broad range of cellular processes in eukaryotes. Small RNAs are important components of plant immunity because they contribute to pathogen-triggered transcription reprogramming and directly target pathogen RNAs. Recent research suggests that silencing of pathogen genes by plant small RNAs occurs not only during viral infection but also in nonviral pathogens through a process termed host-induced gene silencing, which involves trans-species small RNA trafficking. Similarly, small RNAs are also produced by eukaryotic pathogens and regulate virulence. This review summarizes the small RNA pathways in both plants and filamentous pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes, and discusses their role in host-pathogen interactions. We highlight secondarysmall interfering RNAs of plants as regulators of immune receptor gene expression and executors of host-induced gene silencing in invading pathogens. The current status and prospects of trans-species gene silencing at the host-pathogen interface are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongli Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China;
| | - Rui Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jixian Zhai
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yingnan Hou
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Li Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi Zhai
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Wenbo Ma
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK;
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26
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Nili O, Azizi A, Abdollahzadeh J. Development of an efficient Tef-1α RNA hairpin structure to efficient management of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9612. [PMID: 33953257 PMCID: PMC8099910 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88422-1] [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: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum are serious worldwide-distributed plant pathogenic fungi with a wide host range in tropical and temperate climates. They cause fruit rot, canker, and dieback of twigs in various woody plants. Protection of pruning wounds using fungicides is the prevalent strategy for the management of the diseases caused by these fungi. Chemical control of plant diseases is not environmentally safe and the residues of fungicides are a threat to nature. Furthermore, genetic resources of resistance to plant diseases in woody plants are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of RNA silencing using an efficient hairpin structure based on Tef-1α gene for the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum. Hairpin structure of Tef-1α was cloned in pFGC5941 binary vector and the recombinant construct was named pFGC-TEF-d. Transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d using Agrobacterium LBA4404 in grapevine (Bidaneh Sefid cv.) and strawberry cultivars (Camarosa and Ventana) led to a reduction in disease progress of L. theobromae. The disease reduction in grapevine was estimated by 55% and in strawberries cultivars Camarosa and Ventana by 58% and 93%, respectively. Further analysis of transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d in strawberry (Camarosa) shown disease reduction using Neofusicoccum parvum. Here we introduce RNAi silencing using pFGC-TEF-d construct as an efficient strategy to the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Nili
- Department of Plant Protection, University of Kurdistan, 66177-15175, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Abdolbaset Azizi
- Department of Plant Protection, University of Kurdistan, 66177-15175, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Jafar Abdollahzadeh
- Department of Plant Protection, University of Kurdistan, 66177-15175, Sanandaj, Iran.
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27
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Feng H, Xu M, Gao Y, Liang J, Guo F, Guo Y, Huang L. Vm-milR37 contributes to pathogenicity by regulating glutathione peroxidase gene VmGP in Valsa mali. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:243-254. [PMID: 33278058 PMCID: PMC7814965 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play important roles in various biological processes by regulating their corresponding target genes. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of fungal microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) are still largely unknown. In this study, a milRNA (Vm-milR37) was isolated and identified from Valsa mali, which causes the most serious disease on the trunk of apple trees in China. Based on the results of deep sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Vm-milR37 was found to be expressed in the mycelium, while it was not expressed during the V. mali infection process. Overexpression of Vm-milR37 did not affect vegetative growth, but significantly decreased pathogenicity. Based on degradome sequencing, the target of Vm-milR37 was identified as VmGP, a glutathione peroxidase. The expression of Vm-milR37 and VmGP showed a divergent trend in V. mali-apple interaction samples and Vm-milR37 overexpression transformants. The expression of VmGP could be suppressed significantly by Vm-milR37 when coexpressed in tobacco leaves. Deletion of VmGP showed significantly reduced pathogenicity compared with the wild type. VmGP deletion mutants showed more sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. Apple leaves inoculated with Vm-milR37 overexpression transformants and VmGP deletion mutant displayed increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species compared with the wild type. Thus, Vm-milR37 plays a critical role in pathogenicity by regulating VmGP, which contributes to the oxidative stress response during V. mali infection. These results provide important evidence to define the roles of milRNAs and their corresponding target genes in pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life SciencesNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Yuqi Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Jiahao Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
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Wang J, Zeng W, Xie J, Fu Y, Jiang D, Lin Y, Chen W, Cheng J. A novel antisense long non-coding RNA participates in asexual and sexual reproduction by regulating the expression of GzmetE in Fusarium graminearum. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4939-4955. [PMID: 33438341 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is an important worldwide pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight in wheat, barley, maize and other grains. LncRNAs play important roles in many biological processes, but little is known about their functions and mechanisms in filamentous fungi. Here, we report that a natural antisense RNA, GzmetE-AS, is transcribed from the opposite strand of GzmetE. GzmetE encodes a homoserine O-acetyltransferase, which is important for sexual development and plant infection. The expression of GzmetE-AS was increased significantly during the conidiation stage, while GzmetE was upregulated in the late stage of sexual reproduction. Overexpression of GzmetE-AS inhibited the transcription of GzmetE. In contrast, the expression of GzmetE was significantly increased in GzmetE-AS transcription termination strain GzmetE-AS-T. Furthermore, GzmetE-AS-T produced more perithecia and facilitated the ascospore discharge, resembling the phenotype of GzmetE overexpressing strains. However, overexpression of GzmetE-AS in ∆dcl1/2 strain cannot inhibit the expression of GzmetE, and the GzmetE nat-siRNA is also significantly reduced in ∆dcl1/2 mutant. Taken together, we have identified a novel antisense lncRNA GzmetE-AS, which is involved in asexual and sexual reproduction by regulating its antisense gene GzmetE through RNAi pathway. Our findings reveal that the lncRNA plays critical roles in the development of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenping Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Fu
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Daohong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Lin
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Residual Effects Caused by a Past Mycovirus Infection in Fusarium circinatum. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f12010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mycoviruses are known to be difficult to cure in fungi but their spontaneous loss occurs commonly. The unexpected disappearance of mycoviruses can be explained by diverse reasons, from methodological procedures to biological events such as posttranscriptional silencing machinery. The long-term effects of a virus infection on the host organism have been well studied in the case of human viruses; however, the possible residual effect on a fungus after the degradation of a mycovirus is unknown. For that, this study analyses a possible residual effect on the transcriptome of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum after the loss of the mitovirus FcMV1. The mycovirus that previously infected the fungal isolate was not recovered after a 4-year storage period. Only 14 genes were determined as differentially expressed and were related to cell cycle regulation and amino acid metabolism. The results showed a slight acceleration in the metabolism of the host that had lost the mycovirus by the upregulation of the genes involved in essential functions for fungal development. The analysis also revealed a weak expression in the annotated genes of the RNA silencing machinery. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a potential residual effect on the host transcriptome caused by the past infection of a mycovirus is reported.
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Lax C, Tahiri G, Patiño-Medina JA, Cánovas-Márquez JT, Pérez-Ruiz JA, Osorio-Concepción M, Navarro E, Calo S. The Evolutionary Significance of RNAi in the Fungal Kingdom. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9348. [PMID: 33302447 PMCID: PMC7763443 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) was discovered at the end of last millennium, changing the way scientists understood regulation of gene expression. Within the following two decades, a variety of different RNAi mechanisms were found in eukaryotes, reflecting the evolutive diversity that RNAi entails. The essential silencing mechanism consists of an RNase III enzyme called Dicer that cleaves double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) generating small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), a hallmark of RNAi. These siRNAs are loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) triggering the cleavage of complementary messenger RNAs by the Argonaute protein, the main component of the complex. Consequently, the expression of target genes is silenced. This mechanism has been thoroughly studied in fungi due to their proximity to the animal phylum and the conservation of the RNAi mechanism from lower to higher eukaryotes. However, the role and even the presence of RNAi differ across the fungal kingdom, as it has evolved adapting to the particularities and needs of each species. Fungi have exploited RNAi to regulate a variety of cell activities as different as defense against exogenous and potentially harmful DNA, genome integrity, development, drug tolerance, or virulence. This pathway has offered versatility to fungi through evolution, favoring the enormous diversity this kingdom comprises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Lax
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - Ghizlane Tahiri
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - José Alberto Patiño-Medina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán CP 58030, Mexico;
| | - José T. Cánovas-Márquez
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - José A. Pérez-Ruiz
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - Macario Osorio-Concepción
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.T.C.-M.); (J.A.P.-R.); (M.O.-C.); (E.N.)
| | - Silvia Calo
- School of Natural and Exact Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, 51033 Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
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Wang M, Ren X, Wang L, Lu X, Han L, Zhang X, Feng J. A functional analysis of mitochondrial respiratory chain cytochrome bc 1 complex in Gaeumannomyces tritici by RNA silencing as a possible target of carabrone. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:1529-1544. [PMID: 32997435 PMCID: PMC7694678 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Gaeumannomyces tritici, an ascomycete soilborne fungus, causes a devastating root disease in wheat. Carabrone, a botanical bicyclic sesquiterpenic lactone, is a promising fungicidal agent that can effectively control G. tritici. However, the mechanism of action of carabrone against G. tritici remains largely unclear. Here, we used immunogold for subcellular localization of carabrone and the results showed that carabrone is subcellularly localized in the mitochondria of G. tritici. We then explored the functional analysis of genes GtCytc1 , GtCytb, and GtIsp of the mitochondrial respiratory chain cytochrome bc1 complex in G. tritici by RNA silencing as a possible target of carabrone. The results showed that the silenced mutant ∆GtIsp is less sensitive to carabrone compared to ∆GtCytc1 and ∆GtCytb. Compared with the control, the activities of complex III in all the strains, except ∆GtIsp and carabrone-resistant isolate 24-HN-1, were significantly decreased following treatment with carabrone at EC20 and EC80 in vitro (40%-50% and 70%-80%, respectively). The activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III and the mitochondrial respiration oxygen consumption rates in all the strains, except ∆GtIsp and 24-HN-1, were higher with respect to the control when treated with carabrone at EC20 in vivo. The rates of mitochondrial respiration of all strains, except ∆GtIsp, were significantly inhibited following treatment with carabrone at EC80 (ranging from 57% to 81%). This study reveals that the targeting of the iron-sulphur protein encoded by GtIsp is highly sensitive to carabrone and provides a direction for the research of carabrone's target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Wang
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- College of Life SciencesYulin UniversityYulinChina
| | - Xingyu Ren
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Lanying Wang
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Xiang Lu
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Lirong Han
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Xing Zhang
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Juntao Feng
- Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi ProvinceNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
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Role of Non-coding RNAs in Fungal Pathogenesis and Antifungal Drug Responses. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-020-00151-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), constitute a significant part of eukaryotic genomes; however, their roles in fungi are just starting to emerge. ncRNAs have been shown to regulate gene expression in response to varying environmental conditions (like stress) and response to chemicals, including antifungal drugs. In this review, I highlighted recent studies focusing on the functional roles of ncRNAs in pathogenic fungi.
Recent Findings
Emerging evidence suggests sRNAs (small RNAs) and lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs) play an important role in fungal pathogenesis and antifungal drug response. Their roles include posttranscriptional gene silencing, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. Fungal pathogens utilize RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms to regulate pathogenesis-related genes and can also transfer sRNAs inside the host to suppress host immunity genes to increase virulence. Hosts can also transfer sRNAs to induce RNAi in fungal pathogens to reduce virulence. Additionally, sRNAs and lncRNAs also regulate gene expression in response to antifungal drugs increasing resistance (and possibly tolerance) to drugs.
Summary
Herein, I discuss what is known about ncRNAs in fungal pathogenesis and antifungal drug responses. Advancements in genomic technologies will help identify the ncRNA repertoire in fungal pathogens, and functional studies will elucidate their mechanisms. This will advance our understanding of host-fungal interactions and potentially help develop better treatment strategies.
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Teli B, Purohit J, Rashid MM, Jailani AAK, Chattopadhyay A. Omics Insight on Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat for Translational Research Perspective. Curr Genomics 2020; 21:411-428. [PMID: 33093804 PMCID: PMC7536796 DOI: 10.2174/1389202921999200620222631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In the scenario of global warming and climate change, an outbreak of new pests and pathogens has become a serious concern owing to the rapid emergence of arms races, their epidemic infection, and the ability to break down host resistance, etc. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one such evidence that depredates major cereals throughout the world. The symptomatological perplexity and aetiological complexity make this disease very severe, engendering significant losses in the yield. Apart from qualitative and quantitative losses, mycotoxin production solemnly deteriorates the grain quality in addition to life endangerment of humans and animals after consumption of toxified grains above the permissible limit. To minimize this risk, we must be very strategic in designing sustainable management practices constituting cultural, biological, chemical, and host resistance approaches. Even though genetic resistance is the most effective and environmentally safe strategy, a huge genetic variation and unstable resistance response limit the holistic deployment of resistance genes in FHB management. Thus, the focus must shift towards the editing of susceptible (S) host proteins that are soft targets of newly evolving effector molecules, which ultimately could be exploited to repress the disease development process. Hence, we must understand the pathological, biochemical, and molecular insight of disease development in a nutshell. In the present time, the availability of functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics information on host-pathogen interaction in FHB have constructed various networks which helped in understanding the pathogenesis and coherent host response(s). So now translation of this information for designing of host defense in the form of desirable resistant variety/genotype is the next step. The insights collected and presented in this review will be aiding in the understanding of the disease and apprise a solution to the multi-faceted problems which are related to FHB resistance in wheat and other cereals to ensure global food safety and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basavaraj Teli
- 1Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; 2Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar, India; 3Plant RNAi Biology Group, I.C.G.E.B., New Delhi, India; 4Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Jyotika Purohit
- 1Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; 2Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar, India; 3Plant RNAi Biology Group, I.C.G.E.B., New Delhi, India; 4Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Md Mahtab Rashid
- 1Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; 2Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar, India; 3Plant RNAi Biology Group, I.C.G.E.B., New Delhi, India; 4Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - A Abdul Kader Jailani
- 1Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; 2Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar, India; 3Plant RNAi Biology Group, I.C.G.E.B., New Delhi, India; 4Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Anirudha Chattopadhyay
- 1Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; 2Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar, India; 3Plant RNAi Biology Group, I.C.G.E.B., New Delhi, India; 4Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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Xu M, Guo Y, Tian R, Gao C, Guo F, Voegele RT, Bao J, Li C, Jia C, Feng H, Huang L. Adaptive regulation of virulence genes by microRNA-like RNAs in Valsa mali. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:899-913. [PMID: 32222083 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. However, little information is known about the action mechanism and function of fungal microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs). In this study, combining deep sequencing, molecular and histological assays, milRNAs and their targets in the phytopathogenic fungus Valsa mali were isolated and identified. A critical milRNA, Vm-milR16, was identified to adaptively regulate the expression of virulence genes. Fourteen isolated milRNAs showed high expression abundance. Based on the assessment of a pathogenicity function of these milRNAs, Vm-milR16 was found to be a critical milRNA in V. mali by regulating sucrose non-fermenting 1 (VmSNF1), 4,5-DOPA dioxygenase extradiol (VmDODA), and a hypothetical protein (VmHy1). During V. mali infection, Vm-milR16 is downregulated, while its targets are upregulated. Overexpression of Vm-milR16, but not mutated Vm-milR16, significantly reduces the expression of targets and virulence of V. mali. Furthermore, deletion of VmSNF1, VmDODA and VmHy1 significantly reduce virulence of V. mali. All three targets seem to be essential for oxidative stress response and VmSNF1 is required for expression of pectinase genes during V. mali-host interaction. Our results demonstrate Vm-milRNAs contributing to the infection of V. mali on apple trees by adaptively regulating virulence genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Runze Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Ralf T Voegele
- Department of Phytopathology, Institute of Phytomedicine, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jiyuan Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chenjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Conghui Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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Dubey H, Kiran K, Jaswal R, Bhardwaj SC, Mondal TK, Jain N, Singh NK, Kayastha AM, Sharma TR. Identification and characterization of Dicer-like genes in leaf rust pathogen (Puccinia triticina) of wheat. Funct Integr Genomics 2020; 20:711-721. [PMID: 32705366 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-020-00745-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Puccinia triticina (P. triticina) is one of the most devastating fungal pathogens of wheat which causes significant annual yield loss to the crop. Understanding the gene regulatory mechanism of the biotrophic pathogen is one of the important aspects of host-pathogen interaction studies. Dicer-like genes are considered as important mediators of RNAi-based gene regulation. In this study, we report the presence of three Dicer-like genes (Pt-DCL1, Pt-DCL2, Pt-DCL3) in P. triticina genome identified through computational and biological analyses. Quantitative real-time PCR studies revealed an increase in the expression of these genes in germinating spore stages. Heterologous expression combined with mass spectrometry analysis of Pt-DCL2 confirmed the presence of a canonical Dicer-like gene in P. triticina. Phylogenetic analysis of the Pt-DCLs with the Dicer-like proteins from other organisms showed a distinct cluster of rust pathogens from the order Pucciniales. The results indicated a species-specific duplication of Dicer-like genes within the wheat rust pathogens. This study, for the first time, reports the presence of Dicer-dependent RNAi pathway in P. triticina that may play a role in gene regulatory mechanism of the pathogen during its development. Our study serves as a vital source of information for further RNAi-based molecular studies for better understanding and management of the wheat leaf rust disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Dubey
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India.,School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.,Seri-Biotech Research Laboratory, Central Silk Board, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560035, India
| | - Kanti Kiran
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Rajdeep Jaswal
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Subhash C Bhardwaj
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla, 171009, India
| | - Tapan Kumar Mondal
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Neha Jain
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - N K Singh
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Arvind M Kayastha
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
| | - Tilak Raj Sharma
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (formerly ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India. .,Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, 110001, India.
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Pathogenomics and Management of Fusarium Diseases in Plants. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050340. [PMID: 32369942 PMCID: PMC7281180 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgency to supplant the heavy reliance on chemical control of Fusarium diseases in different economically important, staple food crops due to development of resistance in the pathogen population, the high cost of production to the risk-averse grower, and the concomitant environmental impacts. Pathogenomics has enabled (i) the creation of genetic inventories which identify those putative genes, regulators, and effectors that are associated with virulence, pathogenicity, and primary and secondary metabolism; (ii) comparison of such genes among related pathogens; (iii) identification of potential genetic targets for chemical control; and (iv) better characterization of the complex dynamics of host–microbe interactions that lead to disease. This type of genomic data serves to inform host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology for targeted disruption of transcription of select genes for the control of Fusarium diseases. This review discusses the various repositories and browser access points for comparison of genomic data, the strategies for identification and selection of pathogenicity- and virulence-associated genes and effectors in different Fusarium species, HIGS and successful Fusarium disease control trials with a consideration of loss of RNAi, off-target effects, and future challenges in applying HIGS for management of Fusarium diseases.
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Werner BT, Gaffar FY, Schuemann J, Biedenkopf D, Koch AM. RNA-Spray-Mediated Silencing of Fusarium graminearum AGO and DCL Genes Improve Barley Disease Resistance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:476. [PMID: 32411160 DOI: 10.1101/821868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, several studies have revealed the enormous potential of RNA-silencing strategies as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides for plant protection. We have previously shown that targeted gene silencing mediated by an in planta expression of non-coding inhibitory double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can protect host plants against various diseases with unprecedented efficiency. In addition to the generation of RNA-silencing (RNAi) signals in planta, plants can be protected from pathogens, and pests by spray-applied RNA-based biopesticides. Despite the striking efficiency of RNA-silencing-based technologies holds for agriculture, the molecular mechanisms underlying spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) strategies are virtually unresolved, a requirement for successful future application in the field. Based on our previous work, we predict that the molecular mechanism of SIGS is controlled by the fungal-silencing machinery. In this study, we used SIGS to compare the silencing efficiencies of computationally-designed vs. manually-designed dsRNA constructs targeting ARGONAUTE and DICER genes of Fusarium graminearum (Fg). We found that targeting key components of the fungal RNAi machinery via SIGS could protect barley leaves from Fg infection and that the manual design of dsRNAs resulted in higher gene-silencing efficiencies than the tool-based design. Moreover, our results indicate the possibility of cross-kingdom RNA silencing in the Fg-barley interaction, a phenomenon in which sRNAs operate as effector molecules to induce gene silencing between species from different kingdoms, such as a plant host and their interacting pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Timo Werner
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Schuemann
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Biedenkopf
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Michaela Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Khan MK, Pandey A, Athar T, Choudhary S, Deval R, Gezgin S, Hamurcu M, Topal A, Atmaca E, Santos PA, Omay MR, Suslu H, Gulcan K, Inanc M, Akkaya MS, Kahraman A, Thomas G. Fusarium head blight in wheat: contemporary status and molecular approaches. 3 Biotech 2020; 10:172. [PMID: 32206506 PMCID: PMC7080935 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-020-2158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease that occurs in wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum and is a major risk to wheat yield. Although several research efforts focusing on FHB have been conducted in the past several decades, conditions have become more critical due to the increase in its virulent forms. In such a scenario, conferring complete resistance in plants seems to be difficult for handling this issue. The phenotyping for FHB and finding a solution for it at the genetic level comprises a long-term process as FHB infection is largely affected by environmental conditions. Modern molecular strategies have played a crucial role in revealing the host-pathogen interaction in FHB. The integration of molecular biology-based methods such as genome-wide association studies and marker-based genomic selection has provided potential cultivars for breeding programs. In this review, we aim at outlining the contemporary status of the studies conducted on FHB in wheat. The influence of FHB in wheat on animals and human health is also discussed. In addition, a summary of the advancement in the molecular technologies for identifying and developing the FHB-resistant wheat genetic resources is provided. It also suggests the future measures that are required to reduce the world's vulnerability to FHB which was one of the main goals of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd. Kamran Khan
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Anamika Pandey
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Tabinda Athar
- Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan
| | - Saumya Choudhary
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, 211007 India
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology–Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 110029 India
| | - Ravi Deval
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, India
| | - Sait Gezgin
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Mehmet Hamurcu
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Ali Topal
- Department of Field Crops, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Emel Atmaca
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Pamela Aracena Santos
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Makbule Rumeysa Omay
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Hatice Suslu
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Kamer Gulcan
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Merve Inanc
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Mahinur S. Akkaya
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116023 Liaoning China
| | - Abdullah Kahraman
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, Sanliurfa, 63300 Turkey
| | - George Thomas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, 211007 India
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Silvestri A, Turina M, Fiorilli V, Miozzi L, Venice F, Bonfante P, Lanfranco L. Different Genetic Sources Contribute to the Small RNA Population in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Gigaspora margarita. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:395. [PMID: 32231650 PMCID: PMC7082362 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a key regulatory pathway of gene expression in almost all eukaryotes. This mechanism relies on short non-coding RNA molecules (sRNAs) to recognize in a sequence-specific manner DNA or RNA targets leading to transcriptional or post-transcriptional gene silencing. To date, the fundamental role of sRNAs in the regulation of development, stress responses, defense against viruses and mobile elements, and cross-kingdom interactions has been extensively studied in a number of biological systems. However, the knowledge of the “RNAi world” in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is still limited. AMF are obligate mutualistic endosymbionts of plants, able to provide several benefits to their partners, from improved mineral nutrition to stress tolerance. Here we described the RNAi-related genes of the AMF Gigaspora margarita and characterized, through sRNA sequencing, its complex small RNAome, considering the possible genetic sources and targets of the sRNAs. G. margarita indeed is a mosaic of different genomes since it hosts endobacteria, RNA viruses, and non-integrated DNA fragments corresponding to mitovirus sequences. Our findings show that G. margarita is equipped with a complete set of RNAi-related genes characterized by the expansion of the Argonaute-like (AGO-like) gene family that seems a common trait of AMF. With regards to sRNAs, we detected populations of sRNA reads mapping to nuclear, mitochondrial, and viral genomes that share similar features (25-nt long and 5′-end uracil read enrichments), and that clearly differ from sRNAs of endobacterial origin. Furthermore, the annotation of nuclear loci producing sRNAs suggests the occurrence of different sRNA-generating processes. In silico analyses indicate that the most abundant G. margarita sRNAs, including those of viral origin, could target transcripts in the host plant, through a hypothetical cross-kingdom RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Silvestri
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, School of Nature Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Turina
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italian National Research Council, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Fiorilli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, School of Nature Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Miozzi
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italian National Research Council, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Venice
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, School of Nature Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Bonfante
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, School of Nature Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Lanfranco
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, School of Nature Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Guo H, Ji J, Wang J, Sun X. Deoxynivalenol: Masked forms, fate during food processing, and potential biological remedies. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2020; 19:895-926. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
| | - Jian Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
| | - Jia‐sheng Wang
- Department of Environmental ToxicologyUniversity of Georgia Athens Georgia
| | - Xiulan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
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41
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Yu J, Park JY, Heo J, Kim K. The ORF2 protein of Fusarium graminearum virus 1 suppresses the transcription of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1 to limit host antiviral defences. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:230-243. [PMID: 31815356 PMCID: PMC6988435 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum possesses an RNA-interference (RNAi) pathway that acts as a defence response against virus infections and exogenous double-stranded (ds) RNA. Fusarium graminearum virus 1 (FgV1), which infects F. graminearum, confers hypovirulence-associated traits such as reduced mycelial growth, increased pigmentation and reduced pathogenicity. In this study, we found that FgV1 can suppress RNA silencing by interfering with the induction of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1, which are involved in RNAi antiviral defence and the hairpin RNA/RNAi pathway in F. graminearum. In an FgAGO1- or FgDICER2-promoter/GFP-reporter expression assay the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transcript levels were reduced in FgV1-infected transformed mutant strains. By comparing transcription levels of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1 in fungal transformed mutants expressing each open reading frame (ORF) of FgV1 with or without a hairpin RNA construct, we determined that reduction of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1 transcript levels requires only the FgV1 ORF2-encoded protein (pORF2). Moreover, we confirmed that the pORF2 binds to the upstream region of FgDICERs and FgAGOs in vitro. These combined results indicate that the pORF2 of FgV1 counteracts the RNAi defence response of F. graminearum by interfering with the induction of FgDICER2 and FgAGO1 in a promoter-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisuk Yu
- Plant Genomics and Breeding InstituteSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Ju Yeon Park
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologySeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Jeong‐In Heo
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologySeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Kook‐Hyung Kim
- Plant Genomics and Breeding InstituteSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
- Department of Agricultural BiotechnologySeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
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Li Y, Liu X, Yin Z, You Y, Zou Y, Liu M, He Y, Zhang H, Zheng X, Zhang Z, Wang P. MicroRNA-like milR236, regulated by transcription factor MoMsn2, targets histone acetyltransferase MoHat1 to play a role in appressorium formation and virulence of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 137:103349. [PMID: 32006681 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103349] [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: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in various cellular growth and developmental processes through post-transcriptional gene regulation via mRNA cleavage and degradation and the inhibition of protein translation. To explore if miRNAs play a role in appressoria formation and virulence that are also governed by the regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, we have compared small RNA (sRNA) production between several ΔMorgs mutant and the wild-type strains. We have identified sRNA236 as a microRNA-like milR236 that targets the encoding sequence of MoHat1, a histone acetyltransferase type B catalytic subunit involved in appressorium function and virulence. We have also found that milR236 overexpression induces delayed appressorium formation and virulence attenuation, similar to those displayed by the ΔMohat1 mutant strain. Moreover, we have shown that the transcription factor MoMsn2 binds to the promoter sequence of milR236 to further suppress MoHAT1 transcription and MoHat1-regulated appressorium formation and virulence. In summary, by identifying a novel regulatory role of sRNA in the blast fungus, our studies reveal a new paradigm in the multifaceted regulatory pathways that govern the appressorium formation and virulence of M. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ziyi Yin
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yimei You
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yibin Zou
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Muxing Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yanglan He
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhengguang Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, and Pediatrics Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Werner BT, Gaffar FY, Schuemann J, Biedenkopf D, Koch AM. RNA-Spray-Mediated Silencing of Fusarium graminearum AGO and DCL Genes Improve Barley Disease Resistance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:476. [PMID: 32411160 PMCID: PMC7202221 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, several studies have revealed the enormous potential of RNA-silencing strategies as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides for plant protection. We have previously shown that targeted gene silencing mediated by an in planta expression of non-coding inhibitory double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can protect host plants against various diseases with unprecedented efficiency. In addition to the generation of RNA-silencing (RNAi) signals in planta, plants can be protected from pathogens, and pests by spray-applied RNA-based biopesticides. Despite the striking efficiency of RNA-silencing-based technologies holds for agriculture, the molecular mechanisms underlying spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) strategies are virtually unresolved, a requirement for successful future application in the field. Based on our previous work, we predict that the molecular mechanism of SIGS is controlled by the fungal-silencing machinery. In this study, we used SIGS to compare the silencing efficiencies of computationally-designed vs. manually-designed dsRNA constructs targeting ARGONAUTE and DICER genes of Fusarium graminearum (Fg). We found that targeting key components of the fungal RNAi machinery via SIGS could protect barley leaves from Fg infection and that the manual design of dsRNAs resulted in higher gene-silencing efficiencies than the tool-based design. Moreover, our results indicate the possibility of cross-kingdom RNA silencing in the Fg-barley interaction, a phenomenon in which sRNAs operate as effector molecules to induce gene silencing between species from different kingdoms, such as a plant host and their interacting pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Timo Werner
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Schuemann
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Biedenkopf
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Michaela Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Aline Michaela Koch,
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44
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Mohamed MA, Abd-Elsalam KA. Nanoparticles and gene silencing for suppression of mycotoxins. NANOMYCOTOXICOLOGY 2020:423-448. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-817998-7.00018-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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45
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Abstract
In this review, we discuss recent studies of the interaction between Fusarium graminearum viruses (FgVs) and the fungal host, Fusarium graminearum. Comprehensive transcriptome and proteome analyses have shown changes in the expression of host genes in response to infection by diverse FgVs. Using omics data and reverse genetics, researchers have determined the effects of some fungal host proteins (including FgHex1, FgHal2, FgSwi6, and vr1) on virus accumulation, virus transmission, and host symptom development. Recent reports have revealed the functions of the RNAi component in F. graminearum and the functional redundancy of FgDICERs and FgAGOs in the antiviral defense response against different FgV infections. Studies have also documented a unique mechanism used by FgV1 to overcome the antiviral response of the fungal host.
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46
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Guo M, Yang P, Zhang J, Liu G, Yuan Q, He W, Nian J, Yi S, Huang T, Liao Y. Expression of microRNA-like RNA-2 (Fgmil-2) and bioH1 from a single transcript in Fusarium graminearum are inversely correlated to regulate biotin synthesis during vegetative growth and host infection. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2019; 20:1574-1581. [PMID: 31385410 PMCID: PMC6804420 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) post-transcriptionally down-regulate target genes. We investigated Fusarium graminearum (Fg) milRNA expression during fungal vegetative growth and infection of wheat. Small RNA sequencing identified 36 milRNAs from Fg, one of which, Fgmil-2, had >100 transcripts per million in conidia, mycelia and infected wheat, with the highest expression in conidia and the lowest expression in colonized wheat tissue. Fgmil-2 displays perfect homology to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of an FgbioH1 messenger RNA that is involved in biotin biosynthesis. Poly(A) polymerase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends combined with sequencing analysis demonstrated that cleavage at a specific site by FgDicer2 in the 3'-UTR of FgbioH1 transcripts generated the Fgmil-2 precursor with a typical hairpin structure. Deletion of FgbioH1 or FgDicer2 genes abolished Fgmil-2 biogenesis. FgbioH1 had an inversely correlated pattern of expression to that of Fgmil-2 and FgDicer2. Deletion of FgbioH1 also showed that it is required for mycelial growth, virulence, mycotoxin biosynthesis and expression of biotin-dependent carboxylase genes. This study reveals in Fg a novel mode of inversely correlated post-transcriptional regulation in which Fgmil-2 originates from its own target transcript, FgbioH, to govern biotin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao‐Wei Guo
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Yang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Jing‐Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Liu
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Qing‐Song Yuan
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Wei‐Jie He
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Jun‐Na Nian
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Shu‐Yuan Yi
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Huang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
| | - Yu‐Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae CropsHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070People's Republic of China
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He F, Zhang R, Zhao J, Qi T, Kang Z, Guo J. Host-Induced Silencing of Fusarium graminearum Genes Enhances the Resistance of Brachypodium distachyon to Fusarium Head Blight. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1362. [PMID: 31737001 PMCID: PMC6831556 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium pathogens are devastating diseases worldwide. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) which involves host expression of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-generating constructs directed against genes in the pathogen has been a potential strategy for the ecological sound control of FHB. In this study, we constructed transgenic Brachypodium distachyon lines carrying RNA interference (RNAi) cassettes to target two essential protein kinase genes Fg00677 and Fg08731, and cytochrome P450 lanosterol C14-α-demethylase (CYP51) encoding genes (CYP51A, CYP51B, and CYP51C) of Fusarium graminearum, respectively. Northern blotting confirmed the presence of short interfering RNAs (siRNA) derived from Fg00677, Fg08731, and CYP51 in transgenic B. distachyon plants, and the transcript levels of the corresponding genes were down-regulated in the F. graminearum colonizing B. distachyon spikes. All the corresponding independent, Fg00677-RNAi, Fg08731-RNAi, and CYP51-RNAi transgenic T2 lines exhibited strong resistance to F. graminearum, suggesting that silencing molecules produced by transgenic plants inhibited the corresponding gene function by down-regulating its expression, thereby reducing pathogenicity. Our results indicate that Fg00677 and Fg08731 are effective targets for HIGS and can be applied to construct transgenic HIGS materials to enhance FHB resistance in wheat and other cereal crops.
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48
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Bui DC, Kim JE, Shin J, Lim JY, Choi GJ, Lee YW, Seo JA, Son H. ARS2 Plays Diverse Roles in DNA Damage Response, Fungal Development, and Pathogenesis in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium graminearum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2326. [PMID: 31681199 PMCID: PMC6803386 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenite-resistance protein 2 (Ars2) is an important nuclear protein involved in various RNA metabolisms in animals and plants, but no Ars2 ortholog has been studied in filamentous fungi. Although it is an essential gene in most model eukaryotes, FgARS2 null mutants were viable in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. The deletion of FgARS2 resulted in pleiotropic defects in various fungal developmental processes. Fgars2 mutants were irregular in nuclear division, and conidial germination was significantly retarded, causing the fungus to manifest its hypersensitive phenotypes under DNA damage stress. While FgARS2 deletion caused abnormal morphologies of ascospores and defective ascospore discharge, our data revealed that FgARS2 was not closely involved in small-non-coding RNA production in F. graminearum. The dominant nuclear localization of FgArs2-green fluorescent proteins (GFP) and abnormal nuclear division in FgARS2 deletion mutant implicated that FgArs2 functions in the nucleus. Intriguingly, we found that FgArs2 established a robust physical interaction with the cap binding complex (CBC) to form a tertiary complex CBC-Ars2 (CBCA), and disruption of any CBCA complex subunit drastically attenuated the virulence of F. graminearum. The results of the study indicate that Ars2 regulates fungal development, stress response, and pathogenesis via interaction with CBC in F. graminearum and provide a novel insight into understanding of the biological functions of Ars2 in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc-Cuong Bui
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jiyoung Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae Yun Lim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Therapeutic & Biotechnology Division, Center for Eco-Friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Ah Seo
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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49
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Gaffar FY, Imani J, Karlovsky P, Koch A, Kogel KH. Different Components of the RNA Interference Machinery Are Required for Conidiation, Ascosporogenesis, Virulence, Deoxynivalenol Production, and Fungal Inhibition by Exogenous Double-Stranded RNA in the Head Blight Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1662. [PMID: 31616385 PMCID: PMC6764512 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In filamentous fungi, gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) shapes many biological processes, including pathogenicity. We explored the requirement of key components of fungal RNAi machineries, including DICER-like 1 and 2 (FgDCL1, FgDCL2), ARGONAUTE 1 and 2 (FgAGO1, FgAGO2), AGO-interacting protein FgQIP (QDE2-interacting protein), RecQ helicase (FgQDE3), and four RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (FgRdRP1, FgRdRP2, FgRdRP3, FgRdRP4), in the ascomycete mycotoxin-producing fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg) for sexual and asexual multiplication, pathogenicity, and its sensitivity to double-stranded (ds)RNA. We corroborate and extend earlier findings that conidiation, ascosporogenesis, and Fusarium head blight (FHB) symptom development require an operable RNAi machinery. The involvement of RNAi in conidiation is dependent on environmental conditions as it is detectable only under low light (<2 μmol m−2 s−1). Although both DCLs and AGOs partially share their functions, the sexual ascosporogenesis is mediated primarily by FgDCL1 and FgAGO2, while FgDCL2 and FgAGO1 contribute to asexual conidia formation and germination. FgDCL1 and FgAGO2 also account for pathogenesis as their knockout (KO) results in reduced FHB development. Apart from KO mutants Δdcl2 and Δago1, mutants Δrdrp2, Δrdrp3, Δrdrp4, Δqde3, and Δqip are strongly compromised for conidiation, while KO mutations in all RdPRs, QDE3, and QIP strongly affect ascosporogenesis. Analysis of trichothecenes mycotoxins in wheat kernels showed that the relative amount of deoxynivalenol (DON), calculated as [DON] per amount of fungal genomic DNA was reduced in all spikes infected with RNAi mutants, suggesting the possibility that the fungal RNAi pathways affect Fg’s DON production. Moreover, silencing of fungal genes by exogenous target gene-specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (spray-induced gene silencing, SIGS) is dependent on DCLs, AGOs, and QIP, but not on QDE3. Together these data show that in F. graminearum, different key components of the RNAi machinery are crucial in different steps of fungal development and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Yousif Gaffar
- Department of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jafargholi Imani
- Department of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Petr Karlovsky
- Department of Crop Sciences, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Aline Koch
- Department of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Kogel
- Department of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Li P, Bhattacharjee P, Wang S, Zhang L, Ahmed I, Guo L. Mycoviruses in Fusarium Species: An Update. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:257. [PMID: 31380300 PMCID: PMC6657619 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium is an important genus of plant pathogenic fungi, and is widely distributed in soil and associated with plants worldwide. The diversity of mycoviruses in Fusarium is increasing continuously due to the development and extensive use of state-of-the-art RNA deep sequencing techniques. To date, fully-sequenced mycoviruses have been reported in 13 Fusarium species: Fusarium asiaticum, F. boothii, F. circinatum, F. coeruleum, F. globosum, F. graminearum, F. incarnatum, F. langsethiae, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. pseudograminearum, F. solani, and F. virguliforme. Most Fusarium mycoviruses establish latent infections, but some mycoviruses such as Fusarium graminearum virus 1 (FgV1), Fusarium graminearum virus-ch9 (FgV-ch9), Fusarium graminearum hypovirus 2 (FgHV2), and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi mycovirus 1 (FodV1) cause hypovirulence. Rapid advances in various omics technologies used to elucidate genes or biological processes can facilitate an improved understanding of mycovirus-host interactions. The review aims to illuminate the recent advances in studies of mycoviruses in Fusarium, including those related to diversity, molecular mechanisms of virus-host interaction. We also discuss the induction and suppression of RNA silencing including the role of RNAi components as an antiviral defense response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pallab Bhattacharjee
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lihang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Irfan Ahmed
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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