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Das J, Ghosh S, Tyagi K, Sahoo D, Jha G. Methionine biosynthetic genes and methionine sulfoxide reductase A are required for Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA to cause sheath blight disease in rice. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14441. [PMID: 38568774 PMCID: PMC10990046 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14441] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhizoctonia solani is a polyphagous necrotrophic fungal pathogen that causes sheath blight disease in rice. It deploys effector molecules as well as carbohydrate-active enzymes and enhances the production of reactive oxygen species for killing host tissues. Understanding R. solani ability to sustain growth under an oxidative-stress-enriched environment is important for developing disease control strategies. Here, we demonstrate that R. solani upregulates methionine biosynthetic genes, including Rs_MET13 during infection in rice, and double-stranded RNA-mediated silencing of these genes impairs the pathogen's ability to cause disease. Exogenous treatment with methionine restores the disease-causing ability of Rs_MET13-silenced R. solani and facilitates its growth on 10 mM H2O2-containing minimal-media. Notably, the Rs_MsrA gene that encodes methionine sulfoxide reductase A, an antioxidant enzyme involved in the repair of oxidative damage of methionine, is upregulated upon H2O2 treatment and also during infection in rice. Rs_MsrA-silenced R. solani is unable to cause disease, suggesting that it is important for the repair of oxidative damage in methionine during host colonization. We propose that spray-induced gene silencing of Rs_MsrA and designing of antagonistic molecules that block MsrA activity can be exploited as a drug target for effective control of sheath blight disease in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyati Das
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali MargNew DelhiIndia
| | - Srayan Ghosh
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali MargNew DelhiIndia
- Department of BiosciencesDurham UniversityDurhamUK
| | - Kriti Tyagi
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali MargNew DelhiIndia
| | - Debashis Sahoo
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali MargNew DelhiIndia
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali MargNew DelhiIndia
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Azizullah, Noman M, Gao Y, Wang H, Xiong X, Wang J, Li D, Song F. The SUMOylation pathway regulates the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in watermelon through stabilizing the pH regulator FonPalC via SUMOylation. Microbiol Res 2024; 281:127632. [PMID: 38310728 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
SUMOylation is a key post-translational modification, where small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteins regulate crucial biological processes, including pathogenesis, in phytopathogenic fungi. Here, we investigated the function and mechanism of the SUMOylation pathway in the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), the fungal pathogen that causes watermelon Fusarium wilt. Disruption of key SUMOylation pathway genes, FonSMT3, FonAOS1, FonUBC9, and FonMMS21, significantly reduced pathogenicity, impaired penetration ability, and attenuated invasive growth capacity of Fon. Transcription and proteomic analyses identified a diverse set of SUMOylation-regulated differentially expressed genes and putative FonSMT3-targeted proteins, which are predicted to be involved in infection, DNA damage repair, programmed cell death, reproduction, growth, and development. Among 155 putative FonSMT3-targeted proteins, FonPalC, a Pal/Rim-pH signaling regulator, was confirmed to be SUMOylated. The FonPalC protein accumulation was significantly decreased in SUMOylation-deficient mutant ∆Fonsmt3. Deletion of FonPalC resulted in impaired mycelial growth, decreased pathogenicity, enhanced osmosensitivity, and increased intracellular vacuolation in Fon. Importantly, mutations in conserved SUMOylation sites of FonPalC failed to restore the defects in ∆Fonpalc mutant, indicating the critical function of the SUMOylation in FonPalC stability and Fon pathogenicity. Identifying key SUMOylation-regulated pathogenicity-related proteins provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Fon pathogenesis regulated by SUMOylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azizullah
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Muhammad Noman
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yizhou Gao
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaohui Xiong
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jiajing Wang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Dayong Li
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Fengming Song
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
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Chandan RK, Kumar R, Kabyashree K, Yadav SK, Roy M, Swain DM, Jha G. A prophage tail-like protein facilitates the endophytic growth of Burkholderia gladioli and mounting immunity in tomato. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1202-1218. [PMID: 37559429 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
A prophage tail-like protein (Bg_9562) of Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 possesses broad-spectrum antifungal activity, and it is required for the bacterial ability to forage over fungi. Here, we analyzed whether heterologous overexpression of Bg_9562 or exogenous treatment with purified protein can impart disease tolerance in tomato. The physiological relevance of Bg_9562 during endophytic growth of NGJ1 was also investigated. Bg_9562 overexpressing lines demonstrate fungal and bacterial disease tolerance. They exhibit enhanced expression of defense genes and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Treatment with Bg_9562 protein induces defense responses and imparts immunity in wild-type tomato. The defense-inducing ability lies within 18-51 aa region of Bg_9562 and is due to sequence homology with the bacterial flagellin epitope. Interaction studies suggest that Bg_9562 is perceived by FLAGELLIN-SENSING 2 homologs in tomato. The silencing of SlSERK3s (BAK1 homologs) prevents Bg_9562-triggered immunity. Moreover, type III secretion system-dependent translocation of Bg_9562 into host apoplast is important for elicitation of immune responses during colonization of NGJ1. Our study emphasizes that Bg_9562 is important for the endophytic growth of B. gladioli, while the plant perceives it as an indirect indicator of the presence of bacteria to mount immune responses. The findings have practical implications for controlling plant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra Kumar Chandan
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Kristi Kabyashree
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Yadav
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Mandira Roy
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Durga Madhab Swain
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Chandan RK, Kumar R, Swain DM, Ghosh S, Bhagat PK, Patel S, Bagler G, Sinha AK, Jha G. RAV1 family members function as transcriptional regulators and play a positive role in plant disease resistance. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 114:39-54. [PMID: 36703574 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Phytopathogens pose a severe threat to agriculture and strengthening the plant defense response is an important strategy for disease control. Here, we report that AtRAV1, an AP2 and B3 domain-containing transcription factor, is required for basal plant defense in Arabidopsis thaliana. The atrav1 mutant lines demonstrate hyper-susceptibility against fungal pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani and Botrytis cinerea), whereas AtRAV1 overexpressing lines exhibit disease resistance against them. Enhanced expression of various defense genes and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (AtMPK3 and AtMPK6) are observed in the R. solani infected overexpressing lines, but not in the atrav1 mutant plants. An in vitro phosphorylation assay suggests AtRAV1 to be a novel phosphorylation target of AtMPK3. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and yeast two-hybrid assays support physical interactions between AtRAV1 and AtMPK3. Overexpression of the native as well as phospho-mimic but not the phospho-defective variant of AtRAV1 imparts disease resistance in the atrav1 mutant A. thaliana lines. On the other hand, overexpression of AtRAV1 fails to impart disease resistance in the atmpk3 mutant. These analyses emphasize that AtMPK3-mediated phosphorylation of AtRAV1 is important for the elaboration of the defense response in A. thaliana. Considering that RAV1 homologs are conserved in diverse plant species, we propose that they can be gainfully deployed to impart disease resistance in agriculturally important crop plants. Indeed, overexpression of SlRAV1 (a member of the RAV1 family) imparts disease tolerance against not only fungal (R. solani and B. cinerea), but also against bacterial (Ralstonia solanacearum) pathogens in tomato, whereas silencing of the gene enhances disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra Kumar Chandan
- Plant Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Sector-30, Gandhinagar, 382030, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Plant Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Durga Madhab Swain
- Plant Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Srayan Ghosh
- Plant Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Prakash Kumar Bhagat
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sunita Patel
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Sector-30, Gandhinagar, 382030, India
| | - Ganesh Bagler
- Centre for Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi), New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Alok Krishna Sinha
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- Plant Microbe Interactions Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Francis A, Ghosh S, Tyagi K, Prakasam V, Rani M, Singh NP, Pradhan A, Sundaram RM, Priyanka C, Laha GS, Kannan C, Prasad MS, Chattopadhyay D, Jha G. Evolution of pathogenicity-associated genes in Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA by genome duplication and transposon-mediated gene function alterations. BMC Biol 2023; 21:15. [PMID: 36721195 PMCID: PMC9890813 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01526-0] [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: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhizoctonia solani is a polyphagous fungal pathogen that causes diseases in crops. The fungal strains are classified into anastomosis groups (AGs); however, genomic complexity, diversification into the AGs and the evolution of pathogenicity-associated genes remain poorly understood. RESULTS We report a recent whole-genome duplication and sequential segmental duplications in AG1-IA strains of R. solani. Transposable element (TE) clusters have caused loss of synteny in the duplicated blocks and introduced differential structural alterations in the functional domains of several pathogenicity-associated paralogous gene pairs. We demonstrate that the TE-mediated structural variations in a glycosyl hydrolase domain and a GMC oxidoreductase domain in two paralogous pairs affect the pathogenicity of R. solani. Furthermore, to investigate the association of TEs with the natural selection and evolution of pathogenicity, we sequenced the genomes of forty-two rice field isolates of R. solani AG1-IA. The genomic regions with high population mutation rates and with the lowest nucleotide diversity are enriched with TEs. Genetic diversity analysis predicted the genes that are most likely under diversifying and purifying selections. We present evidence that a smaller variant of a glucosamine phosphate N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) protein, predicted to be under purifying selection, and an LPMP_AA9 domain-containing protein, predicted to be under diversifying selection, are important for the successful pathogenesis of R. solani in rice as well as tomato. CONCLUSIONS Our study has unravelled whole-genome duplication, TE-mediated neofunctionalization of genes and evolution of pathogenicity traits in R. solani AG1-IA. The pathogenicity-associated genes identified during the study can serve as novel targets for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleena Francis
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - Srayan Ghosh
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India ,grid.8250.f0000 0000 8700 0572Present address: Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Kriti Tyagi
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - V. Prakasam
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - Mamta Rani
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - Nagendra Pratap Singh
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - Amrita Pradhan
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - R. M. Sundaram
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - C. Priyanka
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - G. S. Laha
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - C. Kannan
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - M. S. Prasad
- grid.464820.cICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030 India
| | - Debasis Chattopadhyay
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- grid.419632.b0000 0001 2217 5846National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India
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Nanosheet-Facilitated Spray Delivery of dsRNAs Represents a Potential Tool to Control Rhizoctonia solani Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112922. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhizoctonia solani is one of the important pathogenic fungi causing several serious crop diseases, such as maize and rice sheath blight. Current methods used to control the disease mainly depend on spraying fungicides because there is no immunity or high resistance available in crops. Spraying double-strand RNA (dsRNA) for induced-gene silencing (SIGS) is a new potentially sustainable and environmentally friendly tool to control plant diseases. Here, we found that fluorescein-labelled EGFP-dsRNA could be absorbed by R. solani in co-incubation. Furthermore, three dsRNAs, each targeting one of pathogenicity-related genes, RsPG1, RsCATA, and RsCRZ1, significantly downregulated the transcript levels of the target genes after co-incubation, leading to a significant reduction in the pathogenicity of the fungus. Only the spray of RsCRZ1 dsRNA, but not RsPG1 or RsCATA dsRNA, affected fungal sclerotium formation. dsRNA stability on leaf surfaces and its efficiency in entering leaf cells were significantly improved when dsRNAs were loaded on layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets. Notably, the RsCRZ1-dsRNA-LDH approach showed stronger and more lasting effects than using RsCRZ1-dsRNA alone in controlling pathogen development. Together, this study provides a new potential method to control crop diseases caused by R. solani.
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Li P, Yu A, Sun R, Liu A. Function and Evolution of C1-2i Subclass of C2H2-Type Zinc Finger Transcription Factors in POPLAR. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101843. [PMID: 36292728 PMCID: PMC9602059 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) transcription factors participate in various aspects of normal plant growth regulation and stress responses. C1-2i C2H2-ZFs are a special subclass of conserved proteins that contain two ZnF-C2H2 domains. Some C1-2i C2H2-ZFs in Arabidopsis (ZAT) are involved in stress resistance and other functions. However, there is limited information on C1-2i C2H2-ZFs in Populus trichocarpa (PtriZATs). To analyze the function and evolution of C1-2i C2H2-ZFs, eleven PtriZATs were identified in P. trichocarpa, which can be classified into two subgroups. The protein structure, conserved ZnF-C2H2 domains and QALGGH motifs, showed high conservation during the evolution of PtriZATs in P. trichocarpa. The spacing between two ZnF-C2H2 domains, chromosomal locations and cis-elements implied the original proteins and function of PtriZATs. Furthermore, the gene expression of different tissues and stress treatment showed the functional differentiation of PtriZATs subgroups and their stress response function. The analysis of C1-2i C2H2-ZFs in different Populus species and plants implied their evolution and differentiation, especially in terms of stress resistance. Cis-elements and expression pattern analysis of interaction proteins implied the function of PtriZATs through binding with stress-related genes, which are involved in gene regulation by via epigenetic modification through histone regulation, DNA methylation, ubiquitination, etc. Our results for the origin and evolution of PtriZATs will contribute to understanding the functional differentiation of C1-2i C2H2-ZFs in P. trichocarpa. The interaction and expression results will lay a foundation for the further functional investigation of their roles and biological processes in Populus.
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Mohamed RA, Guo CT, Xu SY, Ying SH, Feng MG. Characterization of BbKlf1 as a novel transcription factor vital for asexual and infection cycles of Beauveria bassiana. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:719-731. [PMID: 35851566 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The large family of C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors (TFs) comprise the Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) that evolved relatively late in eukaryotes but remain unexplored in filamentous fungi. Here, we report that an orthologue (BbKlf1) of yeast Klf1 mediating cell wall integrity (CWI) is a wide-spectrum TF evidently localized in nucleus and cytoplasm in Beauveria bassiana. BbKlf1 features conserved domains and multiple DNA-binding motifs predicted to bind multiple promoter DNA fragments of target genes across asexual developmental and stress-responsive pathways. Despite limited impact on normal colony growth, deletion of Bbklf1 resulted in impaired CWI and hypersensitivity to Congo red-induced cell wall stress. Also, the deletion mutant was severely compromised in tolerance to oxidative and osmotic stresses, hyphal septation and differentiation, conidiation capacity (reduced by 95%), conidial quality (viability and hydrocarbon epitope pattern) and virulence. Importantly, these phenotypes correlated well with sharply repressed or nearly abolished expressions of those genes required for or involved in chitin biosynthesis, antioxidant activity, cell division and differentiation, aerial conidiation and conidial maturation. These findings indicate an essentiality of BbKlf1 for the asexual and insect-pathogenic lifecycles of B. bassiana and a novel scenario much beyond the yeast orthologue-mediated CWI, suggesting important roles of its orthologues in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehab Abdelmonem Mohamed
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chong-Tao Guo
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Si-Yuan Xu
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Li X, Mu K, Yang S, Wei J, Wang C, Yan W, Yuan F, Wang H, Han D, Kang Z, Zeng Q. Reduction of Rhizoctonia cerealis Infection on Wheat Through Host- and Spray-Induced Gene Silencing of an Orphan Secreted Gene. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:803-813. [PMID: 36102883 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-04-22-0075-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rhizoctonia cerealis is a soilborne fungus that can cause sharp eyespot in wheat, resulting in massive yield losses found in many countries. Due to the lack of resistant cultivars, fungicides have been widely used to control this pathogen. However, chemical control is not environmentally friendly and is costly. Meanwhile, the lack of genetic transformation tools has hindered the functional characterization of virulence genes. In this study, we attempted to characterize the function of virulence genes by two transient methods, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) and spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), which use RNA interference to suppress the pathogenic development. We identified ten secretory orphan genes from the genome. After silencing these ten genes, only the RcOSP1 knocked-down plant significantly inhibited the growth of R. cerealis. We then described RcOSP1 as an effector that could impair wheat biological processes and suppress pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity in the infection process. These findings confirm that HIGS and SIGS can be practical tools for researching R. cerealis virulence genes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Keqing Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Shuqing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiajing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Congnawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Weiyi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Fengping Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Haiying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Dejun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhensheng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Yangling Seed Industry Innovation Center, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qingdong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Bilir Ö, Göl D, Hong Y, McDowell JM, Tör M. Small RNA-based plant protection against diseases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:951097. [PMID: 36061762 PMCID: PMC9434005 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.951097] [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: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant diseases cause significant decreases in yield and quality of crops and consequently pose a very substantial threat to food security. In the continuous search for environmentally friendly crop protection, exploitation of RNA interferance machinery is showing promising results. It is well established that small RNAs (sRNAs) including microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) are involved in the regulation of gene expression via both transcriptional and post-transcriptional RNA silencing. sRNAs from host plants can enter into pathogen cells during invasion and silence pathogen genes. This process has been exploited through Host-Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS), in which plant transgenes that produce sRNAs are engineered to silence pest and pathogen genes. Similarly, exogenously applied sRNAs can enter pest and pathogen cells, either directly or via the hosts, and silence target genes. This process has been exploited in Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS). Here, we focus on the role of sRNAs and review how they have recently been used against various plant pathogens through HIGS or SIGS-based methods and discuss advantages and drawbacks of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Bilir
- Department of Biotechnology, Trakya Agricultural Research Institute, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Deniz Göl
- Department of Biology, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Yiguo Hong
- Department of Biology, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - John M. McDowell
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Mahmut Tör
- Department of Biology, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
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A C 2H 2 Zinc Finger Protein PlCZF1 Is Necessary for Oospore Development and Virulence in Peronophythora litchii. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052733. [PMID: 35269874 PMCID: PMC8910974 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
C2H2 zinc finger is one of the most common motifs found in the transcription factors (TFs) in eukaryotes organisms, which have a broad range of functions, such as regulation of growth and development, stress tolerance and pathogenicity. Here, PlCZF1 was identified to encode a C2H2 zinc finger in the litchi downy blight pathogen Peronophythora litchii. PlCZF1 is conserved in P. litchii and Phytophthora species. In P. litchii, PlCZF1 is highly expressed in sexual developmental and early infection stages. We generated Δplczf1 mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Compared with the wild type, the Δplczf1 mutants showed no significant difference in vegetative growth and asexual reproduction, but were defective in oospore development and virulence. Further experiments revealed that the transcription of PlM90, PlLLP and three laccase encoding genes were down-regulated in the Δplczf1 mutant. Our results demonstrated that PlCZF1 is a vital regulator for sexual development and pathogenesis in P. litchii.
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12
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Zhao K, Liu Z, Li M, Hu Y, Yang L, Song X, Qin Y. Drafting Penicillium oxalicum calcineurin-CrzA pathway by combining the analysis of phenotype, transcriptome, and endogenous protein-protein interactions. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 158:103652. [PMID: 34920105 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Fungi sense environmental signals and coordinate growth, development, and metabolism accordingly. Calcium-calmodulin-calcineurin signaling is a conserved cascade pathway in fungi. One of the most important downstream targets of this pathway is the transcription factor Crz1/CrzA, which plays an essential role in various cellular processes. The putative collaborators of Penicillium oxalicum CrzA (PoCrzA) were found, through tandem affinity purification followed by mass spectrometric analysis (TAP-MS). A total of 50 protein-protein interaction collaborators of PoCrzA were observed. Among them, some collaborators, such as the catalytic subunit of calcineurin (Cna1, calcineurin A), the regulatory catalytic subunit of calcineurin (Cnb1, calcineurin B), and a 14-3-3 protein Bmh1, which were previously reported in yeast, were identified. Some putative collaborators, including two karyopherins (exportin Los1 and importin Srp1), two kinases (Fus3 and Slt2p), and a general transcriptional corepressor (Cyc8), were also found. The CrzA deletion mutant ΔPocrzA exhibited slow hyphal growth, impaired conidiogenesis, and reduced extracellular cellulase synthesis. Phenotype and transcriptome analysis showed that PoCrzA regulated fungal development in a Flbs-BrlA-dependent manner and participated in cellulase synthesis by modulating cellulolytic gene expression. On the basis of the results of TAP-MS, transcriptome, and phenotypic analysis in P. oxalicum, our study was the first to draft the calcineurin-CrzA pathway in cellulolytic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Zhao
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Zhongjiao Liu
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Mengxue Li
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Yueyan Hu
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Ling Yang
- Vocational Education College, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China.
| | - Xin Song
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Yuqi Qin
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
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13
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Das J, Kumar R, Yadav SK, Jha G. The alternative sigma factors, rpoN1 and rpoN2 are required for mycophagous activity of Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:2781-2796. [PMID: 34766435 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria utilize RpoN, an alternative sigma factor (σ54) to grow in diverse habitats, including nitrogen-limiting conditions. Here, we report that a rice-associated mycophagous bacterium Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 encodes two paralogues of rpoN viz. rpoN1 and rpoN2. Both of them are upregulated during 24 h of mycophagous interaction with Rhizoctonia solani, a polyphagous fungal pathogen. Disruption of either one of rpoNs renders the mutant NGJ1 bacterium defective in mycophagy, whereas ectopic expression of respective rpoN genes restores mycophagy in the complementing strains. NGJ1 requires rpoN1 and rpoN2 for efficient biocontrol to prevent R. solani to establish disease in rice and tomato. Further, we have identified 17 genes having RpoN regulatory motif in NGJ1, majority of them encode potential type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors, nitrogen assimilation, and cellular transport-related functions. Several of these RpoN regulated genes as well as certain previously reported T3SS apparatus (hrcC and hrcN) and effector (Bg_9562 and endo-β-1,3-glucanase) encoding genes are upregulated in NGJ1 but not in ΔrpoN1 or ΔrpoN2 mutant bacterium, during mycophagous interaction with R. solani. This highlights that RpoN1 and RpoN2 modulate T3SS, nitrogen assimilation as well as cellular transport systems in NGJ1 and thereby promote bacterial mycophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyati Das
- Plant Microbe Interactions Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Plant Microbe Interactions Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Yadav
- Plant Microbe Interactions Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- Plant Microbe Interactions Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Hossain MM, Pérez-López E, Todd CD, Wei Y, Bonham-Smith PC. Endomembrane-Targeting Plasmodiophora brassicae Effectors Modulate PAMP Triggered Immune Responses in Plants. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:651279. [PMID: 34276588 PMCID: PMC8282356 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.651279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating obligate, intracellular, biotrophic pathogen that causes clubroot disease in crucifer plants. Disease progression is regulated by effector proteins secreted by P. brassicae. Twelve P. brassicae putative effectors (PbPEs), expressed at various stages of disease development [0, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post inoculation (DPI)] in Arabidopsis and localizing to the plant endomembrane system, were studied for their roles in pathogenesis. Of the 12 PbPEs, seven showed an inhibitory effect on programmed cell death (PCD) as triggered by the PCD inducers, PiINF1 (Phytophthora infestans Infestin 1) and PiNPP1 (P. infestans necrosis causing protein). Showing the strongest level of PCD suppression, PbPE15, a member of the 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and Fe (II)-dependent oxygenase superfamily and with gene expression during later stages of infection, appears to have a role in tumorigenesis as well as defense signaling in plants. PbPE13 produced an enhanced PiINF1-induced PCD response. Transient expression, in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves of these PbPEs minus the signal peptide (SP) (Δsp PbPEGFPs), showed localization to the endomembrane system, targeting the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi bodies and nucleo-cytoplasm, suggesting roles in manipulating plant cell secretion and vesicle trafficking. Δsp PbPE13GFP localized to plasma membrane (PM) lipid rafts with an association to plasmodesmata, suggesting a role at the cell-to-cell communication junction. Membrane relocalization of Δsp PbPE13GFP, triggered by flagellin N-terminus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (flg22 - known to elicit a PAMP triggered immune response in plants), supports its involvement in raft-mediated immune signaling. This study is an important step in deciphering P. brassicae effector roles in the disruption of plant immunity to clubroot disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edel Pérez-López
- Department of Plant Sciences, Laval University, CRIV, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher D Todd
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Pal G, Mehta D, Singh S, Magal K, Gupta S, Jha G, Bajaj A, Ramu VS. Foliar Application or Seed Priming of Cholic Acid-Glycine Conjugates can Mitigate/Prevent the Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease via Activating Plant Defense Genes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:746912. [PMID: 34630495 PMCID: PMC8497891 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.746912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Xanthomonas Oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes bacterial blight and Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) causes sheath blight in rice accounting for >75% of crop losses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop strategies for the mitigation of these pathogen infections. In this study, we report the antimicrobial efficacy of Cholic Acid-Glycine Conjugates (CAGCs) against Xoo and R. solani. We show that CAGC C6 is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and is also able to degrade biofilms. The application of C6 did not hamper plant growth and showed minimal effect on the plant cell membranes. Exogenous application of C6 on pre-infection or post-infection of Xoo on rice susceptible genotype Taichung native (TN1) can mitigate the bacterial load and improve resistance through upregulation of plant defense genes. We further demonstrate that C6 can induce plant defense responses when seeds were primed with C6 CAGC. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of CAGCs as effective antimicrobials for crop protection that can be further explored for field applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Pal
- Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Devashish Mehta
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Chemical Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Saurabh Singh
- Laboratory of Plant Microbe Interactions, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | - Kalai Magal
- Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Siddhi Gupta
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Chemical Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Gopaljee Jha
- Laboratory of Plant Microbe Interactions, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | - Avinash Bajaj
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Chemical Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
- *Correspondence: Avinash Bajaj
| | - Vemanna S. Ramu
- Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
- Vemanna S. Ramu
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