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Feng X, Shi Y, Sun Z, Li L, Imran M, Zhang G, Zhang G, Li C. Control of Fusarium graminearum Infection in Wheat by dsRNA-Based Spray-Induced Gene Silencing. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2025; 73:12146-12155. [PMID: 40179250 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12665] [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: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) has become a new technology for pest and disease control in plants. This study synthesized three double-strand RNAs (dsRNAs) targeting Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum), the major pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB). Co-incubation showed weak uptake of dsRNA by F. graminearum, and some dsRNAs influence spore germination and hyphae growth. In contrast, exogenous dsRNA quickly and efficiently penetrates wheat leaves. Treatment of wheat leaves and detached wheat heads with these dsRNAs has a negative effect on the pathogenicity of F. graminearum. Foliar spraying of dsCHS3b or dsMGV1 decreased the amount of artificially inoculated F. graminearum, the incidence rate, and disease severity in the field. Under natural conditions, spraying dsRNAs significantly decreased the FHB disease index and deoxynivalenol content. Twice spray achieved more than 90% control of FHB. In conclusion, SIGS effectively prevents the infection of F. graminearum in wheat, providing a green way for FHB control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyang Feng
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yini Shi
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zhongke Sun
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Linyan Li
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Mahammad Imran
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Gaoyang Zhang
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guoyan Zhang
- Plant Protection and Quarantine Station of Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chengwei Li
- School of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- College of Life Science, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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Lai J, Liu B, Xiong G, Song S, Yang Y, Wei H, Xie S, Jiang J. Functional Characterization of the Subtilase Gene Cg043 Downregulated by 4-Ethyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene in the Growth and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2025; 73:10292-10303. [PMID: 40251727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c00433] [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: 04/20/2025]
Abstract
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causative agent of anthracnose, poses a significant threat to agricultural production. Previous studies identified 4-ethyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene as a potent antifungal compound that downregulates the expression of the subtilase gene Cg043, although the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we generated Cg043 knockout mutants (ΔCg043) and found that their sensitivity to 4-ethyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene was significantly reduced, identifying Cg043 as a key molecular target. Phenotypic assays and transcriptomic analyses revealed that Cg043 downregulation inhibits hyphal growth, spore production, and germination while impairing cell wall and membrane integrity and reducing pathogenicity. Furthermore, functional verification of the signal peptide and subcellular localization analysis confirmed that Cg043 is a secreted protein specifically localized to the plant cell nucleus, suggesting its role in virulence. These findings elucidate a novel antifungal mechanism by which 4-ethyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene suppresses the growth, development, and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides via Cg043 downregulation, highlighting a promising molecular target for sustainable anthracnose management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Lai
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology, and Genetic Breeding of the Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Bing Liu
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Guihong Xiong
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Shuilin Song
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Youxin Yang
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Hongyi Wei
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology, and Genetic Breeding of the Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
| | - Shuilong Xie
- Ji'an Jinggang Honey Pomeloes Developmental Services Center, Ji'an, Jiangxi 343000, China
| | - Junxi Jiang
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology, and Genetic Breeding of the Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, China
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Long Y, Chen X, Chen J, Zhang H, Lin Y, Cheng S, Pu N, Zhou X, Sheng R, Abubakar YS, Zheng H, Yun Y, Lu G, Wang Z, Zheng W. Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex recruits retromer to trans-Golgi network for FgKex2 and FgSnc1 recycling, necessary for the development and pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2025; 246:666-688. [PMID: 39953835 DOI: 10.1111/nph.70006] [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: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2025] [Indexed: 02/17/2025]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, the retromer complex plays a crucial role in the sorting and retrograde transport of cargo proteins from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Despite its importance, the molecular details of this intracellular transport process remain unclear. Here, we have identified a Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex as a mediator of vesicle transport that facilitates the recruitment of the retromer complex to the TGN to exert its functions. The GARP complex is mainly localized in the TGN where it interacts with the retromer complex. This interaction is evolutionarily conserved across species. Furthermore, we identified FgKex2 and FgSnc1 as cargo proteins in the GARP/retromer-mediated recycling pathway. Loss of GARP or retromer results in a complete missorting of FgKex2 and FgSnc1 into the vacuolar degradation pathway, which affects the growth, development, biogenesis of toxisomes and pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that GARP promotes the recruitment of retromer from endosomes to the TGN, thereby establishing a GARP/retromer transport pathway that coordinates the recycling of cargo proteins FgKex2 and FgSnc1. This process is essential for maintaining sustained growth and development and significantly contributes to the pathogenicity of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Long
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Haoran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Ying Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Shuyuan Cheng
- Jiangxi Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330000, China
| | - Neng Pu
- Agricultural and Rural Comprehensive Service Center, Shuitang Town, Xinping County, Yunnan, 653400, China
| | - Xuandong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Renzhi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 810281, Nigeria
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yingzi Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Guodong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
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Zhao X, Qiu Y, Jiang A, Huang Y, Ma P, Yuan B, Chen L, Zhang C. Transcription Activator FgDDT Interacts With FgISW1 to Regulate Fungal Development and Pathogenicity in the Global Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2025; 26:e70076. [PMID: 40151047 PMCID: PMC11950633 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.70076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2025] [Accepted: 03/03/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025]
Abstract
Several DNA-binding homeobox and different transcription factor (DDT)-domain proteins form stable remodelling complexes with imitation switch (ISWI) chromatin remodelling factors. ISWI complexes have been reported to be involved in various biological processes in many eukaryotic species. However, in phytopathogenic fungi, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the functions of DDT-domain proteins in ISWI complexes remain unclear. Here, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) assays were used to demonstrate that FgDDT from Fusarium graminearum was enriched within the promoter regions of genes associated with metabolic and MAPK signalling pathways, thereby activating their expression. Moreover, two additional ISWI genes, FgISW1 and FgISW2, were identified and characterised, with subsequent analyses indicating that the ISWI components FgISW1 and FgDDT are essential for fungal development and pathogenicity rather than FgISW2. Further experiments revealed that FgDDT binds to FgISW1 to form an ISWI complex that activates the expression of functional genes in F. graminearum, consequently contributing to its pathogenicity and development. FgDDT was also observed as highly conserved in Fusarium species but exhibits low similarity to homologues in Homo sapiens and Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting that functional studies of FgDDT are crucial to uncover its unique role within Fusarium. These findings provide a basis for further understanding the molecular mechanisms by which ISWI complexes function in fungi and contribute to their pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhen Zhao
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Yuxin Qiu
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Aning Jiang
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Yan Huang
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Peixue Ma
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Bingqin Yuan
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Li Chen
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
| | - Chengqi Zhang
- School of Plant ProtectionAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Key Laboratory of Agri‐Products Quality and Biosafety (Anhui Agricultural University)Ministry of EducationHefeiChina
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Duan K, Qin S, Cui F, Zhao L, Huang Y, Xu JR, Wang G. MeJA inhibits fungal growth and DON toxin production by interfering with the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway in the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum. mBio 2025; 16:e0315124. [PMID: 39902906 PMCID: PMC11898702 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03151-24] [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: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 02/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin primarily produced by Fusarium species, is commonly found in cereal grains and poses risks to human and animal health, as well as global grain trade. This study demonstrates that methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a natural plant hormone, inhibits the growth and conidiation of Fusarium graminearum. Importantly, MeJA significantly reduces DON production by suppressing TRI gene expression and toxisome formation. To explore the molecular mechanism, we identified MeJA-tolerant mutants, including a transcription factor MRT1 and cAMP-PKA pathway-related genes (FgGPA1 and FgSNT1). MeJA treatment reduced PKA activity and intracellular cAMP levels in F. graminearum, suggesting it targets the cAMP-PKA pathway. Notably, the MeJA-resistant mutant FgGPA1R178H enhanced fungal growth, DON production, and cAMP levels in the presence of MeJA. Exogenous cAMP alleviated MeJA's inhibitory effects on DON production, further supporting this pathway's involvement. Interestingly, MeJA had no effect on all three MAP kinase pathways (Mgv1, Gpmk1, and FgHog1). Truncated and phospho-mimicking mutations in Mrt1 or FgSnt1 conferred MeJA resistance, suggesting they may act downstream of the cAMP-PKA pathway. In conclusion, MeJA presents a promising approach to control F. graminearum growth and DON production.IMPORTANCEDeoxynivalenol (DON) poses significant risks to both human and animal health and severely disrupts the global grain trade due to its prevalence as a common contaminant in wheat grains. With rising public concern over food safety, finding effective and sustainable methods to reduce DON contamination becomes increasingly urgent. In our study, we found that methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a natural plant hormone, can effectively inhibit the vegetative growth of F. graminearum and significantly reduce its DON toxin production. To explore the underlying molecular mechanism, we identified the mutations in MeJA-tolerant mutants and revealed that MeJA effectively exerts its antifungal activities by inhibiting the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway in F. graminearum. Our work provides a promising natural solution to reduce DON toxin contamination in cereal grains, enhancing food safety while decreasing the reliance on chemical fungicides and their associated environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Duan
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shaozhe Qin
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fangling Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liangyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongqing Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Guanghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Bocos-Asenjo IT, Amin H, Mosquera S, Díez-Hermano S, Ginésy M, Diez JJ, Niño-Sánchez J. Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) as a Tool for the Management of Pine Pitch Canker Forest Disease. PLANT DISEASE 2025; 109:49-62. [PMID: 39148367 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-02-24-0286-re] [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: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Global change is exacerbating the prevalence of plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi in forests worldwide. The conventional use of chemical fungicides, which is commonplace in agricultural settings, is not sanctioned for application in forest ecosystems, so novel control strategies are imperative. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is a promising approach that can modulate the expression of target genes in eukaryotes in response to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) present in the environment that triggers the RNA interference mechanism. SIGS exhibited notable success in reducing virulence when deployed against some crop fungal pathogens, such as Fusarium graminearum, Botrytis cinerea, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, among others. However, there is a conspicuous dearth of studies evaluating the applicability of SIGS for managing forest pathogens. This research aimed to determine whether SIGS could be used to control F. circinatum, a widely impactful forest pathogen that causes pine pitch canker disease. Through a bacterial synthesis, we produced dsRNA molecules to target fungal essential genes involved in vesicle trafficking (Vps51, DCTN1, and SAC1), signal transduction (Pp2a, Sit4, Ppg1, and Tap42), and cell wall biogenesis (Chs1, Chs2, Chs3b, and Gls1) metabolic pathways. We confirmed that F. circinatum is able to uptake externally applied dsRNA, triggering an inhibition of the pathogen's virulence. Furthermore, this study pioneers the demonstration that recurrent applications of dsRNAs in SIGS are more effective in protecting plants than single applications. Therefore, SIGS emerges as an effective and sustainable approach for managing plant pathogens, showcasing its efficacy in controlling a globally significant forest pathogen subject to quarantine measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Teresa Bocos-Asenjo
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Huma Amin
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Sandra Mosquera
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Sergio Díez-Hermano
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Mireille Ginésy
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Julio Javier Diez
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Jonatan Niño-Sánchez
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR), Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIIAA), University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
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Diao Y, Xiong X, Jin J, Yu C, Tian Y, Zhao C, Wu Y, Liu H. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling pathway VmMkh1-VmMkk1-VmSpm1 regulates cell wall integrity in Valsamali. Microb Pathog 2025; 198:107194. [PMID: 39631571 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107194] [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: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 11/27/2024] [Accepted: 11/30/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
Apple Valsa canker disease, caused by Valsa mali Miyabe et Yamada, seriously endangers the healthy growth of apple trees. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is an important pathway to transmit signals stimulated by environmental stress. In this study, we identify and functionally characterize MAPKKK VmMkh1, MAPKK VmMkk1 and MAPK VmSpm1. VmMkh1 and VmMkk1 positively regulate the phosphorylation of VmSpm1. The radial growth rate of the VmSpm1 deletion mutant was reduced by approximately 31 %. There was no significant difference in growth rate between the VmMkh1 and VmMkk1 mutant and the wild-type. VmMkh1 hyphe branches into a curved shape. The VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 deletion mutant produced fewer conidia than the wild-type strain at 20 days post inoculation. Moreover, the VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 deletion mutant slows conidial germination. The hyphal growth of VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 deletion mutants are significantly inhibited on media containing NaCl, KCl, sorbitol (high osmotic stresses). The hyphal growth of VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 deletion mutants are significantly inhibited on media containing Congo red, CFW, SDS, and Lysing encymes (Cell wall stress agents). A looser distribution of spacers in VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 deletion mutants compared with the wild-type strain. The size of lesions on apple fruits and branches inoculated with VmSpm1 deletion mutant showed a reduction of approximately 46 % and 43 %, respectively, after 9 dpi. Overall, our findings demonstrate that VmMkh1, VmMkk1, and VmSpm1 are involved in regulating the growth and development, colony surface hydrophobicity, osmotic stress, cell wall integrity maintenance, carbon and nitrogen source utilization, septa formation, and pathogenicity of Valsa mali.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Diao
- Shandong Research Center for Forestry Harmful Biological Control Engineering and Technology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Xiong Xiong
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry Administration, Forestry College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Jiyang Jin
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry Administration, Forestry College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Chengming Yu
- Shandong Research Center for Forestry Harmful Biological Control Engineering and Technology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - YeHan Tian
- Shandong Research Center for Forestry Harmful Biological Control Engineering and Technology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Chunqing Zhao
- Development of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Yueming Wu
- Development of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Huixiang Liu
- Shandong Research Center for Forestry Harmful Biological Control Engineering and Technology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China.
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8
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Kroll E, Bayon C, Rudd J, Armer VJ, Magaji-Umashankar A, Ames R, Urban M, Brown NA, Hammond-Kosack K. A conserved fungal Knr4/Smi1 protein is crucial for maintaining cell wall stress tolerance and host plant pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2025; 21:e1012769. [PMID: 39787257 PMCID: PMC11717356 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012769] [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: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 11/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025] Open
Abstract
Filamentous plant pathogenic fungi pose significant threats to global food security, particularly through diseases like Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB) which affects cereals. With mounting challenges in fungal control and increasing restrictions on fungicide use due to environmental concerns, there is an urgent need for innovative control strategies. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the stage-specific infection process of Fusarium graminearum in wheat spikes by generating a dual weighted gene co-expression network (WGCN). Notably, the network contained a mycotoxin-enriched fungal module (F12) that exhibited a significant correlation with a detoxification gene-enriched wheat module (W12). This correlation in gene expression was validated through quantitative PCR. By examining a fungal module with genes highly expressed during early symptomless infection that was correlated to a wheat module enriched in oxidative stress genes, we identified a gene encoding FgKnr4, a protein containing a Knr4/Smi1 disordered domain. Through comprehensive analysis, we confirmed the pivotal role of FgKnr4 in various biological processes, including oxidative stress tolerance, cell cycle stress tolerance, morphogenesis, growth, and pathogenicity. Further studies confirmed the observed phenotypes are partially due to the involvement of FgKnr4 in regulating the fungal cell wall integrity pathway by modulating the phosphorylation of the MAP-kinase MGV1. Orthologues of the FgKnr4 gene are widespread across the fungal kingdom but are absent in other Eukaryotes, suggesting the protein has potential as a promising intervention target. Encouragingly, the restricted growth and highly reduced virulence phenotypes observed for ΔFgknr4 were replicated upon deletion of the orthologous gene in the wheat fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. Overall, this study demonstrates the utility of an integrated network-level analytical approach to pinpoint genes of high interest to pathogenesis and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Kroll
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Bayon
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Rudd
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria J. Armer
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Anjana Magaji-Umashankar
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Ames
- Biosciences and Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Devon, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Urban
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A. Brown
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom
| | - Kim Hammond-Kosack
- Strategic Area: Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
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9
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Liu C, Lei L, Zhu J, Chen L, Peng S, Zhang M, Zhang Z, Tang J, Chen Q, Kong L, Zheng Y, Ladera-Carmona M, Kogel KH, Wei Y, Qi P. FgGET3, an ATPase of the GET Pathway, Is Important for the Development and Virulence of Fusarium graminearum. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:12172. [PMID: 39596240 PMCID: PMC11594295 DOI: 10.3390/ijms252212172] [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: 10/21/2024] [Revised: 11/08/2024] [Accepted: 11/11/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
GET3 is an ATPase protein that plays a pivotal role in the guided entry of the tail-anchored (GET) pathway. The protein facilitates the targeting and inserting of tail-anchored (TA) proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by interacting with a receptor protein complex on the ER. The role of GET3 in various biological processes has been established in yeast, plants, and mammals but not in filamentous fungi. Fusarium graminearum is the major causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), posing a threat to the yield and quality of wheat. In this study, we found that FgGET3 exhibits a high degree of sequence and structural conservation with its homologs across a wide range of organisms. Ectopic expression of FgGET3 in yeast restored the growth defects of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScGET3 knock-out mutant. Furthermore, FgGET3 was found to dimerize and localize to the cytoplasm, similar to its homologs in other species. Deletion of FgGET3 in F. graminearum results in decreased fungal growth, fragmented vacuoles, altered abiotic stress responses, reduced conidia production, delayed conidial germination, weakened virulence on wheat spikes and reduced DON production. Collectively, these findings underscore the critical role of FgGET3 in regulating diverse cellular and biological functions essential for the growth and virulence of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
- Institute of Phytopathology, Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.-C.); (K.-H.K.)
| | - Lu Lei
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jing Zhu
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Lirun Chen
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Shijing Peng
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Mi Zhang
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Ziyi Zhang
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jie Tang
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Qing Chen
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Li Kong
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Youliang Zheng
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Maria Ladera-Carmona
- Institute of Phytopathology, Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.-C.); (K.-H.K.)
| | - Karl-Heinz Kogel
- Institute of Phytopathology, Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.-C.); (K.-H.K.)
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Yuming Wei
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Pengfei Qi
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (J.Z.); (L.C.); (S.P.); (M.Z.); (Z.Z.); (J.T.); (Q.C.); (L.K.); (Y.Z.)
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10
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Jiang Q, Wang T, Li Y, Bi Y, Zhang M, Wang X, Prusky DB. AaSlt2 Is Required for Vegetative Growth, Stress Adaption, Infection Structure Formation, and Virulence in Alternaria alternata. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:774. [PMID: 39590693 PMCID: PMC11595810 DOI: 10.3390/jof10110774] [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: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 11/06/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Slt2 is an important component of the Slt2-MAPK pathway and plays critical regulatory roles in growth, cell wall integrity, melanin biosynthesis, and pathogenicity of plant fungi. AaSlt2, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Slt2 gene, was identified from A. alternata in this study, and its function was clarified by knockout of the gene. The ΔAaSlt2 strain of A. alternata was found to be defective in spore morphology, vegetative growth, and sporulation. Analysis of gene expression showed that expression of the AaSlt2 gene was significantly up-regulated during infection structure formation of A. alternata on hydrophobic and pear wax extract-coated surfaces. Further tests on onion epidermis confirmed that spore germination was reduced in the ΔAaSlt2 strain, together with decreased formation of appressorium and infection hyphae. Moreover, the ΔAaSlt2 strain was sensitive to cell wall inhibitors, and showed significantly reduced virulence on pear fruit. Furthermore, cell wall degradation enzyme (CWDE) activities, melanin accumulation, and toxin biosynthesis were significantly lower in the ΔAaSlt2 strain. Overall, the findings demonstrate the critical involvement of AaSlt2 in growth regulation, stress adaptation, infection structure formation, and virulence in A. alternata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Jiang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Tiaolan Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- College of Applied Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yongcai Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yang Bi
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Dov B. Prusky
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
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11
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Ni Y, Wang J, Chen L, Liu H, Wang G. Fgk3, a Glycogen Synthase Kinase, Regulates Chitin Synthesis through the Carbon Catabolite Repressor FgCreA in Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:24013-24023. [PMID: 39432268 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c05700] [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: 10/22/2024]
Abstract
The glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) orthologs are well-conserved in eukaryotic organisms. However, their functions remain poorly characterized in filamentous fungi. In our previous study, we unveiled the function of Fgk3, the GSK3 ortholog, in glycogen metabolism in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight. Interestingly, the fgk3 mutant was unstable and tended to produce fast-growing suppressors, including secondary suppressors. Using whole-genome sequencing, we identified suppressor mutations in FgCHS5, FgFKS1, FgCREA, FgSSN6, FgRGR1, and FgPP2A in nine primary and four secondary suppressors. Subsequently, we validated that deletion of FgCHS5 or FgCREAΔH253 mutation partially suppressed the defects of fgk3 in vegetative growth and cell wall integrity, suggesting that Fgk3 may regulate the chitin synthesis through FgCreA-mediated transcriptional regulation in F. graminearum. Accordingly, the FGK3 deletion led to hyphal swelling with abnormal chitin deposition, and deletion of FGK3 or FgCREA caused the upregulation of the expression of chitin synthases FgCHS5 and FgCHS6. The interaction between Fgk3 and FgCreA was verified by Yeast two-hybrid and Co-Immunoprecipitation assays. More importantly, we verified that the nuclear localization and protein stability of FgCreA relies on the Fgk3 kinase, while the H253 deletion facilitated the re-localization of FgCreA to the nucleus in the fgk3 mutant background, potentially contributing to the suppression of the fgk3 mutant's defects. Intriguingly, the ΔH253 mutation of FgCreA, identified in suppressor mutant S3, is adjacent to a conserved phosphorylation site, S254, suggesting that this mutation may inhibit the S254 phosphorylation and promote the nuclear localization of FgCreA. Collectively, our findings indicate that the glycogen synthase kinase Fgk3 regulates the chitin synthesis through the carbon catabolite repressor FgCreA in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajia Ni
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Guanghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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12
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Ge S, Xie Y, Ding K, Xu S, Xu H, Chang X, Li H, Wang R, Luo Z, Shan Y, Ding S. The combination of metabolome and transcriptome clarifies the inhibition of the Alternaria toxin accumulation by methyl ferulate. Food Chem 2024; 456:140060. [PMID: 38878540 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140060] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
As one of the most typical pathogens in fruit postharvest diseases, Alternaria alternata (A. alternata) can produce Alternaria toxins (ATs) aggravating fruit decay and harming human health. In this study, ATs (tenuazonic acid, alternariol monomethyl ether, and alternariol) production was inhibited effectively by 200 and 8000 mg/L MF (methyl ferulate) in vitro and in vivo. 1-Octen-3-ol and 3-octanol were the potential iconic volatile organic compounds of ATs (R2 > 0.99). MF induced oxidative stress, resulting in physiological and metabolic disorders, membrane lipid oxidation and cell damage. It decreased precursors and energy supply by disturbing amino acid metabolism, ABC transporters, citrate cycle, pentose and glucuronate interconversions to regulate ATs synthesis. MF down-regulated the genes related to ATs synthesis (PksJ, AaTAS1, and OmtI), transport (AaMFS1 and MFS), and pathogenicity to affect ATs production and virulence. This study provided a theoretical basis for the control of ATs production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Ge
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Ying Xie
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Ke Ding
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Saiqing Xu
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Haishan Xu
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Xia Chang
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Huan Li
- DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Rongrong Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Zisheng Luo
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Yang Shan
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Shenghua Ding
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China; DongTing Laboratory, Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.
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13
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Ge J, Zhai H, Tang L, Zhang S, Lv Y, Ma P, Wei S, Zhou Y, Wu X, Lei Y, Zhao F, Hu Y. FgUbiH Is Essential for Vegetative Development, Energy Metabolism, and Antioxidant Activity in Fusarium graminearum. Microorganisms 2024; 12:2093. [PMID: 39458403 PMCID: PMC11509934 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12102093] [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: 09/19/2024] [Revised: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fusarium head blight in wheat is mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum and results in significant economic losses. Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is ubiquitously produced across organisms and functions as a hydrogen carrier in energy metabolism. While UbiH in Escherichia coli serves as a hydroxylase in CoQ biosynthesis, its role in phytopathogenic fungi is not well understood. This study explored the role of the hydroxylase FgUbiH in F. graminearum. Using a FgUbiH deletion mutant, we observed reduced hyphal growth, conidial production, germination, toxin synthesis, and pathogenicity compared to the wild-type. A transcriptome analysis indicated FgUbiH's involvement in regulating carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Deletion of FgUbiH impaired mitochondrial function, reducing adenosine triphosphate synthesis and increasing reactive oxygen species. Additionally, genes related to terpene skeleton synthesis and aldehyde dehydrogenase were downregulated. Our results underscore the importance of FgUbiH in F. graminearum's growth, toxin production, and energy metabolism, aiding in the development of strategies for disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huanchen Zhai
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (J.G.); (L.T.); (S.Z.); (Y.L.); (P.M.); (S.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (Y.H.)
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14
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Cheng S, Long Y, Zhang X, Liu B, Song S, Li G, Hu Y, Du L, Wang Q, Jiang J, Xiong G. The Sorting and Transport of the Cargo Protein CcSnc1 by the Retromer Complex Regulate the Growth, Development, and Pathogenicity of Corynespora cassiicola. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:714. [PMID: 39452666 PMCID: PMC11508248 DOI: 10.3390/jof10100714] [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: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 09/27/2024] [Accepted: 10/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, the retromer complex is critical for the transport of cargo proteins from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Despite its importance, there is a lack of research on the retromer-mediated transport of cargo proteins regulating the growth, development, and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi. In the present study, transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of the retromer complex (CcVPS35, CcVPS29 and CcVPS26) were significantly elevated during the early stages of Corynespora cassiicola invasion. Gene knockout and complementation analyses further highlighted the critical role of the retromer complex in C. cassiicola infection. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the retromer complex was mainly localized to the vacuolar membrane and partially to endosomes and the TGN. Further research found that the retromer core subunit CcVps35 can interact with the cargo protein CcSnc1. Subcellular localization showed that CcSnc1 is mainly located at the hyphal tip and partially in endosomes and the Golgi apparatus. Deletion of CcVPS35 resulted in the missorting of CcSnc1 into the vacuolar degradation pathway, indicating that the retromer can sort CcSnc1 from endosomes and transport it to the TGN. Additionally, gene knockout and complementation analyses demonstrated that CcSnc1 is critical for the growth, development, and pathogenicity of C. cassiicola. In summary, the vesicular transport pathway involving the retromer complex regulates the sorting and transport of the cargo protein CcSnc1, which is important for the growth, development and pathogenicity of C. cassiicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyuan Cheng
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Vegetable Cultivation and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Yunfei Long
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
| | - Xiaoyang Zhang
- Jiujiang Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Jiujiang 332000, China;
| | - Bing Liu
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Vegetable Cultivation and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Shuilin Song
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
| | - Genghua Li
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
| | - Yuzhuan Hu
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
| | - Lei Du
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
| | - Quanxing Wang
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
| | - Junxi Jiang
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Vegetable Cultivation and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Guihong Xiong
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (S.C.); (B.L.); (S.S.); (G.L.); (Y.H.); (L.D.); (Q.W.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Vegetable Cultivation and Utilization, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
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15
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Li L, Ran T, Zhu H, Yin M, Yu W, Zou J, Li L, Ye Y, Sun H, Wang W, Guo J, Zhang F. Molecular Mechanism of Fusarium Fungus Inhibition by Phenazine-1-carboxamide. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:15176-15189. [PMID: 38943677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03936] [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: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease in wheat that seriously endangers food security and human health. Previous studies have found that the secondary metabolite phenazine-1-carboxamide produced by biocontrol bacteria inhibited F. graminearum by binding to and inhibiting the activity of histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 (FgGcn5). However, the detailed mechanism of this inhibition remains unknown. Our structural and biochemical studies revealed that phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) binds to the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain of FgGcn5 at its cosubstrate acetyl-CoA binding site, thus competitively inhibiting the histone acetylation function of the enzyme. Alanine substitution of the residues in the binding site shared by PCN and acetyl-CoA not only decreased the histone acetylation level of the enzyme but also dramatically impacted the development, mycotoxin synthesis, and virulence of the strain. Taken together, our study elucidated a competitive inhibition mechanism of Fusarium fungus by PCN and provided a structural template for designing more potent phenazine-based fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Tingting Ran
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Technical Center for Public Testing and Evaluation and Identification, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Mengyu Yin
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Wei Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Jingpei Zou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Linwei Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Eco-Cultivation and High-Value Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Yonghao Ye
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Hao Sun
- College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Weiwu Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence Driven Drug Discovery, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China
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16
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Guo X, He K, Li M, Zhang Y, Jiang J, Qian L, Gao X, Zhang C, Liu S. Comparative transcriptome analysis of Fusarium graminearum challenged with distinct fungicides and functional analysis of FgICL gene. Genomics 2024; 116:110869. [PMID: 38797456 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110869] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is an economically important phytopathogenic fungus. Chemical control remains the dominant approach to managing this plant pathogen. In the present study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis to understand the effects of four commercially used fungicides on F. graminearum. The results revealed a significant number of differentially expressed genes related to carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, particularly in the carbendazim and phenamacril groups. Central carbon pathways, including the TCA and glyoxylate cycles, were found to play crucial roles across all treatments except tebuconazole. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reinforced the pivotal role of central carbon pathways based on identified hub genes. Additionally, critical candidates associated with ATP-binding cassette transporters, heat shock proteins, and chitin synthases were identified. The crucial functions of the isocitrate lyase in F. graminearum were also validated. Overall, the study provided comprehensive insights into the mechanisms of how F. graminearum responds to fungicide stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhao Guo
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Kai He
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mengyu Li
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jia Jiang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Le Qian
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Xuheng Gao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Chengqi Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Shengming Liu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Green Plant Protection, Luoyang 471023, China.
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17
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Spada M, Pugliesi C, Fambrini M, Pecchia S. Challenges and Opportunities Arising from Host- Botrytis cinerea Interactions to Outline Novel and Sustainable Control Strategies: The Key Role of RNA Interference. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6798. [PMID: 38928507 PMCID: PMC11203536 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea (Pers., 1794), the causative agent of gray mold disease, causes significant losses in agricultural production. Control of this fungal pathogen is quite difficult due to its wide host range and environmental persistence. Currently, the management of the disease is still mainly based on chemicals, which can have harmful effects not only on the environment and on human health but also because they favor the development of strains resistant to fungicides. The flexibility and plasticity of B. cinerea in challenging plant defense mechanisms and its ability to evolve strategies to escape chemicals require the development of new control strategies for successful disease management. In this review, some aspects of the host-pathogen interactions from which novel and sustainable control strategies could be developed (e.g., signaling pathways, molecules involved in plant immune mechanisms, hormones, post-transcriptional gene silencing) were analyzed. New biotechnological tools based on the use of RNA interference (RNAi) are emerging in the crop protection scenario as versatile, sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to the use of chemicals. RNAi-based fungicides are expected to be approved soon, although they will face several challenges before reaching the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Spada
- Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Pugliesi
- Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Fambrini
- Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Susanna Pecchia
- Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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18
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Zou J, Du Y, Xing X, Huang P, Wang Z, Liu H, Wang Q, Xu J. Hyphal editing of the conserved premature stop codon in CHE1 is stimulated by oxidative stress in Fusarium graminearum. STRESS BIOLOGY 2024; 4:30. [PMID: 38864932 PMCID: PMC11169179 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-024-00174-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Although genome-wide A-to-I editing mediated by adenosine-deaminase-acting-on-tRNA (ADAT) occurs during sexual reproduction in the presence of stage-specific cofactors, RNA editing is not known to occur during vegetative growth in filamentous fungi. Here we identified 33 A-to-I RNA editing events in vegetative hyphae of Fusarium graminearum and functionally characterized one conserved hyphal-editing site. Similar to ADAT-mediated editing during sexual reproduction, majority of hyphal-editing sites are in coding sequences and nonsynonymous, and have strong preference for U at -1 position and hairpin loops. Editing at TA437G, one of the hyphal-specific editing sites, is a premature stop codon correction (PSC) event that enables CHE1 gene to encode a full-length zinc fingertranscription factor. Manual annotations showed that this PSC site is conserved in CHE1 orthologs from closely-related Fusarium species. Whereas the che1 deletion and CHE1TAA (G438 to A) mutants had no detectable phenotype, the CHE1TGG (A437 to G) mutant was defective in hyphal growth, conidiation, sexual reproduction, and plant infection. However, the CHE1TGG mutant was increased in tolerance against oxidative stress and editing of TA437G in CHE1 was stimulated by H2O2 treatment in F. graminearum. These results indicate that fixation of the premature stop codon in CHE1 has a fitness cost on normal hyphal growth and reproduction but provides a benefit to tolerance against oxidative stress. Taken together, A-to-I editing events, although rare (not genome-wide), occur during vegetative growth and editing in CHE1 plays a role in response to oxidative stress in F. graminearum and likely in other fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanfei Du
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoxing Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Panpan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zeyi Wang
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, IN, USA
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qinhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - JinRong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and NWAFU-Purdue Joint Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, IN, USA.
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19
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Shin S, Park J, Yang L, Kim H, Choi GJ, Lee YW, Kim JE, Son H. Con7 is a key transcription regulator for conidiogenesis in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. mSphere 2024; 9:e0081823. [PMID: 38591889 PMCID: PMC11237738 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00818-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The mycelium of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum exhibits distinct structures for vegetative growth, asexual sporulation, sexual development, virulence, and chlamydospore formation. These structures are vital for the survival and pathogenicity of the fungus, necessitating precise regulation based on environmental cues. Initially identified in Magnaporthe oryzae, the transcription factor Con7p regulates conidiation and infection-related morphogenesis, but not vegetative growth. We characterized the Con7p ortholog FgCon7, and deletion of FgCON7 resulted in severe defects in conidium production, virulence, sexual development, and vegetative growth. The mycelia of the deletion mutant transformed into chlamydospore-like structures with high chitin level accumulation. Notably, boosting FgABAA expression partially alleviated developmental issues in the FgCON7 deletion mutant. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed a direct genetic link between FgABAA and FgCON7. Furthermore, the chitin synthase gene Fg6550 (FGSG_06550) showed significant upregulation in the FgCON7 deletion mutant, and altering FgCON7 expression affected cell wall integrity. Further research will focus on understanding the behavior of the chitin synthase gene and its regulation by FgCon7 in F. graminearum. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of the genetic pathways that regulate hyphal differentiation and conidiation in this plant pathogenic fungus. IMPORTANCE The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is the primary cause of head blight disease in wheat and barley, as well as ear and stalk rot in maize. Given the importance of conidia and ascospores in the disease cycle of F. graminearum, precise spatiotemporal regulation of these biological processes is crucial. In this study, we characterized the Magnaporthe oryzae Con7p ortholog and discovered that FgCon7 significantly influences various crucial aspects of fungal development and pathogenicity. Notably, overexpression of FgABAA partially restored developmental defects in the FgCON7 deletion mutant. ChIP-qPCR analysis confirmed a direct genetic link between FgABAA and FgCON7. Furthermore, our research revealed a clear correlation between FgCon7 and chitin accumulation and the expression of chitin synthase genes. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms regulating conidiation and the significance of mycelial differentiation in this plant pathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soobin Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jiyeun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lin Yang
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hun Kim
- Eco-friendly New Materials Research Group, Research Center for Biobased Chemistry, Division of Convergence Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Eco-friendly New Materials Research Group, Research Center for Biobased Chemistry, Division of Convergence Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Kim
- Research Institute of Climate Change and Agriculture, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Jeju, South Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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20
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Jiang H, Yuan L, Ma L, Qi K, Zhang Y, Zhang B, Ma G, Qi J. Histone H3 N-Terminal Lysine Acetylation Governs Fungal Growth, Conidiation, and Pathogenicity through Regulating Gene Expression in Fusarium pseudograminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:379. [PMID: 38921366 PMCID: PMC11204548 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The acetylation of histone lysine residues regulates multiple life processes, including growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity in filamentous pathogenic fungi. However, the specific function of each lysine residue at the N-terminus of histone H3 in phytopathogenic fungi remains unclear. In this study, we mutated the N-terminal lysine residues of histone H3 in Fusarium pseudograminearum, the main causal agent of Fusarium crown rot of wheat in China, which also produces deoxynivalenol (DON) toxins harmful to humans and animals. Our findings reveal that all the FpH3K9R, FpH3K14R, FpH3K18R, and FpH3K23R mutants are vital for vegetative growth and conidiation. Additionally, FpH3K14 regulates the pathogen's sensitivity to various stresses and fungicides. Despite the slowed growth of the FpH3K9R and FpH3K23R mutants, their pathogenicity towards wheat stems and heads remains unchanged. However, the FpH3K9R mutant produces more DON. Furthermore, the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants exhibit significantly reduced virulence, with the FpH3K18R mutant producing minimal DON. In the FpH3K9R, FpH3K14R, FpH3K18R, and FpH3K23R mutants, there are 1863, 1400, 1688, and 1806 downregulated genes, respectively, compared to the wild type. These downregulated genes include many that are crucial for growth, conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON production, as well as some essential genes. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicates that genes downregulated in the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants are enriched for ribosome biogenesis, rRNA processing, and rRNA metabolic process. This suggests that the translation machinery is abnormal in the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants. Overall, our findings suggest that H3 N-terminal lysine residues are involved in regulating the expression of genes with important functions and are critical for fungal development and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Jiang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Lifang Yuan
- Shandong Academy of Grape, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China;
| | - Liguo Ma
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Kai Qi
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Yueli Zhang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Bo Zhang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Guoping Ma
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
| | - Junshan Qi
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (H.J.); (L.M.); (K.Q.); (Y.Z.); (B.Z.); (G.M.)
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21
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Mao X, Li L, Abubakar YS, Li Y, Luo Z, Chen M, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zheng H. Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase FgNdpk Is Required for DON Production and Pathogenicity by Regulating the Growth and Toxisome Formation of Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:9637-9646. [PMID: 38642053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00593] [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: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are nucleotide metabolism enzymes that play different physiological functions in different species. However, the roles of NDPK in phytopathogen and mycotoxin production are not well understood. In this study, we showed that Fusarium graminearum FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual development, and pathogenicity. Furthermore, FgNdpk is required for deoxynivalenol (DON) production; deletion of FgNDPK downregulates the expression of DON biosynthesis genes and disrupts the formation of FgTri4-GFP-labeled toxisomes, while overexpression of FgNDPK significantly increases DON production. Interestingly, FgNdpk colocalizes with the DON biosynthesis proteins FgTri1 and FgTri4 in the toxisome, and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays show that FgNdpk associates with FgTri1 and FgTri4 in vivo and regulates their localizations and expressions, respectively. Taken together, these data demonstrate that FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity and acts as a key protein that regulates toxisome formation and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhao Mao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lingping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810281, Nigeria
| | - Yulong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zenghong Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Meilian Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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22
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Yuan Z, Li P, Yang X, Cai X, Wu L, Zhao F, Wen W, Zhou M, Hou Y. FgPfn participates in vegetative growth, sexual reproduction, pathogenicity, and fungicides sensitivity via affecting both microtubules and actin in the filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012215. [PMID: 38701108 PMCID: PMC11095717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012215] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum species complexes (FGSG), is an epidemic disease in wheat and poses a serious threat to wheat production and security worldwide. Profilins are a class of actin-binding proteins that participate in actin depolymerization. However, the roles of profilins in plant fungal pathogens remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified FgPfn, a homolog to profilins in F. graminearum, and the deletion of FgPfn resulted in severe defects in mycelial growth, conidia production, and pathogenicity, accompanied by marked disruptions in toxisomes formation and deoxynivalenol (DON) transport, while sexual development was aborted. Additionally, FgPfn interacted with Fgα1 and Fgβ2, the significant components of microtubules. The organization of microtubules in the ΔFgPfn was strongly inhibited under the treatment of 0.4 μg/mL carbendazim, a well-known group of tubulin interferers, resulting in increased sensitivity to carbendazim. Moreover, FgPfn interacted with both myosin-5 (FgMyo5) and actin (FgAct), the targets of the fungicide phenamacril, and these interactions were reduced after phenamacril treatment. The deletion of FgPfn disrupted the normal organization of FgMyo5 and FgAct cytoskeleton, weakened the interaction between FgMyo5 and FgAct, and resulting in increased sensitivity to phenamacril. The core region of the interaction between FgPfn and FgAct was investigated, revealing that the integrity of both proteins was necessary for their interaction. Furthermore, mutations in R72, R77, R86, G91, I101, A112, G113, and D124 caused the non-interaction between FgPfn and FgAct. The R86K, I101E, and D124E mutants in FgPfn resulted in severe defects in actin organization, development, and pathogenicity. Taken together, this study revealed the role of FgPfn-dependent cytoskeleton in development, DON production and transport, fungicides sensitivity in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhili Yuan
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowei Cai
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Luoyu Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feifei Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weidong Wen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingguo Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiping Hou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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23
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Xia A, Wang X, Huang Y, Yang Q, Ye M, Wang Y, Jiang C, Duan K. The ING protein Fng2 associated with RPD3 HDAC complex for the regulation of fungal development and pathogenesis in wheat head blight fungus. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131938. [PMID: 38692539 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131938] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
ING proteins display a high level of evolutionary conservation across various species, and play a crucial role in modulating histone acetylation levels, thus regulating various important biological processes in yeast and humans. Filamentous fungi possess distinct biological characteristics that differentiate them from yeasts and humans, and the specific roles of ING proteins in filamentous fungi remain largely unexplored. In this study, an ING protein, Fng2, orthologous to the yeast Pho23, has been identified in the wheat head blight fungus Fusarium graminearum. The deletion of the FNG2 gene resulted in defects in vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual reproduction, plant infection, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis. Acting as a global regulator, Fng2 exerts negative control over histone H4 acetylation and governs the expression of over 4000 genes. Moreover, almost half of the differentially expressed genes in the fng3 mutant were found to be co-regulated by Fng2, emphasizing the functional association between these two ING proteins. Notably, the fng2 fng3 double mutant exhibits significantly increased H4 acetylation and severe defects in both fungal development and pathogenesis. Furthermore, Fng2 localizes within the nucleus and associates with the FgRpd3 histone deacetylase (HDAC) to modulate gene expression. Overall, Fng2's interaction with FgRpd3, along with its functional association with Fng3, underscores its crucial involvement in governing gene expression, thereby significantly influencing fungal growth, asexual and sexual development, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliang Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yingao Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qing Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Meng Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yankun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Kaili Duan
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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24
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Zhang Y, Gao Z, Lei Y, Song L, He W, Liu J, Song M, Dai Y, Yang G, Gong A. FgFAD12 Regulates Vegetative Growth, Pathogenicity and Linoleic Acid Biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:288. [PMID: 38667959 PMCID: PMC11051453 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040288] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as important components of lipids, play indispensable roles in the development of all organisms. ∆12 fatty acid desaturase (FAD12) is a speed-determining step in the biosynthesis of PUFAs. Here, we report the characterization of FAD12 in Fusarium graminearum, which is the prevalent agent of Fusarium head blight, a destructive plant disease worldwide. The results demonstrated that deletion of the FgFAD12 gene resulted in defects in vegetative growth, conidial germination and plant pathogenesis but not sexual reproduction. A fatty acid analysis further proved that the deletion of FgFAD12 restrained the reaction of oleic acid to linoleic acid, and a large amount of oleic acid was detected in the cells. Moreover, the ∆Fgfad12 mutant showed increased resistance to osmotic stress and reduced tolerance to oxidative stress. The expression of FgFAD12 did show a temperature-dependent manner, which was not affected at a low temperature of 10 °C when compared to 25 °C. RNA-seq analysis further demonstrated that most genes enriched in fatty acid metabolism, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid degradation, steroid biosynthesis and fatty acid elongation pathways were significantly up-regulated in the ∆Fgfad12 mutants. Overall, our results indicate that FgFAD12 is essential for linoleic acid biosynthesis and plays an important role in the infection process of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimei Zhang
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Zhen Gao
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Yinyu Lei
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Liuye Song
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Weijie He
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultura University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Jingrong Liu
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Mengge Song
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Yafeng Dai
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Guang Yang
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Andong Gong
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology, Xinyang 464000, China
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Niu G, Yang Q, Liao Y, Sun D, Tang Z, Wang G, Xu M, Wang C, Kang J. Advances in Understanding Fusarium graminearum: Genes Involved in the Regulation of Sexual Development, Pathogenesis, and Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:475. [PMID: 38674409 PMCID: PMC11050156 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040475] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The wheat head blight disease caused by Fusarium graminearum is a major concern for food security and the health of both humans and animals. As a pathogenic microorganism, F. graminearum produces virulence factors during infection to increase pathogenicity, including various macromolecular and small molecular compounds. Among these virulence factors, secreted proteins and deoxynivalenol (DON) are important weapons for the expansion and colonization of F. graminearum. Besides the presence of virulence factors, sexual reproduction is also crucial for the infection process of F. graminearum and is indispensable for the emergence and spread of wheat head blight. Over the last ten years, there have been notable breakthroughs in researching the virulence factors and sexual reproduction of F. graminearum. This review aims to analyze the research progress of sexual reproduction, secreted proteins, and DON of F. graminearum, emphasizing the regulation of sexual reproduction and DON synthesis. We also discuss the application of new gene engineering technologies in the prevention and control of wheat head blight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Niu
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Qing Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Yihui Liao
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Daiyuan Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Zhe Tang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Guanghui Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Ming Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
| | - Chenfang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Jiangang Kang
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (G.N.); (Q.Y.); (Y.L.); (D.S.); (Z.T.); (G.W.); (M.X.)
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Chen A, Han X, Liu C, Zhou Y, Ren Y, Shen X, Shim WB, Chai Y, Ma Z, Chen Y. Profiling of deubiquitinases that control virulence in the pathogenic plant fungus Fusarium graminearum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:192-210. [PMID: 38332398 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19562] [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: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotes have evolved sophisticated post-translational modifications to regulate protein function and numerous biological processes, including ubiquitination controlled by the coordinated action of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes (Dubs). However, the function of deubiquitination in pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. Here, the distribution of Dubs in the fungal kingdom was surveyed and their functions were systematically characterized using the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum as the model species, which causes devastating diseases of all cereal species world-wide. Our findings demonstrate that Dubs are critical for fungal development and virulence, especially the ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (Ubp15). Global ubiquitome analysis and subsequent experiments identified three important substrates of Ubp15, including the autophagy-related protein Atg8, the mitogen-activated protein kinase Gpmk1, and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthetic protein Tri4. Ubp15 regulates the deubiquitination of the Atg8, thereby impacting its subcellular localization and the autophagy process. Moreover, Ubp15 also modulates the deubiquitination of Gpmk1 and Tri4. This modulation subsequently influences their protein stabilities and further affects the formation of penetration structures and the biosynthetic process of DON, respectively. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unknown regulatory pathway of a deubiquitinating enzyme for fungal virulence and highlight the potential of Ubp15 as a target for combating fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- FAFU-UCR Joint Center for Horticultural Biology and Metabolomics, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xingxing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Won Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yunrong Chai
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Bian Z, Wang Z, Wang D, Xu JR. Sexual stage-specific A-to-I mRNA editing is mediated by tRNA-editing enzymes in fungi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319235121. [PMID: 38466838 PMCID: PMC10962958 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319235121] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
A-to-I RNA editing catalyzed by adenosine-deaminase-acting-on-RNA (ADARs) was assumed to be unique to metazoans because fungi and plants lack ADAR homologs. However, genome-wide messenger RNA (mRNA) editing was found to occur specifically during sexual reproduction in filamentous ascomycetes. Because systematic characterization of adenosine/cytosine deaminase genes has implicated the involvement of TAD2 and TAD3 orthologs in A-to-I editing, in this study, we used genetic and biochemical approaches to characterize the role of FgTAD2, an essential adenosine-deaminase-acting-on-tRNA (ADAT) gene, in mRNA editing in Fusarium graminearum. FgTAD2 had a sexual-stage-specific isoform and formed heterodimers with enzymatically inactive FgTAD3. Using a repeat-induced point (RIP) mutation approach, we identified 17 mutations in FgTAD2 that affected mRNA editing during sexual reproduction but had no effect on transfer RNA (tRNA) editing and vegetative growth. The functional importance of the H352Y and Q375*(nonsense) mutations in sexual reproduction and mRNA editing were confirmed by introducing specific point mutations into the endogenous FgTAD2 allele in the wild type. An in vitro assay was developed to show that FgTad2-His proteins purified from perithecia, but not from vegetative hyphae, had mRNA editing activities. Moreover, the H352Y mutation affected the enzymatic activity of FgTad2 to edit mRNA but had no effect on its ADAT activity. We also identified proteins co-purified with FgTad2-His by mass spectrometry analysis and found that two of them have the RNA recognition motif. Taken together, genetic and biochemical data from this study demonstrated that FgTad2, an ADAT, catalyzes A-to-I mRNA editing with the stage-specific isoform and cofactors during sexual reproduction in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuyun Bian
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Zeyi Wang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Diwen Wang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
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Gyawali B, Rahimi R, Alizadeh H, Mohammadi M. Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD)-Mediated dsRNA Delivery for the Control of Fusarium Head Blight Disease in Wheat. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:1526-1535. [PMID: 38422985 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a class of fluorescent carbon materials, have displayed significant potential in various fields such as energy devices, catalysis, sensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery. Because of their extremely small size, generally less than 100 nm, they also have tremendous potential in plant science research, especially for the delivery of nucleic acids, breaking the barrier of cell walls. In this study, we synthesized GQDs with a size range of 2-5 nm, characterized them, and surface-functionalized them with branched polyethylenimine (bPEI). We then used the surface-functionalized GQDs as carriers to deliver double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that target two growth-and-development-related genes in Fusarium graminearum─the causative organism of the Fusarium head blight disease of wheat. The successful binding of dsRNA to GQDs-bPEIs was demonstrated through gel-shifting assays, showcasing the potential for efficient dsRNA delivery. We designed dsRNAs targeting the MGV1 and RAS1 genes of F. graminearum by using the pssRNAit pipeline, ensuring high specificity and no off-target effects. The coding sequences of the designed dsRAS1 and dsMGV1 were cloned into the L4440 vector and transformed into the Escherichia coli HT115 strain for dsRNA production. Fungal culture analysis revealed that the inclusion of dsRNAs in potato dextrose agar (PDA) media effectively slowed down the growth. Exogenous spraying experiments both in plate cultures and in intact wheat spikes demonstrated that the dsRNA:GQDs-bPEIs treatment was more effective in restricting fungal mycelium growth or the number of infected spikelets compared to naked dsRNA treatment. Our study demonstrates the promising potential of graphene quantum dots as carriers for dsRNA-based fungal disease management in wheat and other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Gyawali
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Rahim Rahimi
- School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Houshang Alizadeh
- Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran 11366, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mohammadi
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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29
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Wang C, Zhao F, Wu Z, Cai X, Zhou M, Hou Y. Mitochondria-Associated Protein FgNdk1 Regulates the Development, Pathogenicity, and SDHI Fungicide Sensitivity of Fusarium graminearum by Interacting with Succinate Dehydrogenase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:3913-3925. [PMID: 38355300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07934] [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: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) plays an important role in many cellular processes in all organisms. In this study, we functionally characterized a nucleoside diphosphate kinase (FgNdk1) in Fusarium graminearum, a causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB). FgNdk1 was involved in the generation of energy in the electron-transfer chain by interacting with succinate dehydrogenase (FgSdhA, FgSdhC1, and FgSdhC2). Deletion of FgNdk1 not only resulted in abnormal mitochondrial morphology, decreased ATP content, defective fungal development, and impairment in the formation of the toxisome but also led to the suppressed expression level of DON biosynthesis enzymes, decreased DON biosynthesis, and declined pathogenicity as well. Furthermore, deletion of FgNdk1 caused increasing transcriptional levels of FgSdhC1 and FgdhC2, in the presence of pydiflumetofen, related to the decreased sensitivity to SDHI fungicides. Overall, this study identified a new regulatory mechanism of FgNdk1 in the pathogenicity and SDHI fungicide sensitivity of Fusarium graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenguang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feifei Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - ZhiWen Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowei Cai
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingguo Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiping Hou
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
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30
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Huang P, Yu X, Liu H, Ding M, Wang Z, Xu JR, Jiang C. Regulation of TRI5 expression and deoxynivalenol biosynthesis by a long non-coding RNA in Fusarium graminearum. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1216. [PMID: 38332031 PMCID: PMC10853542 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45502-w] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most frequently detected mycotoxin in cereal grains and processed food or feed. Two transcription factors, Tri6 and Tri10, are essential for DON biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. In this study we conduct stranded RNA-seq analysis with tri6 and tri10 mutants and show that Tri10 acts as a master regulator controlling the expression of sense and antisense transcripts of TRI6 and over 450 genes with diverse functions. TRI6 is more specific for regulating TRI genes although it negatively regulates TRI10. Two other TRI genes, including TRI5 that encodes a key enzyme for DON biosynthesis, also have antisense transcripts. Both Tri6 and Tri10 are essential for TRI5 expression and for suppression of antisense-TRI5. Furthermore, we identify a long non-coding RNA (named RNA5P) that is transcribed from the TRI5 promoter region and is also regulated by Tri6 and Tri10. Deletion of RNA5P by replacing the promoter region of TRI5 with that of TRI12 increases TRI5 expression and DON biosynthesis, indicating that RNA5P suppresses TRI5 expression. However, ectopic constitutive overexpression of RNA5P has no effect on DON biosynthesis and TRI5 expression. Nevertheless, elevated expression of RNA5P in situ reduces TRI5 expression and DON production. Our results indicate that TRI10 and TRI6 regulate each other's expression, and both are important for suppressing the expression of RNA5P, a long non-coding RNA with cis-acting inhibitory effects on TRI5 expression and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Xiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Mingyu Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Zeyi Wang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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31
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Miao J, Li Y, Hu S, Li G, Gao X, Dai T, Liu X. Resistance risk, resistance mechanism and the effect on DON production of a new SDHI fungicide cyclobutrifluram in Fusarium graminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 199:105795. [PMID: 38458689 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105795] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight in wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum, resulting in significant yield losses and grain contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON), which poses a potential threat to animal health. Cyclobutrifluram, a newly developed succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, has shown excellent inhibition of Fusarium spp. However, the resistance risk of F. graminearum to cyclobutrifluram and the molecular mechanism of resistance have not been determined. In this study, we established the average EC50 of a range of F. graminearum isolates to cyclobutrifluram to be 0.0110 μg/mL. Six cyclobutrifluram-resistant mutants were obtained using fungicide adaptation. All mutants exhibited impaired fitness relative to their parental isolates. This was evident from measurements of mycelial growth, conidiation, conidial germination, virulence, and DON production. Interestingly, cyclobutrifluram did not seem to affect the DON production of either the sensitive isolates or the resistant mutants. Furthermore, a positive cross-resistance was observed between cyclobutrifluram and pydiflumetofen. These findings suggest that F. graminearum carries a moderate to high risk of developing resistance to cyclobutrifluram. Additionally, point mutations H248Y in FgSdhB and A73V in FgSdhC1 of F. graminearum were observed in the cyclobutrifluram-resistant mutants. Finally, an overexpression transformation assay and molecular docking indicated that FgSdhBH248Y or FgSdhC1A73V could confer resistance of F. graminearum to cyclobutrifluram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Miao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shiping Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guixiang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuheng Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tan Dai
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xili Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuanxi Road, Beijing 100193, China.
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32
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Li G, Zhang L, Li Y, Li X, Gao X, Dai T, Miao J, Liu X. Analysis of resistance risk and mechanism of the 14α-demethylation inhibitor ipconazole in Fusarium pseudograminearum. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 199:105786. [PMID: 38458686 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105786] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Ipconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole fungicide that is highly effective against Fusarium pseudograminearum. However, its risk of developing resistance and mechanism are not well understood in F. pseudograminearum. Here, the sensitivities of 101 F. pseudograminearum isolates to ipconazole were investigated, and the average EC50 value was 0.1072 μg/mL. Seven mutants resistant to ipconazole were obtained by fungicide adaption, with all but one showing reduced fitness relative to the parental isolates. Cross-resistance was found between ipconazole and mefentrifluconazole and tebuconazole, but none between ipconazole and pydiflumetofen, carbendazim, fludioxonil, or phenamacril. In summary, these findings suggest that there is a low risk of F. pseudograminearum developing resistance to ipconazole. Additionally, a point mutation, G464S, was seen in FpCYP51B and overexpression of FpCYP51A, FpCYP51B and FpCYP51C was observed in ipconazole-resistant mutants. Assays, including transformation and molecular docking, indicated that G464S conferred ipconazole resistance in F. pseudograminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixiang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuheng Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tan Dai
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jianqiang Miao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xili Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuanxi Road, Beijing 100193, China.
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33
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Wang M, Wu N, Wang H, Liu C, Chen Q, Xu T, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Ma Z. Overproduction of mycotoxin biosynthetic enzymes triggers Fusarium toxisome-shaped structure formation via endoplasmic reticulum remodeling. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011913. [PMID: 38166144 PMCID: PMC10786393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by the Fusarium graminearum complex is highly toxic to animal and human health. During DON synthesis, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of F. graminearum is intensively reorganized, from thin reticular structure to thickened spherical and crescent structure, which was referred to as "DON toxisome". However, the underlying mechanism of how the ER is reorganized into toxisome remains unknown. In this study, we discovered that overproduction of ER-localized DON biosynthetic enzyme Tri4 or Tri1, or intrinsic ER-resident membrane proteins FgHmr1 and FgCnx was sufficient to induce toxisome-shaped structure (TSS) formation under non-toxin-inducing conditions. Moreover, heterologous overexpression of Tri1 and Tri4 proteins in non-DON-producing fungi F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and F. fujikuroi also led to TSS formation. In addition, we found that the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG), but not the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway was involved in the assembly of ER into TSS. By using toxisome as a biomarker, we screened and identified a novel chemical which exhibited high inhibitory activity against toxisome formation and DON biosynthesis, and inhibited Fusarium growth species-specifically. Taken together, this study demonstrated that the essence of ER remodeling into toxisome structure is a response to the overproduction of ER-localized DON biosynthetic enzymes, providing a novel pathway for management of mycotoxin contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ningjie Wu
- Zhejiang Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huiyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaowan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tianming Xu
- Zhejiang Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, Washington, United States of America
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Sun H, Cai S, Liu H, Li X, Deng Y, Yang X, Cao S, Li W, Chen H. FgSdhC Paralog Confers Natural Resistance toward SDHI Fungicides in Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:20643-20653. [PMID: 38108286 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum exhibited natural resistance to a majority of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides (SDHIs) and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the natural resistance were still unknown. Succinate dehydrogenase subunit C (SdhC) is an essential gene for maintaining succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (SQR) function in fungi. In F. graminearum, a paralog of FgSdhC named as FgSdhC1 was identified. Based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR assay, we found that the expression level of FgSdhC1 was very low but upregulated by SDHIs treatment. Based on reverse genetics, we demonstrated that FgSdhC1 was an inessential gene in normal growth but was sufficient for maintaining SQR function and conferred natural resistance or reduced sensitivity toward SDHIs. Additionally, we found that the standard F. graminearum isolate PH-1 had high sensitivity to a majority of SDHIs. A single nucleotide variation (C to T) in the FgSdhC1 of isolate PH-1, resulting in a premature termination codon (TAA) replacing the fourth amino acid glutamine (Q), led to the failure of FgSdhC1 to perform functions of conferring nature resistance. These results established that a dispensable paralogous gene determined SDHIs resistance in natural populations of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Shiyan Cai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Huiquan Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xinlei Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yuanyu Deng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xiaoyue Yang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Shulin Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Wei Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Huaigu Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
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Zhang C, Zhou Z, Guo T, Huang X, Peng C, Lin Z, Chen M, Liu W. CFHTF2 Is Needed for Vegetative Growth, Conidial Morphogenesis and the Osmotic Stress Response in the Tea Plant Anthracnose ( Colletotrichum fructicola). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2235. [PMID: 38137057 PMCID: PMC10743015 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122235] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tea is an important cash crop worldwide, and its nutritional value has led to its high economic benefits. Tea anthracnose is a common disease of tea plants that seriously affects food safety and yield and has a far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of the tea industry. In this study, phenotypic analysis and pathogenicity analysis were performed on knockout and complement strains of HTF2-the transcriptional regulator of tea anthracnose homeobox-and the pathogenic mechanism of these strains was explored via RNA-seq. The MoHox1 gene sequence of the rice blast fungus was indexed, and the anthracnose genome was searched for CfHTF2. Evolutionary analysis recently reported the affinity of HTF2 for C. fructicola and C. higginsianum. The loss of CfHTF2 slowed the vegetative growth and spore-producing capacity of C. fructicola and weakened its resistance and pathogenesis to adverse conditions. The transcriptome sequencing of wild-type N425 and CfHTF2 deletion mutants was performed, and a total of 3144 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, 1594 of which were upregulated and 1550 of which were downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of DEGs mainly focused on signaling pathways such as the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In conclusion, this study lays a foundation for further study of the pathogenic mechanism of tea anthracnose and provides a molecular basis for the analysis of the pathogenic molecular mechanism of CfHTF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengkang Zhang
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ziwen Zhou
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Tianlong Guo
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide and Chemistry Biology, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Chengbin Peng
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Zhideng Lin
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Meixia Chen
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Wei Liu
- Industry and University Research Cooperation Demonstration Base of Science and Technology Agency in Fujian Province, College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China; (C.Z.); (Z.Z.); (T.G.); (X.H.); (C.P.); (Z.L.); (M.C.)
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Tang L, Zhai H, Zhang S, Lv Y, Li Y, Wei S, Ma P, Wei S, Hu Y, Cai J. Functional Characterization of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Fusarium graminearum. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2875. [PMID: 38138019 PMCID: PMC10745421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122875] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), a common oxidoreductase in organisms, is an aldehyde scavenger involved in various metabolic processes. However, its function in different pathogenic fungi remains unknown. Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight in cereals, which reduces grain yield and quality and is an important global food security problem. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of F. graminearum, seven genes encoding ALDH were knocked out and then studied for their function. Single deletions of seven ALDH genes caused a decrease in spore production and weakened the pathogenicity. Furthermore, these deletions altered susceptibility to various abiotic stresses. FGSG_04194 is associated with a number of functions, including mycelial growth and development, stress sensitivity, pathogenicity, toxin production, and energy metabolism. FGSG_00139 and FGSG_11482 are involved in sporulation, pathogenicity, and SDH activity, while the other five genes are multifunctional. Notably, we found that FGSG_04194 has an inhibitory impact on ALDH activity, whereas FGSG_00979 has a positive impact. RNA sequencing and subcellular location analysis revealed that FGSG_04194 is responsible for biological process regulation, including glucose and lipid metabolism. Our results suggest that ALDH contributes to growth, stress responses, pathogenicity, deoxynivalenol synthesis, and mitochondrial energy metabolism in F. graminearum. Finally, ALDH presents a potential target and theoretical basis for fungicide development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huanchen Zhai
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (L.T.); (S.Z.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (P.M.); (S.W.); (Y.H.); (J.C.)
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Chen A, Liu N, Xu C, Wu S, Liu C, Qi H, Ren Y, Han X, Yang K, Liu X, Ma Z, Chen Y. The STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of Fusarium graminearum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1139-1153. [PMID: 37278525 PMCID: PMC10423325 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13359] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAKs) are evolutionarily conserved supramolecular complexes that control various important cellular processes such as signal transduction and development. However, the role of the STRIPAK complex in pathogenic fungi remains elusive. In this study, the components and function of the STRIPAK complex were investigated in Fusarium graminearum, an important plant-pathogenic fungus. The results obtained from bioinformatic analyses and the protein-protein interactome suggested that the fungal STRIPAK complex consisted of six proteins: Ham2, Ham3, Ham4, PP2Aa, Ppg1, and Mob3. Deletion mutations of individual components of the STRIPAK complex were created, and observed to cause a significant reduction in fungal vegetative growth and sexual development, and dramatically attenuae virulence, excluding the essential gene PP2Aa. Further results revealed that the STRIPAK complex interacted with the mitogen-activated protein kinase Mgv1, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway, subsequently regulating the phosphorylation level and nuclear accumulation of Mgv1 to control the fungal stress response and virulence. Our results also suggested that the STRIPAK complex was interconnected with the target of rapamycin pathway through Tap42-PP2A cascade. Taken together, our findings revealed that the STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of F. graminearum and highlighted the importance of the STRIPAK complex in fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Na Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Chenghui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Siqi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hao Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Kunlong Yang
- Department of Biomedicine and Food Science, School of Life ScienceJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouChina
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of MicrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, the Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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Chen A, Zhou Y, Ren Y, Liu C, Han X, Wang J, Ma Z, Chen Y. Ubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5 contributes to fungal virulence in Fusarium graminearum. mBio 2023; 14:e0149923. [PMID: 37504517 PMCID: PMC10470610 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01499-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The histone acetyltransferase general control non-depressible 5 (Gcn5) plays a critical role in the epigenetic landscape and chromatin modification for regulating a wide variety of biological events. However, the post-translational regulation of Gcn5 itself is poorly understood. Here, we found that Gcn5 was ubiquitinated and deubiquitinated by E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14, respectively, in the important plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Tom1 interacted with Gcn5 in the nucleus and subsequently ubiquitinated Gcn5 mainly at K252 to accelerate protein degradation. Conversely, Ubp14 deubiquitinated Gcn5 and enhanced its stability. In the deletion mutant Δubp14, protein level of Gcn5 was significantly reduced and resulted in attenuated virulence in the fungus by affecting the mycotoxin production, autophagy process, and the penetration ability. Our findings indicate that Tom1 and Ubp14 show antagonistic functions in the control of the protein stability of Gcn5 via post-translational modification and highlight the importance of Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in the fungal virulence. IMPORTANCE Post-translational modification (PTM) enzymes have been reported to be involved in regulating numerous cellular processes. However, the modification of these PTM enzymes themselves is largely unknown. In this study, we found that the E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14 contributed to the regulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5, respectively, in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight of cereals. Our findings provide deep insights into the modification of acetyltransferase Gcn5 and its dynamic regulation via ubiquitination and deubiquitination. To our knowledge, this work is the most comprehensive analysis of a regulatory network of ubiquitination that impinges on acetyltransferase in filamentous pathogens. Moreover, our findings are important because we present the novel roles of the Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in fungal virulence, providing novel possibilities and targets to control fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingmin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Duan K, Shen Q, Wang Y, Xiang P, Shi Y, Yang C, Jiang C, Wang G, Xu JR, Zhang X. Herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid interferes with MAP kinase signaling in Fusarium graminearum and is inhibitory to fungal growth and pathogenesis. STRESS BIOLOGY 2023; 3:31. [PMID: 37676555 PMCID: PMC10442047 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00109-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant hormones are important for regulating growth, development, and plant-pathogen interactions. Some of them are inhibitory to growth of fungal pathogens but the underlying mechanism is not clear. In this study, we found that hyphal growth of Fusarium graminearum was significantly reduced by high concentrations of IAA and its metabolically stable analogue 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Besides inhibitory effects on growth rate, treatments with 2,4-D also caused significant reduction in conidiation, conidium germination, and germ tube growth. Treatments with 2,4-D had no obvious effect on sexual reproduction but significantly reduced TRI gene expression, toxisome formation, and DON production. More importantly, treatments with 2,4-D were inhibitory to infection structure formation and pathogenesis at concentrations higher than 100 µM. The presence of 1000 µM 2,4-D almost completely inhibited plant infection and invasive growth. In F. graminearum, 2,4-D induced ROS accumulation and FgHog1 activation but reduced the phosphorylation level of Gpmk1 MAP kinase. Metabolomics analysis showed that the accumulation of a number of metabolites such as glycerol and arabitol was increased by 2,4-D treatment in the wild type but not in the Fghog1 mutant. Transformants expressing the dominant active FgPBS2S451D T455D allele were less sensitive to 2,4-D and had elevated levels of intracellular glycerol and arabitol induced by 2,4-D in PH-1. Taken together, our results showed that treatments with 2,4-D interfere with two important MAP kinase pathways and are inhibitory to hyphal growth, DON biosynthesis, and plant infection in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qifang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ping Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yutong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chenfei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Cong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guanghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Xue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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Shostak K, González-Peña Fundora D, Blackman C, Witte T, Sproule A, Overy D, Eranthodi A, Thakor N, Foroud NA, Subramaniam R. Epistatic Relationship between MGV1 and TRI6 in the Regulation of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:816. [PMID: 37623587 PMCID: PMC10455978 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080816] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies have shown that the MAP kinase MGV1 and the transcriptional regulator TRI6 regulate many of the same biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in Fusarium graminearum. This study sought to investigate the relationship between MGV1 and TRI6 in the regulatory hierarchy. Transgenic F. graminearum strains constitutively expressing MGV1 and TRI6 were generated to address both independent and epistatic regulation of BGCs by MGV1 and TRI6. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis between axenic cultures grown in nutrient-rich and secondary metabolite-inducing conditions. The results indicated that BGCs regulated independently by Mgv1 included genes of BGC52, whereas genes uniquely regulated by TRI6 included the gene cluster (BGC49) that produces gramillin. To understand the epistatic relationship between MGV1 and TRI6, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to insert a constitutive promoter to drive TRI6 expression in the Δmgv1 strain. The results indicate that BGCs that produce deoxynivalenol and fusaoctaxin are co-regulated, with TRI6 being partially regulated by MGV1. Overall, the findings from this study indicate that MGV1 provides an articulation point to differentially regulate various BGCs. Moreover, TRI6, embedded in one of the BGCs provides specificity to regulate the expression of the genes in the BGC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Shostak
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Dianevys González-Peña Fundora
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 4M4, Canada;
| | - Christopher Blackman
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Cell and System Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Tom Witte
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Amanda Sproule
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - David Overy
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Anas Eranthodi
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
| | - Nehal Thakor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 4M4, Canada;
| | - Nora A. Foroud
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada; (D.G.-P.F.); (A.E.)
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (K.S.); (C.B.); (T.W.); (A.S.); (D.O.)
- Department of Cell and System Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
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Liu C, Jiang X, Tan Z, Wang R, Shang Q, Li H, Xu S, Aranda MA, Wu B. An Outstandingly Rare Occurrence of Mycoviruses in Soil Strains of the Plant-Beneficial Fungi from the Genus Trichoderma and a Novel Polymycoviridae Isolate. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0522822. [PMID: 37022156 PMCID: PMC10269472 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05228-22] [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: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In fungi, viral infections frequently remain cryptic causing little or no phenotypic changes. It can indicate either a long history of coevolution or a strong immune system of the host. Some fungi are outstandingly ubiquitous and can be recovered from a great diversity of habitats. However, the role of viral infection in the emergence of environmental opportunistic species is not known. The genus of filamentous and mycoparasitic fungi Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) consists of more than 400 species, which mainly occur on dead wood, other fungi, or as endo- and epiphytes. However, some species are environmental opportunists because they are cosmopolitan, can establish in a diversity of habitats, and can also become pests on mushroom farms and infect immunocompromised humans. In this study, we investigated the library of 163 Trichoderma strains isolated from grassland soils in Inner Mongolia, China, and found only four strains with signs of the mycoviral nucleic acids, including a strain of T. barbatum infected with a novel strain of the Polymycoviridae and named and characterized here as Trichoderma barbatum polymycovirus 1 (TbPMV1). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that TbPMV1 was evolutionarily distinct from the Polymycoviridae isolated either from Eurotialean fungi or from the order Magnaportales. Although the Polymycoviridae viruses were also known from Hypocrealean Beauveria bassiana, the phylogeny of TbPMV1 did not reflect the phylogeny of the host. Our analysis lays the groundwork for further in-depth characterization of TbPMV1 and the role of mycoviruses in the emergence of environmental opportunism in Trichoderma. IMPORTANCE Although viruses infect all organisms, our knowledge of some groups of eukaryotes remains limited. For instance, the diversity of viruses infecting fungi-mycoviruses-is largely unknown. However, the knowledge of viruses associated with industrially relevant and plant-beneficial fungi, such as Trichoderma spp. (Hypocreales, Ascomycota), may shed light on the stability of their phenotypes and the expression of beneficial traits. In this study, we screened the library of soilborne Trichoderma strains because these isolates may be developed into bioeffectors for plant protection and sustainable agriculture. Notably, the diversity of endophytic viruses in soil Trichoderma was outstandingly low. Only 2% of 163 strains contained traces of dsRNA viruses, including the new Trichoderma barbatum polymycovirus 1 (TbPMV1) characterized in this study. TbPMV1 is the first mycovirus found in Trichoderma. Our results indicate that the limited data prevent the in-depth study of the evolutionary relationship between soilborne fungi and is worth further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiliang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoyan Tan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rongqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoxia Shang
- Key Laboratory for Northern Urban Agriculture of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Horticulture and Landscapes, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shujin Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Horticulture and Landscapes, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, China
| | - Miguel A. Aranda
- Department of Stress Biology and Plant Pathology, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS)-CSIC, Murcia, Spain
| | - Beilei Wu
- 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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Yuan Y, Mao X, Abubakar YS, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zhou J, Zheng H. Genome-Wide Characterization of the RNA Exosome Complex in Relation to Growth, Development, and Pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0505822. [PMID: 37158744 PMCID: PMC10269758 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05058-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The RNA exosome complex is a conserved, multisubunit RNase complex that contributes to the processing and degradation of RNAs in mammalian cells. However, the roles of the RNA exosome in phytopathogenic fungi and how it relates to fungal development and pathogenicity remain unclear. Herein, we identified 12 components of the RNA exosome in the wheat fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Live-cell imaging showed that all the components of the RNA exosome complex are localized in the nucleus. FgEXOSC1 and FgEXOSCA were successfully knocked out; they are both involved in the vegetative growth, sexual reproduction, and pathogenicity of F. graminearum. Moreover, deletion of FgEXOSC1 resulted in abnormal toxisomes, decreased deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and downregulation of the expression levels of DON biosynthesis genes. The RNA-binding domain and N-terminal region of FgExosc1 are required for its normal localization and functions. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) showed that the disruption of FgEXOSC1 resulted in differential expression of 3,439 genes. Genes involved in processing of noncoding RNA (ncRNA), rRNA and ncRNA metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, subcellular localization, green fluorescent protein (GFP) pulldown, and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays demonstrated that FgExosc1 associates with the other components of the RNA exosome to form the RNA exosome complex in F. graminearum. Deletion of FgEXOSC1 and FgEXOSCA reduced the relative expression of some of the other subunits of the RNA exosome. Deletion of FgEXOSC1 affected the localization of FgExosc4, FgExosc6, and FgExosc7. In summary, our study reveals that the RNA exosome is involved in vegetative growth, sexual reproduction, DON production, and pathogenicity of F. graminearum. IMPORTANCE The RNA exosome complex is the most versatile RNA degradation machinery in eukaryotes. However, little is known about how this complex regulates the development and pathogenicity of plant-pathogenic fungi. In this study, we systematically identified 12 components of the RNA exosome complex in Fusarium head blight fungus Fusarium graminearum and first unveiled their subcellular localizations and established their biological functions in relation to the fungal development and pathogenesis. All the RNA exosome components are localized in the nucleus. FgExosc1 and FgExoscA are both required for the vegetative growth, sexual reproduction, DON production and pathogenicity in F. graminearum. FgExosc1 is involved in ncRNA processing, rRNA and ncRNA metabolism process, ribosome biogenesis and ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis. FgExosc1 associates with the other components of RNA exosome complex and form the exosome complex in F. graminearum. Our study provides new insights into the role of the RNA exosome in regulating RNA metabolism, which is associated with fungal development and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Yuan
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuzhao Mao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Liang X, Zhao M, Qi T, Guo H, Zhao J, Zhao J, Zhan G, Kang Z, Zheng L. A novel ambigrammatic mycovirus, PsV5, works hand in glove with wheat stripe rust fungus to facilitate infection. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100505. [PMID: 36527233 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Here we describe a novel narnavirus, Puccinia striiformis virus 5 (PsV5), from the devastating wheat stripe rust fungus P. striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). The genome of PsV5 contains two predicted open reading frames (ORFs) that largely overlap on reverse strands: an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a reverse-frame ORF (rORF) with unknown function. Protein translations of both ORFs were demonstrated by immune technology. Transgenic wheat lines overexpressing PsV5 (RdRp-rORF), RdRp ORF, or rORF were more susceptible to Pst infection, whereas PsV5-RNA interference (RNAi) lines were more resistant. Overexpression of PsV5 (RdRp-rORF), RdRp ORF, or rORF in Fusarium graminearum also boosted fungal virulence. We thus report a novel ambigrammatic mycovirus that promotes the virulence of its fungal host. The results are a significant addition to our understanding of virosphere diversity and offer insights for sustainable wheat rust disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xiaofei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Mengxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Tuo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Key Laboratory of Major Crop Diseases & Collaborative Innovation Center for Hybrid Rice in Yangtze River Basin, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University at Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Hualong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Gangming Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zhensheng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Li Zheng
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China; Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education and School of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
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Miao P, Mao X, Chen S, Abubakar YS, Li Y, Zheng W, Zhou J, Wang Z, Zheng H. The mitotic exit mediated by small GTPase Tem1 is essential for the pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011255. [PMID: 36928713 PMCID: PMC10047555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitotic exit is a key step in cell cycle, but the mechanism of mitotic exit network in the wheat head blight fungus Fusarium graminearum remains unclear. F. graminearum infects wheat spikelets and colonizes the entire head by growing through the rachis node at the bottom of each spikelet. In this study, we found that a small GTPase FgTem1 plays an important role in F. graminearum pathogenicity and functions in regulating the formation of infection structures and invasive hyphal growth on wheat spikelets and wheat coleoptiles, but plays only little roles in vegetative growth and conidiation of the phytopathogen. FgTem1 localizes to both the inner nuclear periphery and the spindle pole bodies, and negatively regulates mitotic exit in F. graminearum. Furthermore, the regulatory mechanisms of FgTem1 have been further investigated by high-throughput co-immunoprecipitation and genetic strategies. The septins FgCdc10 and FgCdc11 were demonstrated to interact with the dominant negative form of FgTem1, and FgCdc11 was found to regulate the localization of FgTem1. The cell cycle arrest protein FgBub2-FgBfa1 complex was shown to act as the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for FgTem1. We further demonstrated that a direct interaction exists between FgBub2 and FgBfa1 which crucially promotes conidiation, pathogenicity and DON production, and negatively regulates septum formation and nuclear division in F. graminearum. Deletions of FgBUB2 and FgBFA1 genes caused fewer perithecia and immature asci formations, and dramatically down-regulated trichothecene biosynthesis (TRI) gene expressions. Double deletion of FgBUB2/FgBFA1 genes showed that FgBUB2 and FgBFA1 have little functional redundancy in F. graminearum. In summary, we systemically demonstrated that FgTem1 and its GAP FgBub2-FgBfa1 complex are required for fungal development and pathogenicity in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Miao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuzhao Mao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Yulong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Comparative Transcriptomics of Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae Spore Germination Leading up To Infection. mBio 2023; 14:e0244222. [PMID: 36598191 PMCID: PMC9973345 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02442-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
For fungal plant pathogens, the germinating spore provides the first interaction with the host. Spore germlings move across the plant surface and use diverse penetration strategies for ingress into plant surfaces. Penetration strategies include pressurized melanized appressoria, which facilitate physically punching through the plant cuticle, and nonmelanized appressoria, which penetrate with the help of enzymes or cuticular damage to breach the plant surface. Two well-studied plant pathogens, Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae, are typical of these two modes of penetration. We applied comparative transcriptomics to Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae to characterize the genetic programming of the early host-pathogen interface. Four sequential stages of development following spore localization on the plant surface, from spore swelling to appressorium formation, were sampled for each species on culture medium and on barley sheaths, and transcriptomic analyses were performed. Gene expression in the prepenetration stages in both species and under both conditions was similar. In contrast, gene expression in the final stage was strongly influenced by the environment. Appressorium formation involved the greatest number of differentially expressed genes. Laser-dissection microscopy was used to perform detailed transcriptomics of initial infection points by F. graminearum. These analyses revealed new and important aspects of early fungal ingress in this species. Expression of the trichothecene genes involved in biosynthesis of deoxynivalenol by F. graminearum implies that toxisomes are not fully functional until after penetration and indicates that deoxynivalenol is not essential for penetration under our conditions. The use of comparative gene expression of divergent fungi promises to advance highly effective targets for antifungal strategies. IMPORTANCE Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae are two of the most important pathogens of cereal grains worldwide. Despite years of research, strong host resistance has not been identified for F. graminearum, so other methods of control are essential. The pathogen takes advantage of multiple entry points to infect the host, including breaches in the florets due to senescence of flower parts and penetration of the weakened trichome bases to breach the epidermis. In contrast, M. oryzae directly punctures leaves that it infects, and resistant cultivars have been characterized. The threat of either pathogen causing a major disease outbreak is ever present. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrated its potential to reveal novel and effective disease prevention strategies that affect the initial stages of disease. Shedding light on the basis of this diversity of infection strategies will result in development of increasingly specific control strategies.
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UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase Mediates Cell Wall Integrity, Polarity Growth, and Virulence in Fusarium graminearum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0123522. [PMID: 36656025 PMCID: PMC9972967 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01235-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
CHY1 is a zinc finger protein unique to microorganisms that was found to regulate polarized tip growth in Fusarium graminearum, an important pathogen of wheat and barley. To further characterize its functions, in this study we identified CHY1-interacting proteins by affinity purification and selected UDP-galactofuranose (Galf) mutase (UGMA) for detailed characterization, because UGMA and UDP-Galf are unique to fungi and bacteria and absent in plants and animals. The interaction between CHY1 and UGMA was confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assays. Deletion of UGMA in F. graminearum resulted in significant defects in vegetative growth, reproduction, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity. Infection with the ΔugmA mutant was restricted to the inoculated floret, and no vomitoxin was detected in kernels inoculated with the ΔugmA strain. Compared to the wild type, the ΔugmA mutant produced wide, highly branched hyphae with thick walls, as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. UGMA tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, consistent with the synthesis of Galf in the cytoplasm. The Δchy1 mutant was more sensitive, while the ΔugmA mutant was more tolerant, to cell wall-degrading enzymes. The growth of the ΔugmA mutant nearly ceased upon caspofungin treatment. More interestingly, nocodazole treatment of the ΔugmA strain attenuated its highly branched morphology, while caspofungin inhibited the degree of the twisted Δchy1 mycelia, indicating that CHY1 and UGMA probably have opposite effects on cell wall architecture. In conclusion, UGMA is an important pathogenic factor that is specific to fungi and bacteria and required for cell wall architecture, radial growth, and caspofungin tolerance, and it appears to be a promising target for antifungal agent development. IMPORTANCE The long-term use of chemical pesticides has had increasingly negative impacts on the ecological environment and human health. Low-toxicity, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly alternative pesticides are of great significance for maintaining the sustainable development of agriculture and human and environmental health. Using fungus- or microbe-specific genes as candidate targets provides a good foundation for the development of low-toxicity, environmentally friendly pesticides. In this study, we characterized a fungus- and bacterium-specific UDP-galactopyranose mutase gene, ugmA, that contributes to the synthesis of the cell wall component Galf and is required for vegetative growth, cell wall integrity, deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and pathogenicity in F. graminearum. The ugmA deletion mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to caspofungin. These results demonstrate the functional importance of UGMA in F. graminearum, and its absence from mammals and higher plants constitutes a considerable advantage as a low-toxicity target for the development of new anti-Fusarium agents.
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Schalamun M, Beier S, Hinterdobler W, Wanko N, Schinnerl J, Brecker L, Engl DE, Schmoll M. MAPkinases regulate secondary metabolism, sexual development and light dependent cellulase regulation in Trichoderma reesei. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1912. [PMID: 36732590 PMCID: PMC9894936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28938-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is a prolific producer of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, which are regulated in response to diverse environmental signals for optimal adaptation, but also produces a wide array of secondary metabolites. Available carbon source and light are the strongest cues currently known to impact secreted enzyme levels and an interplay with regulation of secondary metabolism became increasingly obvious in recent years. While cellulase regulation is already known to be modulated by different mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, the relevance of the light signal, which is transmitted by this pathway in other fungi as well, is still unknown in T. reesei as are interconnections to secondary metabolism and chemical communication under mating conditions. Here we show that MAPkinases differentially influence cellulase regulation in light and darkness and that the Hog1 homologue TMK3, but not TMK1 or TMK2 are required for the chemotropic response to glucose in T. reesei. Additionally, MAPkinases regulate production of specific secondary metabolites including trichodimerol and bisorbibutenolid, a bioactive compound with cytostatic effect on cancer cells and deterrent effect on larvae, under conditions facilitating mating, which reflects a defect in chemical communication. Strains lacking either of the MAPkinases become female sterile, indicating the conservation of the role of MAPkinases in sexual fertility also in T. reesei. In summary, our findings substantiate the previously detected interconnection of cellulase regulation with regulation of secondary metabolism as well as the involvement of MAPkinases in light dependent gene regulation of cellulase and secondary metabolite genes in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Schalamun
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Sabrina Beier
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Hinterdobler
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- MyPilz GmbH, Wienerbergstrasse 55/13-15, 1120, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Wanko
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Johann Schinnerl
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lothar Brecker
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dorothea Elisa Engl
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Schmoll
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria.
- Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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Yu L, Wen D, Yang Y, Qiu X, Xiong D, Tian C. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of MAPK-Mediated Regulation of Pathogenicity, Stress Responses, and Development in Cytospora chrysosperma. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:239-251. [PMID: 36191174 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-22-0126-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are highly conserved signal transduction pathways that mediate cellular responses to various biotic and abiotic signals in plant-pathogenic fungi. Generally, there are three MAPKs in filamentous pathogenic fungi: Pmk1/Fus3/Kss1, Hog1, and Stl2. Our previous studies have shown that CcPmk1 is a core regulator of fungal pathogenicity in Cytospora chrysosperma, the causal agent of canker disease in a wide range of woody plants. Here, we identified and functionally characterized the other two MAPK genes (CcHog1 and CcSlt2) and then compared the transcriptional differences among these three MAPKs in C. chrysosperma. We found that the MAPKs shared convergent and distinct roles in fungal development, stress responses, and virulence. For example, CcHog1, CcSlt2, and CcPmk1 were all involved in conidiation and response to stresses, including hyperosmotic pressure, cell wall inhibition agents, and H2O2, but only CcPmk1 and CcSlt2 were required for hyphal growth and fungal pathogenicity. Transcriptomic analysis showed that numerous hyperosmosis- and cell wall-related genes significantly reduced their expression levels in ΔCcHog1 and ΔCcSlt2, respectively. Interestingly, RNA- and ribosome-related processes were significantly enriched in the upregulated genes of ΔCcSlt2, whereas they were significantly enriched in the downregulated genes of ΔCcPmk1. Moreover, two secondary metabolite gene clusters were significantly downregulated in ΔCcPmk1, ΔCcSlt2, and/or ΔCcHog1. Importantly, some virulence-associated genes were significantly downregulated in ΔCcPmk1 and/or ΔCcSlt2, such as candidate effector genes. Collectively, these results suggest that the similar and distinct phenotypes of each MAPK deletion mutant may result from the transcriptional regulation of a series of common or specific downstream genes, which provides a better understanding of the regulation network of MAPKs in C. chrysosperma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dasen Wen
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaolin Qiu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chengming Tian
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
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49
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Li Y, Tang Y, Xue Z, Wang Y, Shi Y, Gao X, Li X, Li G, Li F, Lu L, Miao J, Liu X. Resistance Risk and Resistance-Related Point Mutation in SdhB and SdhC 1 of Cyclobutrifluram in Fusarium pseudograminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:1886-1895. [PMID: 36657474 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c08022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cyclobutrifluram is a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) developed by Syngenta and helps to inhibit Fusarium pseudograminearum. Here, the potential for cyclobutrifluram resistance in F. pseudograminearum and the resistance mechanism involved were evaluated. Baseline sensitivity of F. pseudograminearum to cyclobutrifluram was determined with a mean EC50 value of 0.0248 μg/mL. Fungicide adaption generated five resistant mutants, which possess a comparable or a slightly impaired fitness compared to corresponding parental isolates. This indicates that the resistance risk of F. pseudograminearum to cyclobutrifluram might be moderate. Cyclobutrifluram-resistant isolates also demonstrated resistance to pydiflumetofen but sensitivity to carbendazim, phenamacril, tebuconazole, fludioxonil, or pyraclostrobin. Additionally, point mutations H248Y in FpSdhB and A83V or R86K in FpSdhC1 were found in cyclobutrifluram-resistant F. pseudograminearum mutants. Molecular docking and overexpression transformation assay revealed that FpSdhBH248Y and FpSdhC1A83V or FpSdhC1R86K confer the resistance of F. pseudograminearum to cyclobutrifluram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Yidong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Ziwei Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Yifei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Xuheng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Guixiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Feng Li
- Syngenta (China) Investment Co., Ltd., 567 Bocheng Road, Shanghai200120, China
| | - Liang Lu
- Syngenta (China) Investment Co., Ltd., 567 Bocheng Road, Shanghai200120, China
| | - Jianqiang Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
| | - Xili Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling712100, ShaanxiChina
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuanxi Road, Beijing100193, China
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50
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Wu C, Chen H, Yuan M, Zhang M, Abubakar YS, Chen X, Zhong H, Zheng W, Zheng H, Zhou J. FgAP1 σ Is Critical for Vegetative Growth, Conidiation, Virulence, and DON Biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020145. [PMID: 36836259 PMCID: PMC9962196 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The AP1 complex is a highly conserved clathrin adaptor that plays important roles in regulating cargo protein sorting and intracellular vesicle trafficking in eukaryotes. However, the functions of the AP1 complex in the plant pathogenic fungi including the devastating wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of FgAP1σ, a subunit of the AP1 complex in F. graminearum. Disruption of FgAP1σ causes seriously impaired fungal vegetative growth, conidiogenesis, sexual development, pathogenesis, and deoxynivalenol (DON) production. The ΔFgap1σ mutants were found to be less sensitive to KCl- and sorbitol-induced osmotic stresses but more sensitive to SDS-induced stress than the wild-type PH-1. Although the growth inhibition rate of the ΔFgap1σ mutants was not significantly changed under calcofluor white (CFW) and Congo red (CR) stresses, the protoplasts released from ΔFgap1σ hyphae were decreased compared with the wild-type PH-1, suggesting that FgAP1σ is necessary for cell wall integrity and osmotic stresses in F. graminearum. Subcellular localization assays showed that FgAP1σ was predominantly localized to endosomes and the Golgi apparatus. In addition, FgAP1β-GFP, FgAP1γ-GFP, and FgAP1μ-GFP also localize to the Golgi apparatus. FgAP1β interacts with FgAP1σ, FgAP1γ, and FgAP1μ, while FgAP1σ regulates the expression of FgAP1β, FgAP1γ, and FgAP1μ in F. graminearum. Furthermore, the loss of FgAP1σ blocks the transportation of the v-SNARE protein FgSnc1 from the Golgi to the plasma membrane and delays the internalization of FM4-64 dye into the vacuole. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FgAP1σ plays vital roles in vegetative growth, conidiogenesis, sexual reproduction, DON production, pathogenicity, cell wall integrity, osmotic stress, exocytosis, and endocytosis in F. graminearum. These findings unveil the functions of the AP1 complex in filamentous fungi, most notably in F. graminearum, and lay solid foundations for effective prevention and control of Fusarium head blight (FHB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Congxian Wu
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Public Technology Service Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Huilin Chen
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Mingyue Yuan
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Meiru Zhang
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Haoming Zhong
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jie Zhou
- Fujian Universities Key Laboratory for Plant-Microbe Interaction, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (J.Z.)
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