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Park J, Lee N, Kim H, Kim D, Shin S, Choi S, Choi GJ, Son H. A mitochondrial NAD/NADH kinase governs fungal virulence through an oxidative stress response and arginine biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. Microbiol Res 2024; 283:127692. [PMID: 38508088 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127692] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
NADP/NADPH plays an indispensable role in cellular metabolism, serving as a pivotal cofactor in numerous enzymatic processes involved in anabolic pathways, antioxidant defense, and the biosynthesis of essential cellular components. NAD/NADH kinases (NADKs) phosphorylate NAD/NADH, constituting the sole de novo synthetic pathway for NADP/NADPH generation. Despite the pivotal role of NADP/NADPH in cellular functions, the physiological role of NADK remains largely unexplored in filamentous fungi. In this study, we identified three putative NADKs in Fusarium graminearum-FgNadk1, FgNadk2, and FgNadk3-responsible for NAD/NADH phosphorylation. NADK-mediated formation of intracellular NADPH proved crucial for vegetative growth, sexual reproduction, and virulence. Specifically, FgNadk2, the mitochondrial NADK, played a role in oxidative stress resistance and the maintenance of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels. Moreover, the deletion of FgNADK2 resulted in arginine auxotrophy, contributing to the reduced fungal virulence. These findings underscore the necessity of mitochondrial NADK in fungal virulence in F. graminearum, revealing its involvement in mitochondrial redox homeostasis and the arginine biosynthetic pathway. This study provides critical insights into the interconnectedness of metabolic pathways essential for fungal growth, stress response, and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Nahyun Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun Kim
- Center for Eco-Friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohun Kim
- Childern's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Soobin Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Center for Eco-Friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Zhou Y, Li Z, Xu C, Pan J, Li H, Zhou Y, Zou Y. Genome-wide analysis of bZIP gene family members in Pleurotus ostreatus, and potential roles of PobZIP3 in development and the heat stress response. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14413. [PMID: 38376071 PMCID: PMC10877997 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14413] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) is widespread among eukaryotes and serves different roles in fungal processes including nutrient utilization, growth, stress responses and development. The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is an important and widely cultivated edible mushroom worldwide; nevertheless, reports are lacking on the identification or function of bZIP gene family members in P. ostreatus. Herein, 11 bZIPs on 6 P. ostreatus chromosomes were systematically identified, which were classified into 3 types according to their protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of PobZIPs with other fungal bZIPs indicated that PobZIPs may have differentiated late. Cis-regulatory element analysis revealed that at least one type of stress-response-related element was present on each bZIP promoter. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that bZIP expression patterns were altered under heat stress and different developmental stages. We combined results from GST-Pull-down, EMSA and yeast two-hybrid assays to screen a key heat stress-responsive candidate gene PobZIP3. PobZIP3 overexpression in P. ostreatus enhanced tolerance to high temperature and cultivation assays revealed that PobZIP3 positively regulates the development of P. ostreatus. RNA-seq analysis showed that PobZIP3 plays a role in glucose metabolism pathways, antioxidant enzyme activity and sexual reproduction. These results may support future functional studies of oyster mushroom bZIP TFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zihao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Congtao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jinlong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Haikang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yajie Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi‐arid ArableLand in Northern ChinaBeijingChina
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional PlanningChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
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Moonjely S, Ebert M, Paton-Glassbrook D, Noel ZA, Roze L, Shay R, Watkins T, Trail F. Update on the state of research to manage Fusarium head blight. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 169:103829. [PMID: 37666446 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103829] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases of cereal crops, causing severe reduction in yield and quality of grain worldwide. In the United States, the major causal agent of FHB is the mycotoxigenic fungus, Fusarium graminearum. The contamination of grain with mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, is a particularly serious concern due to its impact on the health of humans and livestock. For the past few decades, multidisciplinary studies have been conducted on management strategies designed to reduce the losses caused by FHB. However, effective management is still challenging due to the emergence of fungicide-tolerant strains of F. graminearum and the lack of highly resistant wheat and barley cultivars. This review presents multidisciplinary approaches that incorporate advances in genomics, genetic-engineering, new fungicide chemistries, applied biocontrol, and consideration of the disease cycle for management of FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Moonjely
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Malaika Ebert
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Drew Paton-Glassbrook
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Zachary A Noel
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Ludmila Roze
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Rebecca Shay
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Tara Watkins
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Frances Trail
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA.
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Kim S, Lee J, Park J, Choi S, Bui DC, Kim JE, Shin J, Kim H, Choi GJ, Lee YW, Chang PS, Son H. Genetic and Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms of Lipase Activity in the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium graminearum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0528522. [PMID: 37093014 PMCID: PMC10269793 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05285-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of long-chain triglycerides, diglycerides, and monoglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol, participate in various biological pathways in fungi. In this study, we examined the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of fungal lipases via two approaches. First, we performed a systemic functional characterization of 86 putative lipase-encoding genes in the plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. The phenotypes were assayed for vegetative growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, stress responses, pathogenicity, mycotoxin production, and lipase activity. Most mutants were normal in the assessed phenotypes, implying overlapping roles for lipases in F. graminearum. In particular, FgLip1 and Fgl1 were revealed as core extracellular lipases in F. graminearum. Second, we examined the lipase activity of previously constructed transcription factor (TF) mutants of F. graminearum and identified three TFs and one histone acetyltransferase that significantly affect lipase activity. The relative transcript levels of FgLIP1 and FGL1 were markedly reduced or enhanced in these TF mutants. Among them, Gzzc258 was identified as a key lipase regulator that is also involved in the induction of lipase activity during sexual reproduction. To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive functional analysis of fungal lipases and provides significant insights into the genetic and regulatory mechanisms underlying lipases in fungi. IMPORTANCE Fusarium graminearum is an economically important plant-pathogenic fungus that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. Here, we constructed a gene knockout mutant library of 86 putative lipase-encoding genes and established a comprehensive phenotypic database of the mutants. Among them, we found that FgLip1 and Fgl1 act as core extracellular lipases in this pathogen. Moreover, several putative transcription factors (TFs) that regulate the lipase activities in F. graminearum were identified. The disruption mutants of F. graminearum-lipase regulatory TFs all showed defects in sexual reproduction, which implies a strong relationship between sexual development and lipase activity in this fungus. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms regulating lipase activity as well as its importance to the developmental stages of this plant-pathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sieun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Juno Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Duc-Cuong Bui
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jung-Eun Kim
- Research Institute of Climate Change and Agriculture, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Shin
- Division of Bioresources Bank, Honam National Institute of Biological Resources, Mokpo, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun Kim
- Center for Eco-friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Center for Eco-friendly New Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yin-Won Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Pahn-Shick Chang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Agricultural Microorganism and Enzyme, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hokyoung Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Nowrousian M. The Role of Chromatin and Transcriptional Control in the Formation of Sexual Fruiting Bodies in Fungi. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0010422. [PMID: 36409109 PMCID: PMC9769939 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00104-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal fruiting bodies are complex, three-dimensional structures that arise from a less complex vegetative mycelium. Their formation requires the coordinated action of many genes and their gene products, and fruiting body formation is accompanied by major changes in the transcriptome. In recent years, numerous transcription factor genes as well as chromatin modifier genes that play a role in fruiting body morphogenesis were identified, and through research on several model organisms, the underlying regulatory networks that integrate chromatin structure, gene expression, and cell differentiation are becoming clearer. This review gives a summary of the current state of research on the role of transcriptional control and chromatin structure in fruiting body development. In the first part, insights from transcriptomics analyses are described, with a focus on comparative transcriptomics. In the second part, examples of more detailed functional characterizations of the role of chromatin modifiers and/or transcription factors in several model organisms (Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, Sordaria macrospora, Coprinopsis cinerea, and Schizophyllum commune) that have led to a better understanding of regulatory networks at the level of chromatin structure and transcription are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minou Nowrousian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Zhao K, Liu L, Huang S. Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of the bZIP Transcription Factor Family in Rice Bakanae Disease Pathogen, Fusarium fujikuroi. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126658. [PMID: 35743103 PMCID: PMC9223689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins play a vital role in biological processes such as growth, biotic/abiotic stress responses, nutrient utilization, and invasion. In this study, genome-wide identification of bZIP genes in the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi, the pathogen of bakanae disease, was carried out. Forty-four genes encoding bZIP transcription factors (TFs) from the genome of F. fujikuroi (FfbZIP) were identified and functionally characterized. Structures, domains, and phylogenetic relationships of the sequences were analyzed by bioinformatic approaches. Based on the phylogenetic relationships with the FfbZIP proteins of eight other fungi, the bZIP genes can be divided into six groups (A–F). The additional conserved motifs have been identified and their possible functions were predicted. To analyze functions of the bZIP genes, 11 FfbZIPs were selected according to different motifs they contained and were knocked out by genetic recombination. Results of the characteristic studies revealed that these FfbZIPs were involved in oxygen stress, osmotic stress, cell wall selection pressure, cellulose utilization, cell wall penetration, and pathogenicity. In conclusion, this study enhanced understandings of the evolution and regulatory mechanism of the FfbZIPs in fungal growth, abiotic/biotic stress resistance, and pathogenicity, which could be the reference for other fungal bZIP studies.
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Zhao J, Peng M, Chen W, Xing X, Shan Y, Fan Z, Shi Y, Li H, Yang X, Li H, Chen L. Transcriptome Analysis and Functional Validation Identify a Putative bZIP Transcription Factor, Fpkapc, that Regulates Development, Stress Responses, and Virulence in Fusarium pseudograminearum. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 112:1299-1309. [PMID: 35000433 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-12-21-0520-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum is a soilborne, hemibiotrophic phytopathogenic fungus that causes Fusarium crown rot and Fusarium head blight in wheat. The basic leucine zipper proteins (bZIPs) are evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that play crucial roles in a range of growth and developmental processes and the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the roles of bZIP transcription factors remains unknown in F. pseudograminearum. In this study, a bZIP transcription factor Fpkapc was identified to localize to the nucleus in F. pseudograminearum. A mutant strain (Δfpkapc) was constructed to determine the role of Fpkapc in growth and pathogenicity of F. pseudograminearum. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that many genes involved in basic metabolism and oxidation-reduction processes were downregulated, whereas many genes involved in metal iron binding were upregulated in the Δfpkapc strain, compared with the wild type (WT). Correspondingly, the mutant had severe growth defects and displayed abnormal hyphal tips. Conidiation in the Fpkapc mutant was reduced, with more conidia in smaller size and fewer septa than in the WT. Also, relative to WT, the Δfpkapc strain showed greater tolerance to ion stress, but decreased tolerance to H2O2. The mutant caused smaller disease lesions on wheat and barley plants, but significantly increased TRI gene expression, compared with the WT. In summary, Fpkapc plays multiple roles in governing growth, development, stress responses, and virulence in F. pseudograminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingya Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Mengya Peng
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Wenbo Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Xiaoping Xing
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yixuan Shan
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Zhuo Fan
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yan Shi
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Haiyang Li
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Xue Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Honglian Li
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Linlin Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450000, China
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Qiu L, Song JZ, Li J, Zhang TS, Li Z, Hu SJ, Liu JH, Dong JC, Cheng W, Wang JJ. The transcription factor Ron1 is required for chitin metabolism, asexual development and pathogenicity in Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 206:875-885. [PMID: 35278517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Ndt80-like transcription factor Ron1 is best known for its essential role in the regulation of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) catabolism. Ron1 was again found to be essential for sensing GlcNAc in Beauveria bassiana. Importantly, our study revealed that Ron1 is involved in the metabolic processes of chitin and asexual development. To further investigate the novel functions of Ron1 in B. bassiana, extracellular chitinase activity in the ΔRon1 mutant was found to decrease by 84.73% compared with wild type. The deletion of Ron1 made it difficult for the fungus to accumulate intracellular GlcNAc. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that Ron1 exerted a significant effect on global transcription and positively regulated genes encoding chitin metabolism in respond to chitin nutrition. Yeast one-hybrid assay confirmed that Ron1 could bind to specific cis-acting elements in the promoters of chitinase and hexokinase. In addition, ΔRon1 displayed an impaired chitin component of the cell wall, with a chitin synthetase (ChsVII) predicted to function downstream of Ron1. Finally, the virulence of ΔRon1 mutant was significantly reduced in the Galleria mellonella insect model through cuticle infection or cuticle bypassing infection. These data functionally characterize Ron1 in B. bassiana and expand our understanding of how the transcription factor Ron1 works in pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qiu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ji-Zheng Song
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China; Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Tong-Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ze Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shun-Juan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jia-Hua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jing-Chong Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Juan-Juan Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China.
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Zhao Y, Sun H, Li J, Ju C, Huang J. The Transcription Factor FgAtrR Regulates Asexual and Sexual Development, Virulence, and DON Production and Contributes to Intrinsic Resistance to Azole Fungicides in Fusarium graminearum. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020326. [PMID: 35205191 PMCID: PMC8869466 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Fusarium graminearum is a devastating plant pathogen that can cause wheat head blight. Azole fungicides are commonly used chemicals for control of this disease. However, F. graminearum strains resistant to these fungicides have emerged. To better understand the azole resistance mechanism of F. graminearum, we identified and characterized the Zn(II)2-Cys6 transcription factor FgAtrR in F. graminearum. We found that FgAtrR played critical roles in vegetative growth, conidia production, perithecium formation, and virulence on wheat heads and corn silks. FgAtrR was also involved in the resistance to azole antifungals by regulating the expression of the drug target FgCYP51s and efflux pump transporters. These results broadened our understanding of the azole resistance mechanisms of F. graminearum. Abstract Fusarium graminearum is the predominant causal agent of cereal Fusarium head blight disease (FHB) worldwide. The application of chemical fungicides such as azole antifungals is still the primary method for FHB control. However, to date, our knowledge of transcriptional regulation in the azole resistance of F. graminearum is quite limited. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a Zn(II)2-Cys6 transcription factor FgAtrR in F. graminearum. We constructed a FgAtrR deletion mutant and found that deletion of FgAtrR resulted in faster radial growth with serious pigmentation defects, significantly reduced conidial production, and an inability to form perithecia. The pathogenicity of the ΔFgAtrR mutant on wheat spikes and corn silks was severely impaired with reduced deoxynivalenol production, while the tolerance to prochloraz and propiconazole of the deletion mutant was also significantly decreased. RNA-seq indicated that many metabolic pathways were affected by the deletion of FgAtrR. Importantly, FgAtrR could regulate the expression of the FgCYP51A and ABC transporters, which are the main contributors to azole resistance. These results demonstrated that FgAtrR played essential roles in asexual and sexual development, DON production, and pathogenicity, and contributed to intrinsic resistance to azole fungicides in F. graminearum. This study will help us improve the understanding of the azole resistance mechanism in F. graminearum.
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Wen D, Yu L, Xiong D, Tian C. Genome-Wide Identification of bZIP Transcription Factor Genes and Functional Analyses of Two Members in Cytospora chrysosperma. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 8:jof8010034. [PMID: 35049973 PMCID: PMC8778692 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) family, one of the largest and the most diverse TF families, is widely distributed across the eukaryotes. It has been described that the bZIP TFs play diverse roles in development, nutrient utilization, and various stress responses in fungi. However, little is known of the bZIP members in Cytospora chrysosperma, a notorious plant pathogenic fungus, which causes canker disease on over 80 woody plant species. In this study, 26 bZIP genes were systematically identified in the genome of C. chrysosperma, and two of them (named CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23) significantly down-regulated in CcPmk1 deletion mutant (a pathogenicity-related mitogen-activated protein kinase) were selected for further analysis. Deletion of CcbZIP05 or CcbZIP23 displayed a dramatic reduction in fungal growth but showed increased hypha branching and resistance to cell wall inhibitors and abiotic stresses. The CcbZIP05 deletion mutants but not CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were more sensitive to the hydrogen peroxide compared to the wild-type and complemented strains. Additionally, the CcbZIP23 deletion mutants produced few pycnidia but more pigment. Remarkably, both CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were significantly reduced in fungal virulence. Further analysis showed that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 could regulate the expression of putative effector genes and chitin synthesis-related genes. Taken together, our results suggest that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 play important roles in fungal growth, abiotic stresses response, and pathogenicity, which will provide comprehensive information on the CcbZIP genes and lay the foundation for further research on the bZIP members in C. chrysosperma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasen Wen
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
| | - Lu Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.X.); (C.T.)
| | - Chengming Tian
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.X.); (C.T.)
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Gai Y, Li L, Liu B, Ma H, Chen Y, Zheng F, Sun X, Wang M, Jiao C, Li H. Distinct and essential roles of bZIP transcription factors in the stress response and pathogenesis in Alternaria alternata. Microbiol Res 2021; 256:126915. [PMID: 34953292 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The ability to cope with environmental abiotic stress and biotic stress is crucial for the survival of plants and microorganisms, which enable them to occupy multiple niches in the environment. Previous studies have shown that transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating various biological processes including multiple stress tolerance and response in eukaryotes. This work identified multiple critical transcription factor genes, metabolic pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms related to abiotic stress response were broadly activated by analyzing the transcriptome of phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata under metal ions stresses, oxidative stress, salt stresses, and host-pathogen interaction. We investigated the biological functions and regulatory roles of the bZIP transcriptional factor (TF) genes in the phytopathogenic fungus A.alternata by analyzing targeted gene disrupted mutants. Morphological analysis provides evidence that the bZIP transcription factors (Gcn4, MeaB, Atf1, the ER stress regulator Hac1, and the all development altered-1 gene Ada1) are required for morphogenesis as the colony morphology of these gene deletion mutants was significantly different from that of the wild-type. In addition, bZIPs are involved in the resistance to multiple stresses such as oxidative stress (Ada1, Yap1, MetR) and virulence (Hac1, MetR, Yap1, Ada1) at varying degrees. Transcriptome data demonstrated that the inactivation of bZIPs (Hac1, Atf1, Ada1 and Yap1) significantly affected many genes in multiple critical metabolism pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms. Moreover,the ΔHac1 mutants displayed reduced aerial hypha and are hypersensitivity to endoplasmic reticulum disruptors such as tunicamycin and dithiothreitol. Transcriptome analysis showed that inactivation of Hac1 significantly affected the proteasome process and its downstream unfolded protein binding, indicating that Hac1 participates in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response through the conserved unfolded protein response. Taken together, our findings reveal that bZIP transcription factors function as key regulators of fungal morphogenesis, abiotic stress response and pathogenesis, and expand our understanding of how microbial pathogens utilize these genes to deal with environmental stresses and achieve successful infection in the host plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Gai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Yangzhou Polytechnic College, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Haijie Ma
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Yanan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xuepeng Sun
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Mingshuang Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Chen Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongye Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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