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Realini FM, Escobedo VM, Ueno AC, Bastías DA, Schardl CL, Biganzoli F, Gundel PE. Anti-herbivory defences delivered by Epichloë fungal endophytes: a quantitative review of alkaloid concentration variation among hosts and plant parts. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:509-520. [PMID: 38320313 PMCID: PMC11037487 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae014] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In the subfamily Poöideae (Poaceae), certain grass species possess anti-herbivore alkaloids synthesized by fungal endophytes that belong to the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae). The protective role of these symbiotic endophytes can vary, depending on alkaloid concentrations within specific plant-endophyte associations and plant parts. METHODS We conducted a literature review to identify articles containing alkaloid concentration data for various plant parts in six important pasture species, Lolium arundinaceum, Lolium perenne, Lolium pratense, Lolium multiflorum|Lolium rigidum and Festuca rubra, associated with their common endophytes. We considered the alkaloids lolines (1-aminopyrrolizidines), peramine (pyrrolopyrazines), ergovaline (ergot alkaloids) and lolitrem B (indole-diterpenes). While all these alkaloids have shown bioactivity against insect herbivores, ergovaline and lolitrem B are harmful for mammals. KEY RESULTS Loline alkaloid levels were higher in the perennial grasses L. pratense and L. arundinaceum compared to the annual species L. multiflorum and L. rigidum, and higher in reproductive tissues than in vegetative structures. This is probably due to the greater biomass accumulation in perennial species that can result in higher endophyte mycelial biomass. Peramine concentrations were higher in L. perenne than in L. arundinaceum and not affected by plant part. This can be attributed to the high within-plant mobility of peramine. Ergovaline and lolitrem B, both hydrophobic compounds, were associated with plant parts where fungal mycelium is usually present, and their concentrations were higher in plant reproductive tissues. Only loline alkaloid data were sufficient for below-ground tissue analyses and concentrations were lower than in above-ground parts. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a comprehensive synthesis of fungal alkaloid variation across host grasses and plant parts, essential for understanding the endophyte-conferred defence extent. The patterns can be understood by considering endophyte growth within the plant and alkaloid mobility. Our study identifies research gaps, including the limited documentation of alkaloid presence in roots and the need to investigate the influence of different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia M Realini
- IFEVA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Laboratorio de Citogenética y Evolución (LaCyE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución (IEGEBA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Víctor M Escobedo
- Instituto de Investigación Interdisciplinaria (I3), Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Andrea C Ueno
- IFEVA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación Interdisciplinaria (I3), Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Daniel A Bastías
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | | | - Fernando Biganzoli
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro E Gundel
- IFEVA, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
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2
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Hibbard T, McLellan RM, Stevenson LJ, Richardson AT, Nicholson MJ, Parker EJ. Functional Crosstalk between Discrete Indole Terpenoid Gene Clusters in Tolypocladium album. Org Lett 2023; 25:7470-7475. [PMID: 37797949 PMCID: PMC10595974 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c02412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Indole terpenoids make up a large group of secondary metabolites that display an enticing array of bioactivities. While indole diterpene (IDT) and rarely indole sesquiterpene (IST) pathways have been found individually in filamentous fungi, here we show that both cluster types are encoded within the genome of Tolypocladium album. Through heterologous reconstruction, we demonstrate the SES cluster encodes for IST biosynthesis and can tailor IDT substrates produced by the TER cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor
R. Hibbard
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Rose M. McLellan
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Luke J. Stevenson
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Alistair T. Richardson
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Matthew J. Nicholson
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Wellington
UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Emily J. Parker
- Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University
of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
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3
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Quantitation and Distribution of Epichloë-Derived Alkaloids in Perennial Ryegrass Tissues. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020205. [PMID: 36837825 PMCID: PMC9966479 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), an economically important pasture and turf grass, is commonly infected with asexual Epichloë species endophytes. Endophytes provide enhanced bioprotection by producing alkaloids, and research often focusses on the negative impact on grazing animals. However, alkaloid distribution throughout the plant and their role in biocontrol of insect pests and diseases are less well understood. Additionally, intermediate compounds have not been investigated for their impacts on animal welfare and biological control in pasture-based scenarios. Here, a single liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was used to measure seven alkaloids in different perennial ryegrass tissues infected with SE or NEA12 endophytes. High alkaloid recoveries and a clear plant matrix effect emphasize the importance of using matrix-matched standards for accurate quantitation. The method is sensitive, detecting alkaloids at low concentrations (nanogram levels), which is important for endophyte strains that produce compounds detrimental to livestock. Concentrations were generally highest in seeds, but distribution differed in the shoots/roots: peramine, terpendole E, terpendole C and lolitrem B were higher in shoots, whilst ergovaline, paxilline and epoxy-janthitrem I were more evenly distributed throughout the two tissues. Knowledge of alkaloid distribution may allow for concentrations to be predicted in roots based on concentrations in the shoots, thereby assisting future determinations of resistance to insects, especially subterranean root-feeding pests.
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4
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Ozaki T, Minami A, Oikawa H. Biosynthesis of indole diterpenes: a reconstitution approach in a heterologous host. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:202-213. [PMID: 36321441 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00031h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2013 to 2022In this review, we provide an overview elucidating the biosynthetic pathway and heterologous production of fungal indole diterpenes (IDTs). Based on the studies of six IDT biosynthesis, we extracted nature's strategy: (1) two-stage synthesis for the core scaffold and platform intermediates, and (2) late-stage modifications for installing an additional cyclic system on the indole ring. Herein, we describe reconstitution studies applying this strategy to the synthesis of highly elaborated IDTs. We also discuss its potential for future biosynthetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Ozaki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Minami
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
| | - Hideaki Oikawa
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan. .,Innovation Center of Marine Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529020, Guangdong, China.
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5
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Identification of Three Epichloë Endophytes from Hordeum bogdanii Wilensky in China. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090928. [PMID: 36135653 PMCID: PMC9502125 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cool season grasses often form reciprocal symbiotic relationships with endophytic fungal species in genus Epichloë. In this study, we characterized three fungal endophytes isolated from the grass Hordeum bogdanii native to northwest China. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of tefA, tubB, and actG sequences, we identified them as Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 (H. bogdanii Taxonomic Group 2: E. bromicola × E. typhina). Alkaloid synthesis related genes analysis showed that Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 may have the ability only to produce peramine which is toxic to insects but not to animals. In the process of this study, we did not observe sexual structures or epiphyllous growth on leaves of infected plants.
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6
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Zabaleta G, Lee ST, Cook D, Aguilar M, Iannone LJ, Robles C, Martinez A. Indole-diterpenes alkaloid profiles of native grasses involved in tremorgenic syndromes in the Argentine Patagonia. Toxicon 2022; 217:107-111. [PMID: 35981666 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.08.001] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
One of the main intoxications to livestock in the Patagonia region of Argentina is the tremorgenic disease "Mal de Huecú", attributed to the consumption of the native grasses Poa huecu and/or Festuca argentina. In this report, five outbreaks of spontaneous intoxications were investigated. Several indole-diterpene alkaloids were identified in Poa huecu and Festuca argentina including the known tremorgen terpendole C and are likely the cause of "Mal de Huecú" disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Zabaleta
- Grupo Salud Animal, INTA Bariloche, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
| | - Stephen T Lee
- Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, USDA Logan, UT, USA
| | - Daniel Cook
- Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, USDA Logan, UT, USA
| | - Marcelo Aguilar
- INTA Agencia de Extensión Rural P(to) San Julián, Santa Cruz, Argentina
| | - Leopoldo J Iannone
- Instituto de Micología y Botánica-CONICET, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, DBBE, Laboratorio de Micología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Robles
- Grupo Salud Animal, INTA Bariloche, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Agustin Martinez
- Grupo Salud Animal, INTA Bariloche, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
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7
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Miller TA, Hudson DA, Johnson RD, Singh JS, Mace WJ, Forester NT, Maclean PH, Voisey CR, Johnson LJ. Dissection of the epoxyjanthitrem pathway in Epichloë sp. LpTG-3 strain AR37 by CRISPR gene editing. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:944234. [PMID: 37746172 PMCID: PMC10512260 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.944234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Epichloë festucae var. lolii and Epichloë sp. LpTG-3 are filamentous fungal endophytes of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) that have a substantial impact on New Zealand's agricultural economy by conferring biotic advantages to the host grass. Overall, Epichloë endophytes contribute NZ$200 million to the economy annually, with strain AR37 estimated to contribute NZ$3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over a 20-year period. This strain produces secondary metabolites, including epoxyjanthitrems, which are a class of indole diterpenes, associated with the observed effects of AR37 on livestock and insect pests. Until very recently, AR37 was intractable to genetic modification but this has changed with the application of CRISPR-Cas9 based gene editing techniques. In this paper, gene inactivation by CRISPR-Cas9 was used to deconvolute the genetic basis for epoxyjanthitrem biosynthesis, including creating an AR37 strain that has been edited to remove the biosynthesis of all indole diterpenes. We show that gene editing of Epichloë can be achieved without off-target events or introduction of foreign DNA (footprint-less) through an AMA1-based plasmid that simultaneously expresses the CRISPR-Cas9 system and selectable marker. Genetic modification events in these transformants were investigated through genome sequencing and in planta chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Linda J. Johnson
- Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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8
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Fernando K, Reddy P, Guthridge KM, Spangenberg GC, Rochfort SJ. A Metabolomic Study of Epichloë Endophytes for Screening Antifungal Metabolites. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12010037. [PMID: 35050159 PMCID: PMC8781816 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epichloë endophytes, fungal endosymbionts of Pooidae grasses, are commonly utilized in forage and turf industries because they produce beneficial metabolites that enhance resistance against environmental stressors such as insect feeding and disease caused by phytopathogen infection. In pastoral agriculture, phytopathogenic diseases impact both pasture quality and animal production. Recently, bioactive endophyte strains have been reported to secrete compounds that significantly inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. A screen of previously described Epichloë-produced antifeedant and toxic alkaloids determined that the antifungal bioactivity observed is not due to the production of these known metabolites, and so there is a need for methods to identify new bioactive metabolites. The process described here is applicable more generally for the identification of antifungals in new endophytes. This study aims to characterize the fungicidal potential of novel, ‘animal friendly’ Epichloë endophyte strains NEA12 and NEA23 that exhibit strong antifungal activity using an in vitro assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation, followed by metabolite analysis, identified 61 metabolites that, either singly or in combination, are responsible for the observed bioactivity. Analysis of the perennial ryegrass-endophyte symbiota confirmed that NEA12 and NEA23 produce the prospective antifungal metabolites in symbiotic association and thus are candidates for compounds that promote disease resistance in planta. The “known unknown” suite of antifungal metabolites identified in this study are potential biomarkers for the selection of strains that enhance pasture and turf production through better disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishni Fernando
- AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Priyanka Reddy
- AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.)
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Simone J. Rochfort
- AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-390327110
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9
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Fernando K, Reddy P, Spangenberg GC, Rochfort SJ, Guthridge KM. Metabolic Potential of Epichloë Endophytes for Host Grass Fungal Disease Resistance. Microorganisms 2021; 10:64. [PMID: 35056512 PMCID: PMC8781568 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual species of the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota) form endosymbiotic associations with Pooidae grasses. This association is important both ecologically and to the pasture and turf industries, as the endophytic fungi confer a multitude of benefits to their host plant that improve competitive ability and performance such as growth promotion, abiotic stress tolerance, pest deterrence and increased host disease resistance. Biotic stress tolerance conferred by the production of bioprotective metabolites has a critical role in an industry context. While the known antimammalian and insecticidal toxins are well characterized due to their impact on livestock welfare, antimicrobial metabolites are less studied. Both pasture and turf grasses are challenged by many phytopathogenic diseases that result in significant economic losses and impact livestock health. Further investigations of Epichloë endophytes as natural biocontrol agents can be conducted on strains that are safe for animals. With the additional benefits of possessing host disease resistance, these strains would increase their commercial importance. Field reports have indicated that pasture grasses associated with Epichloë endophytes are superior in resisting fungal pathogens. However, only a few antifungal compounds have been identified and chemically characterized, and these from sexual (pathogenic) Epichloë species, rather than those utilized to enhance performance in turf and pasture industries. This review provides insight into the various strategies reported in identifying antifungal activity from Epichloë endophytes and, where described, the associated antifungal metabolites responsible for the activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishni Fernando
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Priyanka Reddy
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Simone J. Rochfort
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (K.F.); (P.R.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
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10
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von Cräutlein M, Helander M, Korpelainen H, Leinonen PH, Vázquez de Aldana BR, Young CA, Zabalgogeazcoa I, Saikkonen K. Genetic Diversity of the Symbiotic Fungus Epichloë festucae in Naturally Occurring Host Grass Populations. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:756991. [PMID: 34925265 PMCID: PMC8678516 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.756991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epichloë festucae is a common symbiont of the perennial and widely distributed cool season grass, Festuca rubra. The symbiosis is highly integrated involving systemic growth of the fungus throughout above-ground host parts and vertical transmission from plant to its offspring via host seeds. However, the nature of symbiosis is labile ranging from antagonistic to mutualistic depending on prevailing selection pressures. Both the loss of fungus in the maternal host lineage and horizontal transmission through sexual spores within the host population may partly explain the detected variation in symbiosis in wild grass populations. Epichloë species are commonly considered as pathogens when they produce sexual spores and partly castrate their host plant. This is the pathogenic end of the continuum from antagonistic to mutualistic interactions. Here we examined the population genetic structure of E. festucae to reveal the gene flow, importance of reproduction modes, and alkaloid potential of the symbiotic fungus in Europe. Epichloë-species are highly dependent on the host in survival and reproduction whilst benefits to the host are largely linked to defensive mutualism attributable to fungal-origin bioactive alkaloids that negatively affect vertebrate and/or invertebrate herbivores. We detected decreased genetic diversity in previously glaciated areas compared to non-glaciated regions during the last glacial maximum period and found three major genetic clusters in E. festucae populations: southern, northeastern and northwestern Europe. Sexual reproduction may have a higher role than expected in Spanish E. festucae populations due to the predominance of unique genotypes and presence of both mating types in the region. In contrast, asexual reproduction via host seeds predominates in the Faroe Island and Finland in northern Europe due to the presence of biased mating-type ratios and large dominant genotypes in the E. festucae populations within the region. A substantially larger variation of alkaloid genotypes was observed in the fungal populations than expected, although the variability of the alkaloid genotypes within populations is considerably lower in northern than Spanish populations in southern Europe. E. festucae populations consist of different combinations of alkaloid classes from the gene clusters of ergot alkaloid and indole-terpenes, and from pyrrolopyrazine alkaloid gene. We suggest that the postglacial distribution history of the host grass, prevailing reproduction strategies of E. festucae, and local selection pressures likely explain a large part of the genetic variation observed in fungal populations among geographic regions. The identified alkaloid genotypes can be used by turfgrass breeders to improve resistance against herbivores in red fescue varieties and to develop new sustainable cultivars in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria von Cräutlein
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Management and Production of Renewable Resources, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland.,Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Marjo Helander
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Helena Korpelainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Helena Leinonen
- Management and Production of Renewable Resources, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland.,Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Beatriz R Vázquez de Aldana
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Iñigo Zabalgogeazcoa
- Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Kari Saikkonen
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Management and Production of Renewable Resources, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Turku, Finland
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11
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Liu M, Findlay W, Dettman J, Wyka SA, Broders K, Shoukouhi P, Dadej K, Kolařík M, Basnyat A, Menzies JG. Mining Indole Alkaloid Synthesis Gene Clusters from Genomes of 53 Claviceps Strains Revealed Redundant Gene Copies and an Approximate Evolutionary Hourglass Model. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13110799. [PMID: 34822583 PMCID: PMC8625505 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13110799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ergot fungi (Claviceps spp.) are infamous for producing sclerotia containing a wide spectrum of ergot alkaloids (EA) toxic to humans and animals, making them nefarious villains in the agricultural and food industries, but also treasures for pharmaceuticals. In addition to three classes of EAs, several species also produce paspaline-derived indole diterpenes (IDT) that cause ataxia and staggers in livestock. Furthermore, two other types of alkaloids, i.e., loline (LOL) and peramine (PER), found in Epichloë spp., close relatives of Claviceps, have shown beneficial effects on host plants without evidence of toxicity to mammals. The gene clusters associated with the production of these alkaloids are known. We examined genomes of 53 strains of 19 Claviceps spp. to screen for these genes, aiming to understand the evolutionary patterns of these genes across the genus through phylogenetic and DNA polymorphism analyses. Our results showed (1) varied numbers of eas genes in C. sect. Claviceps and sect. Pusillae, none in sect. Citrinae, six idt/ltm genes in sect. Claviceps (except four in C. cyperi), zero to one partial (idtG) in sect. Pusillae, and four in sect. Citrinae, (2) two to three copies of dmaW, easE, easF, idt/ltmB, itd/ltmQ in sect. Claviceps, (3) frequent gene gains and losses, and (4) an evolutionary hourglass pattern in the intra-specific eas gene diversity and divergence in C. purpurea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Liu
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-613-759-1385
| | - Wendy Findlay
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Jeremy Dettman
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Stephen A. Wyka
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
| | - Kirk Broders
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA;
| | - Parivash Shoukouhi
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Kasia Dadej
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Miroslav Kolařík
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences CAS, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Arpeace Basnyat
- Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; (W.F.); (J.D.); (P.S.); (K.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Jim G. Menzies
- Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada;
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12
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Duringer JM, Blythe LL, Estill CT, Moon A, Murty L, Livesay S, Galen A, Craig AM. Determination of a sub-chronic threshold for lolitrem B and perennial ryegrass toxicosis in Angus cattle consuming endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) straw over 64 days. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Hettiarachchige IK, Vander Jagt CJ, Mann RC, Sawbridge TI, Spangenberg GC, Guthridge KM. Global Changes in Asexual Epichloë Transcriptomes during the Early Stages, from Seed to Seedling, of Symbiotum Establishment. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050991. [PMID: 34064362 PMCID: PMC8147782 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual Epichloë fungi are strictly seed-transmitted endophytic symbionts of cool-season grasses and spend their entire life cycle within the host plant. Endophyte infection can confer protective benefits to its host through the production of bioprotective compounds. Inversely, plants provide nourishment and shelter to the resident endophyte in return. Current understanding of the changes in global gene expression of asexual Epichloë endophytes during the early stages of host-endophyte symbiotum is limited. A time-course study using a deep RNA-sequencing approach was performed at six stages of germination, using seeds infected with one of three endophyte strains belonging to different representative taxa. Analysis of the most abundantly expressed endophyte genes identified that most were predicted to have a role in stress and defence responses. The number of differentially expressed genes observed at early time points was greater than those detected at later time points, suggesting an active transcriptional reprogramming of endophytes at the onset of seed germination. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed dynamic changes in global gene expression consistent with the developmental processes of symbiotic relationships. Expression of pathway genes for biosynthesis of key secondary metabolites was studied comprehensively and fuzzy clustering identified some unique expression patterns. Furthermore, comparisons of the transcriptomes from three endophyte strains in planta identified genes unique to each strain, including genes predicted to be associated with secondary metabolism. Findings from this study highlight the importance of better understanding the unique properties of individual endophyte strains and will serve as an excellent resource for future studies of host-endophyte interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inoka K. Hettiarachchige
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Christy J. Vander Jagt
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Ross C. Mann
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Timothy I. Sawbridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (C.J.V.J.); (R.C.M.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Tian P, Xu W, Li C, Song H, Wang M, Schardl CL, Nan Z. Phylogenetic relationship and taxonomy of a hybrid Epichloë species symbiotic with Festuca sinensis. Mycol Prog 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11557-020-01618-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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15
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Green KA, Berry D, Feussner K, Eaton CJ, Ram A, Mesarich CH, Solomon P, Feussner I, Scott B. Lolium perenne apoplast metabolomics for identification of novel metabolites produced by the symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:559-571. [PMID: 32155669 PMCID: PMC7317419 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus that forms a symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. Here we analysed how the metabolome of the ryegrass apoplast changed upon infection of this host with sexual and asexual isolates of E. festucae. A metabolite fingerprinting approach was used to analyse the metabolite composition of apoplastic wash fluid from uninfected and infected L. perenne. Metabolites enriched or depleted in one or both of these treatments were identified using a set of interactive tools. A genetic approach in combination with tandem MS was used to identify a novel product of a secondary metabolite gene cluster. Metabolites likely to be present in the apoplast were identified using MarVis in combination with the BioCyc and KEGG databases, and an in-house Epichloë metabolite database. We were able to identify the known endophyte-specific metabolites, peramine and epichloëcyclins, as well as a large number of unknown markers. To determine whether these methods can be applied to the identification of novel Epichloë-derived metabolites, we deleted a gene encoding a NRPS (lgsA) that is highly expressed in planta. Comparative MS analysis of apoplastic wash fluid from wild-type- vs mutant-infected plants identified a novel Leu/Ile glycoside metabolite present in the former.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A. Green
- School of Fundamental SciencesMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research CentreMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Daniel Berry
- School of Fundamental SciencesMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research CentreMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Kirstin Feussner
- Department of Plant BiochemistryAlbrecht von Haller Institute for Plant SciencesUniversity of GoettingenD‐37077GoettingenGermany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and LipidomicsGoettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GoettingenD‐37077GoettingenGermany
| | - Carla J. Eaton
- School of Fundamental SciencesMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research CentreMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Arvina Ram
- School of Fundamental SciencesMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Carl H. Mesarich
- Bioprotection Research CentreMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- School of Agriculture and EnvironmentMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Peter Solomon
- Research School of BiologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACT0200Australia
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant BiochemistryAlbrecht von Haller Institute for Plant SciencesUniversity of GoettingenD‐37077GoettingenGermany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and LipidomicsGoettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GoettingenD‐37077GoettingenGermany
- Department of Plant BiochemistryGoettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)University of GoettingenD‐37077GoettingenGermany
| | - Barry Scott
- School of Fundamental SciencesMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research CentreMassey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
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16
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Bharadwaj R, Jagadeesan H, Kumar SR, Ramalingam S. Molecular mechanisms in grass-Epichloë interactions: towards endophyte driven farming to improve plant fitness and immunity. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 36:92. [PMID: 32562008 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02868-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
All plants harbor many microbial species including bacteria and fungi in their tissues. The interactions between the plant and these microbes could be symbiotic, mutualistic, parasitic or commensalistic. Mutualistic microorganisms are endophytic in nature and are known to play a role in plant growth, development and fitness. Endophytes display complex diversity depending upon the agro-climatic conditions and this diversity could be exploited for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. Plant-endophyte partnerships are highly specific, several genetic and molecular cascades play a key role in colonization of endophytes in host plants leading to rapid changes in host and endophyte metabolism. This results in the accumulation of secondary metabolites, which play an important role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Alkaloids are one of the important class of metabolites produced by Epichloë genus and other related classes of endophytes and confer protection against insect and mammalian herbivory. In this context, this review discusses the evolutionary aspects of the Epichloë genus along with key molecular mechanisms determining the lifestyle of Epichloë endophytes in host system. Novel hypothesis is proposed to outline the initial cellular signaling events during colonization of Epichloë in cool season grasses. Complex clustering of alkaloid biosynthetic genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the production of alkaloids have been elaborated in detail. The natural defense and advantages of the endophyte derived metabolites have also been extensively discussed. Finally, this review highlights the importance of endophyte-arbitrated plant immunity to develop novel approaches for eco-friendly agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Bharadwaj
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - H Jagadeesan
- Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S R Kumar
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - S Ramalingam
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India.
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17
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Tanifuji R, Minami A, Oguri H, Oikawa H. Total synthesis of alkaloids using both chemical and biochemical methods. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:1098-1121. [DOI: 10.1039/c9np00073a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A chemoenzymatic approach to synthesize structurally complex natural alkaloids (tetrahydroisoquinoline antibiotics, indole diterpenes, and monoterpene indole alkaloids) has been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Tanifuji
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- Graduate School of Engineering
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Atsushi Minami
- Division of Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science
- Hokkaido University
- Sapporo
- Japan
| | - Hiroki Oguri
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- Graduate School of Engineering
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Hideaki Oikawa
- Division of Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science
- Hokkaido University
- Sapporo
- Japan
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18
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Ludlow EJ, Vassiliadis S, Ekanayake PN, Hettiarachchige IK, Reddy P, Sawbridge TI, Rochfort SJ, Spangenberg GC, Guthridge KM. Analysis of the Indole Diterpene Gene Cluster for Biosynthesis of the Epoxy-Janthitrems in Epichloë Endophytes. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7110560. [PMID: 31766147 PMCID: PMC6921081 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7110560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epoxy-janthitrems are a class of indole diterpenes with structural similarity to lolitrem B. Two taxa of asexual Epichloë endophytes have been reported to produce epoxy-janthitrems, LpTG-3 (Lolium perenne Taxonomic Group 3; e.g., NEA12) and LpTG-4 (e.g., E1). Epichloë epoxy-janthitrems are not well understood, the biosynthetic pathway and associated gene complement have not been described and while the literature suggests they are associated with superior protection against pasture insect pests and are tremorgenic in grazing mammals, these properties have not been confirmed using isolated and purified compounds. Whole genome sequence analysis was used to identify candidate genes for epoxy-janthitrem biosynthesis that are unique to epoxy-janthitrem producing strains of Epichloë. A gene, jtmD, was identified with homology to aromatic prenyl transferases involved in synthesis of indole diterpenes. The location of the epoxy-janthitrem biosynthesis gene cluster (JTM locus) was determined in the assembled nuclear genomes of NEA12 and E1. The JTM locus contains cluster 1 and cluster 2 of the lolitrem B biosynthesis gene cluster (LTM locus), as well as four genes jtmD, jtmO, jtm01, and jtm02 that are unique to Epichloë spp. that produce epoxy-janthitrems. Expression of each of the genes identified was confirmed using transcriptome analysis of perennial ryegrass-NEA12 and perennial ryegrass-E1 symbiota. Sequence analysis confirmed the genes are functionally similar to those involved in biosynthesis of related indole diterpene compounds. RNAi silencing of jtmD and in planta assessment in host-endophyte associations confirms the role of jtmD in epoxy-janthitrem production. Using LCMS/MS technologies, a biosynthetic pathway for the production of epoxy-janthitrems I-IV in Epichloë endophytes is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Ludlow
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Simone Vassiliadis
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Piyumi N. Ekanayake
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Inoka K. Hettiarachchige
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Priyanka Reddy
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Tim I. Sawbridge
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Simone J. Rochfort
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (E.J.L.); (S.V.); (P.N.E.); (I.K.H.); (P.R.); (T.I.S.); (S.J.R.); (G.C.S.)
- Correspondence:
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19
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Vassiliadis S, Elkins AC, Reddy P, Guthridge KM, Spangenberg GC, Rochfort SJ. A Simple LC-MS Method for the Quantitation of Alkaloids in Endophyte-Infected Perennial Ryegrass. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E649. [PMID: 31703425 PMCID: PMC6891275 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11110649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid identification and quantitation of alkaloids produced by Epichloë endophyte-infected pasture grass is important for the agricultural industry. Beneficial alkaloids, such as peramine, provide the grass with enhanced insect protection. Conversely, ergovaline and lolitrem B can negatively impact livestock. Currently, a single validated method to measure these combined alkaloids in planta does not exist. Here, a simple two-step extraction method was developed for Epichloë-infected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Peramine, ergovaline and lolitrem B were quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Alkaloid linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy, precision, selectivity, recovery, matrix effect and robustness were all established. The validated method was applied to eight different ryegrass-endophyte symbiota. Robustness was established by comparing quantitation results across two additional instruments; a triple quadruple mass spectrometer (QQQ MS) and by fluorescence detection (FLD). Quantitation results were similar across all three instruments, indicating good reproducibility. LOQ values ranged from 0.8 ng/mL to 6 ng/mL, approximately one hundred times lower than those established by previous work using FLD (for ergovaline and lolitrem B), and LC-MS (for peramine). This work provides the first highly sensitive quantitative LC-MS method for the accurate and reproducible quantitation of important endophyte-derived alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Vassiliadis
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Aaron C. Elkins
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Priyanka Reddy
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Simone J. Rochfort
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (A.C.E.); (P.R.); (K.M.G.); (G.C.S.); (S.J.R.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
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20
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Infection Rates and Alkaloid Patterns of Different Grass Species with Systemic Epichloë Endophytes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00465-19. [PMID: 31227553 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00465-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic Epichloë species are fungal endophytes of cool-season grasses that can produce alkaloids with toxicity to vertebrates and/or invertebrates. Monitoring infections and presence of alkaloids in grasses infected with Epichloë species can provide an estimate of possible intoxication risks for livestock. We sampled 3,046 individuals of 13 different grass species in three regions on 150 study sites in Germany. We determined infection rates and used PCR to identify Epichloë species diversity based on the presence of different alkaloid biosynthesis genes, then confirmed the possible chemotypes with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements. Infections of Epichloë spp. were found in Festuca pratensis Huds. (81%), Festuca ovina L. aggregate (agg.) (73%), Lolium perenne L. (15%), Festuca rubra L. (15%) and Dactylis glomerata L. (8%). The other eight grass species did not appear to be infected. For the majority of Epichloë-infected L. perenne samples (98%), the alkaloids lolitrem B and peramine were present, but ergovaline was not detected, which was consistent with the genetic evaluation, as dmaW, the gene encoding the first step of the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, was absent. Epichloë uncinata in F. pratensis produced anti-insect loline compounds. The Epichloë spp. observed in the F. ovina agg. samples showed the greatest level of diversity, and different intermediates of the indole-diterpene pathway could be detected. Epichloë infection rates alone are insufficient to estimate intoxication risks for livestock, as other factors, like the ability of the endophyte to produce the alkaloids, also need to be assessed.IMPORTANCE Severe problems of livestock intoxication from Epichloë-infected forage grasses have been reported from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, but much less frequently from Europe, and particularly not from Germany. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor infection rates and alkaloids of grasses with Epichloë fungi to estimate possible intoxication risks. Most studies focus on agricultural grass species like Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea, but other cool-season grass species can also be infected. We show that in Germany, infection rates and alkaloids differ between grass species and that some of the alkaloids can be toxic to livestock. Changes in grassland management due to changing climate, especially with a shift toward grasslands dominated with Epichloë-infected species such as Lolium perenne, may result in greater numbers of intoxicated livestock in the near future. We therefore suggest regular monitoring of grass species for infections and alkaloids and call for maintaining heterogenous grasslands for livestock.
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21
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Lin W, Kuang Y, Wang J, Duan D, Xu W, Tian P, Nzabanita C, Wang M, Li M, Ma B. Effects of Seasonal Variation on the Alkaloids of Different Ecotypes of Epichloë Endophyte- Festuca sinensis Associations. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1695. [PMID: 31402903 PMCID: PMC6671874 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Epichloë endophyte-Festuca sinensis association produces alkaloids which can protect the host plant from biotic and abiotic stresses. Alkaloid concentrations depend on the genetic predisposition of grass and endophyte, and are affected by the environment. Endophyte infected F. sinensis of six ecotypes were grown in experimental field and greenhouse for 2 years. Their aboveground plant tissues were collected each season to test for peramine, lolitrem B, and ergot concentrations. The results showed that seasonal changes affected the peramine, lolitrem B and ergot concentrations of Epichloë endophyte-F. sinensis associations; and these three different alkaloids responded differently to seasonal variation. The peramine concentration of six ecotypes of F. sinensis decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from spring to autumn. The lolitrem B concentration of F. sinensis was higher in autumn than in other seasons. Ergot concentrations of five ecotypes (41, 57, 84, 99, and 141) of F. sinensis peaked in the summer, and lowered in spring and autumn. In addition, the ecotype has insignificant effect (p > 0.05) on the peramine and lolitrem B concentrations of F. sinensis, but it has a significant impact (p < 0.05) on the ergot concentrations. We concluded that the seasonal variation and ecotypes can influence the alkaloids produced by the F. sinensis-endophyte associations, but the effects of seasonal conditions on the alkaloid concentrations are more pronounced than ecotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu Kuang
- Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Liling City, Liling, China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dongdong Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenbo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pei Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Clement Nzabanita
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Meining Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bihua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Soto-Barajas MC, Vázquez-de-Aldana BR, Álvarez A, Zabalgogeazcoa I. Sympatric Epichloë species and chemotypic profiles in natural populations of Lolium perenne. FUNGAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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23
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Tremorgenic Mycotoxins: Structure Diversity and Biological Activity. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11050302. [PMID: 31137882 PMCID: PMC6563255 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11050302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Indole-diterpenes are an important class of chemical compounds which can be unique to different fungal species. The highly complex lolitrem compounds are confined to Epichloë species, whilst penitrem production is confined to Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. These fungal species are often present in association with pasture grasses, and the indole-diterpenes produced may cause toxicity in grazing animals. In this review, we highlight the unique structural variations of indole-diterpenes that are characterised into subgroups, including paspaline, paxilline, shearinines, paspalitrems, terpendoles, penitrems, lolitrems, janthitrems, and sulpinines. A detailed description of the unique biological activities has been documented where even structurally related compounds have displayed unique biological activities. Indole-diterpene production has been reported in two classes of ascomycete fungi, namely Eurotiomycetes (e.g., Aspergillus and Penicillium) and Sordariomycetes (e.g., Claviceps and Epichloë). These compounds all have a common structural core comprised of a cyclic diterpene skeleton derived from geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) and an indole moiety derived from tryptophan. Structure diversity is generated from the enzymatic conversion of different sites on the basic indole-diterpene structure. This review highlights the wide-ranging biological versatility presented by the indole-diterpene group of compounds and their role in an agricultural and pharmaceutical setting.
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Toxic Indole Diterpenes from Endophyte-Infected Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne L.: Isolation and Stability. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11010016. [PMID: 30609849 PMCID: PMC6356652 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The most potent of the indole diterpenes, lolitrem B, is found in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with the endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii (also termed LpTG-1). Ingestion causes a neurological syndrome in grazing livestock called ryegrass staggers disease. To enable the rapid development of new forage varieties, the toxicity of lolitrem B and its biosynthetic intermediates needs to be established. However, most of these indole diterpenes are not commercially available; thus, isolation of these compounds is paramount. A concentrated endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass seed extract was subjected to silica flash chromatography followed by preparative HPLC and purification by crystallization resulting in lolitrem B and the intermediate compounds lolitrem E, paspaline and terpendole B. The four-step isolation and purification method resulted in a 25% yield of lolitrem B. After isolation, lolitrem B readily degraded to its biosynthetic intermediate, lolitriol. We also found that lolitrem B can readily degrade depending on the solvent and storage conditions. The facile method which takes into consideration the associated instability of lolitrem B, led to the purification of indole diterpenes in quantities sufficient for use as analytical standards for identification in pastures, and/or for toxicity testing in pasture development programs.
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25
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Murty LD, Duringer JM, Craig AM. Co-exposure of the Mycotoxins Lolitrem B and Ergovaline in Steers Fed Perennial Ryegrass ( Lolium perenne) Straw: Metabolic Characterization of Excreta. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:6394-6401. [PMID: 29847929 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Past research showed a strong linear correlation between levels of the mycotoxins lolitrem B (LB, a tremorgen) and ergovaline (EV, an ergot alkaloid and potent vasoconstrictor) in perennial ryegrass (PRG) forage. The purpose of this study was to characterize the excretion of these two compounds in beef cattle consuming PRG straw and to utilize liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the metabolism of LB and EV in excreta. Four groups of steers ( n = 6/group) were fed endophyte-infected PRG for 64 days (2256/638, 1554/373, 1012/259, or 247/<100 μg/kg LB/EV). Concentrations of LB and EV in both PRG straw and feces showed a linear relationship to each other. Feces reflected a dose-response for both mycotoxins, with values increasing most rapidly through 21 days then plateauing. Urine contained no detectable level of either compound or the ergoline lysergic acid. Screening for metabolites showed oxidation and reduction biotransformations for both toxins, with additional conjugation products detected for ergovaline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia D Murty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Oregon State University , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
| | - Jennifer M Duringer
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology , Oregon State University , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
| | - A Morrie Craig
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine , Oregon State University , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
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26
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Shi C, An S, Yao Z, Young CA, Panaccione DG, Lee ST, Schardl CL, Li C. Toxin-producing Epichloë bromicola strains symbiotic with the forage grass Elymus dahuricus in China. Mycologia 2018. [PMID: 29528270 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2018.1426941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cool-season grasses (Poaceae subfamily Poöideae) are an important forage component for livestock in western China, and many have seed-transmitted symbionts of the genus Epichloë, fungal endophytes that are broadly distributed geographically and in many tribes of the Poöideae. Epichloë strains can produce any of several classes of alkaloids, of which ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes can be toxic to mammalian and invertebrate herbivores, whereas lolines and peramine are more selective against invertebrates. The authors characterized genotypes and alkaloid profiles of Epichloë bromicola isolates symbiotic with Elymus dahuricus, an important forage grass in rangelands of China. The endophyte was seed-transmitted and occasionally produced fruiting bodies (stromata), but its sexual state was not observed on this host. The genome sequence of E. bromicola isolate E7626 from El. dahuricus in Xinjiang Province revealed gene sets for peramine, ergot alkaloids, and indole-diterpenes. In multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screens of El. dahuricus-endophyte isolates from Beijing and two locations in Shanxi Province, most were also positive for these genes. Ergovaline and other ergot alkaloids, terpendoles and other indole-diterpenes, and peramine were confirmed in El. dahuricus plants with E. bromicola. The presence of ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes in this grass is a potential concern for managers of grazing livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Shi
- a College of Grassland and Environmental Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumqi , Xinjiang , China 830052
| | - Shazhou An
- a College of Grassland and Environmental Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumqi , Xinjiang , China 830052
| | - Zhengpei Yao
- b College of Agriculture, Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumqi , Xinjiang , China 830052
| | - Carolyn A Young
- c Noble Research Institute , 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore , Oklahoma 73401
| | - Daniel G Panaccione
- d Division of Plant and Soil Sciences , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia 26506-6108
| | - Stephen T Lee
- e Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service , United States Department of Agriculture , 1150 E. 1400 N., Logan , Utah 84341
| | - Christopher L Schardl
- f Department of Plant Pathology , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky 40546-0312
| | - Chunjie Li
- g State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University , Lanzhou , Gansu , China 730000
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27
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Campbell MA, Tapper BA, Simpson WR, Johnson RD, Mace W, Ram A, Lukito Y, Dupont PY, Johnson LJ, Scott DB, Ganley ARD, Cox MP. Epichloë hybrida, sp. nov., an emerging model system for investigating fungal allopolyploidy. Mycologia 2018; 109:715-729. [PMID: 29370579 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2017.1406174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Endophytes of the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota) frequently occur within cool-season grasses and form interactions with their hosts that range from mutualistic to antagonistic. Many Epichloë species have arisen via interspecific hybridization, resulting in species with two or three subgenomes that retain all or nearly all of their original parental genomes, a process termed allopolyploidization. Here, we characterize Epichloë hybrida, sp. nov., a mutualistic species that has increasingly become a model system for investigating allopolyploidy in fungi. The Epichloë species so far identified as the closest known relatives of the two progenitors of E. hybrida are E. festucae var. lolii and E. typhina. We confirm that the nuclear genome of E. hybrida contains two homeologs of most protein-coding genes from E. festucae and E. typhina, with genome-wide gene expression analysis indicating a slight bias in overall gene expression from the E. typhina subgenome. Mitochondrial DNA is detectable only from E. festucae, whereas ribosomal DNA is detectable only from E. typhina. Inheriting ribosomal DNA from just one parent might be expected to preferentially favor interactions with ribosomal proteins from the same parent, but we find that ribosomal protein genes from both parental subgenomes are nearly all expressed equally in E. hybrida. Finally, we provide a comprehensive set of resources for this model system that are intended to facilitate further study of fungal hybridization by other researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Campbell
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
| | - Brian A Tapper
- b AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre , Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
| | - Wayne R Simpson
- b AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre , Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
| | - Richard D Johnson
- b AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre , Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
| | - Wade Mace
- b AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre , Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
| | - Arvina Ram
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
| | - Yonathan Lukito
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
| | - Pierre-Yves Dupont
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
| | - Linda J Johnson
- b AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre , Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand
| | - D Barry Scott
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
| | - Austen R D Ganley
- c School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
| | - Murray P Cox
- a Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410 , New Zealand
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28
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Bauer JI, Gross M, Cramer B, Humpf HU, Hamscher G, Usleber E. Immunochemical Analysis of Paxilline and Ergot Alkaloid Mycotoxins in Grass Seeds and Plants. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:315-322. [PMID: 29237259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b05580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Limited availability of toxin standards for lolitrem B and ergovaline impedes routine control of grasses for endophyte toxins. This study aimed at assessing the applicability of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the indole-diterpene mycotoxin paxilline, in combination with a generic EIA for ergot alkaloids, as alternative parameters for screening purposes. Analysis of grass seeds and model pastures of four different grass species showed that both EIAs yielded highly positive results for paxilline and ergot alkaloids in perennial ryegrass seeds. Furthermore, evidence for natural occurrence of paxilline in grass in Germany was obtained. High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis qualitatively confirmed the paxilline EIA results but showed that paxilline analogues 1'-O-acetylpaxilline and 13-desoxypaxilline were the predominant compounds in seeds and grass. In the absence of easily accessible reference standards for specific analysis of some major endophyte toxins, analysis of paxilline and ergot alkaloids by EIA may be suitable substitute parameters. The major advantage of this approach is its ease of use and speed, providing an analytical tool which could enhance routine screening for endophyte toxins in pasture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia I Bauer
- Dairy Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Food Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen , Ludwigstrasse 21, Giessen 35390, Germany
| | - Madeleine Gross
- Junior Professorship of Veterinary Food Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Food Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen , Ludwigstrasse 21, Giessen 35390, Germany
| | - Benedikt Cramer
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , Corrensstrasse 45, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , Corrensstrasse 45, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Gerd Hamscher
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen , Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17-19, Giessen 35392, Germany
| | - Ewald Usleber
- Dairy Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Food Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen , Ludwigstrasse 21, Giessen 35390, Germany
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Fritsche S, Poovaiah C, MacRae E, Thorlby G. A New Zealand Perspective on the Application and Regulation of Gene Editing. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1323. [PMID: 30258454 PMCID: PMC6144285 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
New Zealand (NZ) is a small country with an export-led economy with above 90% of primary production exported. Plant-based primary commodities derived from the pastoral, horticultural and forestry sectors account for around half of the export earnings. Productivity is characterized by a history of innovation and the early adoption of advanced technologies. Gene editing has the potential to revolutionize breeding programmes, particularly in NZ. Here, perennials such as tree crops and forestry species are key components of the primary production value chain but are challenging for conventional breeding and only recently domesticated. Uncertainty over the global regulatory status of gene editing products is a barrier to invest in and apply editing techniques in plant breeding. NZs major trading partners including Europe, Asia and Australia are currently evaluating the regulatory status of these technologies and have not made definitive decisions. NZ is one of the few countries where the regulatory status of gene editing has been clarified. In 2014, the NZ Environmental Protection Authority ruled that plants produced via gene editing methods, where no foreign DNA remained in the edited plant, would not be regulated as GMOs. However, following a challenge in the High Court, this decision was overturned such that NZ currently controls all products of gene editing as GMOs. Here, we illustrate the potential benefits of integrating gene editing into plant breeding programmes using targets and traits with application in NZ. The regulatory process which led to gene editing's current GMO classification in NZ is described and the importance of globally harmonized regulations, particularly to small export-driven nations is discussed.
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30
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Sneck ME, Rudgers JA, Young CA, Miller TEX. Variation in the Prevalence and Transmission of Heritable Symbionts Across Host Populations in Heterogeneous Environments. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2017; 74:640-653. [PMID: 28314899 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-017-0964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Heritable microbes are abundant in nature and influential to their hosts and the communities in which they reside. However, drivers of variability in the prevalence of heritable symbionts and their rates of transmission are poorly resolved, particularly across host populations experiencing variable biotic and abiotic environments. To fill these gaps, we surveyed 25 populations of two native grasses (Elymus virginicus and Elymus canadensis) across the southern Great Plains (USA). Both grass species host heritable endophytic fungi (genus Epichloё) and can hybridize where their ranges overlap. From a subset of hosts, we characterized endophyte genotype using genetic loci that link to bioactive alkaloid production. First, we found mean vertical transmission rates and population-level prevalence were positively correlated, specifically for E. virginicus. However, both endophyte prevalence and transmission varied substantially across populations and did not strongly correlate with abiotic variables, with one exception: endophyte prevalence decreased as drought stress decreased for E. virginicus hosts. Second, we evaluated the potential influence of biotic factors and found that, after accounting for climate, endophyte genotype explained significant variation in symbiont inheritance. We also contrasted populations where host species co-occurred in sympatry vs. allopatry. Sympatry could potentially increase interspecific hybridization, but this variable did not associate with patterns of symbiont prevalence or transmission success. Our results reveal substantial variability in symbiont prevalence and transmission across host populations and identify symbiont genotype, and to a lesser extent, the abiotic environment as sources of this variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Sneck
- Department of BioSciences, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
| | - Jennifer A Rudgers
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Carolyn A Young
- Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - Tom E X Miller
- Department of BioSciences, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
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31
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Ghimire SR, Rudgers JA, Charlton ND, Young C, Craven KD. Prevalence of an intraspecificNeotyphodiumhybrid in natural populations of stout wood reed (Cinna arundinaceaL.) from eastern North America. Mycologia 2017; 103:75-84. [DOI: 10.3852/10-154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sita R. Ghimire
- Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
| | - Jennifer A. Rudgers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005
| | - Nikki D. Charlton
- Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
| | - Carolyn Young
- Forage Improvement Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
| | - Kelly D. Craven
- Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
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32
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Ekanayake PN, Kaur J, Tian P, Rochfort SJ, Guthridge KM, Sawbridge TI, Spangenberg GC, Forster JW. Genomic and metabolic characterisation of alkaloid biosynthesis by asexual Epichloë fungal endophytes of tall fescue pasture grasses. Genome 2017; 60:496-509. [PMID: 28177829 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2016-0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic associations between tall fescue grasses and asexual Epichloë fungal endophytes exhibit biosynthesis of alkaloid compounds causing both beneficial and detrimental effects. Candidate novel endophytes with favourable chemotypic profiles have been identified in germplasm collections by screening for genetic diversity, followed by metabolite profile analysis in endogenous genetic backgrounds. A subset of candidates was subjected to genome survey sequencing to detect the presence or absence and structural status of known genes for biosynthesis of the major alkaloid classes. The capacity to produce specific metabolites was directly predictable from metabolic data. In addition, study of duplicated gene structure in heteroploid genomic constitutions provided further evidence for the origin of such endophytes. Selected strains were inoculated into meristem-derived callus cultures from specific tall fescue genotypes to perform isogenic comparisons of alkaloid profile in different host backgrounds, revealing evidence for host-specific quantitative control of metabolite production, consistent with previous studies. Certain strains were capable of both inoculation and formation of longer-term associations with a nonhost species, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Discovery and primary characterisation of novel endophytes by DNA analysis, followed by confirmatory metabolic studies, offers improvements of speed and efficiency and hence accelerated deployment in pasture grass improvement programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyumi N Ekanayake
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Jatinder Kaur
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Pei Tian
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Simone J Rochfort
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,b School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Kathryn M Guthridge
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Timothy I Sawbridge
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,b School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - German C Spangenberg
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,b School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - John W Forster
- a Agriculture Victoria, Biosciences Research, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,b School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.,c Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, La Trobe Research and Development Park, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.,d Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre, AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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[Dedicated to Prof. T. Okada and Prof. T. Nishioka: data science in chemistry]Classification of Alkaloid Compounds Based on Subring Skeleton (SRS) Profiling: On Finding Relationship of Compounds with Metabolic Pathways. JOURNAL OF COMPUTER AIDED CHEMISTRY 2017. [DOI: 10.2751/jcac.18.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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34
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Motoyama T, Osada H. Biosynthetic approaches to creating bioactive fungal metabolites: Pathway engineering and activation of secondary metabolism. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:5843-5850. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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35
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Philippe G. Lolitrem B and Indole Diterpene Alkaloids Produced by Endophytic Fungi of the Genus Epichloë and Their Toxic Effects in Livestock. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:47. [PMID: 26891327 PMCID: PMC4773800 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8020047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grass. The structure and toxicity of the compounds vary considerably in mammalian herbivores and in crop pests. Alkaloids of the indole-diterpene group, of which lolitrem B is the most toxic, were first characterized in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass, and are responsible for “ryegrass staggers.” Ergot alkaloids, of which ergovaline is the most abundant ergopeptide alkaloid produced, are also found in ryegrass, but generally at a lower rate than lolitrem B. Other alkaloids such as lolines and peramine are toxic for crop pests but have weak toxicological properties in mammals. The purpose of this review is to present indole-diterpene alkaloids produced in endophyte infected ryegrass from the first characterization of ryegrass staggers to the determination of the toxicokinetics of lolitrem B and of their mechanism of action in mammals, focusing on the different factors that could explain the worldwide distribution of the disease. Other indole diterpene alkaloids than lolitrem B that can be found in Epichloë infected ryegrass, and their tremorgenic properties, are presented in the last section of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerre Philippe
- Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UR Mycotoxicologie, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
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Zhou L, Li C, Zhang X, Johnson R, Bao G, Yao X, Chai Q. Effects of cold shocked Epichloë infected Festuca sinensis on ergot alkaloid accumulation. FUNGAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Berry D, Takach JE, Schardl CL, Charlton ND, Scott B, Young CA. Disparate independent genetic events disrupt the secondary metabolism gene perA in certain symbiotic Epichloë species. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:2797-807. [PMID: 25681180 PMCID: PMC4375322 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03721-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Peramine is an insect-feeding deterrent produced by Epichloë species in symbiotic association with C3 grasses. The perA gene responsible for peramine synthesis encodes a two-module nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Alleles of perA are found in most Epichloë species; however, peramine is not produced by many perA-containing Epichloë isolates. The genetic basis of these peramine-negative chemotypes is often unknown. Using PCR and DNA sequencing, we analyzed the perA genes from 72 Epichloë isolates and identified causative mutations of perA null alleles. We found nonfunctional perA-ΔR* alleles, which contain a transposon-associated deletion of the perA region encoding the C-terminal reductase domain, are widespread within the Epichloë genus and represent a prevalent mutation found in nonhybrid species. Disparate phylogenies of adjacent A2 and T2 domains indicated that the deletion of the reductase domain (R*) likely occurred once and early in the evolution of the genus, and subsequently there have been several recombinations between those domains. A number of novel point, deletion, and insertion mutations responsible for abolishing peramine production in full-length perA alleles were also identified. The regions encoding the first and second adenylation domains (A1 and A2, respectively) were common sites for such mutations. Using this information, a method was developed to predict peramine chemotypes by combining PCR product size polymorphism analysis with sequencing of the perA adenylation domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Berry
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Barry Scott
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Lysøe E, Harris LJ, Walkowiak S, Subramaniam R, Divon HH, Riiser ES, Llorens C, Gabaldón T, Kistler HC, Jonkers W, Kolseth AK, Nielsen KF, Thrane U, Frandsen RJN. The genome of the generalist plant pathogen Fusarium avenaceum is enriched with genes involved in redox, signaling and secondary metabolism. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112703. [PMID: 25409087 PMCID: PMC4237347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium avenaceum is a fungus commonly isolated from soil and associated with a wide range of host plants. We present here three genome sequences of F. avenaceum, one isolated from barley in Finland and two from spring and winter wheat in Canada. The sizes of the three genomes range from 41.6–43.1 MB, with 13217–13445 predicted protein-coding genes. Whole-genome analysis showed that the three genomes are highly syntenic, and share>95% gene orthologs. Comparative analysis to other sequenced Fusaria shows that F. avenaceum has a very large potential for producing secondary metabolites, with between 75 and 80 key enzymes belonging to the polyketide, non-ribosomal peptide, terpene, alkaloid and indole-diterpene synthase classes. In addition to known metabolites from F. avenaceum, fuscofusarin and JM-47 were detected for the first time in this species. Many protein families are expanded in F. avenaceum, such as transcription factors, and proteins involved in redox reactions and signal transduction, suggesting evolutionary adaptation to a diverse and cosmopolitan ecology. We found that 20% of all predicted proteins were considered to be secreted, supporting a life in the extracellular space during interaction with plant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Lysøe
- Department of Plant Health and Plant Protection, Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Ås, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Linda J. Harris
- Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sean Walkowiak
- Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rajagopal Subramaniam
- Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Hege H. Divon
- Section of Mycology, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Even S. Riiser
- Department of Plant Health and Plant Protection, Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - H. Corby Kistler
- ARS-USDA, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Wilfried Jonkers
- ARS-USDA, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Anna-Karin Kolseth
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristian F. Nielsen
- Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ulf Thrane
- Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Young CA, Charlton ND, Takach JE, Swoboda GA, Trammell MA, Huhman DV, Hopkins AA. Characterization of Epichloë coenophiala within the US: are all tall fescue endophytes created equal? Front Chem 2014; 2:95. [PMID: 25408942 PMCID: PMC4219521 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a valuable and broadly adapted forage grass that occupies approximately 14 million hectares across the United States. A native to Europe, tall fescue was likely introduced into the US around the late 1800's. Much of the success of tall fescue can be attributed to Epichloë coenophiala (formerly Neotyphodium coenophialum) a seed borne symbiont that aids in host persistence. Epichloë species are capable of producing a range of alkaloids (ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, lolines, and peramine) that provide protection to the plant host from herbivory. Unfortunately, most tall fescue within the US, commonly referred to as "Kentucky-31" (KY31), harbors the endophyte E. coenophiala that causes toxicity to grazing livestock due to the production of ergot alkaloids. Molecular analyses of tall fescue endophytes have identified four independent associations, representing tall fescue with E. coenophiala, Epichloë sp. FaTG-2, Epichloë sp. FaTG-3, or Epichloë sp. FaTG-4. Each of these Epichloë species can be further distinguished based on genetic variation that equates to differences in the alkaloid gene loci. Tall fescue samples were evaluated using markers to simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and alkaloid biosynthesis genes to determine endophyte strain variation present within continental US. Samples represented seed and tillers from the Suiter farm (Menifee County, KY), which is considered the originating site of KY31, as well as plant samples collected from 14 states, breeder's seed and plant introduction lines (National Plant Germplasm System, NPGS). This study revealed two prominent E. coenophiala genotypes based on presence of alkaloid biosynthesis genes and SSR markers and provides insight into endophyte variation within continental US across historical and current tall fescue samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A Young
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Nikki D Charlton
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Johanna E Takach
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Ginger A Swoboda
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Michael A Trammell
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - David V Huhman
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Andrew A Hopkins
- The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Forage Improvement Division Ardmore, OK, USA
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Charlton ND, Craven KD, Afkhami ME, Hall BA, Ghimire SR, Young CA. Interspecific hybridization and bioactive alkaloid variation increases diversity in endophytic Epichloë species of Bromus laevipes. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2014; 90:276-89. [PMID: 25065688 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying geographic variation of microbial mutualists, especially variation in traits related to benefits they provide their host, is critical for understanding how these associations impact key ecological processes. In this study, we investigate the phylogenetic population structure of Epichloë species within Bromus laevipes, a native cool-season bunchgrass found predominantly in California. Phylogenetic classification supported inference of three distinct Epichloë taxa, of which one was nonhybrid and two were interspecific hybrids. Inheritance of mating-type idiomorphs revealed that at least one of the hybrid species arose from independent hybridization events. We further investigated the geographic variation of endophyte-encoded alkaloid genes, which is often associated with key benefits of natural enemy protection for the host. Marker diversity at the ergot alkaloid, loline, indole-diterpene, and peramine loci revealed four alkaloid genotypes across the three identified Epichloë species. Predicted chemotypes were tested using endophyte-infected plant material that represented each endophyte genotype, and 11 of the 13 predicted alkaloids were confirmed. This multifaceted approach combining phylogenetic, genotypic, and chemotypic analyses allowed us to reconstruct the diverse evolutionary histories of Epichloë species present within B. laevipes and highlight the complex and dynamic processes underlying these grass-endophyte symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki D Charlton
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK, USA
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Mc Cargo PD, Iannone LJ, Vignale MV, Schardl CL, Rossi MS. Species diversity of Epichloë symbiotic with two grasses from southern Argentinean Patagonia. Mycologia 2014; 106:339-52. [PMID: 24782501 DOI: 10.3852/106.2.339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this work we performed morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses (based on sequences of calmodulin M [calM], translation-elongation factor 1-α [tefA] and β-tubulin [tubB] genes) to characterize the diversity of Epichloë endophytes in Bromus setifolius and Phleum alpinum. The phylogenies obtained from the three genes were congruent and allowed differentiation of three lineages of endophytes that also presented morphological differences. One lineage corresponds to the previously described species Epichloë tembladerae, which is present in a wide range of native grasses from Argentina including B. setifolius and P. alpinum. Another genotype isolated only from B. setifolius is a non-hybrid endophyte, a rare condition for the South American Epichloë endophytes. Isolates of this genotype, described herein as a new variety, Epichloë typhina var. aonikenkana, presented waxy colonies at maturity and a low production of conidia. The third lineage, exclusively found in isolates from P. alpinum, is a hybrid between E. typhina and a common ancestor of E. amarillans and E. baconii. Isolates of this lineage produce abundant conidia that are variable in shape and size. Based on its unique phylogenetic position and morphology, we propose the new species, Epichloë cabralii for this lineage. The new combinations Epichloë tembladerae and E. pampeana also are proposed for the previously described Neotyphodium tembladerae and Neotyphodium pampeanum species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D Mc Cargo
- Laboratorio de Micología, Dept. de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires & PROPLAME-PRHIDEB-CONICET, Argentina
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Detection and quantification of three distinct Neotyphodium lolii endophytes in Lolium perenne by real time PCR of secondary metabolite genes. Fungal Biol 2014; 118:316-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Schmidt-Dannert C. Biosynthesis of terpenoid natural products in fungi. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 148:19-61. [PMID: 25414054 DOI: 10.1007/10_2014_283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tens of thousands of terpenoid natural products have been isolated from plants and microbial sources. Higher fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) are known to produce an array of well-known terpenoid natural products, including mycotoxins, antibiotics, antitumor compounds, and phytohormones. Except for a few well-studied fungal biosynthetic pathways, the majority of genes and biosynthetic pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of a small number of these secondary metabolites have only been discovered and characterized in the past 5-10 years. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on fungal terpenoid biosynthesis from biochemical, genetic, and genomic viewpoints. Enzymes involved in synthesizing, transferring, and cyclizing the prenyl chains that form the hydrocarbon scaffolds of fungal terpenoid natural products are systematically discussed. Genomic information and functional evidence suggest differences between the terpenome of the two major fungal phyla--the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota--which will be illustrated for each group of terpenoid natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Schmidt-Dannert
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minneapolis, MN, 55108, USA,
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Schardl CL, Florea S, Pan J, Nagabhyru P, Bec S, Calie PJ. The epichloae: alkaloid diversity and roles in symbiosis with grasses. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2013; 16:480-8. [PMID: 23850071 PMCID: PMC3874428 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2013.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Epichloae (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species; Clavicipitaceae) are fungi that live in systemic symbioses with cool-season grasses, and many produce alkaloids that are deterrent or toxic to herbivores. The epichloae colonize much of the aerial plant tissues, and most benignly colonize host seeds to transmit vertically. Of their four chemical classes of alkaloids, the ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes are active against mammals and insects, whereas peramine and lolines specifically affect insects. Comparative genomic analysis of Clavicipitaceae reveals a distinctive feature of the epichloae, namely, large repeat blocks in their alkaloid biosynthesis gene loci. Such repeat blocks can facilitate gene losses, mutations, and duplications, thus enhancing diversity of alkaloid structures within each class. We suggest that alkaloid diversification is selected especially in the vertically transmissible epichloae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Schardl
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA.
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Schardl CL, Young CA, Pan J, Florea S, Takach JE, Panaccione DG, Farman ML, Webb JS, Jaromczyk J, Charlton ND, Nagabhyru P, Chen L, Shi C, Leuchtmann A. Currencies of mutualisms: sources of alkaloid genes in vertically transmitted epichloae. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:1064-88. [PMID: 23744053 PMCID: PMC3717770 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5061064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The epichloae (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), a monophyletic group of fungi in the family Clavicipitaceae, are systemic symbionts of cool-season grasses (Poaceae subfamily Poöideae). Most epichloae are vertically transmitted in seeds (endophytes), and most produce alkaloids that attack nervous systems of potential herbivores. These protective metabolites include ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes (tremorgens), which are active in vertebrate systems, and lolines and peramine, which are more specific against invertebrates. Several Epichloë species have been described which are sexual and capable of horizontal transmission, and most are vertically transmissible also. Asexual epichloae are mainly or exclusively vertically transmitted, and many are interspecific hybrids with genomic contributions from two or three ancestral Epichloë species. Here we employ genome-scale analyses to investigate the origins of biosynthesis gene clusters for ergot alkaloids (EAS), indole-diterpenes (IDT), and lolines (LOL) in 12 hybrid species. In each hybrid, the alkaloid-gene and housekeeping-gene relationships were congruent. Interestingly, hybrids frequently had alkaloid clusters that were rare in their sexual ancestors. Also, in those hybrids that had multiple EAS, IDT or LOL clusters, one cluster lacked some genes, usually for late pathway steps. Possible implications of these findings for the alkaloid profiles and endophyte ecology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L. Schardl
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Carolyn A. Young
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA; E-Mails: (C.A.Y.); (J.E.T.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Juan Pan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Simona Florea
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Johanna E. Takach
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA; E-Mails: (C.A.Y.); (J.E.T.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Daniel G. Panaccione
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Mark L. Farman
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Jennifer S. Webb
- Advanced Genetic Technologies Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.S.W.); (J.J.)
| | - Jolanta Jaromczyk
- Advanced Genetic Technologies Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.S.W.); (J.J.)
| | - Nikki D. Charlton
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA; E-Mails: (C.A.Y.); (J.E.T.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Padmaja Nagabhyru
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
- School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Chong Shi
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mails: (J.P.); (S.F.); (M.L.F.); (P.N.); (L.C.); (C.S.)
- School of Grassland & Environmental Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Adrian Leuchtmann
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich CH-8092, Switzerland; E-Mail:
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Panaccione DG, Beaulieu WT, Cook D. Bioactive alkaloids in vertically transmitted fungal endophytes. Funct Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G. Panaccione
- Division of Plant & Soil Sciences; West Virginia University; 1090 Agricultural Sciences Building Morgantown WV 26506-6108 USA
| | | | - Daniel Cook
- USDA ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory; Logan UT USA
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Schardl CL, Young CA, Hesse U, Amyotte SG, Andreeva K, Calie PJ, Fleetwood DJ, Haws DC, Moore N, Oeser B, Panaccione DG, Schweri KK, Voisey CR, Farman ML, Jaromczyk JW, Roe BA, O'Sullivan DM, Scott B, Tudzynski P, An Z, Arnaoudova EG, Bullock CT, Charlton ND, Chen L, Cox M, Dinkins RD, Florea S, Glenn AE, Gordon A, Güldener U, Harris DR, Hollin W, Jaromczyk J, Johnson RD, Khan AK, Leistner E, Leuchtmann A, Li C, Liu J, Liu J, Liu M, Mace W, Machado C, Nagabhyru P, Pan J, Schmid J, Sugawara K, Steiner U, Takach JE, Tanaka E, Webb JS, Wilson EV, Wiseman JL, Yoshida R, Zeng Z. Plant-symbiotic fungi as chemical engineers: multi-genome analysis of the clavicipitaceae reveals dynamics of alkaloid loci. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003323. [PMID: 23468653 PMCID: PMC3585121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the epichloae clade (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both in their host interactions and in their alkaloid profiles. Epichloae produce alkaloids of four distinct classes, all of which deter insects, and some-including the infamous ergot alkaloids-have potent effects on mammals. The exceptional chemotypic diversity of the epichloae may relate to their broad range of host interactions, whereby some are pathogenic and contagious, others are mutualistic and vertically transmitted (seed-borne), and still others vary in pathogenic or mutualistic behavior. We profiled the alkaloids and sequenced the genomes of 10 epichloae, three ergot fungi (Claviceps species), a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), and a bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), and compared the gene clusters for four classes of alkaloids. Results indicated a strong tendency for alkaloid loci to have conserved cores that specify the skeleton structures and peripheral genes that determine chemical variations that are known to affect their pharmacological specificities. Generally, gene locations in cluster peripheries positioned them near to transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, which were probably involved in gene losses, duplications, and neofunctionalizations. The alkaloid loci in the epichloae had unusual structures riddled with large, complex, and dynamic repeat blocks. This feature was not reflective of overall differences in repeat contents in the genomes, nor was it characteristic of most other specialized metabolism loci. The organization and dynamics of alkaloid loci and abundant repeat blocks in the epichloae suggested that these fungi are under selection for alkaloid diversification. We suggest that such selection is related to the variable life histories of the epichloae, their protective roles as symbionts, and their associations with the highly speciose and ecologically diverse cool-season grasses.
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Young CA, Hume DE, McCulley RL. Forages and pastures symposium: fungal endophytes of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass: pasture friend or foe? J Anim Sci 2013; 91:2379-94. [PMID: 23307839 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh. syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are important perennial forage grasses utilized throughout the moderate- to high-rainfall temperate zones of the world. These grasses have coevolved with symbiotic fungal endophytes (Epichloë/Neotyphodium spp.) that can impart bioactive properties and environmental stress tolerance to the grass compared with endophyte-free individuals. These endophytes have proven to be very important in pastoral agriculture in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, where forage grasses are the principal feed for grazing ruminants. In this review, we describe the biology of these grass-endophyte associations and implications for the livestock industries that are dependent on these forages. Endophyte alkaloid production is put in context with endophyte diversity, and we illustrate how this has facilitated utilization of grasses infected with different endophyte strains that reduce livestock toxicity issues. Utilization of tall fescue and use of perennial ryegrass in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia are compared, and management strategies focused predominantly on the success of endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass in New Zealand and Australia are discussed. In addition, we consider the impact of grass-endophyte associations on the sustainability of pasture ecosystems and their likely response to future changes in climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Young
- Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA.
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