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Chen L, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang S, Zhang L, Lu K, Chen X, Dong H, Zou S. The Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Protein Complex Is Important for Deoxynivalenol Production and the Virulence of Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2025; 11:108. [PMID: 39997402 PMCID: PMC11856742 DOI: 10.3390/jof11020108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2025] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is recognized as the pathogen responsible for wheat head blight. It produces deoxynivalenol (DON) during infection, which endangers human health. DON biosynthesis occurs within toxisomes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In eukaryotes, the ER membrane protein complex (EMC) is critical for the ER's normal operation. However, the specific role of the EMC in F. graminearum remains poorly understood. In this study, six EMC subunits (FgEmc1-6) were identified in F. graminearum, and all of them were localized to the toxisomes. Our results demonstrate that the EMC is indispensable for vegetative growth and asexual and sexual reproduction, which are the fundamental life processes of F. graminearum. Importantly, EMC deletion led to reduced virulence in wheat spikes and petioles. Further investigation revealed that in ΔFgemc1-6, the expression of trichothecene (TRI) genes is decreased, the biosynthesis of lipid droplets (LDs) is diminished, toxisome formation is impaired, and DON production is reduced. Additionally, defects in the formation of the infection cushion were observed in ΔFgemc1-6. In conclusion, the EMC is involved in regulating growth and virulence in F. graminearum. This study enhances our understanding of the EMC functions in F. graminearum and offers valuable insights into potential targets for managing wheat head blight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Yaxian Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
| | - Yaxin Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
| | - Saisai Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Kai Lu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Xiaochen Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Hansong Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Shenshen Zou
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (L.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.W.); (L.Z.); (K.L.); (X.C.); (H.D.)
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
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Mao X, Li L, Abubakar YS, Li Y, Luo Z, Chen M, Zheng W, Wang Z, Zheng H. Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase FgNdpk Is Required for DON Production and Pathogenicity by Regulating the Growth and Toxisome Formation of Fusarium graminearum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:9637-9646. [PMID: 38642053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are nucleotide metabolism enzymes that play different physiological functions in different species. However, the roles of NDPK in phytopathogen and mycotoxin production are not well understood. In this study, we showed that Fusarium graminearum FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual development, and pathogenicity. Furthermore, FgNdpk is required for deoxynivalenol (DON) production; deletion of FgNDPK downregulates the expression of DON biosynthesis genes and disrupts the formation of FgTri4-GFP-labeled toxisomes, while overexpression of FgNDPK significantly increases DON production. Interestingly, FgNdpk colocalizes with the DON biosynthesis proteins FgTri1 and FgTri4 in the toxisome, and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays show that FgNdpk associates with FgTri1 and FgTri4 in vivo and regulates their localizations and expressions, respectively. Taken together, these data demonstrate that FgNdpk is important for vegetative growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity and acts as a key protein that regulates toxisome formation and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhao Mao
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lingping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810281, Nigeria
| | - Yulong Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zenghong Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Meilian Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zonghua Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huawei Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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