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Steinert K, Atanasoff-Kardjalieff AK, Messner E, Gorfer M, Niehaus EM, Humpf HU, Studt-Reinhold L, Kalinina SA. Tools to make Stachybotrys chartarum genetically amendable: Key to unlocking cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters. Fungal Genet Biol 2024; 172:103892. [PMID: 38636782 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2024.103892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The soil and indoor fungus Stachybotrys chartarum can induce respiratory disorders, collectively referred to as stachybotryotoxicosis, owing to its prolific production of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) or mycotoxins. Although many of these toxins responsible for the harmful effects on animals and humans have been identified in the genus Stachybotrys, however a number of SMs remain elusive. Through in silico analyses, we have identified 37 polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, highlighting that the chemical profile potential of Stachybotrys is far from being fully explored. Additionally, by leveraging phylogenetic analysis of known SMs produced by non-reducing polyketide synthases (NR-PKS) in other filamentous fungi, we showed that Stachybotrys possesses a rich reservoir of untapped SMs. To unravel natural product biosynthesis in S. chartarum, genetic engineering methods are crucial. For this purpose, we have developed a reliable protocol for the genetic transformation of S. chartarum and applied it to the ScPKS14 biosynthetic gene cluster. This cluster is homologous to the already known Claviceps purpurea CpPKS8 BGC, responsible for the production of ergochromes. While no novel SMs were detected, we successfully applied genetic tools, such as the generation of deletionand overexpression strains of single cluster genes. This toolbox can now be readily employed to unravel not only this particular BGC but also other candidate BGCs present in S. chartarum, making this fungus accessible for genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna K Atanasoff-Kardjalieff
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Elias Messner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Markus Gorfer
- Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Tulln, Austria
| | - Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt-Reinhold
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
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Atanasoff-Kardjalieff AK, Berger H, Steinert K, Janevska S, Ponts N, Humpf HU, Kalinina S, Studt-Reinhold L. Incorporation of the histone variant H2A.Z counteracts gene silencing mediated by H3K27 trimethylation in Fusarium fujikuroi. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:7. [PMID: 38509556 PMCID: PMC10953111 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00532-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium fujikuroi is a pathogen of rice causing diverse disease symptoms such as 'bakanae' or stunting, most likely due to the production of various natural products (NPs) during infection. Fusaria have the genetic potential to synthesize a plethora of these compounds with often diverse bioactivity. The capability to synthesize NPs exceeds the number of those being produced by far, implying a gene regulatory network decisive to induce production. One such regulatory layer is the chromatin structure and chromatin-based modifications associated with it. One prominent example is the exchange of histones against histone variants such as the H2A variant H2A.Z. Though H2A.Z already is well studied in several model organisms, its regulatory functions are not well understood. Here, we used F. fujikuroi as a model to explore the role of the prominent histone variant FfH2A.Z in gene expression within euchromatin and facultative heterochromatin. RESULTS Through the combination of diverse '-omics' methods, we show the global distribution of FfH2A.Z and analyze putative crosstalks between the histone variant and two prominent histone marks, i.e., H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, important for active gene transcription and silencing, respectively. We demonstrate that, if FfH2A.Z is positioned at the + 1-nucleosome, it poises chromatin for gene transcription, also within facultative heterochromatin. Lastly, functional characterization of FfH2A.Z overexpression and depletion mutants revealed that FfH2A.Z is important for wild type-like fungal development and secondary metabolism. CONCLUSION In this study, we show that the histone variant FfH2A.Z is a mark of positive gene transcription and acts independently of the chromatin state most likely through the stabilization of the + 1-nucleosome. Furthermore, we demonstrate that FfH2A.Z depletion does not influence the establishment of both H3K27me3 and H3K4me3, thus indicating no crosstalk between FfH2A.Z and both histone marks. These results highlight the manifold functions of the histone variant FfH2A.Z in the phytopathogen F. fujikuroi, which are distinct regarding gene transcription and crosstalk with the two prominent histone marks H3K27me3 and H3K4me3, as proposed for other model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Atanasoff-Kardjalieff
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln an der Donau, 3430, Austria
| | - Harald Berger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln an der Donau, 3430, Austria
| | - Katharina Steinert
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- (Epi-)Genetic Regulation of Fungal Virulence, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Nadia Ponts
- INRAE, UR1264 Mycology and Food Safety (MycSA), Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Svetlana Kalinina
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt-Reinhold
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz Strasse 24, Tulln an der Donau, 3430, Austria.
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Ornelas-Llamas MM, Pérez-Mozqueda LL, Callejas-Negrete OA, Castro-Longoria E. RHO-3 plays a significant role in hyphal extension rate, conidiation, and the integrity of the Spitzenkörper in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genet Biol 2024; 171:103873. [PMID: 38266703 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2024.103873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The Rho family of monomeric GTPases act as signaling proteins to establish and maintain cell polarity and other essential cellular processes. Rho3 is a GTPase of the Rho family that is exclusive of fungi that regulate cell polarity in yeast. However, studies have yet to explore its function in filamentous fungi. In this work, we investigated the role of RHO-3 in the model organism Neurospora crassa. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that RHO-3 localizes in the outer region of the Spitzenkörper (Spk), in the plasma membrane from region II to the beginning of region III, and in the septa of mature hyphae. The phenotypic effect of the rho-3 deletion was analyzed. The results revealed that the rho-3 null strain showed severe defects in growth rate, aerial hyphae length, and conidia production. The organization of the Spk is also affected in the absence of RHO-3. Co-expression analysis of GFP-RHO-3 with glucan synthase 1 (GS-1-mChFP) and chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1-mChFP) revealed that RHO-3 localizes in the external region of the Spk in the macrovesicles zone. In summary, our results suggest that RHO-3 is not essential for the polarized growth of hyphae but plays a significant role in hyphal extension rate, conidiation, sexual reproduction and the integrity of the Spk, possibly regulating the delivery of macrovesicles to the apical dome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha M Ornelas-Llamas
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Luis L Pérez-Mozqueda
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico; Center for Wine and Vine Studies (CEVIT), Technical and Higher Education Center (CETYS), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Olga A Callejas-Negrete
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Ernestina Castro-Longoria
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
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Studt-Reinhold L, Atanasoff-Kardjalieff AK, Berger H, Petersen C, Bachleitner S, Sulyok M, Fischle A, Humpf HU, Kalinina S, Søndergaard TE. H3K27me3 is vital for fungal development and secondary metabolite gene silencing, and substitutes for the loss of H3K9me3 in the plant pathogen Fusarium proliferatum. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011075. [PMID: 38166117 PMCID: PMC10786395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Facultative heterochromatin marked by histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) is an important regulatory layer involved in secondary metabolite (SM) gene silencing and crucial for fungal development in the genus Fusarium. While this histone mark is essential in some (e.g., the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi), it appears dispensable in other fusaria. Here, we show that deletion of FpKMT6 is detrimental but not lethal in the plant pathogen Fusarium proliferatum, a member of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). Loss of FpKmt6 results in aberrant growth, and expression of a large set of previously H3K27me3-silenced genes is accompanied by increased H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac) and an altered H3K36me3 pattern. Next, H3K9me3 patterns are affected in Δfpkmt6, indicating crosstalk between both heterochromatic marks that became even more obvious in a strain deleted for FpKMT1 encoding the H3K9-specific histone methyltransferase. In Δfpkmt1, all H3K9me3 marks present in the wild-type strain are replaced by H3K27me3, a finding that may explain the subtle phenotype of the Δfpkmt1 strain which stands in marked contrast to other filamentous fungi. A large proportion of SM-encoding genes is allocated with H3K27me3 in the wild-type strain and loss of H3K27me3 results in elevated expression of 49% of them. Interestingly, genes involved in the biosynthesis of the phytohormones gibberellins (GA) are among the most upregulated genes in Δfpkmt6. Although several FFSC members harbor GA biosynthetic genes, its production is largely restricted to F. fujikuroi, possibly outlining the distinct lifestyles of these notorious plant pathogens. We show that H3K27me3 is involved in GA gene silencing in F. proliferatum and at least one additional FFSC member, and thus, may serve as a regulatory layer for gene silencing under non-favoring conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Studt-Reinhold
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Anna K. Atanasoff-Kardjalieff
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Harald Berger
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Celine Petersen
- Aalborg University, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Simone Bachleitner
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Michael Sulyok
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Alica Fischle
- University of Münster, Institute of Food Chemistry, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- University of Münster, Institute of Food Chemistry, Münster, Germany
| | - Svetlana Kalinina
- University of Münster, Institute of Food Chemistry, Münster, Germany
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Schüller A, Studt-Reinhold L, Berger H, Silvestrini L, Labuda R, Güldener U, Gorfer M, Bacher M, Doppler M, Gasparotto E, Gattesco A, Sulyok M, Strauss J. Genome analysis of Cephalotrichum gorgonifer and identification of the biosynthetic pathway for rasfonin, an inhibitor of KRAS dependent cancer. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2023; 10:13. [PMID: 37355668 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-023-00158-x] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungi are important sources for bioactive compounds that find their applications in many important sectors like in the pharma-, food- or agricultural industries. In an environmental monitoring project for fungi involved in soil nitrogen cycling we also isolated Cephalotrichum gorgonifer (strain NG_p51). In the course of strain characterisation work we found that this strain is able to naturally produce high amounts of rasfonin, a polyketide inducing autophagy, apoptosis, necroptosis in human cell lines and showing anti-tumor activity in KRAS-dependent cancer cells. RESULTS In order to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of rasfonin, the strain was genome sequenced, annotated, submitted to transcriptome analysis and genetic transformation was established. Biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) prediction revealed the existence of 22 BGCs of which the majority was not expressed under our experimental conditions. In silico prediction revealed two BGCs with a suite of enzymes possibly involved in rasfonin biosynthesis. Experimental verification by gene-knock out of the key enzyme genes showed that one of the predicted BGCs is indeed responsible for rasfonin biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS This study identified a biosynthetic gene cluster containing a key-gene responsible for rasfonin production. Additionally, molecular tools were established for the non-model fungus Cephalotrichum gorgonifer which allows strain engineering and heterologous expression of the BGC for high rasfonin producing strains and the biosynthesis of rasfonin derivates for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schüller
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Lena Studt-Reinhold
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Harald Berger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Lucia Silvestrini
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- DGforLife, Operations - Research and Development, Via Albert Einstein, Marcallo c.C., 20010, Milan, Italy
| | - Roman Labuda
- Research Platform Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Unit of Food Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Department of Bioinformatics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
- German Heart Center Munich, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstraße 36, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Gorfer
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Bioresources, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Markus Bacher
- Research Platform Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Konrad-LorenzStraße 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Maria Doppler
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Core Facility Bioactive Molecules, Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Erika Gasparotto
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Research Platform Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arianna Gattesco
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Research Platform Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus Tulln, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
- Research Platform Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
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Developing a Temperature-Inducible Transcriptional Rheostat in Neurospora crassa. mBio 2023; 14:e0329122. [PMID: 36744948 PMCID: PMC9973361 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03291-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein (HSP)-encoding genes (hsp), part of the highly conserved heat shock response (HSR), are known to be induced by thermal stress in several organisms. In Neurospora crassa, three hsp genes, hsp30, hsp70, and hsp80, have been characterized; however, the role of defined cis elements in their responses to discrete changes in temperature remains largely unexplored. To fill this gap, while also aiming to obtain a reliable fungal heat shock-inducible system, we analyzed different sections of each hsp promoter by assessing the expression of real-time transcriptional reporters. Whereas all three promoters and their resected versions were acutely induced by high temperatures, only hsp30 displayed a broad range of expression and high tunability, amply exceeding other inducible promoter systems existing in Neurospora, such as quinic acid- or light-inducible ones. As proof of concept, we employed one of these promoters to control the expression of clr-2, which encodes the master regulator of Neurospora cellulolytic capabilities. The resulting strain fails to grow on cellulose at 25°C, whereas it grows robustly if heat shock pulses are delivered daily. Additionally, we designed two hsp30 synthetic promoters and characterized them, as well as the native promoters, using a gradient of high temperatures, yielding a wide range of responses to thermal stimuli. Thus, Neurospora hsp30-based promoters represent a new set of modular elements that can be used as transcriptional rheostats to adjust the expression of a gene of interest or for the implementation of regulated circuitries for synthetic biology and biotechnological strategies. IMPORTANCE A timely and dynamic response to strong temperature fluctuations is paramount for organismal biology. At the same time, inducible promoters are a powerful tool for fungal biotechnological and synthetic biology endeavors. In this work, we analyzed the activity of several N. crassa heat shock protein (hsp) promoters at a wide range of temperatures, observing that hsp30 exhibits remarkable sensitivity and a dynamic range of expression as we charted the response of this promoter to subtle increases in temperature, and also as we built and analyzed synthetic promoters based on hsp30 cis elements. As proof of concept, we tested the ability of hsp30 to provide tight control of a central process, cellulose degradation. While this study provides an unprecedented description of the regulation of the N. crassa hsp genes, it also contributes a noteworthy addition to the molecular toolset of transcriptional controllers in filamentous fungi.
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Fungistatic Mechanism of Ammonia against Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora, and Strategy for This Fungus To Survive Ammonia. mSystems 2021; 6:e0087921. [PMID: 34519525 PMCID: PMC8547478 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00879-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil fungistasis is a phenomenon in which the germination and growth of fungal propagules is widely inhibited in soils. Although fungistatic compounds are known to play important roles in the formation of soil fungistasis, how such compounds act on soil fungi is little studied. In this study, it was found that ammonia (NH3) induced global protein misfolding marked by increased ubiquitination levels of proteins (ubiquitylome data and Western blot verification). The misfolded proteins should trigger the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which was indicated by electron microscope image and proteome data. Results from the mutants of BiP and proteasome subunit alpha 7 suggested that ER stress played a mechanistic role in inhibiting conidial germination. Results from proteome data indicated that, to survive ammonia fungistasis, conidia first activated the unfolded protein response (UPR) to decrease ER stress and restore ER protein homeostasis, and the function of UPR in surviving ammonia was confirmed by using mutant strains. Second, ammonia toxicity could be reduced by upregulating carbon metabolism-related proteins, which benefited ammonia fixation. The results that metabolites (especially glutamate) could relieve the ammonia fungistasis confirmed this indirectly. Finally, results from gene knockout mutants also suggested that the fungistatic mechanism of ammonia is common for soil fungistasis. This study increased our knowledge regarding the mechanism of soil fungistasis and provided potential new strategies for manipulating soil fungistasis. IMPORTANCE Soil fungistasis is a phenomenon in which the germination and growth of fungal propagules is widely inhibited in soil. Although fungistatic compounds are known to play important roles in the formation of soil fungistasis, how such compounds act on soil fungi remains little studied. This study revealed an endoplasmic reticulum stress-related fungistatic mechanism with which ammonia acts on Arthrobotrys oligospora and a survival strategy of conidia under ammonia inhibition. Our study provides the first mechanistic explanation of how ammonia impacts fungal spore germination, and the mechanism may be common for soil fungistasis. This study increases our knowledge regarding the mechanism of soil fungistasis in fungal spores and provides potential new strategies for manipulating soil fungistasis.
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What is the role of the nitrate reductase (euknr) gene in fungi that live in nitrate-free environments? A targeted gene knock-out study in Ampelomyces mycoparasites. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:905-913. [PMID: 34649677 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mycoparasitic fungi can be utilized as biocontrol agents (BCAs) of many plant pathogens. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of mycoparasitism may improve biocontrol efficiency. This work reports the first functional genetic studies in Ampelomyces, widespread mycoparasites and BCAs of powdery mildew fungi, and a molecular genetic toolbox for future works. The nitrate reductase (euknr) gene was targeted to reveal the biological function of nitrate assimilation in Ampelomyces. These mycoparasites live in an apparently nitrate-free environment, i.e. inside the hyphae of powdery mildew fungi that lack any nitrate uptake and assimilation system. Homologous recombination-based gene knock-out (KO) was applied to eliminate the euknr gene using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Efficient KO of euknr was confirmed by PCR, and visible phenotype caused by loss of euknr was detected on media with different nitrogen sources. Mycoparasitic ability was not affected by knocking out euknr as a tested transformant readily parasitized Blumeria graminis and Podosphaera xanthii colonies on barley and cucumber, respectively, and the rate of mycoparasitism did not differ from the wild type. These results indicate that euknr is not involved in mycoparasitism. Dissimilatory processes, involvement in nitric oxide metabolism, or other, yet undiscovered processes may explain why a functional euknr is maintained in Ampelomyces.
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Atanasoff-Kardjalieff AK, Lünne F, Kalinina S, Strauss J, Humpf HU, Studt L. Biosynthesis of Fusapyrone Depends on the H3K9 Methyltransferase, FmKmt1, in Fusarium mangiferae. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:671796. [PMID: 37744112 PMCID: PMC10512364 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.671796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium mangiferae belongs to the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). Members of this group cause a wide spectrum of devastating diseases on diverse agricultural crops. F. mangiferae is the causal agent of the mango malformation disease (MMD) and as such detrimental for agriculture in the southern hemisphere. During plant infection, the fungus produces a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs), which most often lead to severe adverse defects on plants health. Changes in chromatin structure achieved by posttranslational modifications (PTM) of histones play a key role in regulation of fungal SM biosynthesis. Posttranslational tri-methylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) is considered a hallmark of heterochromatin and established by the SET-domain protein Kmt1. Here, we show that FmKmt1 is involved in H3K9me3 in F. mangiferae. Loss of FmKmt1 only slightly though significantly affected fungal hyphal growth and stress response and is required for wild type-like conidiation. While FmKmt1 is largely dispensable for the biosynthesis of most known SMs, removal of FmKMT1 resulted in an almost complete loss of fusapyrone and deoxyfusapyrone, γ-pyrones previously only known from Fusarium semitectum. Here, we identified the polyketide synthase (PKS) FmPKS40 to be involved in fusapyrone biosynthesis, delineate putative cluster borders by co-expression studies and provide insights into its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Atanasoff-Kardjalieff
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Friederike Lünne
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Svetlana Kalinina
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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10
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Weichert M, Herzog S, Robson SA, Brandt R, Priegnitz BE, Brandt U, Schulz S, Fleißner A. Plasma Membrane Fusion Is Specifically Impacted by the Molecular Structure of Membrane Sterols During Vegetative Development of Neurospora crassa. Genetics 2020; 216:1103-1116. [PMID: 33046504 PMCID: PMC7768248 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell fusion is crucial for the development and propagation of most eukaryotic organisms. Despite this importance, the molecular mechanisms mediating this process are only poorly understood in biological systems. In particular, the step of plasma membrane merger and the contributing proteins and physicochemical factors remain mostly unknown. Earlier studies provided the first evidence of a role of membrane sterols in cell-to-cell fusion. By characterizing different ergosterol biosynthesis mutants of the fungus Neurospora crassa, which accumulate different ergosterol precursors, we show that the structure of the sterol ring system specifically affects plasma membrane merger during the fusion of vegetative spore germlings. Genetic analyses pinpoint this defect to an event prior to engagement of the fusion machinery. Strikingly, this effect is not observed during sexual fusion, suggesting that the specific sterol precursors do not generally block membrane merger, but rather impair subcellular processes exclusively mediating fusion of vegetative cells. At a colony-wide level, the altered structure of the sterol ring system affects a subset of differentiation processes, including vegetative sporulation and steps before and after fertilization during sexual propagation. Together, these observations corroborate the notion that the accumulation of particular sterol precursors has very specific effects on defined cellular processes rather than nonspecifically disturbing membrane functioning. Given the phenotypic similarities of the ergosterol biosynthesis mutants of N. crassa during vegetative fusion and of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells undergoing mating, our data support the idea that yeast mating is evolutionarily and mechanistically more closely related to vegetative than sexual fusion of filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Weichert
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Herzog
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sarah-Anne Robson
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Raphael Brandt
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Bert-Ewald Priegnitz
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Brandt
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - André Fleißner
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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11
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Defects in the Ferroxidase That Participates in the Reductive Iron Assimilation System Results in Hypervirulence in Botrytis Cinerea. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.01379-20. [PMID: 32753496 PMCID: PMC7407086 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01379-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The plant-pathogenic fungus B. cinerea causes enormous economic losses, estimated at anywhere between $10 billion and $100 billion worldwide, under both pre- and postharvest conditions. Here, we present the characterization of a loss-of-function mutant in a component involved in iron acquisition that displays hypervirulence. While in different microbial systems iron uptake mechanisms appear to be critical to achieve full pathogenic potential, we found that the absence of the ferroxidase that is part of the reductive iron assimilation system leads to hypervirulence in this fungus. This is an unusual and rather underrepresented phenotype, which can be modulated by iron levels in the plant and provides an unexpected link between iron acquisition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and pathogenesis in the Botrytis-plant interaction. The plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea is responsible for gray-mold disease, which infects a wide variety of species. The outcome of this host-pathogen interaction, a result of the interplay between plant defense and fungal virulence pathways, can be modulated by various environmental factors. Among these, iron availability and acquisition play a crucial role in diverse biological functions. How B. cinerea obtains iron, an essential micronutrient, during infection is unknown. We set out to determine the role of the reductive iron assimilation (RIA) system during B. cinerea infection. This system comprises the BcFET1 ferroxidase, which belongs to the multicopper oxidase (MCO) family of proteins, and the BcFTR1 membrane-bound iron permease. Gene knockout and complementation studies revealed that, compared to the wild type, the bcfet1 mutant displays delayed conidiation, iron-dependent sclerotium production, and significantly reduced whole-cell iron content. Remarkably, this mutant exhibited a hypervirulence phenotype, whereas the bcftr1 mutant presents normal virulence and unaffected whole-cell iron levels and developmental programs. Interestingly, while in iron-starved plants wild-type B. cinerea produced slightly reduced necrotic lesions, the hypervirulence phenotype of the bcfet1 mutant is no longer observed in iron-deprived plants. This suggests that B. cinerea bcfet1 knockout mutants require plant-derived iron to achieve larger necrotic lesions, whereas in planta analyses of reactive oxygen species (ROS) revealed increased ROS levels only for infections caused by the bcfet1 mutant. These results suggest that increased ROS production, under an iron sufficiency environment, at least partly underlie the observed infection phenotype in this mutant.
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12
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Two dominant selectable markers for genetic manipulation in Neurospora crassa. Curr Genet 2020; 66:835-847. [PMID: 32152733 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01063-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurospora crassa is an excellent model fungus for studies on molecular genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and molecular cell biology. Along with the rapid progress of Neurospora research, new tools facilitating more efficient and accurate genetic analysis are in high demand. Here, we tested whether the dominant selective makers widely used in yeasts are applicable in N. crassa. Among them, we found that the strains of N. crassa are sensitive to the aminoglycoside antibiotics, G418 and nourseothricin. 1000 μg/mL of G418 or 50 μg/mL of nourseothricin is sufficient to inhibit Neurospora growth completely. When the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo) used in mammalian cells is expressed, N. crassa shows potent resistance to G418. This establishes G418-resistant marker as a dominant selectable marker to use in N. crassa. Similarly, when the nourseothricin acetyltransferase gene (nat) from Streptomyces noursei is induced by qa-2 promoter in the presence of quinic acid (QA), N. crassa shows potent resistance to nourseothricin. When nat is constitutively expressed by full-length or truncated versions of the promoter from the N. crassa cfp gene (NCU02193), or by the trpC promoter of Aspergillus nidulans, the growth of N. crassa in the presence of nourseothricin is proportional to the expression levels of Nat. Finally, these two markers are used to knock-out wc-2 or al-1 gene from the N. crassa genome. The successful development of these two markers in this study expands the toolbox for N. crassa and very likely for other filamentous fungi as well.
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13
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Nguyen TS, Gladyshev E. Developing a tetO/TetR system in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 136:103316. [PMID: 31821884 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103316] [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: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of a tetO/TetR system in the fungus Neurospora crassa is described. The system includes (i) a synthetic gene encoding a TetR variant fused to GFP, and (ii) a standard tetO array integrated homologously, as a proof of principle, near the his-3 gene. The localization of TetR-GFP at the tetO array (observed by fluorescence microscopy) can be disrupted by the application of tetracycline. The full-length array is stable during vegetative growth, but it triggers strong repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) by the RID-dependent as well as the DIM-2-dependent pathways during the sexual phase. Thus, both RIP pathways must be inactivated to allow the faithful inheritance of the unmodified construct. In summary, this study introduces a new molecular tool into Neurospora research, and suggests that the standard tetO array can self-engage in recombination-independent homologous pairing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinh-Suong Nguyen
- Group Fungal Epigenomics, Department of Mycology, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France
| | - Eugene Gladyshev
- Group Fungal Epigenomics, Department of Mycology, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France.
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14
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Zhang G, Zheng Y, Ma Y, Yang L, Xie M, Zhou D, Niu X, Zhang KQ, Yang J. The Velvet Proteins VosA and VelB Play Different Roles in Conidiation, Trap Formation, and Pathogenicity in the Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1917. [PMID: 31481946 PMCID: PMC6710351 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The velvet family proteins VosA and VelB are involved in growth regulation and differentiation in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans and other filamentous fungi. In this study, the orthologs of VosA and VelB, AoVosA, and AoVelB, respectively, were characterized in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora, which captures nematodes by producing trapping devices (traps). Deletion of the AovelB gene resulted in growth defects in different media, and the aerial hyphae from the ΔAovelB mutant lines were fewer in number and their colonies were less dense than those from the wild-type (WT) strain. The ΔAovelB mutants each displayed serious sporulation defects, and the transcripts of several sporulation-related genes (e.g., abaA, flbC, rodA, and vosA) were significantly down-regulated compared to those from the WT strain. Furthermore, the ΔAovelB mutant strains became more sensitive to chemical reagents, including sodium dodecyl sulfate and H2O2. Importantly, the ΔAovelB mutants were unable to produce nematode-capturing traps. Similarly, extracellular proteolytic activity was also lower in the ΔAovelB mutants than in the WT strain. In contrast, the ΔAovosA mutants displayed no obvious differences from the WT strain in these phenotypic traits, whereas conidial germination was lower in the ΔAovosA mutants, which became more sensitive to heat shock stress. Our results demonstrate that the velvet protein AoVelB is essential for conidiation, trap formation, and pathogenicity in A. oligospora, while AoVosA plays a role in the regulation of conidial germination and heat shock stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Yaqing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Yuxin Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Duanxu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xuemei Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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15
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Bachleitner S, Sørensen JL, Gacek-Matthews A, Sulyok M, Studt L, Strauss J. Evidence of a Demethylase-Independent Role for the H3K4-Specific Histone Demethylases in Aspergillus nidulans and Fusarium graminearum Secondary Metabolism. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1759. [PMID: 31456754 PMCID: PMC6700381 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01759] [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: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi produce a plethora of secondary metabolites (SMs) involved in cellular protection, defense, and signaling. Like other metabolic processes, transcription of SM biosynthesis genes is tightly regulated to prevent an unnecessary use of resources. Genes involved in SM biosynthesis are usually physically linked, arranged in secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGCs). Research over the last decades has shown that chromatin structure and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones represent important layers of SMGC regulation. For instance, trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) is a PTM typically associated with promoter regions of actively transcribed genes. Previously, we have shown that the H3K4me3-specific, JmjC domain-containing histone demethylase KdmB functions not only in repression but also in activation of secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans, suggesting that KdmB has additional functions apart from histone demethylation. In this study, we identified demethylase-independent functions of KdmB in transcriptional regulation of SM gene clusters. Furthermore, we show that this activating and demethylase-independent role of the H3K4 demethylase is also conserved in the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Lack of FgKdm5 resulted in significant downregulation of five of seven analyzed SMs, whereby only one SMGC depends on a functional JmjC-domain. In A. nidulans strains deficient in H3K4 methylation, i.e., cclA∆, largely phenocopied kdmB∆, while this is not the case for most of the SMs analyzed in Fusarium spp. Notably, KdmB could not rescue the demethylase function in ∆fgkdm5 but restored all demethylase-independent phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bachleitner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jens Laurids Sørensen
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Agnieszka Gacek-Matthews
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Studt
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
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16
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Vrabka J, Niehaus EM, Münsterkötter M, Proctor RH, Brown DW, Novák O, Pěnčik A, Tarkowská D, Hromadová K, Hradilová M, Oklešt’ková J, Oren-Young L, Idan Y, Sharon A, Maymon M, Elazar M, Freeman S, Güldener U, Tudzynski B, Galuszka P, Bergougnoux V. Production and Role of Hormones During Interaction of Fusarium Species With Maize ( Zea mays L.) Seedlings. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 9:1936. [PMID: 30687345 PMCID: PMC6337686 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
It has long been known that hormones affect the interaction of a phytopathogen with its host plant. The pathogen can cause changes in plant hormone homeostasis directly by affecting biosynthesis or metabolism in the plant or by synthesizing and secreting the hormone itself. We previously demonstrated that pathogenic fungi of the Fusarium species complex are able to produce three major types of hormones: auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins. In this work, we explore changes in the levels of these hormones in maize and mango plant tissues infected with Fusarium. The ability to produce individual phytohormones varies significantly across Fusarium species and such differences likely impact host specificity inducing the unique responses noted in planta during infection. For example, the production of gibberellins by F. fujikuroi leads to elongated rice stalks and the suppression of gibberellin biosynthesis in plant tissue. Although all Fusarium species are able to synthesize auxin, sometimes by multiple pathways, the ratio of its free form and conjugates in infected tissue is affected more than the total amount produced. The recently characterized unique pathway for cytokinin de novo synthesis in Fusarium appears silenced or non-functional in all studied species during plant infection. Despite this, a large increase in cytokinin levels was detected in F. mangiferae infected plants, caused likely by the up-regulation of plant genes responsible for their biosynthesis. Thus, the accumulation of active cytokinins may contribute to mango malformation of the reproductive organs upon infection of mango trees. Together, our findings provide insight into the complex role fungal and plant derived hormones play in the fungal-plant interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Vrabka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Robert H. Proctor
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Daren W. Brown
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Ondřej Novák
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Metabolomics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Aleš Pěnčik
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Metabolomics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Danuše Tarkowská
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Metabolomics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Kristýna Hromadová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Michaela Hradilová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Jana Oklešt’ková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
- Department of Metabolomics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Liat Oren-Young
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yifat Idan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amir Sharon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marcel Maymon
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Meirav Elazar
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Stanley Freeman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Department of Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Petr Galuszka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Veronique Bergougnoux
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
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17
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Zhen Z, Zhang G, Yang L, Ma N, Li Q, Ma Y, Niu X, Zhang KQ, Yang J. Characterization and functional analysis of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 103:819-832. [PMID: 30417308 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9504-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) are unique second-messenger molecules that impact almost all cellular processes in eukaryotes. In this study, five genes encoding different CaMKs were characterized in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. These CaMKs, which were retrieved from the A. oligospora genome according to their orthologs in fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa, were expressed at a low level in vitro during mycelial growth stages. Five deletion mutants corresponding to these CaMKs led to growth defects in different media and increased sensitivity to several environmental stresses, including H2O2, menadione, SDS, and Congo red; they also reduced the ability to produce conidia and traps, thus causing a deficiency in nematicidal ability as well. In addition, the transcriptional levels of several typical sporulation-related genes, such as MedA, VelB, and VeA, were down-regulated in all ΔCaMK mutants compared with the wild-type (WT) strain. Moreover, these mutants exhibited hypersensitivity to heat shock and ultraviolet-radiation stresses compared with the WT strain. These results suggest that the five CaMKs in A. oligospora are involved in regulating multiple cellular processes, such as growth, environmental stress tolerance, conidiation, trap formation, and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Guosheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ni Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxin Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Zhen Z, Xing X, Xie M, Yang L, Yang X, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Ma N, Li Q, Zhang KQ, Yang J. MAP kinase Slt2 orthologs play similar roles in conidiation, trap formation, and pathogenicity in two nematode-trapping fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 116:42-50. [PMID: 29702229 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase Slt2 is a key player in the cell-wall integrity pathway of budding yeast. In this study, we functionally characterized Slt2 orthologs AoSlt2 and MhSlt2 from the nematode-trapping fungi Arthrobotrys oligospora and Monacrosporium haptotylum, respectively. We found that disruption of AoSlt2 and MhSlt2 led to reduced mycelial growth, increased sensitivity to environmental stresses such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, Congo red, and H2O2, and an inability to produce conidia and nematode-trapping structures. Real-time polymerase chain reaction-based analyses showed that the transcription of sporulation-related (AbaA, Sep2, and MedA) and cell wall synthesis-related (Chs, Glu, and Gfpa) genes was down-regulated in the mutants compared with the wild-type strains. Moreover, the mutant strains showed reduced extracellular proteolytic activity and decreased transcription of three homologous serine protease-encoding genes. These results show for the first time that MAP kinase Slt2 orthologs play similar roles in regulating mycelial growth, conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance, and pathogenicity in the divergent nematode-trapping fungal species A. oligospora and M. haptotylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Xinjing Xing
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Xuewei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Yaqing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Yuanli Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Ni Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
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19
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Mochama P, Jadhav P, Neupane A, Lee Marzano SY. Mycoviruses as Triggers and Targets of RNA Silencing in White Mold Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Viruses 2018; 10:v10040214. [PMID: 29690568 PMCID: PMC5923508 DOI: 10.3390/v10040214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [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: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to demonstrate the existence of antiviral RNA silencing mechanisms in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by infecting wild-type and RNA-silencing-deficient strains of the fungus with an RNA virus and a DNA virus. Key silencing-related genes were disrupted to dissect the RNA silencing pathway. Specifically, dicer genes (dcl-1, dcl-2, and both dcl-1/dcl-2) were displaced by selective marker(s). Disruption mutants were then compared for changes in phenotype, virulence, and susceptibility to virus infections. Wild-type and mutant strains were transfected with a single-stranded RNA virus, SsHV2-L, and copies of a single-stranded DNA mycovirus, SsHADV-1, as a synthetic virus constructed in this study. Disruption of dcl-1 or dcl-2 resulted in no changes in phenotype compared to wild-type S. sclerotiorum; however, the double dicer mutant strain exhibited significantly slower growth. Furthermore, the Δdcl-1/dcl-2 double mutant, which was slow growing without virus infection, exhibited much more severe debilitation following virus infections including phenotypic changes such as slower growth, reduced pigmentation, and delayed sclerotial formation. These phenotypic changes were absent in the single mutants, Δdcl-1 and Δdcl-2. Complementation of a single dicer in the double disruption mutant reversed viral susceptibility to the wild-type state. Virus-derived small RNAs were accumulated from virus-infected wild-type strains with strand bias towards the negative sense. The findings of these studies indicate that S. sclerotiorum has robust RNA silencing mechanisms that process both DNA and RNA mycoviruses and that, when both dicers are silenced, invasive nucleic acids can greatly debilitate the virulence of this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Mochama
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
| | - Prajakta Jadhav
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
| | - Achal Neupane
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
| | - Shin-Yi Lee Marzano
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
- Department of Horticulture, Agronomy, and Plant Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
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20
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Yang X, Ma N, Yang L, Zheng Y, Zhen Z, Li Q, Xie M, Li J, Zhang KQ, Yang J. Two Rab GTPases play different roles in conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance, and virulence in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:4601-4613. [PMID: 29616315 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8929-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rab GTPases are the largest group of the small GTPases family, which play a pivotal role in the secretion of proteins. Arthrobotrys oligospora is a representative nematode-trapping fungus that can produce adhesive networks to capture nematodes. In this study, the roles of two Rab GTPases AoRab-7A and AoRab-2 were characterized by gene knockout in the fungus A. oligospora. The disruption of AoRab-7A hindered the mycelial growth in different media, the conidiation of ΔAoRab-7A transformants was almost abolished, and the transcription of four sporulation-related genes (AbaA, FluG, Hyp1, and VosA) was downregulated compared to the wild-type strain (WT). Furthermore, the tolerance of the ΔAoRab-7A mutants to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and H2O2 was also significantly reduced compared to the WT, and the transcription of several genes related to environmental resistance, such as genes for catalase and trehalose synthase, was downregulated. Similarly, the extracellular proteolytic activity was decreased. Importantly, the ΔAoRab-7A mutants were unable to produce traps and capture nematodes. However, the disruption of gene AoRab-2 only affected the conidiation slightly but non-significantly, while other phenotypic traits were unaffected. Moreover, the gene AoRab-7A was also involved in the autophagy induced by nitrogen deprivation in A. oligospora. Our results revealed for the first time that the Rab GTPases are involved in the regulation of mycelial growth, conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance, and pathogenicity in the nematode-trapping fungus A. oligospora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ni Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaqing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Niehaus EM, Rindermann L, Janevska S, Münsterkötter M, Güldener U, Tudzynski B. Analysis of the global regulator Lae1 uncovers a connection between Lae1 and the histone acetyltransferase HAT1 in Fusarium fujikuroi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:279-295. [PMID: 29080998 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes "bakanae" disease of rice due to its ability to produce gibberellins (GAs), a family of plant hormones. Recent genome sequencing revealed the genetic capacity for the biosynthesis of 46 additional secondary metabolites besides the industrially produced GAs. Among them are the pigments bikaverin and fusarubins, as well as mycotoxins, such as fumonisins, fusarin C, beauvericin, and fusaric acid. However, half of the potential secondary metabolite gene clusters are silent. In recent years, it has been shown that the fungal specific velvet complex is involved in global regulation of secondary metabolism in several filamentous fungi. We have previously shown that deletion of the three components of the F. fujikuroi velvet complex, vel1, vel2, and lae1, almost totally abolished biosynthesis of GAs, fumonisins and fusarin C. Here, we present a deeper insight into the genome-wide regulatory impact of Lae1 on secondary metabolism. Over-expression of lae1 resulted in de-repression of GA biosynthetic genes under otherwise repressing high nitrogen conditions demonstrating that the nitrogen repression is overcome. In addition, over-expression of one of five tested histone acetyltransferase genes, HAT1, was capable of returning GA gene expression and GA production to the GA-deficient Δlae1 mutant. Deletion and over-expression of HAT1 in the wild type resulted in downregulation and upregulation of GA gene expression, respectively, indicating that HAT1 together with Lae1 plays an essential role in the regulation of GA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Corrensstr. 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Rindermann
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Münsterkötter
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Chair of Genome-oriented Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.
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22
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Niehaus EM, Studt L, von Bargen KW, Kummer W, Humpf HU, Reuter G, Tudzynski B. Sound of silence: the beauvericin cluster in Fusarium fujikuroi is controlled by cluster-specific and global regulators mediated by H3K27 modification. Environ Microbiol 2017; 18:4282-4302. [PMID: 27750383 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we compared the secondary metabolite profile of Fusarium fujikuroi and the histone deacetylase mutant ΔHDA1. We identified a novel peak in ΔHDA1, which was identified as beauvericin (BEA). Going in line with a 1000-fold increased BEA production, the respective non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-encoding gene (BEA1), as well as two adjacent genes (BEA2-BEA3), were significantly up-regulated in ΔHDA1 compared to the wild type. A special role was revealed for the ABC transporter Bea3: deletion of the encoding gene resulted in significant up-regulation of BEA1 and BEA2 and drastically elevated product yields. Furthermore, mutation of a conserved sequence motif in the promoter of BEA1 released BEA repression and resulted in elevated product levels. Candidate transcription factors (TFs) that could bind to this motif are the cluster-specific TF Bea4 as well as a homolog of the global mammalian Kruppel-like TF Yin Yang 1 (Yy1), both acting as repressors of BEA biosynthesis. In addition to Hda1, BEA biosynthesis is repressed by the activity of the H3K27 methyltransferase Kmt6. Consistently, Western blot analyses revealed a genome-wide enrichment of H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac) in the ΔHDA1 and KMT6 knock-down mutants. Subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments showed elevated H3K27ac modification levels at the BEA cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, Münster, D-48143
| | - Lena Studt
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, Münster, D-48143
| | - Katharina W von Bargen
- Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstr. 45, Münster, D-48149
| | - Wiebke Kummer
- Institut für Genetik, Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 10, Halle (Saale), D-06120
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstr. 45, Münster, D-48149
| | - Gunter Reuter
- Institut für Genetik, Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 10, Halle (Saale), D-06120
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, Münster, D-48143
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23
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Zhang Y, Qu H, Zhao P, Tang Y, Zhou J, Luo S, Yin Y, Chen G. Generation and Screening of T-DNA Insertion Mutants Mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the Garden Asparagus Stem Blight Pathogen Phomopsis asparagi. Curr Microbiol 2017; 74:1270-1277. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-017-1312-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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24
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Pfannmüller A, Leufken J, Studt L, Michielse CB, Sieber CMK, Güldener U, Hawat S, Hippler M, Fufezan C, Tudzynski B. Comparative transcriptome and proteome analysis reveals a global impact of the nitrogen regulators AreA and AreB on secondary metabolism in Fusarium fujikuroi. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176194. [PMID: 28441411 PMCID: PMC5404775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The biosynthesis of multiple secondary metabolites in the phytopathogenic ascomycete Fusarium fujikuroi is strongly affected by nitrogen availability. Here, we present the first genome-wide transcriptome and proteome analysis that compared the wild type and deletion mutants of the two major nitrogen regulators AreA and AreB. We show that AreB acts not simply as an antagonist of AreA counteracting the expression of AreA target genes as suggested based on the yeast model. Both GATA transcription factors affect a large and diverse set of common as well as specific target genes and proteins, acting as activators and repressors. We demonstrate that AreA and AreB are not only involved in fungal nitrogen metabolism, but also in the control of several complex cellular processes like carbon metabolism, transport and secondary metabolism. We show that both GATA transcription factors can be considered as master regulators of secondary metabolism as they affect the expression of more than half of the 47 putative secondary metabolite clusters identified in the genome of F. fujikuroi. While AreA acts as a positive regulator of many clusters under nitrogen-limiting conditions, AreB is able to activate and repress gene clusters (e.g. bikaverin) under nitrogen limitation and sufficiency. In addition, ChIP analyses revealed that loss of AreA or AreB causes histone modifications at some of the regulated gene clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Pfannmüller
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Johannes Leufken
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Computational Biology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
- Division of Microbial Genetics and Pathogen Interaction, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Campus-Tulln, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline B. Michielse
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M. K. Sieber
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Genome-oriented Bioinformatics, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Susan Hawat
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Fufezan
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Computational Biology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail:
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25
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Shuvo SR, Kovaltchouk U, Zubaer A, Kumar A, Summers WAT, Donald LJ, Hausner G, Court DA. Functional characterization of an N-terminally-truncated mitochondrial porin expressed in Neurospora crassa. Can J Microbiol 2017; 63:730-738. [PMID: 28414919 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2016-0764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial porin, which forms voltage-dependent anion-selective channels (VDAC) in the outer membrane, can be folded into a 19-β-stranded barrel. The N terminus of the protein is external to the barrel and contains α-helical structure. Targeted modifications of the N-terminal region have been assessed in artificial membranes, leading to different models for gating in vitro. However, the in vivo requirements for gating and the N-terminal segment of porin are less well-understood. Using Neurospora crassa porin as a model, the effects of a partial deletion of the N-terminal segment were investigated. The protein, ΔN2-12porin, is assembled into the outer membrane, albeit at lower levels than the wild-type protein. The resulting strain displays electron transport chain deficiencies, concomitant expression of alternative oxidase, and decreased growth rates. Nonetheless, its mitochondrial genome does not contain any significant mutations. Most of the genes that are expressed in high levels in porin-less N. crassa are expressed at levels similar to that of wild type or are slightly increased in ΔN2-12porin strains. Thus, although the N-terminal segment of VDAC is required for complete function in vivo, low levels of a protein lacking part of the N terminus are able to rescue some of the defects associated with the absence of porin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabbir R Shuvo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Uliana Kovaltchouk
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Abdullah Zubaer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Ayush Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - William A T Summers
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Lynda J Donald
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Georg Hausner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Deborah A Court
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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26
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Janevska S, Arndt B, Baumann L, Apken LH, Mauriz Marques LM, Humpf HU, Tudzynski B. Establishment of the Inducible Tet-On System for the Activation of the Silent Trichosetin Gene Cluster in Fusarium fujikuroi. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9040126. [PMID: 28379186 PMCID: PMC5408200 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9040126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The PKS-NRPS-derived tetramic acid equisetin and its N-desmethyl derivative trichosetin exhibit remarkable biological activities against a variety of organisms, including plants and bacteria, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus. The equisetin biosynthetic gene cluster was first described in Fusarium heterosporum, a species distantly related to the notorious rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi. Here we present the activation and characterization of a homologous, but silent, gene cluster in F. fujikuroi. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that this cluster does not contain the equisetin N-methyltransferase gene eqxD and consequently, trichosetin was isolated as final product. The adaption of the inducible, tetracycline-dependent Tet-on promoter system from Aspergillus niger achieved a controlled overproduction of this toxic metabolite and a functional characterization of each cluster gene in F. fujikuroi. Overexpression of one of the two cluster-specific transcription factor (TF) genes, TF22, led to an activation of the three biosynthetic cluster genes, including the PKS-NRPS key gene. In contrast, overexpression of TF23, encoding a second Zn(II)2Cys6 TF, did not activate adjacent cluster genes. Instead, TF23 was induced by the final product trichosetin and was required for expression of the transporter-encoding gene MFS-T. TF23 and MFS-T likely act in consort and contribute to detoxification of trichosetin and therefore, self-protection of the producing fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavica Janevska
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
| | - Birgit Arndt
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 45, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Leonie Baumann
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
| | - Lisa Helene Apken
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
| | - Lucas Maciel Mauriz Marques
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 45, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 45, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
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Regulation of conidiation in Botrytis cinerea involves the light-responsive transcriptional regulators BcLTF3 and BcREG1. Curr Genet 2017; 63:931-949. [PMID: 28382431 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-017-0692-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a plant pathogenic fungus with a broad host range. Due to its rapid growth and reproduction by asexual spores (conidia), which increases the inoculum pressure, the fungus is a serious problem in different fields of agriculture. The formation of the conidia is promoted by light, whereas the formation of sclerotia as survival structures occurs in its absence. Based on this observation, putative transcription factors (TFs) whose expression is induced upon light exposure have been considered as candidates for activating conidiation and/or repressing sclerotial development. Previous studies reported on the identification of six light-responsive TFs (LTFs), and two of them have been confirmed as crucial developmental regulators: BcLTF2 is the positive regulator of conidiation, whose expression is negatively regulated by BcLTF1. Here, the functional characterization of the four remaining LTFs is reported. BcLTF3 has a dual function, as it represses conidiophore development by repressing bcltf2 in light and darkness, and is moreover essential for conidiogenesis. In bcltf3 deletion mutants conidium initials grow out to hyphae, which develop secondary conidiophores. In contrast, no obvious functions could be assigned to BcLTF4, BcLTF5 and BcLTF6 in these experiments. BcREG1, previously reported to be required for virulence and conidiogenesis, has been re-identified as light-responsive transcriptional regulator. Studies with bcreg1 overexpression strains indicated that BcREG1 differentially affects conidiation by acting as a repressor of BcLTF2-induced conidiation in the light and as an activator of a BcLTF2-independent conidiation program in the dark.
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Pfannmüller A, Boysen JM, Tudzynski B. Nitrate Assimilation in Fusarium fujikuroi Is Controlled by Multiple Levels of Regulation. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:381. [PMID: 28352253 PMCID: PMC5348485 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary metabolite production of the phytopathogenic ascomycete fungus Fusarium fujikuroi is greatly influenced by the availability of nitrogen. While favored nitrogen sources such as glutamine and ammonium are used preferentially, the uptake and utilization of nitrate is subject to a regulatory mechanism called nitrogen metabolite repression (NMR). In Aspergillus nidulans, the transcriptional control of the nitrate assimilatory system is carried out by the synergistic action of the nitrate-specific transcription factor NirA and the major nitrogen-responsive regulator AreA. In this study, we identified the main components of the nitrate assimilation system in F. fujikuroi and studied the role of each of them regarding the regulation of the remaining components. We analyzed mutants with deletions of the nitrate-specific activator NirA, the nitrate reductase (NR), the nitrite reductase (NiR) and the nitrate transporter NrtA. We show that NirA controls the transcription of the nitrate assimilatory genes NIAD, NIIA, and NRTA in the presence of nitrate, and that the global nitrogen regulator AreA is obligatory for expression of most, but not all NirA target genes (NIAD). By transforming a NirA-GFP fusion construct into the ΔNIAD, ΔNRTA, and ΔAREA mutant backgrounds we revealed that NirA was dispersed in the cytosol when grown in the presence of glutamine, but rapidly sorted to the nucleus when nitrate was added. Interestingly, the rapid and nitrate-induced nuclear translocation of NirA was observed also in the ΔAREA and ΔNRTA mutants, but not in ΔNIAD, suggesting that the fungus is able to directly sense nitrate in an AreA- and NrtA-independent, but NR-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Pfannmüller
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Jana M Boysen
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster Münster, Germany
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Liang L, Gao H, Li J, Liu L, Liu Z, Zhang KQ. The Woronin body in the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora is essential for trap formation and efficient pathogenesis. Fungal Biol 2017; 121:11-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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GPH1 is involved in glycerol accumulation in the three-dimensional networks of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. J Microbiol 2016; 54:768-773. [PMID: 27796934 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-016-6272-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Turgor is very important for the invasive growth of fungal pathogens. Glycerol, a highly osmotic solvent, is considered to play an important role in turgor generation. The nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora mainly lives as a saprophyte. In the presence of nematodes, A. oligospora enters the parasitic stage by forming three-dimensional networks (traps) to capture nematodes. In A. oligospora, we found that glycerol accumulated during nematode-induced trap formation. We demonstrated that deleting gph1, which encodes glycogen phosphorylase, decreased the glycerol content, compared with that of a wild-type strain. Although the number of traps induced by nematodes was not affected in the Δgph1 mutant, the capture rate was lower. Meanwhile, deleting gph1 also affected the growth rate and conidiation capacity of the fungus. These results indicate that glycerol derived from GPH1 is essential for the full virulence of A. oligospora against nematodes.
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Rösler SM, Kramer K, Finkemeier I, Humpf HU, Tudzynski B. The SAGA complex in the rice pathogenFusarium fujikuroi: structure and functional characterization. Mol Microbiol 2016; 102:951-974. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Rösler
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Corrensstraße 45 Münster 48149 Germany
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Schlossplatz 7/8 Münster 48143 Germany
| | - Katharina Kramer
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Plant Proteomics Group; Carl-von-Linne-Weg 10 Cologne 50829 Germany
| | - Iris Finkemeier
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Schlossplatz 7/8 Münster 48143 Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Plant Proteomics Group; Carl-von-Linne-Weg 10 Cologne 50829 Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Corrensstraße 45 Münster 48149 Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Schlossplatz 7/8 Münster 48143 Germany
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Liang L, Liu Z, Liu L, Li J, Gao H, Yang J, Zhang KQ. The nitrate assimilation pathway is involved in the trap formation of Arthrobotrys oligospora, a nematode-trapping fungus. Fungal Genet Biol 2016; 92:33-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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33
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de Paula RM, Lewis ZA, Greene AV, Seo KS, Morgan LW, Vitalini MW, Bennett L, Gomer RH, Bell-Pedersen D. Two Circadian Timing Circuits in Neurospora crassa Cells Share Components and Regulate Distinct Rhythmic Processes. J Biol Rhythms 2016; 21:159-68. [PMID: 16731655 DOI: 10.1177/0748730406288338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In Neurospora crassa, FRQ, WC-1, and WC-2 proteins comprise the core circadian FRQ-based oscillator that is directly responsive to light and drives daily rhythms in spore development and gene expression. However, physiological and biochemical studies have demonstrated the existence of additional oscillators in the cell that function in the absence of FRQ (collectively termed FRQ-less oscillators [FLOs]). Whether or not these represent temperature-compensated, entrainable circadian oscillators is not known. The authors previously identified an evening-peaking gene, W06H2 (now called clock-controlled gene 16 [ ccg-16]), which is expressed with a robust daily rhythm in cells that lack FRQ protein, suggesting that ccg-16 is regulated by a FLO. In this study, the authors provide evidence that the FLO driving ccg-16 rhythmicity is a circadian oscillator. They find that ccg-16 rhythms are generated by a temperature-responsive, temperature-compensated circadian FLO that, similar to the FRQ-based oscillator, requires functional WC-1 and WC-2 proteins for activity. They also find that FRQ is not essential for rhythmic WC-1 protein levels, raising the possibility that this WCFLO is involved in the generation of WC-1 rhythms. The results are consistent with the presence of 2 circadian oscillators within Neurospora cells, which the authors speculate may interact with each other through the shared WC proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato M de Paula
- Department of Biology, Center for Research on Biological Clocks, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Kashiwa T, Suzuki T, Sato A, Akai K, Teraoka T, Komatsu K, Arie T. A new biotype of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 2 emerged by a transposon-driven mutation of avirulence gene AVR1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw132. [PMID: 27190160 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence of races in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) is caused by loss or mutation of at least one avirulence (AVR) gene. The product of AVR1 is a small protein (Avr1) secreted by Fol in tomato xylem sap during infection. This protein triggers Fol race 1 specific resistance (I) in tomato, indicating that AVR1 is an AVR gene. Deletion of AVR1 in race 1 resulted in the emergence of race 2, and an additional mutation in AVR2 generated race 3. Previously, we reported a new biotype of race 3, KoChi-1, in which AVR1 was truncated by a transposon Hormin, which suggested a new route to evolution of races in Fol However, to date no race 2 isolate carrying Hormin-truncated AVR1 has been reported. In this report, we describe such isolates, represented by Chiba-5, in which Hormin insertion occurred in AVR1 at a position different from that in KoChi-1. AVR1 truncation in both isolates resulted in production of defective Avr1 proteins. Chiba-5 and KoChi-1 belong to different phylogenetic clades, A1 and A2, respectively, suggesting that insertion of Hormin in AVR1 in Chiba-5 and KoChi-1 occurred as independent evolutionary events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kashiwa
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Suzuki
- Chiba Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, 808 Daizenno-cho, Midori-ku, Chiba 266-0006, Japan
| | - Akira Sato
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kotaro Akai
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tohru Teraoka
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Ken Komatsu
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Arie
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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35
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Rösler SM, Sieber CMK, Humpf HU, Tudzynski B. Interplay between pathway-specific and global regulation of the fumonisin gene cluster in the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:5869-82. [PMID: 26966024 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7426-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The rice pathogenic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi is known to produce a large variety of secondary metabolites. Besides the gibberellins, causing the bakanae effect in infected rice seedlings, the fungus produces several mycotoxins and pigments. Among the 47 putative secondary metabolite gene clusters identified in the genome of F. fujikuroi, the fumonisin gene cluster (FUM) shows very high homology to the FUM cluster of the main fumonisin producer Fusarium verticillioides, a pathogen of maize. Despite the high level of cluster gene conservation, total fumonisin FB1 and FB2 levels (FBx) produced by F. fujikuroi were only 1-10 % compared to F. verticillioides under inducing conditions. Nitrogen repression was found to be relevant for wild-type strains of both species. However, addition of germinated maize kernels activated the FBx production only in F. verticillioides, reflecting the different host specificity of both wild-type strains. Over-expression of the pathway-specific transcription factor Fum21 in F. fujikuroi strongly activated the FUM cluster genes leading to 1000-fold elevated FBx levels. To gain further insights into the nitrogen metabolite repression of FBx biosynthesis, we studied the impact of the global nitrogen regulators AreA and AreB and demonstrated that both GATA-type transcription factors are essential for full activation of the FUM gene cluster. Loss of one of them obstructs the pathway-specific transcription factor Fum21 to fully activate expression of FUM cluster genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Rösler
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M K Sieber
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.
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36
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Studt L, Janevska S, Niehaus EM, Burkhardt I, Arndt B, Sieber CMK, Humpf HU, Dickschat JS, Tudzynski B. Two separate key enzymes and two pathway-specific transcription factors are involved in fusaric acid biosynthesis in Fusarium fujikuroi. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:936-56. [PMID: 26662839 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Fusaric acid (FSA) is a mycotoxin produced by several fusaria, including the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi. Genes involved in FSA biosynthesis were previously identified as a cluster containing a polyketide synthase (PKS)-encoding (FUB1) and four additional genes (FUB2-FUB5). However, the biosynthetic steps leading to FSA as well as the origin of the nitrogen atom, which is incorporated into the polyketide backbone, remained unknown. In this study, seven additional cluster genes (FUB6-FUB12) were identified via manipulation of the global regulator FfSge1. The extended FUB gene cluster encodes two Zn(II)2 Cys6 transcription factors: Fub10 positively regulates expression of all FUB genes, whereas Fub12 is involved in the formation of the two FSA derivatives, i.e. dehydrofusaric acid and fusarinolic acid, serving as a detoxification mechanism. The major facilitator superfamily transporter Fub11 functions in the export of FSA out of the cell and is essential when FSA levels become critical. Next to Fub1, a second key enzyme was identified, the non-canonical non-ribosomal peptide synthetase Fub8. Chemical analyses of generated mutant strains allowed for the identification of a triketide as PKS product and the proposition of an FSA biosynthetic pathway, thereby unravelling the unique formation of a hybrid metabolite consisting of this triketide and an amino acid moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Studt
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Immo Burkhardt
- Kekulé Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Birgit Arndt
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Corrensstr. 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M K Sieber
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Corrensstr. 45, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
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37
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Arndt B, Studt L, Wiemann P, Osmanov H, Kleigrewe K, Köhler J, Krug I, Tudzynski B, Humpf HU. Genetic engineering, high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy elucidate the bikaverin biosynthetic pathway in Fusarium fujikuroi. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 84:26-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Mochizuki S, Minami E, Nishizawa Y. Live-cell imaging of rice cytological changes reveals the importance of host vacuole maintenance for biotrophic invasion by blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Microbiologyopen 2015; 4:952-66. [PMID: 26472068 PMCID: PMC4694143 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae grows inside living host cells. Cytological analyses by live-cell imaging have revealed characteristics of the biotrophic invasion, particularly the extrainvasive hyphal membrane (EIHM) originating from the host plasma membrane and a host membrane-rich structure, biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC). Here, we observed rice subcellular changes associated with invasive hyphal growth using various transformants expressing specifically localized fluorescent proteins. The invasive hyphae did not penetrate across but were surrounded by the host vacuolar membrane together with EIHM even after branching. High-resolution imaging of BICs revealed that the host cytosol was accumulated at BIC with aggregated EIHM and a symplastic effector, Pwl2, in a punctate form. The vacuolar membrane did not aggregate in but closely surrounded the BIC. A good correlation was observed between the early collapse of vacuoles and damage of invasive hyphae in the first-invaded cell. Furthermore, a newly developed, long-term imaging method has revealed that the central vacuole gradually shrank until collapse, which was caused by the hyphal invasion occurring earlier in the neighboring cells than in the first-invaded cells. These data suggest that M. oryzae may suppress host vacuole collapse during early infection stages for successful infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Mochizuki
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai 2-1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8602, Japan
| | - Eiichi Minami
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai 2-1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8602, Japan
| | - Yoko Nishizawa
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai 2-1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8602, Japan
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A proposed adhesin AoMad1 helps nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora recognizing host signals for life-style switching. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 81:172-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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40
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Pfannmüller A, Wagner D, Sieber C, Schönig B, Boeckstaens M, Marini AM, Tudzynski B. The General Amino Acid Permease FfGap1 of Fusarium fujikuroi Is Sorted to the Vacuole in a Nitrogen-Dependent, but Npr1 Kinase-Independent Manner. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125487. [PMID: 25909858 PMCID: PMC4409335 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The rice pathogenic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi is well known for the production of a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites (SMs) such as gibberellic acids (GAs), mycotoxins and pigments. The biosynthesis of most of these SMs strictly depends on nitrogen availability and of the activity of permeases of nitrogen sources, e.g. the ammonium and amino acid permeases. One of the three ammonium permeases, MepB, was recently shown to act not only as a transporter but also as a nitrogen sensor affecting the production of nitrogen-repressed SMs. Here we describe the identification of a general amino acid permease, FfGap1, among the 99 putative amino acid permeases (AAPs) in the genome of F. fujikuroi. FfGap1 is able to fully restore growth of the yeast gap1∆ mutant on several amino acids including citrulline and tryptophane. In S. cerevisiae, Gap1 activity is regulated by shuttling between the plasma membrane (nitrogen limiting conditions) and the vacuole (nitrogen sufficiency), which we also show for FfGap1. In yeast, the Npr1 serine/threonine kinase stabilizes the Gap1 position at the plasma membrane. Here, we identified and characterized three NPR1-homologous genes, encoding the putative protein kinases FfNpr1-1, FfNpr1-2 and FfNpr1-3 with significant similarity to yeast Npr1. Complementation of the yeast npr1Δ mutant with each of the three F. fujikuroi NPR1 homologues, resulted in partial restoration of ammonium, arginine and proline uptake by FfNPR1-1 while none of the three kinases affect growth on different nitrogen sources and nitrogen-dependent sorting of FfGap1 in F. fujikuroi. However, exchange of the putative ubiquitin-target lysine 9 (K9A) and 15 (K15A) residues of FfGap1 resulted in extended localization to the plasma membrane and increased protein stability independently of nitrogen availability. These data suggest a similar regulation of FfGap1 by nitrogen-dependent ubiquitination, but differences regarding the role of Fusarium Npr1 homologues compared to yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Pfannmüller
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dominik Wagner
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Sieber
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Birgit Schönig
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mélanie Boeckstaens
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Transport Membranaire, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Anna Maria Marini
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Transport Membranaire, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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41
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Niehaus EM, Janevska S, von Bargen KW, Sieber CMK, Harrer H, Humpf HU, Tudzynski B. Apicidin F: characterization and genetic manipulation of a new secondary metabolite gene cluster in the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103336. [PMID: 25058475 PMCID: PMC4109984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus F. fujikuroi is well known for its production of gibberellins causing the ‘bakanae’ disease of rice. Besides these plant hormones, it is able to produce other secondary metabolites (SMs), such as pigments and mycotoxins. Genome sequencing revealed altogether 45 potential SM gene clusters, most of which are cryptic and silent. In this study we characterize a new non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster that is responsible for the production of the cyclic tetrapeptide apicidin F (APF). This new SM has structural similarities to the known histone deacetylase inhibitor apicidin. To gain insight into the biosynthetic pathway, most of the 11 cluster genes were deleted, and the mutants were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-HRMS for their ability to produce APF or new derivatives. Structure elucidation was carried out be HPLC-HRMS and NMR analysis. We identified two new derivatives of APF named apicidin J and K. Furthermore, we studied the regulation of APF biosynthesis and showed that the cluster genes are expressed under conditions of high nitrogen and acidic pH in a manner dependent on the nitrogen regulator AreB, and the pH regulator PacC. In addition, over-expression of the atypical pathway-specific transcription factor (TF)-encoding gene APF2 led to elevated expression of the cluster genes under inducing and even repressing conditions and to significantly increased product yields. Bioinformatic analyses allowed the identification of a putative Apf2 DNA-binding (“Api-box”) motif in the promoters of the APF genes. Point mutations in this sequence motif caused a drastic decrease of APF production indicating that this motif is essential for activating the cluster genes. Finally, we provide a model of the APF biosynthetic pathway based on chemical identification of derivatives in the cultures of deletion mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
| | - Katharina W. von Bargen
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M. K. Sieber
- Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Institut für Bioinformatik und Systembiologie, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Henning Harrer
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail: (BT); (HUH)
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail: (BT); (HUH)
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42
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Lichius A, Goryachev AB, Fricker MD, Obara B, Castro-Longoria E, Read ND. CDC-42 and RAC-1 regulate opposite chemotropisms in Neurospora crassa. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:1953-65. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.141630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Cell polarization and fusion are crucial developmental processes that occur in response to intracellular and extracellular signals. Asexual spores (conidia) of the mold Neurospora crassa differentiate two types of polarized cell protrusions, germ tubes and conidial anastomosis tubes (CATs), which exhibit negative and positive chemotropism, respectively. We provide the first evidence that shared and separate functions of the Rho-type GTPases CDC-42 and RAC-1 regulate these opposite chemotropisms. We demonstrate that RAC-1 is essential for CAT formation and cell fusion, whereas CDC-42 is necessary and sufficient for normal germ tube development. Cdc42-Rac-interactive-binding (CRIB) reporters were constructed to exclusively label locally activated GTP-bound GTPases. Time course analyses showed that repositioning of these activated GTPase clusters within germ tube and CAT tip apices controls directional growth in the absence of a tip-localized vesicle supply center (Spitzenkörper). We propose a model in which the local assembly of a plasma-membrane-associated GTPase–PAK–MAPK signaling platform regulates chemoattractant perception and secretion in order to synchronize oscillatory cell–cell communication and directional CAT tip growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lichius
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, Scotland, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3918, 22860 Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Andrew B. Goryachev
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, Scotland, UK
| | - Mark D. Fricker
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Park Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Boguslaw Obara
- School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Ernestina Castro-Longoria
- Department of Microbiology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3918, 22860 Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Nick D. Read
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, Scotland, UK
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Canessa P, Schumacher J, Hevia MA, Tudzynski P, Larrondo LF. Assessing the effects of light on differentiation and virulence of the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea: characterization of the White Collar Complex. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84223. [PMID: 24391918 PMCID: PMC3877267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms are exposed to a tough environment, where acute daily challenges, like light, can strongly affect several aspects of an individual's physiology, including pathogenesis. While several fungal models have been widely employed to understand the physiological and molecular events associated with light perception, various other agricultural-relevant fungi still remain, in terms of their responsiveness to light, in the dark. The fungus Botrytis cinerea is an aggressive pathogen able to cause disease on a wide range of plant species. Natural B. cinerea isolates exhibit a high degree of diversity in their predominant mode of reproduction. Thus, the majority of naturally occurring strains are known to reproduce asexually via conidia and sclerotia, and sexually via apothecia. Studies from the 1970's reported on specific developmental responses to treatments with near-UV, blue, red and far-red light. To unravel the signaling machinery triggering development--and possibly also connected with virulence--we initiated the functional characterization of the transcription factor/photoreceptor BcWCL1 and its partner BcWCL2, that form the White Collar Complex (WCC) in B. cinerea. Using mutants either abolished in or exhibiting enhanced WCC signaling (overexpression of both bcwcl1 and bcwcl2), we demonstrate that the WCC is an integral part of the mentioned machinery by mediating transcriptional responses to white light and the inhibition of conidiation in response to this stimulus. Furthermore, the WCC is required for coping with excessive light, oxidative stress and also to achieve full virulence. Although several transcriptional responses are abolished in the absence of bcwcl1, the expression of some genes is still light induced and a distinct conidiation pattern in response to daily light oscillations is enhanced, revealing a complex underlying photobiology. Though overlaps with well-studied fungal systems exist, the light-associated machinery of B. cinerea appears more complex than those of Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus nidulans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Canessa
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westf. Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Montserrat A. Hevia
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westf. Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Luis F. Larrondo
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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44
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Harren K, Brandhoff B, Knödler M, Tudzynski B. The high-affinity phosphodiesterase BcPde2 has impact on growth, differentiation and virulence of the phytopathogenic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78525. [PMID: 24265695 PMCID: PMC3827054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Components of the cAMP signaling pathway, such as the adenylate cyclase Bac and the protein kinase A (PKA) were shown to affect growth, morphogenesis and differentiation as well as virulence of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. While loss of Bac caused drastically reduced intracellular cAMP levels, deletion of the PKA resulted in extremely increased cAMP concentrations. To regulate the intracellular level of the second messenger cAMP, a balance between its biosynthesis through adenylate cyclase activity and its hydrolysis by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) is crucial. Here, we report the functional characterization of the two PDEs in the ascomycete B. cinerea, BcPde1 and BcPde2. While deletion of bcpde2 resulted in severely affected vegetative growth, conidiation, germination and virulence, the bcpde1 deletion strain displayed a wild-type-like phenotype. However, the double bcpde1/2 deletion mutant exhibited an even stronger phenotype. Localization studies revealed that BcPde2 accumulates at the plasma membrane, but is also localized in the cytoplasm. BcPde1 was shown to be distributed in the cytoplasm as well, but also accumulates in so far unknown mobile vesicles. Overexpression of bcpde1 in the Δbcpde2 background rescued the deletion phenotype, and in addition an increased transcript level of bcpde1 in the Δbcpde2 strain was observed, indicating redundant functions of both PDEs and an interdependent gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Harren
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Münster, Germany
| | - Beate Brandhoff
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Knödler
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Münster, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail:
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45
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A eukaryotic molecular target candidate of roxithromycin: fungal differentiation as a sensitive drug target analysis system. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2013; 77:1539-47. [PMID: 23832352 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.130210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Roxithromycin (RXM), active against prokaryotes, has beneficial side effects such as anti-cancer activities on mammalian cells, but the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. We found that RXM inhibited the cellular differentiation of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Hence, we screened the targets of RXM by the T7 phage display method with fungal genomic DNA, and identified MoCDC27 (M. oryzae Cell Division Cycle 27) as a candidate. We generated mocdc27 knockdown mutants that the appressoria formation was less affected by RXM. A complemented mutant restored sensitivity against RXM to the level of the wild type. These results suggest that MoCDC27 was involved in the inhibition of appressorium formation by RXM, and that the complex of RXM-MoCDC27 affected another molecule involved in appressorium formation. The T7 phage display method with fungal genomic DNA can be a useful tool in the quest for drug target.
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46
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Wiemann P, Sieber CMK, von Bargen KW, Studt L, Niehaus EM, Espino JJ, Huß K, Michielse CB, Albermann S, Wagner D, Bergner SV, Connolly LR, Fischer A, Reuter G, Kleigrewe K, Bald T, Wingfield BD, Ophir R, Freeman S, Hippler M, Smith KM, Brown DW, Proctor RH, Münsterkötter M, Freitag M, Humpf HU, Güldener U, Tudzynski B. Deciphering the cryptic genome: genome-wide analyses of the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi reveal complex regulation of secondary metabolism and novel metabolites. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003475. [PMID: 23825955 PMCID: PMC3694855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 320] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes "bakanae" disease of rice due to its ability to produce gibberellins (GAs), but it is also known for producing harmful mycotoxins. However, the genetic capacity for the whole arsenal of natural compounds and their role in the fungus' interaction with rice remained unknown. Here, we present a high-quality genome sequence of F. fujikuroi that was assembled into 12 scaffolds corresponding to the 12 chromosomes described for the fungus. We used the genome sequence along with ChIP-seq, transcriptome, proteome, and HPLC-FTMS-based metabolome analyses to identify the potential secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and to examine their regulation in response to nitrogen availability and plant signals. The results indicate that expression of most but not all gene clusters correlate with proteome and ChIP-seq data. Comparison of the F. fujikuroi genome to those of six other fusaria revealed that only a small number of gene clusters are conserved among these species, thus providing new insights into the divergence of secondary metabolism in the genus Fusarium. Noteworthy, GA biosynthetic genes are present in some related species, but GA biosynthesis is limited to F. fujikuroi, suggesting that this provides a selective advantage during infection of the preferred host plant rice. Among the genome sequences analyzed, one cluster that includes a polyketide synthase gene (PKS19) and another that includes a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene (NRPS31) are unique to F. fujikuroi. The metabolites derived from these clusters were identified by HPLC-FTMS-based analyses of engineered F. fujikuroi strains overexpressing cluster genes. In planta expression studies suggest a specific role for the PKS19-derived product during rice infection. Thus, our results indicate that combined comparative genomics and genome-wide experimental analyses identified novel genes and secondary metabolites that contribute to the evolutionary success of F. fujikuroi as a rice pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Wiemann
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M. K. Sieber
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Katharina W. von Bargen
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jose J. Espino
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kathleen Huß
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Caroline B. Michielse
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sabine Albermann
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dominik Wagner
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sonja V. Bergner
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lanelle R. Connolly
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andreas Fischer
- Institut of Genetics/Developmental Genetics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Gunter Reuter
- Institut of Genetics/Developmental Genetics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Karin Kleigrewe
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Till Bald
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Brenda D. Wingfield
- Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ron Ophir
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Genomics, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Stanley Freeman
- Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kristina M. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Daren W. Brown
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Proctor
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Martin Münsterkötter
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Freitag
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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Li S, Ridenour JB, Kim H, Hirsch RL, Rupe JC, Bluhm BH. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of the soybean pathogen Phomopsis longicolla. J Microbiol Methods 2013; 92:244-5. [PMID: 23305924 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
To facilitate functional genomics in the soybean pathogen Phomopsis longicolla, we developed a robust Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system that yielded 150-250 transformants per 1×10(6) conidia of P. longicolla. This first report of P. longicolla transformation provides a useful tool for insertional mutagenesis in an increasingly important pathogen of soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxian Li
- Crop Genetics Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
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48
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Kaneko I, Iyama-Kadono M, Togashi-Nishigata K, Yamaguchi I, Teraoka T, Arie T. Heterotrimeric G protein β subunit GPB1 and MAP kinase MPK1 regulate hyphal growth and female fertility in Fusarium sacchari. MYCOSCIENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.myc.2012.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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49
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Efficient sequential repetitive gene deletions in Neurospora crassa employing a self-excising β-recombinase/six cassette. J Microbiol Methods 2012; 92:236-43. [PMID: 23246910 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite its long-standing history as a model organism, Neurospora crassa has limited tools for repetitive gene deletions utilizing recyclable self-excising marker systems. Here we describe, for the first time, the functionality of a bacterial recombination system employing β-recombinase acting on six recognition sequences (β-rec/six) in N. crassa, which allowed repetitive site-specific gene deletion and marker recycling. We report generating the mus-51 deletion strain using this system, recycling the marker cassette, and subsequently deleting the global transcriptional regulator gene cre-1.
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50
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Albermann S, Linnemannstöns P, Tudzynski B. Strategies for strain improvement in Fusarium fujikuroi: overexpression and localization of key enzymes of the isoprenoid pathway and their impact on gibberellin biosynthesis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 97:2979-95. [PMID: 22983595 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Revised: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 08/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi is known to produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, such as the pigments bikaverin and fusarubins, the mycotoxins fusarins and fusaric acid, and the phytohormones gibberellic acids (GAs), which are applied as plant growth regulators in agri- and horticulture. The development of high-producing strains is a prerequisite for the efficient biotechnological production of GAs. In this work, we used different molecular approaches for strain improvement to directly affect expression of early isoprenoid genes as well as GA biosynthetic genes. Overexpression of the first GA pathway gene ggs2, encoding geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase 2, or additional integration of ggs2 and cps/ks, the latter encoding the bifunctional ent-copalyldiphosphate synthase/ent-kaurene synthase, revealed an enhanced production level of 150%. However, overexpression of hmgR and fppS, encoding the key enzymes of the mevalonate pathway, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, and farnesyldiphosphate synthase, resulted in a reduced production level probably due to a negative feedback regulation of HmgR. Subsequent deletion of the transmembrane domains of HmgR and overexpression of the remaining catalytic domain led to an increased GA content (250%). Using green fluorescent protein and mCherry fusion constructs, we localized Cps/Ks in the cytosol, Ggs2 in small point-like structures, which are not the peroxisomes, and HmgR at the endoplasmatic reticulum. In summary, it was shown for the first time that amplification or truncation of key enzymes of the isoprenoid and GA pathway results in elevated production levels (2.5-fold). Fluorescence microscopy revealed localization of the key enzymes in different compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Albermann
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
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