1
|
Song Z, Zhou S, Zhang H, Keller NP, Oakley BR, Liu X, Yin WB. Fungal secondary metabolism is governed by an RNA-binding protein CsdA/RsdA complex. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7351. [PMID: 37963872 PMCID: PMC10645843 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Production of secondary metabolites is controlled by a complicated regulatory network in eukaryotic cells. Several layers of regulators are involved in this process, ranging from pathway-specific regulation, to epigenetic control, to global regulation. Here, we discover that interaction of an RNA-binding protein CsdA with a regulator RsdA coordinates fungal secondary metabolism. Employing a genetic deletion approach and transcriptome analysis as well as metabolomics analysis, we reveal that CsdA and RsdA synergistically regulate fungal secondary metabolism comprehensively. Mechanistically, comprehensive genetic and biochemical studies prove that RsdA and CsdA co-localize in the nucleus and physically interact to achieve their functions. In particular, we demonstrate that CsdA mediates rsdA expression by binding specific motif "GUCGGUAU" of its pre-mRNA at a post-transcriptional level. We thus uncover a mechanism in which RNA-binding protein physically interacts with, and controls the expression level of, the RsdA to coordinate fungal secondary metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zili Song
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, PR China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, PR China
| | - Hongjiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, PR China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Berl R Oakley
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, PR China.
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bákány B, Antal R, Szentesi P, Emri T, Leiter É, Csernoch L, Keller NP, Pócsi I, Dienes B. The bZIP-type transcription factors NapA and RsmA modulate the volumetric ratio and the relative superoxide ratio of mitochondria in Aspergillus nidulans. Biol Futur 2023; 74:337-346. [PMID: 37814124 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are crucial components of differentiation, cellular homeostasis and the environmental stress defense of eukaryotes. In this work, we further studied the consequence of gene deletion and overexpression of two bZIP transcription factors, NapA and RsmA, on superoxide production, mitochondrial morphology and hyphal diameter of Aspergillus nidulans. We have found that reactive oxygen species production was influenced by both gene deletion and overexpression of napA under tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH) elicited oxidative stress. Furthermore, gene expression of napA negatively correlated with mitochondrial volumetric ratio as well as sterigmatocystin production of A. nidulans. High rsmA expression was accompanied with elevated relative superoxide ratio in the second hyphal compartment. A negative correlation between the expression of rsmA and catalase enzyme activity or mitochondrial volumetric ratio was also confirmed by statistical analysis. Hyphal diameter was independent on either rsmA and napA expression as well as 0.2 mM tBOOH treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadett Bákány
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Réka Antal
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter Szentesi
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELRN-UD Cell Physiology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tamás Emri
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELRN-UD Fungal Stress Biology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Éva Leiter
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
- ELRN-UD Fungal Stress Biology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - László Csernoch
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELRN-UD Cell Physiology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELRN-UD Fungal Stress Biology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Beatrix Dienes
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELRN-UD Cell Physiology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yazid SNE, Tajudin NI, Razman NAA, Selamat J, Ismail SI, Sanny M, Samsudin NIP. Mycotoxigenic fungal growth inhibition and multi-mycotoxin reduction of potential biological control agents indigenous to grain maize. Mycotoxin Res 2023:10.1007/s12550-023-00484-4. [PMID: 37219742 PMCID: PMC10204017 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-023-00484-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The present work investigated the potential of fungal species from grain maize farms in Malaysia as antagonists against the indigenous mycotoxigenic fungal species and their subsequent mycotoxin production. Dual-culture assay was conducted on grain maize agar (GMA) with 12 strains of potential fungal antagonists namely Bjerkandra adusta, Penicillium janthinellum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes cubensis, Trichoderma asperelloides, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma yunnanense against seven mycotoxigenic strains namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium verticillioides, and Fusarium proliferatum producing aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins, respectively. Based on fungal growth inhibition, Trichoderma spp. showed the highest inhibitory activity (73-100% PIRG, Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth; 28/0 ID, Index of Dominance) against the tested mycotoxigenic strains. Besides, B. adusta and Tra. cubensis showed inhibitory activity against some of the tested mycotoxigenic strains. All fungal antagonists showed varying degrees of mycotoxin reduction. Aflatoxin B1 produced by A. flavus was mainly reduced by P. janthinellum, Tra. cubensis, and B. adusta to 0 ng/g. Ochratoxin A produced by A. niger was mainly reduced by Tri. harzianum and Tri. asperellum to 0 ng/g. Fumonisin B1 and FB2 produced by F. verticillioides was mainly reduced by Tri. harzianum, Tri. asperelloides, and Tri. asperellum to 59.4 and 0 µg/g, respectively. Fumonisin B1 and FB2 produced by F. proliferatum were mainly reduced by Tri. asperelloides and Tri. harzianum to 244.2 and 0 µg/g, respectively. This is the first study that reports on the efficacy of Tri. asperelloides against FB1, FB2, and OTA, P. janthinellum against AFB1, and Tra. cubensis against AFB1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siti Nur Ezzati Yazid
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Izzah Tajudin
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aina Aribah Razman
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jinap Selamat
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Izera Ismail
- Laboratory of Climate-Smart Food Crop Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Maimunah Sanny
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mohamed NZ, Shaban L, Safan S, El-Sayed ASA. Physiological and metabolic traits of Taxol biosynthesis of endophytic fungi inhabiting plants: Plant-microbial crosstalk, and epigenetic regulators. Microbiol Res 2023; 272:127385. [PMID: 37141853 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Attenuating the Taxol productivity of fungi with the subculturing and storage under axenic conditions is the challenge that halts the feasibility of fungi to be an industrial platform for Taxol production. This successive weakening of Taxol productivity by fungi could be attributed to the epigenetic down-regulation and molecular silencing of most of the gene clusters encoding Taxol biosynthetic enzymes. Thus, exploring the epigenetic regulating mechanisms controlling the molecular machinery of Taxol biosynthesis could be an alternative prospective technology to conquer the lower accessibility of Taxol by the potent fungi. The current review focuses on discussing the different molecular approaches, epigenetic regulators, transcriptional factors, metabolic manipulators, microbial communications and microbial cross-talking approaches on restoring and enhancing the Taxol biosynthetic potency of fungi to be industrial platform for Taxol production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nabil Z Mohamed
- Enzymology and Fungal Biotechnology Lab, Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Lamis Shaban
- Enzymology and Fungal Biotechnology Lab, Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
| | - Samia Safan
- Enzymology and Fungal Biotechnology Lab, Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Ashraf S A El-Sayed
- Enzymology and Fungal Biotechnology Lab, Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kocsis B, Lee MK, Antal K, Yu JH, Pócsi I, Leiter É, Emri T. Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analyses of the AtfA/AtfB-Mediated Menadione Stress Response in Aspergillus nidulans. Cells 2023; 12. [PMID: 36766807 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The bZIP transcription factors (TFs) govern regulation of development, secondary metabolism, and various stress responses in filamentous fungi. In this work, we carried out genome-wide expression studies employing Illumina RNAseq to understand the roles of the two bZIP transcription factors AtfA and AtfB in Aspergillus nidulans. Comparative analyses of transcriptomes of control, ΔatfA, ΔatfB, and ΔatfAΔatfB mutant strains were performed. Dependence of a gene on AtfA (AtfB) was decided by its differential downregulation both between the reference and ΔatfA (ΔatfB) strains and between the ΔatfB (ΔatfA) and the ΔatfAΔatfB strains in vegetatively grown cells (mycelia) and asexual spores (conidia) of menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB)-treated or untreated cultures. As AtfA is the primary bZIP TF governing stress-response in A. nidulans, the number of differentially expressed genes for ΔatfA was significantly higher than for ΔatfB in both mycelial and conidial samples, and most of the AtfB-dependent genes showed AtfA dependence, too. Moreover, the low number of genes depending on AtfB but not on AtfA can be a consequence of ΔatfA leading to downregulation of atfB expression. Conidial samples showed much higher abundance of atfA and atfB mRNAs and more AtfA- and AtfB-affected genes than mycelial samples. In the presence of MSB, the number of AtfB- (but not of AtfA-) affected genes decreased markedly, which was accompanied with decreased mRNA levels of atfB in MSB-treated mycelial (reference strain) and conidial (ΔatfA mutant) samples. In mycelia, the overlap between the AtfA-dependent genes in MSB-treated and in untreated samples was low, demonstrating that distinct genes can be under AtfA control under different conditions. Carbohydrate metabolism genes were enriched in the set of AtfA-dependent genes. Among them, AtfA-dependence of glycolytic genes in conidial samples was the most notable. Levels of transcripts of certain secondary metabolitic gene clusters, such as the Emericellamide cluster, also showed AtfA-dependent regulation. Genes encoding catalase and histidine-containing phosphotransfer proteins showed AtfA-dependence under all experimental conditions. There were 23 AtfB-dependent genes that did not depend on AtfA under any of our experimental conditions. These included a putative α-glucosidase (agdB), a putative α-amylase, calA, which is involved in early conidial germination, and an alternative oxidase. In summary, in A. nidulans there is a complex interaction between the two bZIP transcription factors, where AtfA plays the primary regulatory role.
Collapse
|
6
|
Loi M, Logrieco AF, Pusztahelyi T, Leiter É, Hornok L, Pócsi I. Advanced mycotoxin control and decontamination techniques in view of an increased aflatoxin risk in Europe due to climate change. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1085891. [PMID: 36762096 PMCID: PMC9907446 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1085891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp. found in staple food and feed commodities worldwide. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic, and pose a serious threat to the health of both humans and animals. The global economy and trade are significantly affected as well. Various models and datasets related to aflatoxins in maize have been developed and used but have not yet been linked. The prevention of crop loss due to aflatoxin contamination is complex and challenging. Hence, the set-up of advanced decontamination is crucial to cope with the challenge of climate change, growing population, unstable political scenarios, and food security problems also in European countries. After harvest, decontamination methods can be applied during transport, storage, or processing, but their application for aflatoxin reduction is still limited. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the effects of environmental factors on aflatoxin production because of climate change and to critically discuss the present-day and novel decontamination techniques to unravel gaps and limitations to propose them as a tool to tackle an increased aflatoxin risk in Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Loi
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Bari, Italy,*Correspondence: Martina Loi, ✉
| | - Antonio F. Logrieco
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Bari, Italy
| | - Tünde Pusztahelyi
- Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Éva Leiter
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary,ELRN-UD Fungal Stress Biology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Hornok
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary,ELRN-UD Fungal Stress Biology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang Z, Zhao S, Zhang K, Lin C, Ru X, Yang Q. CgVeA, a light signaling responsive regulator, is involved in regulation of chaetoglobosin A biosynthesis and conidia development in Chaetomium globosum. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:1084-1094. [PMID: 35949485 PMCID: PMC9356241 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochalasans, with diverse structures and pharmacological activities, are a class of compounds containing isoindolinone moieties fused to the tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system. Chaetoglobosin A (cheA), mainly produced by Chaetomium globosum, is the most abundant cytochalasan. However, limited understanding of transcriptional regulation of morphological development and cheA biosynthesis in C. globosum has hindered cheA application in agriculture and biomedical field. This study examined the regulatory role of CgVeA gene in C. globosum. CgVeA had significant effect on secondary metabolites production in C. globosum, similar to that reported in other filamentous fungi. Inactivation of CgVeA caused an obvious decrease in cheA production from 51.32 to 19.76 mg/L under dark conditions. In contrast, CgVeA overexpression resulted in a dramatic increase in cheA production, reaching 206.59 mg/L under light conditions, which was higher than that noted under dark condition. The RT-qPCR results confirmed that CgVeA, as a light responsive regulator, positively regulated cheA biosynthesis by controlling the expression of core genes of the cheA biosynthetic gene cluster and other relevant regulators. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays proved that CgVeA directly regulated LaeA, cheR, and p450, and indirectly regulated PKS. Moreover, CgVeA had a significant effect on the regulation of asexual spores production. When compared with wild-type C. globosum, CgVeA-silenced and CgVeA overexpression mutants presented remarkable differences in sporulation, irrespective of light or dark condition. Besides, CgVeA expression was speculated to negatively regulate spore formation. These findings illustrated the regulatory mechanism of a hypothetical global regulator, CgVeA, in C. globosum, suggesting its potential application in industrial-scale cheA biosynthesis.
Collapse
|
8
|
Pérez-Pérez WD, Carrasco-Navarro U, García‑Estrada C, Kosalková K, Gutiérrez-Ruíz MC, Barrios-González J, Fierro F. bZIP transcription factors PcYap1 and PcRsmA link oxidative stress response to secondary metabolism and development in Penicillium chrysogenum. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:50. [PMID: 35366869 PMCID: PMC8977021 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01765-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger different morphogenic processes in filamentous fungi and have been shown to play a role in the regulation of the biosynthesis of some secondary metabolites. Some bZIP transcription factors, such as Yap1, AtfA and AtfB, mediate resistance to oxidative stress and have a role in secondary metabolism regulation. In this work we aimed to get insight into the molecular basis of this regulation in the industrially important fungus Penicillium chrysogenum through the characterization of the role played by two effectors that mediate the oxidative stress response in development and secondary metabolism.
Results
In P. chrysogenum, penicillin biosynthesis and conidiation are stimulated by the addition of H2O2 to the culture medium, and this effect is mediated by the bZIP transcription factors PcYap1 and PcRsmA. Silencing of expression of both proteins by RNAi resulted in similar phenotypes, characterized by increased levels of ROS in the cell, reduced conidiation, higher sensitivity of conidia to H2O2 and a decrease in penicillin production. Both PcYap1 and PcRsmA are able to sense H2O2-generated ROS in vitro and change its conformation in response to this stimulus. PcYap1 and PcRsmA positively regulate the expression of brlA, the first gene of the conidiation central regulatory pathway. PcYap1 binds in vitro to a previously identified regulatory sequence in the promoter of the penicillin gene pcbAB: TTAGTAA, and to a TTACTAA sequence in the promoter of the brlA gene, whereas PcRsmA binds to the sequences TGAGACA and TTACGTAA (CRE motif) in the promoters of the pcbAB and penDE genes, respectively.
Conclusions
bZIP transcription factors PcYap1 and PcRsmA respond to the presence of H2O2-generated ROS and regulate oxidative stress response in the cell. Both proteins mediate ROS regulation of penicillin biosynthesis and conidiation by binding to specific regulatory elements in the promoters of key genes. PcYap1 is identified as the previously proposed transcription factor PTA1 (Penicillin Transcriptional Activator 1), which binds to the regulatory sequence TTAGTAA in the pcbAB gene promoter. This is the first report of a Yap1 protein directly regulating transcription of a secondary metabolism gene. A model describing the regulatory network mediated by PcYap1 and PcRsmA is proposed.
Collapse
|
9
|
Wen D, Yu L, Xiong D, Tian C. Genome-Wide Identification of bZIP Transcription Factor Genes and Functional Analyses of Two Members in Cytospora chrysosperma. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 8:jof8010034. [PMID: 35049973 PMCID: PMC8778692 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) family, one of the largest and the most diverse TF families, is widely distributed across the eukaryotes. It has been described that the bZIP TFs play diverse roles in development, nutrient utilization, and various stress responses in fungi. However, little is known of the bZIP members in Cytospora chrysosperma, a notorious plant pathogenic fungus, which causes canker disease on over 80 woody plant species. In this study, 26 bZIP genes were systematically identified in the genome of C. chrysosperma, and two of them (named CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23) significantly down-regulated in CcPmk1 deletion mutant (a pathogenicity-related mitogen-activated protein kinase) were selected for further analysis. Deletion of CcbZIP05 or CcbZIP23 displayed a dramatic reduction in fungal growth but showed increased hypha branching and resistance to cell wall inhibitors and abiotic stresses. The CcbZIP05 deletion mutants but not CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were more sensitive to the hydrogen peroxide compared to the wild-type and complemented strains. Additionally, the CcbZIP23 deletion mutants produced few pycnidia but more pigment. Remarkably, both CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were significantly reduced in fungal virulence. Further analysis showed that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 could regulate the expression of putative effector genes and chitin synthesis-related genes. Taken together, our results suggest that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 play important roles in fungal growth, abiotic stresses response, and pathogenicity, which will provide comprehensive information on the CcbZIP genes and lay the foundation for further research on the bZIP members in C. chrysosperma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dasen Wen
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
| | - Lu Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.X.); (C.T.)
| | - Chengming Tian
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (D.W.); (L.Y.)
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.X.); (C.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bákány B, Yin WB, Dienes B, Nagy T, Leiter É, Emri T, Keller NP, Pócsi I. Study on the bZIP-Type Transcription Factors NapA and RsmA in the Regulation of Intracellular Reactive Species Levels and Sterigmatocystin Production of Aspergillus nidulans. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11577. [PMID: 34769008 PMCID: PMC8583795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play a crucial role in the environmental stress response of eukaryotes. In this work, we studied the effect of gene manipulations, including both deletions and overexpressions, of two selected bZIP transcription factors, NapA and RsmA, in the oxidative stress response and sterigmatocystin production of Aspergillus nidulans. We found that NapA was important in the oxidative stress response by negatively regulating intracellular reactive species production and positively regulating catalase activities, whereas RsmA slightly negatively regulated catalase activities. Concerning sterigmatocystin production, the highest concentration was measured in the ΔrsmAΔnapA double deletion mutant, but elevated sterigmatocystin production was also found in the OErsmA OEnapA strain. Our results indicate that NapA influences sterigmatocystin production via regulating reactive species level whereas RsmA modulates toxin production independently of the redox regulation of the cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadett Bákány
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (T.E.); (I.P.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Beatrix Dienes
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Tibor Nagy
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Éva Leiter
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (T.E.); (I.P.)
| | - Tamás Emri
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (T.E.); (I.P.)
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (T.E.); (I.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Xu X, Huang R, Yin WB. An Optimized and Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 System for the Endophytic Fungus Pestalotiopsis fici. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:809. [PMID: 34682231 PMCID: PMC8539907 DOI: 10.3390/jof7100809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endophytic fungi are emerging as attractive producers of natural products with diverse bioactivities and novel structures. However, difficulties in the genetic manipulation of endophytic fungi limit the search of novel secondary metabolites. In this study, we improved the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation method by introducing the CRISPR/Cas9 system into endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici. Using this approach, we performed genome editing such as site-specific gene insertion, dual-locus mutations, and long DNA fragment deletions in P. fici efficiently. The average efficiency for site-specific gene insertion and two-site gene editing was up to 48.0% and 44.4%, respectively. In addition, the genetic manipulation time with long DNA fragment (5-10 kb) deletion was greatly shortened to one week in comparison with traditional methods such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). Taken together, the development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in the endophytic fungus will accelerate the discovery of novel natural products and further biological study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (X.X.); (R.H.)
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Runye Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (X.X.); (R.H.)
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (X.X.); (R.H.)
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Leiter É, Emri T, Pákozdi K, Hornok L, Pócsi I. The impact of bZIP Atf1ortholog global regulators in fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5769-5783. [PMID: 34302199 PMCID: PMC8390427 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11431-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of signal transduction pathways is crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and organismal development in fungi. Transcription factors are key elements of this regulatory network. The basic-region leucine zipper (bZIP) domain of the bZIP-type transcription factors is responsible for DNA binding while their leucine zipper structural motifs are suitable for dimerization with each other facilitiating the formation of homodimeric or heterodimeric bZIP proteins. This review highlights recent knowledge on the function of fungal orthologs of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Atf1, Aspergillus nidulans AtfA, and Fusarium verticillioides FvAtfA, bZIP-type transcription factors with a special focus on pathogenic species. We demonstrate that fungal Atf1-AtfA-FvAtfA orthologs play an important role in vegetative growth, sexual and asexual development, stress response, secondary metabolite production, and virulence both in human pathogens, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor circinelloides, Penicillium marneffei, and Cryptococcus neoformans and plant pathogens, like Fusarium ssp., Magnaporthe oryzae, Claviceps purpurea, Botrytis cinerea, and Verticillium dahliae. KEY POINTS: • Atf1 orthologs play crucial role in the growth and development of fungi. • Atf1 orthologs orchestrate environmental stress response of fungi. • Secondary metabolite production and virulence are coordinated by Atf1 orthologs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Éva Leiter
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, Debrecen, H-4010, Hungary.
| | - Tamás Emri
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, Debrecen, H-4010, Hungary
| | - Klaudia Pákozdi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, Debrecen, H-4010, Hungary
| | - László Hornok
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, Debrecen, H-4010, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Urquhart AS, Elliott CE, Zeng W, Idnurm A. Constitutive expression of transcription factor SirZ blocks pathogenicity in Leptosphaeria maculans independently of sirodesmin production. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252333. [PMID: 34111151 PMCID: PMC8191991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sirodesmin, the major secondary metabolite produced by the plant pathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans in vitro, has been linked to disease on Brassica species since the 1970s, and yet its role has remained ambiguous. Re-examination of gene expression data revealed that all previously described genes and two newly identified genes within the sir gene cluster in the genome are down-regulated during the crucial early establishment stages of blackleg disease on Brassica napus. To test if this is a strategy employed by the fungus to avoid damage to and then detection by the host plant during the L. maculans asymptomatic biotrophic phase, sirodesmin was produced constitutively by overexpressing the sirZ gene encoding the transcription factor that coordinates the regulation of the other genes in the sir cluster. The sirZ over-expression strains had a major reduction in pathogenicity. Mutation of the over-expression construct restored pathogenicity. However, mutation of two genes, sirP and sirG, required for specific steps in the sirodesmin biosynthesis pathway, in the sirZ over-expression background resulted in strains that were unable to synthesize sirodesmin, yet were still non-pathogenic. Elucidating the basis for this pathogenicity defect or finding ways to overexpress sirZ during disease may provide new strategies for the control of blackleg disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Urquhart
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Candace E. Elliott
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Biosecurity Operations Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Post Entry Quarantine, Mickleham, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wei Zeng
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sino-Australia Plant Cell Wall Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Alexander Idnurm
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sánchez-Arreguin JA, Ruiz-Herrera J, Mares-Rodriguez FDJ, León-Ramírez CG, Sánchez-Segura L, Zapata-Morín PA, Coronado-Gallegos J, Aréchiga-Carvajal ET. Acid pH Strategy Adaptation through NRG1 in Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:91. [PMID: 33525315 PMCID: PMC7912220 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the Ustilago maydis putative homolog of the transcriptional repressor ScNRG1, previously described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, was analyzed by means of its mutation. In S. cerevisiae this gene regulates a set of stress-responsive genes, and in C. neoformans it is involved in pathogenesis. It was observed that the U. maydisNRG1 gene regulates several aspects of the cell response to acid pH, such as the production of mannosyl-erythritol lipids, inhibition of the expression of the siderophore cluster genes, filamentous growth, virulence and oxidative stress. A comparison of the gene expression pattern of the wild type strain versus the nrg1 mutant strain of the fungus, through RNA Seq analyses, showed that this transcriptional factor alters the expression of 368 genes when growing at acid pH (205 up-regulated, 163 down-regulated). The most relevant genes affected by NRG1 were those previously reported as the key ones for particular cellular stress responses, such as HOG1 for osmotic stress and RIM101 for alkaline pH. Four of the seven genes included WCO1 codifying PAS domain ( These has been shown as the key structural motif involved in protein-protein interactions of the circadian clock, and it is also a common motif found in signaling proteins, where it functions as a signaling sensor) domains sensors of blue light, two of the three previously reported to encode opsins, one vacuolar and non-pH-responsive, and another one whose role in the acid pH response was already known. It appears that all these light-reactive cell components are possibly involved in membrane potential equilibrium and as virulence sensors. Among previously described specific functions of this transcriptional regulator, it was found to be involved in glucose repression, metabolic adaptation to adverse conditions, cellular transport, cell rescue, defense and interaction with an acidic pH environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Alejandro Sánchez-Arreguin
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - F de Jesus Mares-Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Claudia Geraldine León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Lino Sánchez-Segura
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Patricio Adrián Zapata-Morín
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Jordan Coronado-Gallegos
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Elva Teresa Aréchiga-Carvajal
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Naranjo‐Ortiz MA, Gabaldón T. Fungal evolution: cellular, genomic and metabolic complexity. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1198-1232. [PMID: 32301582 PMCID: PMC7539958 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The question of how phenotypic and genomic complexity are inter-related and how they are shaped through evolution is a central question in biology that historically has been approached from the perspective of animals and plants. In recent years, however, fungi have emerged as a promising alternative system to address such questions. Key to their ecological success, fungi present a broad and diverse range of phenotypic traits. Fungal cells can adopt many different shapes, often within a single species, providing them with great adaptive potential. Fungal cellular organizations span from unicellular forms to complex, macroscopic multicellularity, with multiple transitions to higher or lower levels of cellular complexity occurring throughout the evolutionary history of fungi. Similarly, fungal genomes are very diverse in their architecture. Deep changes in genome organization can occur very quickly, and these phenomena are known to mediate rapid adaptations to environmental changes. Finally, the biochemical complexity of fungi is huge, particularly with regard to their secondary metabolites, chemical products that mediate many aspects of fungal biology, including ecological interactions. Herein, we explore how the interplay of these cellular, genomic and metabolic traits mediates the emergence of complex phenotypes, and how this complexity is shaped throughout the evolutionary history of Fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Naranjo‐Ortiz
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
- Department of Experimental Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREAPg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010BarcelonaSpain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yu Z, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Liu Z. Analysis of TabZIP15 transcription factor from Trichoderma asperellum ACCC30536 and its function under pathogenic toxin stress. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15084. [PMID: 32934312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72226-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The TabZIP15 gene encoding a 396 amino acid (aa) polypeptide in the fungus Trichoderma asperellum ACCC30536 was cloned and characterised. The protein includes a basic region motif (NR-x2-QR-x2-R) and has a pillar-like structure. The 25 basic region/leucine zipper transcription factors (TFs) identified in the T. asperellum genome were divided into YAP (14 TFs), ATF2 (5), GCN4 (2), Zip1 (2), BRLZ (1) and u1 (1) subfamilies based on conserved domains. T. asperellum was cultured in minimal media (MM) control, C-Hungry and N-Hungry medium (to simulate nutrient competition and interaction with pathogens, respectively), and differential expression analysis showed that 14 TabZIP genes (including TabZIP15) were significantly altered under both conditions; TabZIP23 responded strongly to N-Hungry media and TabZIP24 responded strongly to C-Hungry media. However, only YAP genes TabZIP15, TabZIP12 and TabZIP2 were significantly upregulated under both conditions, and expression levels of TabZIP15 were highest. T. asperellum was also cultured in the presence of five fungal pathogenic toxins, and RT-qPCR results showed that TabZIP15 was significantly upregulated in four of the five toxin stress conditions (MM + Rhizoctonia solani, MM + Fusarium oxysporum, MM + Alternaria alternata and MM + Cytospora chrysosperma).
Collapse
|
17
|
Li Y, Yan P, Lu X, Qiu Y, Liang S, Liu G, Li S, Mou L, Xie N. Involvement of PaSNF1 in Fungal Development, Sterigmatocystin Biosynthesis, and Lignocellulosic Degradation in the Filamentous Fungus Podospora anserina. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1038. [PMID: 32587577 PMCID: PMC7299030 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The sucrose non-fermenting 1/AMP-activated protein kinase (SNF1/AMPK) is a central regulator of carbon metabolism and energy production in the eukaryotes. In this study, the functions of the Podospora anserina SNF1 (PaSNF1) ortholog were investigated. The ΔPaSNF1 mutant displays a delayed development of mycelium and fruiting bodies and fails to form ascospores. The expression of the PaSNF1 gene in the strain providing female organs in a cross is sufficient to ensure fertility, indicating a maternal effect. Results of environmental stress showed that ΔPaSNF1 was hypersensitive to stress, such as osmotic pressure and heat shock, and resistant to fluconazole. Interestingly, the knockout of PaSNF1 significantly promoted sterigmatocystin (ST) synthesis but suppressed cellulase [filter paperase (FPA), endoglucanase (EG), and β-glucosidase (BG)] activity. Further, transcriptome analysis indicated that PaSNF1 made positive regulatory effects on the expression of genes encoding cellulolytic enzymes. These results suggested that PaSNF1 may function in balancing the operation of primary and secondary metabolism. This study suggested that SNF1 was a key regulator concerting vegetative growth, sexual development, and stress tolerance. Our study provided the first genetic evidence that SNF1 was involved in the ST biosynthesis and that it may also be a major actor of lignocellulose degradation in P. anserina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjing Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengfei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (MOE), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanling Qiu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shang Liang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuangfei Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Mou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ning Xie
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Thangaraj S, Sun J. The Biotechnological Potential of the Marine Diatom Skeletonema dohrnii to the Elevated Temperature and pCO 2 Concentration. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E259. [PMID: 32429035 DOI: 10.3390/md18050259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine diatoms are promising candidates for biotechnological applications, since they contain high-value compounds, naturally. To facilitate the production of these compounds, stress conditions are often preferable; however, challenges remain with respect to maximizing a metabolic potential for the large-scale cultivation. Here, we sequenced the transcriptome of diatom Skeletonema dohrnii under the actual (21 °C, 400 ppm) and elevated (25 °C, 1000 ppm) temperature and pCO2 condition. Results indicated that cells grown at higher temperature and pCO2 showed increasing growth rate, pigment composition, and biochemical productivity as did the expression of chlorophyll, carotenoid and bioactive compound related genes or transcripts. Furthermore, performing de novo transcriptome, we identified 32,884 transcript clusters and found 10,974 of them were differentially expressed between these two conditions. Analyzing the functions of differentially expressed transcripts, we found many of them involved in core metabolic and biosynthesis pathways, including chlorophyll metabolism, carotenoid, phenylpropanoid, phenylalanine and tyrosine, and flavonoid biosynthesis was upregulated. Moreover, we here demonstrated that utilizing a unique bio-fixation ability, S. dohrnii is capable of suppressing central carbon metabolism to promote lipid productivity, fatty acid contents and other bioactive compounds under high temperature and pCO2 treatment. Our study suggests that this S. dohrnii species could be a potential candidate for wide-scale biotechnological applications under elevated temperature and CO2 conditions.
Collapse
|
19
|
Wang X, Zha W, Liang L, Fasoyin OE, Wu L, Wang S. The bZIP Transcription Factor AflRsmA Regulates Aflatoxin B 1 Biosynthesis, Oxidative Stress Response and Sclerotium Formation in Aspergillus flavus. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E271. [PMID: 32340099 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal secondary metabolites play important roles not only in fungal ecology but also in humans living as beneficial medicine or harmful toxins. In filamentous fungi, bZIP-type transcription factors (TFs) are associated with the proteins involved in oxidative stress response and secondary metabolism. In this study, a connection between a bZIP TF and oxidative stress induction of secondary metabolism is uncovered in an opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus flavus, which produces carcinogenic and mutagenic aflatoxins. The bZIP transcription factor AflRsmA was identified by a homology research of A. flavus genome with the bZIP protein RsmA, involved in secondary metabolites production in Aspergillusnidulans. The AflrsmA deletion strain (ΔAflrsmA) displayed less sensitivity to the oxidative reagents tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) in comparison with wild type (WT) and AflrsmA overexpression strain (AflrsmAOE), while AflrsmAOE strain increased sensitivity to the oxidative reagents menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) compared to WT and ΔAflrsmA strains. Without oxidative treatment, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production of ΔAflrsmA strains was consistent with that of WT, but AflrsmAOE strain produced more AFB1 than WT; tBOOH and MSB treatment decreased AFB1 production of ΔAflrsmA compared to WT. Besides, relative to WT, ΔAflrsmA strain decreased sclerotia, while AflrsmAOE strain increased sclerotia. The decrease of AFB1 by ΔAflrsmA but increase of AFB1 by AflrsmAOE was on corn. Our results suggest that AFB1 biosynthesis is regulated by AflRsmA by oxidative stress pathways and provide insights into a possible function of AflRsmA in mediating AFB1 biosynthesis response host defense in pathogen A. flavus.
Collapse
|
20
|
Drott MT, Bastos RW, Rokas A, Ries LNA, Gabaldón T, Goldman GH, Keller NP, Greco C. Diversity of Secondary Metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans Clinical Isolates. mSphere 2020; 5:e00156-20. [PMID: 32269157 PMCID: PMC7142299 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00156-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has been a primary workhorse used to understand fungal genetics. Much of this work has focused on elucidating the genetics of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and the secondary metabolites (SMs) they produce. SMs are both niche defining in fungi and of great economic importance to humans. Despite the focus on A. nidulans, very little is known about the natural diversity in secondary metabolism within this species. We determined the BGC content and looked for evolutionary patterns in BGCs from whole-genome sequences of two clinical isolates and the A4 reference genome of A. nidulans Differences in BGC content were used to explain SM profiles determined using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. We found that in addition to genetic variation of BGCs contained by all isolates, nine BGCs varied by presence/absence. We discovered the viridicatumtoxin BGC in A. nidulans and suggest that this BGC has undergone a horizontal gene transfer from the Aspergillus section Nigri lineage into Penicillium sometime after the sections Nigri and Nidulantes diverged. We identified the production of viridicatumtoxin and several other compounds previously not known to be produced by A. nidulans One isolate showed a lack of sterigmatocystin production even though it contained an apparently intact sterigmatocystin BGC, raising questions about other genes and processes known to regulate this BGC. Altogether, our work uncovers a large degree of intraspecies diversity in BGC and SM production in this genetic model species and offers new avenues to understand the evolution and regulation of secondary metabolism.IMPORTANCE Much of what we know about the genetics underlying secondary metabolite (SM) production and the function of SMs in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans comes from a single reference genome. A growing body of research indicates the importance of biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) and SM diversity within a species. However, there is no information about the natural diversity of secondary metabolism in A. nidulans We discovered six novel clusters that contribute to the considerable variation in both BGC content and SM production within A. nidulans We characterize a diverse set of mutations and emphasize how findings of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), deletions, and differences in evolutionary history encompass much of the variation observed in nonmodel systems. Our results emphasize that A. nidulans may also be a strong model to use within-species diversity to elucidate regulatory cross talk, fungal ecology, and drug discovery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M T Drott
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - R W Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - L N A Ries
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - T Gabaldón
- Life Sciences Program, Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - C Greco
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Castellá G, Bragulat MR, Cigliano RA, Cabañes FJ. Transcriptome analysis of non-ochratoxigenic Aspergillus carbonarius strains and interactions between some black aspergilli species. Int J Food Microbiol 2019; 317:108498. [PMID: 31918247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus carbonarius consistently produces large amounts of ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin with nephrotoxic effects on animals and humans. In the present study, we analyzed the transcriptional changes associated to OTA production in three atypical non-ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius. In addition, in vitro interactions between ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and A. niger and non-ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and A. tubingensis were studied in order to evaluate their potential for controlling OTA production. RNA-seq analysis revealed that there are 696 differentially expressed genes identified in the three non-OTA-producing strains, including 280 up-regulated and 333 down-regulated genes. A functional and gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the processes related to metabolic and oxidation processes, associated with functions such as oxidoreductase and hydrolase activity were down regulated. All the genes related with OTA biosynthesis in A. carbonarius were the most down-regulated genes in non-ochratoxigenic strains. We also showed that these strains possess a deleterious mutation in the AcOTApks gene required for OTA biosynthesis. Moreover, one of these strains gave the best control of OTA production resulting in an OTA reduction of 98-100% in co-inoculation with an ochratoxigenic strain of A. niger and an OTA reduction of 79-89% with an ochratoxigenic strain of A. carbonarius. Results of this study provided novel insights into the knowledge of the OTA biosynthetic pathway in these non-ochratoxigenic wild strains, and showed the biocontrol potential of these strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Castellá
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Rosa Bragulat
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - F Javier Cabañes
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Nazareth TM, Alonso-Garrido M, Stanciu O, Mañes J, Manyes L, Meca G. Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on transcriptional profile, aflatoxin synthesis, and Aspergillus flavus growth. Food Res Int 2020; 128:108786. [PMID: 31955757 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The goals of this study were to determine the efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against the growth of A. flavus and Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production as well as to evaluate changes in the transcriptome profile when colonizing maize. A. flavus was inoculated in potato dextrose agar (PDA), the plates were placed inside glass jars and the mycelial growth (MG) was monitored for 7 d. Likewise, maize grains were contaminated with A. flavus in glass jars of 1 L and treated with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 5 µL of AITC. The moisture content (MC) of grains was 15 and 21%. After 7 days of storage, the MG was significantly reduced in doses higher than 0.125 µL/L of AITC. All doses of AITC reduced significantly the fungal growth and AFB1 production in maize after 30 d, regardless of MC. The transcriptional changes caused by AITC treatment showed significant overexpression for environmental and global transcription factors. These results suggest that AITC could be used as a fumigant to avoid the growth of A. flavus and the production of AFB1, moreover, confirm transcriptional alteration of genes involved in AFB1 and other processes key for normal fungal growth and development.
Collapse
|
23
|
Xu Y, Vinas M, Alsarrag A, Su L, Pfohl K, Rohlfs M, Schäfer W, Chen W, Karlovsky P. Bis-naphthopyrone pigments protect filamentous ascomycetes from a wide range of predators. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3579. [PMID: 31395863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It is thought that fungi protect themselves from predation by the production of compounds that are toxic to soil-dwelling animals. Here, we show that a nontoxic pigment, the bis-naphthopyrone aurofusarin, protects Fusarium fungi from a wide range of animal predators. We find that springtails (primitive hexapods), woodlice (crustaceans), and mealworms (insects) prefer feeding on fungi with disrupted aurofusarin synthesis, and mealworms and springtails are repelled by wheat flour amended with the fungal bis-naphthopyrones aurofusarin, viomellein, or xanthomegnin. Predation stimulates aurofusarin synthesis in several Fusarium species and viomellein synthesis in Aspergillus ochraceus. Aurofusarin displays low toxicity in mealworms, springtails, isopods, Drosophila, and insect cells, contradicting the common view that fungal defence metabolites are toxic. Our results indicate that bis-naphthopyrones are defence compounds that protect filamentous ascomycetes from predators through a mechanism that does not involve toxicity.
Collapse
|
24
|
Rodrigues-Pousada C, Devaux F, Caetano SM, Pimentel C, da Silva S, Cordeiro AC, Amaral C. Yeast AP-1 like transcription factors (Yap) and stress response: a current overview. Microb Cell 2019; 6:267-285. [PMID: 31172012 PMCID: PMC6545440 DOI: 10.15698/mic2019.06.679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Yeast adaptation to stress has been extensively studied. It involves large reprogramming of genome expression operated by many, more or less specific, transcription factors. Here, we review our current knowledge on the function of the eight Yap transcription factors (Yap1 to Yap8) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which were shown to be involved in various stress responses. More precisely, Yap1 is activated under oxidative stress, Yap2/Cad1 under cadmium, Yap4/Cin5 and Yap6 under osmotic shock, Yap5 under iron overload and Yap8/Arr1 by arsenic compounds. Yap3 and Yap7 seem to be involved in hydroquinone and nitrosative stresses, respectively. The data presented in this article illustrate how much knowledge on the function of these Yap transcription factors is advanced. The evolution of the Yap family and its roles in various pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungal species is discussed in the last section.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Frédéric Devaux
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Soraia M Caetano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pimentel
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sofia da Silva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana Carolina Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Amaral
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica Anónio Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, EAN, Oeiras 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
One of the exciting movements in microbial sciences has been a refocusing and revitalization of efforts to mine the fungal secondary metabolome. The magnitude of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in a single filamentous fungal genome combined with the historic number of sequenced genomes suggests that the secondary metabolite wealth of filamentous fungi is largely untapped. Mining algorithms and scalable expression platforms have greatly expanded access to the chemical repertoire of fungal-derived secondary metabolites. In this Review, I discuss new insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of BGCs and the ecological roles of fungal secondary metabolites in warfare, defence and development. I also explore avenues for the identification of new fungal metabolites and the challenges in harvesting fungal-derived secondary metabolites.
Collapse
|
26
|
Lin H, Lyu H, Zhou S, Yu J, Keller NP, Chen L, Yin WB. Deletion of a global regulator LaeB leads to the discovery of novel polyketides in Aspergillus nidulans. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 16:4973-4976. [PMID: 29947411 DOI: 10.1039/c8ob01326h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
By disruption of LaeB, a global regulator recently characterized in Aspergillus nidulans, eight cryptic compounds in the mutant were identified, including seven polyketides and one NRPS-like product. Among the isolates, two phthalides and two dibenzo[1,4]dioxins are new compounds, revealing that the genetic manipulation of the global regulator represents a promising approach for the discovery of novel natural products in fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haizhou Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Atriztán-Hernández K, Moreno-Pedraza A, Winkler R, Markow T, Herrera-Estrella A. Trichoderma atroviride from Predator to Prey: Role of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Tmk3 in Fungal Chemical Defense against Fungivory by Drosophila melanogaster Larvae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:e01825-18. [PMID: 30389761 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01825-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi, like other organisms, have natural predators, including fungivorous nematodes and arthropods that use them as an important food source. Thus, they require mechanisms to detect and respond to injury. Trichoderma atroviride responds to mycelial injury by rapidly regenerating its hyphae and developing asexual reproduction structures. Whether this injury response is associated with attack by fungivorous insects is unknown. Therefore, determining the possible conservation of a defense mechanism to predation in T. atroviride and plants and elucidating the mechanisms involved in the establishment of this response is of major interest. Here, we describe the chemical response of T. atroviride to mechanical injury and fungivory and the role of a MAPK pathway in the regulation of this response. The response to injury represents an important strategy for animals and plants to survive mechanical damage and predation. Plants respond to injury by activating a defense response that includes the production of an important variety of compounds that help them withstand predator attack and recover from mechanical injury (MI). Similarly, the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride responds to MI by strongly modifying its transcriptional profile and producing asexual reproduction structures (conidia). Here, we analyzed whether the response to MI in T. atroviride is related to a possible predator defense mechanism from a metabolic perspective. We found that the production of specific groups of secondary metabolites increases in response to MI but is reduced after fungivory by Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We further show that fungivory results in repression of the expression of genes putatively involved in the regulation of secondary metabolite production in T. atroviride. Activation of secondary metabolite production appears to depend on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Tmk3. Interestingly, D. melanogaster larvae preferred to feed on a tmk3 gene replacement mutant rather than on the wild-type strain. Consumption of the mutant strain, however, resulted in increased larval mortality. IMPORTANCE Fungi, like other organisms, have natural predators, including fungivorous nematodes and arthropods that use them as an important food source. Thus, they require mechanisms to detect and respond to injury. Trichoderma atroviride responds to mycelial injury by rapidly regenerating its hyphae and developing asexual reproduction structures. Whether this injury response is associated with attack by fungivorous insects is unknown. Therefore, determining the possible conservation of a defense mechanism to predation in T. atroviride and plants and elucidating the mechanisms involved in the establishment of this response is of major interest. Here, we describe the chemical response of T. atroviride to mechanical injury and fungivory and the role of a MAPK pathway in the regulation of this response.
Collapse
|
28
|
|
29
|
Li W, Yu J, Li Z, Yin W. Rational design for fungal laccase production in the model host Aspergillus nidulans. Sci China Life Sci 2019; 62:84-94. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9304-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
30
|
Riquelme M, Aguirre J, Bartnicki-García S, Braus GH, Feldbrügge M, Fleig U, Hansberg W, Herrera-Estrella A, Kämper J, Kück U, Mouriño-Pérez RR, Takeshita N, Fischer R. Fungal Morphogenesis, from the Polarized Growth of Hyphae to Complex Reproduction and Infection Structures. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2018; 82:e00068-17. [PMID: 29643171 PMCID: PMC5968459 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00068-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi constitute a large group of eukaryotic microorganisms that grow by forming simple tube-like hyphae that are capable of differentiating into more-complex morphological structures and distinct cell types. Hyphae form filamentous networks by extending at their tips while branching in subapical regions. Rapid tip elongation requires massive membrane insertion and extension of the rigid chitin-containing cell wall. This process is sustained by a continuous flow of secretory vesicles that depends on the coordinated action of the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons and the corresponding motors and associated proteins. Vesicles transport cell wall-synthesizing enzymes and accumulate in a special structure, the Spitzenkörper, before traveling further and fusing with the tip membrane. The place of vesicle fusion and growth direction are enabled and defined by the position of the Spitzenkörper, the so-called cell end markers, and other proteins involved in the exocytic process. Also important for tip extension is membrane recycling by endocytosis via early endosomes, which function as multipurpose transport vehicles for mRNA, septins, ribosomes, and peroxisomes. Cell integrity, hyphal branching, and morphogenesis are all processes that are largely dependent on vesicle and cytoskeleton dynamics. When hyphae differentiate structures for asexual or sexual reproduction or to mediate interspecies interactions, the hyphal basic cellular machinery may be reprogrammed through the synthesis of new proteins and/or the modification of protein activity. Although some transcriptional networks involved in such reprogramming of hyphae are well studied in several model filamentous fungi, clear connections between these networks and known determinants of hyphal morphogenesis are yet to be established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Jesús Aguirre
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Salomon Bartnicki-García
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ursula Fleig
- Institute for Functional Genomics of Microorganisms, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Hansberg
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Mexico
| | - Jörg Kämper
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Ruhr University Bochum, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosa R Mouriño-Pérez
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Norio Takeshita
- University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Castellá G, Bragulat MR, Puig L, Sanseverino W, Cabañes FJ. Genomic diversity in ochratoxigenic and non ochratoxigenic strains of Aspergillus carbonarius. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5439. [PMID: 29615708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23802-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin with nephrotoxic effects on animals and humans. Aspergillus carbonarius is the main responsible for OTA contamination of grapes and derived products. We present the genome resequencing of four A. carbonarius strains, one OTA producer and three atypical and unique non-OTA producing strains. These strains were sequenced using Illumina technology and compared with a reference genome of this species. We performed some specific bioinformatics analyses in genes involved in OTA biosynthesis. Data obtained in this study revealed the high genomic diversity within A. carbonarius strains. Although some gaps of more than 1,000 bp were identified in non-ochratoxigenic strains, no large deletions in functional genes related with OTA production were found. Moreover, the expression of five genes of the putative OTA biosynthetic cluster was down regulated under OTA-inducing conditions in the non-ochratoxigenic strains. Knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms involved in OTA biosynthesis will provide a deeper understanding of these non-ochratoxigenic strains.
Collapse
|
32
|
Kenne GJ, Gummadidala PM, Omebeyinje MH, Mondal AM, Bett DK, McFadden S, Bromfield S, Banaszek N, Velez-Martinez M, Mitra C, Mikell I, Chatterjee S, Wee J, Chanda A. Activation of Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Alleviates Total ROS in Aspergillus parasiticus. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:E57. [PMID: 29382166 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10020057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An aspect of mycotoxin biosynthesis that remains unclear is its relationship with the cellular management of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we conduct a comparative study of the total ROS production in the wild-type strain (SU-1) of the plant pathogen and aflatoxin producer, Aspergillus parasiticus, and its mutant strain, AFS10, in which the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway is blocked by disruption of its pathway regulator, aflR. We show that SU-1 demonstrates a significantly faster decrease in total ROS than AFS10 between 24 h to 48 h, a time window within which aflatoxin synthesis is activated and reaches peak levels in SU-1. The impact of aflatoxin synthesis in alleviation of ROS correlated well with the transcriptional activation of five superoxide dismutases (SOD), a group of enzymes that protect cells from elevated levels of a class of ROS, the superoxide radicals (O₂-). Finally, we show that aflatoxin supplementation to AFS10 growth medium results in a significant reduction of total ROS only in 24 h cultures, without resulting in significant changes in SOD gene expression. Our findings show that the activation of aflatoxin biosynthesis in A. parasiticus alleviates ROS generation, which in turn, can be both aflR dependent and aflatoxin dependent.
Collapse
|
33
|
Gil-Serna J, García-Díaz M, González-Jaén MT, Vázquez C, Patiño B. Description of an orthologous cluster of ochratoxin A biosynthetic genes in Aspergillus and Penicillium species. A comparative analysis. Int J Food Microbiol 2018; 268:35-43. [PMID: 29324288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most important mycotoxins due to its toxic properties and worldwide distribution which is produced by several Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The knowledge of OTA biosynthetic genes and understanding of the mechanisms involved in their regulation are essential. In this work, we obtained a clear picture of biosynthetic genes organization in the main OTA-producing Aspergillus and Penicillium species (A. steynii, A. westerdijkiae, A. niger, A. carbonarius and P. nordicum) using complete genome sequences obtained in this work or previously available on databases. The results revealed a region containing five ORFs which predicted five proteins: halogenase, bZIP transcription factor, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase in all the five species. Genetic synteny was conserved in both Penicillium and Aspergillus species although genomic location seemed to be different since the clusters presented different flanking regions (except for A. steynii and A. westerdijkiae); these observations support the hypothesis of the orthology of this genomic region and that it might have been acquired by horizontal transfer. New real-time RT-PCR assays for quantification of the expression of these OTA biosynthetic genes were developed. In all species, the five genes were consistently expressed in OTA-producing strains in permissive conditions. These protocols might favour futures studies on the regulation of biosynthetic genes in order to develop new efficient control methods to avoid OTA entering the food chain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gil-Serna
- Department of Microbiology III, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta García-Díaz
- Department of Microbiology III, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Teresa González-Jaén
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Covadonga Vázquez
- Department of Microbiology III, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Patiño
- Department of Microbiology III, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Regulin A, Kempken F. Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190543. [PMID: 29293643 PMCID: PMC5749846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi produce an astonishing variety of secondary metabolites, some of which belong to the most toxic compounds in the living world. Several fungal metabolites have anti-insecticidal properties which may yield advantages to the fungus in competition with insects for exploitation of environmental resources. Using the Drosophila melanogaster/Aspergillus nidulans ecological model system to assess secondary metabolite mutant genotypes, we find a major role for the veA allele in insect/fungal confrontations that exceeds the influence of other factors such as LaeA. VeA along with LaeA is a member of a transcriptional complex governing secondary metabolism in A. nidulans. However, historically a mutant veA allele, veA1 reduced in secondary metabolite output, has been used in many studies of this model organism. To test the significance of this allele in our system, Aspergillus nidulans veA wild type, veA1, ΔveA and ΔlaeA were evaluated in confrontation assays to analyze egg laying activity, and the survival rate of larvae. The veA1 genetic background led to a significant increase of larval survival. Adult flies were observed almost exclusively on veA1, ΔveA or ΔlaeA genetic backgrounds, suggesting a role for the velvet complex in insect/fungal interactions. This effect was most profound using the veA1 mutant. Hence, larval survival in confrontations is highly affected by the fungal genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika Regulin
- Botanisches Institut und Botanischer Garten, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Kempken
- Botanisches Institut und Botanischer Garten, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ma Z, Li W, Zhang P, Lyu H, Hu Y, Yin WB. Rational design for heterologous production of aurovertin-type compounds in Aspergillus nidulans. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:297-304. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8606-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
36
|
Caceres I, El Khoury R, Bailly S, Oswald IP, Puel O, Bailly JD. Piperine inhibits aflatoxin B1 production in Aspergillus flavus by modulating fungal oxidative stress response. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 107:77-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
37
|
Wee J, Hong SY, Roze LV, Day DM, Chanda A, Linz JE. The Fungal bZIP Transcription Factor AtfB Controls Virulence-Associated Processes in Aspergillus parasiticus. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9090287. [PMID: 28926946 PMCID: PMC5618220 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors mediate responses to oxidative stress. The ability to regulate stress response pathways in Aspergillus spp. was postulated to be an important virulence-associated cellular process, because it helps establish infection in humans, plants, and animals. Previous studies have demonstrated that the fungal transcription factor AtfB encodes a protein that is associated with resistance to oxidative stress in asexual conidiospores, and AtfB binds to the promoters of several stress response genes. Here, we conducted a gene silencing of AtfB in Aspergillus parasiticus, a well-characterized fungal pathogen of plants, animals, and humans that produces the secondary metabolite and carcinogen aflatoxin, in order to determine the mechanisms by which AtfB contributes to virulence. We show that AtfB silencing results in a decrease in aflatoxin enzyme levels, the down-regulation of aflatoxin accumulation, and impaired conidiospore development in AtfB-silenced strains. This observation is supported by a decrease of AtfB protein levels, and the down-regulation of many genes in the aflatoxin cluster, as well as genes involved in secondary metabolism and conidiospore development. Global expression analysis (RNA Seq) demonstrated that AtfB functionally links oxidative stress response pathways to a broader and novel subset of target genes involved in cellular defense, as well as in actin and cytoskeleton arrangement/transport. Thus, AtfB regulates the genes involved in development, stress response, and secondary metabolism in A. parasiticus. We propose that the bZIP regulatory circuit controlled by AtfB provides a large number of excellent cellular targets to reduce fungal virulence. More importantly, understanding key players that are crucial to initiate the cellular response to oxidative stress will enable better control over its detrimental impacts on humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Wee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Sung-Yong Hong
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Ludmila V Roze
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Devin M Day
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Anindya Chanda
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
| | - John E Linz
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Hu X, Qin L, Roberts DP, Lakshman DK, Gong Y, Maul JE, Xie L, Yu C, Li Y, Hu L, Liao X, Liao X. Characterization of mechanisms underlying degradation of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by Aspergillus aculeatus Asp-4 using a combined qRT-PCR and proteomic approach. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:674. [PMID: 28859614 PMCID: PMC5580281 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The biological control agent Aspergillus aculeatus Asp-4 colonizes and degrades sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resulting in reduced germination and disease caused by this important plant pathogen. Molecular mechanisms of mycoparasites underlying colonization, degradation, and reduction of germination of sclerotia of this and other important plant pathogens remain poorly understood. Results An RNA-Seq screen of Asp-4 growing on autoclaved, ground sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum for 48 h identified 997 up-regulated and 777 down-regulated genes relative to this mycoparasite growing on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for 48 h. qRT-PCR time course experiments characterized expression dynamics of select genes encoding enzymes functioning in degradation of sclerotial components and management of environmental conditions, including environmental stress. This analysis suggested co-temporal up-regulation of genes functioning in these two processes. Proteomic analysis of Asp-4 growing on this sclerotial material for 48 h identified 26 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated proteins relative to the PDA control. Certain proteins with increased abundance had putative functions in degradation of polymeric components of sclerotia and the mitigation of environmental stress. Conclusions Our results suggest co-temporal up-regulation of genes involved in degradation of sclerotial compounds and mitigation of environmental stress. This study furthers the analysis of mycoparasitism of sclerotial pathogens by providing the basis for molecular characterization of a previously uncharacterized mycoparasite-sclerotial interaction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4016-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojia Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Qin
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel P Roberts
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.
| | - Dilip K Lakshman
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Yangmin Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jude E Maul
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Lihua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Changbing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinshui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangsheng Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Zhao Y, Ding J, Yuan W, Huang J, Huang W, Wang Y, Zheng W. Production of a fungal furocoumarin by a polyketide synthase gene cluster confers the chemo-resistance of Neurospora crassa to the predation by fungivorous arthropods. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:3920-3929. [PMID: 28485098 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The formation of sexual fruiting bodies and production of polyketides are believed to be the most important strategies for fungal survival in environmental insults. In Neurospora crassa, the backbone gene of polyketide synthase gene cluster 6 (pks-6), which is expressed at lower level under vegetative growth, is highly expressed during perithecia development. Intriguingly, deletion of pks-6 does not affect perithecia maturation. How the expression of pks-6 correlates with fungal sexual development remains to be established. Here, we showed that overexpression of pks-6 results in an enhanced production of an insecticidal furocoumarin (neurosporin A). Deletion of pks-6, however, abolished neurosporin A biosynthesis. Moreover, the content of neurosporin A negatively associates with the food preference of fungivores, where the pks-6 knockout strain is more prone to be grazed by collembolans Sinella curviseta. Additionally, during vegetative growth, confrontation with Drosophila melanogaster also results in an enhanced expression of pks-6 and production of neurosporin A. Thus, high expression of pks-6 positively interrelates with the chemo-resistance of N. crassa to arthropod predation. Our findings suggest that pks-6 confers the production of insecticidal neurosporin A counteracting the feeding attack by arthropods during sexual development of N. crassa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Jianing Ding
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Weihua Yuan
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Jinjin Huang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Wenxiu Huang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Weifa Zheng
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Soukup AA, Fischer GJ, Luo J, Keller NP. The Aspergillus nidulans Pbp1 homolog is required for normal sexual development and secondary metabolism. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 100:13-21. [PMID: 28089630 PMCID: PMC5337145 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
P bodies and stress granules are RNA-containing structures governing mRNA degradation and translational arrest, respectively. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pbp1 protein localizes to stress granules and promotes their formation and is involved in proper polyadenylation, suppression of RNA-DNA hybrids, and preventing aberrant rDNA recombination. A genetic screen for Aspergillus nidulans mutants aberrant in secondary metabolism identified the Pbp1 homolog, PbpA. Using Dcp1 (mRNA decapping) as a marker for P-body formation and FabM (Pab1, poly-A binding protein) to track stress granule accumulation, we examine the dynamics of RNA granule formation in A. nidulans cells lacking pub1, edc3, and pbpA. Although PbpA acts as a functional homolog of yeast PBP1, PbpA had little impact on either P-body or stress granule formation in A. nidulans in contrast to Pub1 and Edc3. However, we find that PbpA is critical for sexual development and its loss increases the production of some secondary metabolites including the carcinogen sterigmatocystin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A Soukup
- Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States
| | - Gregory J Fischer
- Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jerry Luo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Macheleidt J, Mattern DJ, Fischer J, Netzker T, Weber J, Schroeckh V, Valiante V, Brakhage AA. Regulation and Role of Fungal Secondary Metabolites. Annu Rev Genet 2016; 50:371-392. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120215-035203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Macheleidt
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
| | - Derek J. Mattern
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Juliane Fischer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Tina Netzker
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Jakob Weber
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Schroeckh
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
| | - Vito Valiante
- Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; , , , , , ,
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
Interactions between insects and fungi are widespread, and important mediators of these interactions are fungal chemicals that can therefore be considered as allelochemicals. Numerous studies suggest that fungal chemicals can affect insects in many different ways. Here, we apply the terminology established by insect-plant ecologists for categorizing the effect of fungal allelochemicals on insects and for evaluating the application potential of these chemicals in insect pest management. Our literature survey shows that fungal volatile and non-volatile chemicals have an enormous potential to influence insect behavior and fitness. Many of them still remain to be discovered, but some recent examples of repellents and toxins could open up new ways for developing safe insect control strategies. However, we also identified shortcomings in our understanding of the chemical ecology of insect-fungus interactions and the way they have been investigated. In particular, the mode-of-action of fungal allelochemicals has often not been appropriately designated or examined, and the way in which induction by insects affects fungal chemical diversity is poorly understood. This review should raise awareness that in-depth ecological studies of insect-fungus interactions can reveal novel allelochemicals of particular benefit for the development of innovative insect pest management strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit Holighaus
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Büsgen Institute, Forest Zoology and Forest Conservation, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marko Rohlfs
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Caballero Ortiz S, Rohlfs M. Isopod grazing induces down-regulation of Aspergillus nidulans anti-fungivore defence marker genes. FUNGAL ECOL 2016; 20:84-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
44
|
Wu G, Zhou H, Zhang P, Wang X, Li W, Zhang W, Liu X, Liu HW, Keller NP, An Z, Yin WB. Polyketide Production of Pestaloficiols and Macrodiolide Ficiolides Revealed by Manipulations of Epigenetic Regulators in an Endophytic Fungus. Org Lett 2016; 18:1832-5. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6b00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guangwei Wu
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Haichuan Zhou
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiuna Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xingzhong Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hong-Wei Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department
of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas
Therapeutics Institute, the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular
Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State
Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
|
46
|
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are renowned for the production of a diverse array of secondary metabolites (SMs) where the genetic material required for synthesis of a SM is typically arrayed in a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). These natural products are valued for their bioactive properties stemming from their functions in fungal biology, key among those protection from abiotic and biotic stress and establishment of a secure niche. The producing fungus must not only avoid self-harm from endogenous SMs but also deliver specific SMs at the right time to the right tissue requiring biochemical aid. This review highlights functions of BGCs beyond the enzymatic assembly of SMs, considering the timing and location of SM production and other proteins in the clusters that control SM activity. Specifically, self-protection is provided by both BGC-encoded mechanisms and non-BGC subcellular containment of toxic SM precursors; delivery and timing is orchestrated through cellular trafficking patterns and stress- and developmental-responsive transcriptional programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy P Keller
- Department of Bacteriology and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wang X, Wu F, Liu L, Liu X, Che Y, Keller NP, Guo L, Yin WB. The bZIP transcription factor PfZipA regulates secondary metabolism and oxidative stress response in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 81:221-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
48
|
Emri T, Szarvas V, Orosz E, Antal K, Park H, Han KH, Yu JH, Pócsi I. Core oxidative stress response in Aspergillus nidulans. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:478. [PMID: 26115917 PMCID: PMC4482186 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1705-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The b-Zip transcription factor AtfA plays a key role in regulating stress responses in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. To identify the core regulons of AtfA, we examined genome-wide expression changes caused by various stresses in the presence/absence of AtfA using A. nidulans microarrays. We also intended to address the intriguing question regarding the existence of core environmental stress response in this important model eukaryote. RESULTS Examination of the genome wide expression changes caused by five different oxidative stress conditions in wild type and the atfA null mutant has identified a significant number of stereotypically regulated genes (Core Oxidative Stress Response genes). The deletion of atfA increased the oxidative stress sensitivity of A. nidulans and affected mRNA accumulation of several genes under both unstressed and stressed conditions. The numbers of genes under the AtfA control appear to be specific to a stress-type. We also found that both oxidative and salt stresses induced expression of some secondary metabolite gene clusters and the deletion of atfA enhanced the stress responsiveness of additional clusters. Moreover, certain clusters were down-regulated by the stresses tested. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the observed co-regulations were most likely consequences of the overlapping physiological effects of the stressors and not of the existence of a general environmental stress response. The function of AtfA in governing various stress responses is much smaller than anticipated and/or other regulators may play a redundant or overlapping role with AtfA. Both stress inducible and stress repressive regulations of secondary metabolism seem to be frequent features in A. nidulans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Emri
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Vera Szarvas
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Erzsébet Orosz
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Károly Antal
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Eszterházy Károly College, Eszterházy út 1, H-3300, Eger, Hungary.
| | - HeeSoo Park
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Kap-Hoon Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, 565-701, Wanju, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Stötefeld L, Holighaus G, Schütz S, Rohlfs M. Volatile-mediated location of mutualist host and toxic non-host microfungi by Drosophila larvae. CHEMOECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-015-0197-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
50
|
Abstract
Fungal secondary metabolism and morphological development have been shown to be intimately associated at the genetic level. Much of the literature has focused on the co-regulation of secondary metabolite production (e.g., sterigmatocystin and aflatoxin in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus flavus, respectively) with conidiation or formation of sexual fruiting bodies. However, many of these genetic links also control sclerotial production. Sclerotia are resistant structures produced by a number of fungal genera. They also represent the principal source of primary inoculum for some phytopathogenic fungi. In nature, higher plants often concentrate secondary metabolites in reproductive structures as a means of defense against herbivores and insects. By analogy, fungi also sequester a number of secondary metabolites in sclerotia that act as a chemical defense system against fungivorous predators. These include antiinsectant compounds such as tetramic acids, indole diterpenoids, pyridones, and diketopiperazines. This chapter will focus on the molecular mechanisms governing production of secondary metabolites and the role they play in sclerotial development and fungal ecology, with particular emphasis on Aspergillus species. The global regulatory proteins VeA and LaeA, components of the velvet nuclear protein complex, serve as virulence factors and control both development and secondary metabolite production in many Aspergillus species. We will discuss a number of VeA- and LaeA-regulated secondary metabolic gene clusters in A. flavus that are postulated to be involved in sclerotial morphogenesis and chemical defense. The presence of multiple regulatory factors that control secondary metabolism and sclerotial formation suggests that fungi have evolved these complex regulatory mechanisms as a means to rapidly adapt chemical responses to protect sclerotia from predators, competitors and other environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Calvo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Cary
- Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service New Orleans, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|