Involvement of FgERG4 in ergosterol biosynthesis, vegetative differentiation and virulence in Fusarium graminearum. (4th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Xin; Jiang, Jinhua; Yin, Yanni; Ma, Zhonghua
• Is Part Of: Molecular plant pathology. Volume 14:Number 1(2013:Jan.)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2012-09-04
• Subjects: Plant diseases -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; Plant-pathogen relationships -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 571.936
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2012.00829.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-6722

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>The ergosterol biosynthesis pathway is well understood in <italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</italic>, but currently little is known about the pathway in plant‐pathogenic fungi. In this study, we characterized the <italic>Fusarium graminearum FgERG4</italic> gene encoding sterol C‐24 reductase, which catalyses the conversion of ergosta‐5, 7, 22, 24‐tetraenol to ergosterol in the final step of ergosterol biosynthesis. The <italic>FgERG4</italic> deletion mutant ΔFgErg4‐2 failed to synthesize ergosterol. The mutant exhibited a significant decrease in mycelial growth and conidiation, and produced abnormal conidia. In addition, the mutant showed increased sensitivity to metal cations and to various cell stresses. Surprisingly, mycelia of ΔFgErg4‐2 revealed increased resistance to cell wall‐degrading enzymes. Fungicide sensitivity tests revealed that ΔFgErg4‐2 showed increased resistance to various sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBIs), which is consistent with the over‐expression of SBI target genes in the mutant. ΔFgErg4‐2 was impaired dramatically in virulence, although it was able to successfully colonize flowering wheat head and tomato, which is in agreement with the observation that the mutant produces a significantly lower level of trichothecene mycotoxins than does the wild‐type progenitor. All of these phenotypic defects of ΔFgErg4‐2 were complemented by the reintroduction of a full‐length <italic>FgERG4</italic> gene. In addition, <italic>FgERG4</italic> partially rescued the defect of ergosterol biosynthesis in the <italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae ERG4</italic> deletion mutant. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that <italic>FgERG4</italic> plays a crucial role in ergosterol biosynthesis, vegetative differentiation and virulence in the filamentous fungus <italic>F. graminearum</italic>.</p> </abstract>