Sugar Partitioning between Ustilago maydis and Its Host Zea mays L during Infection. Issue 4 (28th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sosso, Davide; van der Linde, Karina; Bezrutczyk, Margaret; Schuler, David; Schneider, Karina; Kämper, Jörg; Walbot, Virginia
• Is Part Of: Plant physiology. Volume 179:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 1373
• Page End: 1385
• Publication Date: 2018-12-28
• Subjects: Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.2
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.01435
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0889

Abstract

Abstract : Ustilago maydis hijacks maize transporters to redirect plant sugars toward the infection site where it feeds, generating a sugar gradient within hyphae and causing plant yield losses. Abstract: The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis causes smut disease in maize ( Zea mays ) by infecting all plant aerial tissues. The infection causes leaf chlorosis and stimulates the plant to produce nutrient-rich niches (i.e. tumors), where the fungus can proliferate and complete its life cycle. Previous studies have recorded high accumulation of soluble sugars and starch within these tumors. Using interdisciplinary approaches, we found that the sugar accumulation within tumors coincided with the differential expression of plant sugars will eventually be exported transporters and the proton/sucrose symporter Sucrose Transporter1 . To accumulate plant sugars, the fungus deploys its own set of sugar transporters, generating a sugar gradient within the fungal cytosol, recorded by expressing a cytosolic glucose (Glc) Förster resonance energy transfer sensor. Our measurements indicated likely elevated Glc levels in hyphal tips during infection. Growing infected plants under dark conditions led to decreased plant sugar levels and loss of the fungal tip Glc gradient, supporting a tight link between fungal sugar acquisition and host supplies. Finally, the fungal infection causes a strong imbalance in plant sugar distribution, ultimately impacting seed set and yield.