Aaprb1, a subtilsin-like protease, required for autophagy and virulence of the tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata

Fu, Huilan; Chung, Kuang‐Ren; Liu, Xiaohong; Li, Hongye

doi:10.1016/j.micres.2020.126537

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The correlation between proteolytic activity and pathogenicity has been shown for several phytopathogenic fungi in the establishment of disease [57,58]. The subtilisin-like serine proteases FgPrb1 of Fusarium graminearum and Aaprb1 of Alternaria alternata are required for fungal pathogenesis [59,60]. In addition, several fungal secreted proteases and metalloproteases possess functions that cleave specific plant chitinases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenic Process-Associated Transcriptome Analysis of Stemphylium lycopersici from Tomato

Zhang

Chi

Wang

et al. 2022

International Journal of Genomics

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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) gray leaf spot disease is a predominant foliar disease of tomato in China that is caused mainly by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Stemphylium lycopersici. Little is known regarding the pathogenic mechanisms of this broad-host-range pathogen. In this study, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed and more genetic information on the pathogenicity determinants of S. lycopersici during the infection process in tomato were obtained. Through an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, 1,642 and 1,875 genes upregulated during the early infection and necrotrophic phases, respectively, were identified and significantly enriched in 44 and 24 pathways, respectively. The induction of genes associated with pectin degradation, adhesion, and colonization was notable during the early infection phase, whereas during the necrotrophic phase, some structural molecule activity-related genes were prominently induced. Additionally, some genes involved in signal regulation or encoding hemicellulose- and cellulose-degrading enzymes and extracellular proteases were commonly upregulated during pathogenesis. Overall, we present some putative key genes and processes that may be crucial for S. lycopersici pathogenesis. The abilities to adhere and colonize a host surface, effectively damage host cell walls, regulate signal transduction to manage infection, and survive in a hostile plant environment are proposed as important factors for the pathogenesis of S. lycopersici in tomato. The functional characterization of these genes provides an invaluable resource for analyses of this important pathosystem between S. lycopersici and tomato, and it may facilitate the generation of control strategies against this devastating disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenic Process-Associated Transcriptome Analysis of Stemphylium lycopersici from Tomato

Zhang

Chi

Wang

et al. 2022

International Journal of Genomics

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“…In this group, one protein exclusively detected in control cells and absent in the treated deserves attention, the Subtilisin-like protease 6 (Supplementary table 1 and table 2). The subtilisin-like proteases are enzymes in fungi autophagy and fungal virulence, enhancing invasion and colonization [95,96]. The absence of Subtilisin-like protease 6…”

Section: Pathogenicity-related Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Chance to Survive: Mo-CBP3-PepII Synthetic Peptide Acts on <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em> by Multiple Mechanisms of Action

Aguiar¹,

Mesquita²,

Neto³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Cryptococcus neoformans is a human multidrug-resistant yeast with high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. Recently, the synthetic peptide Mo-CBP3-PepII emerged as a potent anticryptococcal molecule with an MIC50 at low concentration. Here, the mechanisms of action of Mo-CBP3-PepII were deeply analyzed to provide new information about how it led C. neoformans cells to death. Light and fluorescence microscopies, analysis of enzymatic activities, and proteomic analysis were employed to understand the effect of Mo-CBP3-PepII on C. neoformans cells. Light and fluorescence microscopies revealed Mo-CBP3-PepII induced the accumulation of anion superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in C. neoformans cells. In addition to a reduction in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) in the cells treated with Mo-CBP3-PepII. In the presence of Ascorbic acid (AsA), no ROS were detected and Mo-CBP3-PepII lost the inhibitory activity against C. neoformans. Yet, Mo-CBP3-PepII inhibited the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ergosterol biosynthesis, and induced the decoupling of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane. Proteomic analysis revealed a reduction in the abundance of proteins related to energetic metabolism, DNA and RNA metabolism, pathogenicity, protein metabolism, cytoskeleton, and cell wall organization and division. Our findings indicated that Mo-CBP3-PepII might have multiple mechanisms of action against C. neoformans cells, mitigating the development of resistance and thus being a potent molecule to be employed in the production of new drugs against C. neoformans infections.

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“…The biosynthesis of fungal secondary metabolites is regulated or impacted by a wide variety of proteins, signals, and environmental factors ( 19 , 20 ). Studies in the tangerine pathotype have identified components in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways, peroxisome complex activities, and autophagy-related processes that are required for ACT biosynthesis and virulence ( 21 – 24 ). A basal transcription factor II H subunit (tfb5) and a GATA transcription factor (AreA) have also been shown to be required for ACT biosynthesis, sporulation, and virulence in the tangerine pathotype ( 25 , 26 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alternaria alternata StuA transcription factor interacting with the pH-responsive regulator PacC for the biosynthesis of host-selective toxin and virulence in citrus

Chen,

Cao,

Jiao

et al. 2023

Microbiol Spectr

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The tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata produces a host-selective toxin termed Alternaria citri toxin (ACT). The molecular mechanisms underlying the global regulation and biosynthesis of ACT remain unknown. In the present study, the function of an APSES transcription factor StuA was investigated. StuA was shown to be required for ACT biosynthesis and fungal virulence. StuA was found, for the first time, to physically interact with a pH-responsive transcription regulator PacC using yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and GST pull-down assays. Functional analyses revealed that StuA and PacC regulate the expression of genes involved in toxin biosynthesis and virulence. Mutation of stuA via targeted gene deletion or silencing pacC yielded fungal strains that decreased the expression of seven toxin biosynthetic genes ( ACCT ) and toxin production. EMSA analyses revealed that PacC could bind to the promoters of ACTT6 encoding an enoyl-CoA hydratase and ACTTR encoding an ACT pathway-specific transcription factor. Site-directed mutagenesis of five potential protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation sites in StuA revealed that none of the sites was involved in ACT production, indicating that the function of StuA in the regulation of ACT gene expression is not dependent on phosphorylation. Overall, our results confirmed that PacC is one of the key regulators interacting with StuA for the biosynthesis of ACT. Environmental pH may play a decisive role during A. alternata pathogenesis. Our results also revealed a previously unrecognized (StuA-PacC)→ACTTR module for the biosynthesis of ACT in A. alternata . IMPORTANCE In this study, we used Alternaria alternata as a biological model to report the role of StuA in phytopathogenic fungi. Our findings indicated that StuA is required for Alternaria citri toxin (ACT) biosynthesis and fungal virulence. In addition, StuA physically interacts with PacC. Disruption of stuA or pacC led to decreased expression of seven toxin biosynthetic genes (ACCT) and toxin production. PacC could recognize and bind to the promoter regions of ACTT6 and ACTTR . Our results revealed a previously unrecognized (StuA-PacC)→ACTTR module for the biosynthesis of ACT in A. alternata , which also provides a framework for the study of StuA in other fungi.

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Aaprb1, a subtilsin-like protease, required for autophagy and virulence of the tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata

Cited by 17 publications

References 42 publications

Pathogenic Process-Associated Transcriptome Analysis of Stemphylium lycopersici from Tomato

Pathogenic Process-Associated Transcriptome Analysis of Stemphylium lycopersici from Tomato

No Chance to Survive: Mo-CBP3-PepII Synthetic Peptide Acts on <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em> by Multiple Mechanisms of Action

The Alternaria alternata StuA transcription factor interacting with the pH-responsive regulator PacC for the biosynthesis of host-selective toxin and virulence in citrus

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