Adapt your shuttling proteins for virulence: a lesson from the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis

Abstract

This article is a Commentary on Krombach et al., 220: 553–566.

Role of cell membrane homeostasis in the pathogenicity of pathogenic filamentous fungi

“…For example, the targeting of Scp2 by peroxisomes is essential for maintaining the virulent function of Ustilago maydis . Such conserved eukaryotic proteins can ensure the correct distribution of peroxisomes by fine-tuning the lipid composition of the membrane to maintain biotrophy during pathogen infection [ 25 ]. In Magnaporthe oryzae , MoVps13 regulates fungal pathogenicity by contributing to impaired plasma membrane homeostasis through sphingolipid synthesis [ 26 ].…”