Functional diversity within the mitochondrial electron transport chain of plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Mitochondrial transfer of electrons from NAD(P)H or FADH2 to the terminal electron acceptor, oxygen, follows a highly complex scheme, involving numerous redox components. Whilst electron transfer has been extensively studied over past decades in mammalian, plant and some fungal species, relatively little is known about the respiratory chain of phytopathogenic fungi. The recent identification of the electron transport chain as a viable target for effective control of fungal infections has contributed to a significantly increased research effort into this area of fungal biochemistry. A striking feature of the electron transport chain within phytopathogenic fungi is the presence of components not found in the classical (mammalian) chain. Recent research has suggested the presence of a plant‐like ‘alternative’ oxidase, internal and external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases, and cyanide‐insensitive cytochrome c oxidases. In this mini‐review on electron transport in phytopathogenic fungi, the current status of research into the function and expression characteristics of these ‘alternative’ redox centres is discussed. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Branched Mitochondrial Electron Transport in the Animalia: Presence of Alternative Oxidase in Several Animal Phyla

“…The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is a major human pathogen, the AOX gene of which is induced by mammalian body temperatures and contributes to the virulence of this organism (53). Many plant pathogenic fungi also maintain AOX respiration (52). Here, we have reported an AOX gene in the nematode M. hapla.…”

Shift of sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea to azoxystrobin in greenhouse vegetables before and after exposure to the fungicide

“…The F129L and G137R mutations were also reported in few cases (Leroux et al 2010). The second established mechanism of resistance is governed by the natural capacity of fungi to counteract inhibition by QoIs through the expression of alternative respiration pathway (Joseph-Horne and Hollomon 2000;Joseph-Horne et al 2001). Alternative respiration in a fungus such as Magnaporthe grisea has been shown to provide effective rescue from azoxystrobin action (Avila-Adame and Köller 2003).…”

The effect of quinone outside inhibitor fungicides on powdery mildew in a grape vineyard in Hungary

“…The strobilurins belong to the group of QoI fungicides. These are inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration, also called quinone outside inhibitors (QoI) (Bartlett et al, 2002), because they inhibit electron transfer at the quinol outer binding site of the cytochrome bc1 complex (Joseph-Horne and Hollomon, 2000;Fernández-Ortuno et al, 2008). Strobilurins are important tools for the control of a range of fungi and have a different mode of action from other available fungicides (Taksonyi et al, 2009).…”