FvSTUA is a Key Regulator of Sporulation, Toxin Synthesis, and Virulence in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>

Rath, Magnus; Crenshaw, Nicole Jozwiak; Lofton, Lily W.; Glenn, Anthony E.; Gold, Scott E.

doi:10.1094/mpmi-09-19-0271-r

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The APSES transcription factor StuA was previously known as the conserved morphological modifier, playing crucial roles in cellular differentiation, mycelial growth, as well as asexual and sexual development in filamentous fungi [ 21 , 22 ]. Recent studies has suggested that StuA regulates biosynthesis of multiple SM gene clusters in different species [ 21 , 23 ], implying that it might function as a global regulator of SM in fungi. We presumed that StuA might contribute to biosynthesis of terrein in A .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The APSES transcription factor StuA was initially found to be a regulator of fungal asexual and sexual development [ 22 ]. Recently, its regulatory role in secondary metabolism has been revealed in several fungi [ 21 , 23 ]. In general, StuA positively regulates the SM gene expression, and its deletion resulted in reduction or even absence of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, such as aflatoxin [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Enhanced production of terrein in marine-derived Aspergillus terreus by refactoring both global and pathway-specific transcription factors

Yao

Zhang

et al. 2022

Microb Cell Fact

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Terrein, a major secondary metabolite from Aspergillus terreus, shows great potentials in biomedical and agricultural applications. However, the low fermentation yield of terrein in wild A. terreus strains limits its industrial applications. Results Here, we constructed a cell factory based on the marine-derived A. terreus RA2905, allowing for overproducing terrein by using starch as the sole carbon source. Firstly, the pathway-specific transcription factor TerR was over-expressed under the control of a constitutive gpdA promoter of A. nidulans, resulting in 5 to 16 folds up-regulation in terR transcripts compared to WT. As expected, the titer of terrein was improved in the two tested terR OE mutants when compared to WT. Secondly, the global regulator gene stuA, which was demonstrated to suppress the terrein synthesis in our analysis, was deleted, leading to greatly enhanced production of terrein. In addition, LS-MS/MS analysis showed that deletion of StuA cause decreased synthesis of the major byproduct butyrolactones. To achieve an optimal strain, we further refactored the genetic circuit by combining deletion of stuA and overexpression of terR, a higher terrein yield was achieved with a lower background of byproducts in double mutants. In addition, it was also found that loss of StuA (both ΔstuA and ΔstuA::OEterR) resulted in aconidial morphologies, but a slightly faster growth rate than that of WT. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that refactoring both global and pathway-specific transcription factors (StuA and TerR) provides a high-efficient strategy to enhance terrein production, which could be adopted for large-scale production of terrein or other secondary metabolites in marine-derived filamentous fungi.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced production of terrein in marine-derived Aspergillus terreus by refactoring both global and pathway-specific transcription factors

Yao

Zhang

et al. 2022

Microb Cell Fact

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) gliotoxins is StuA-dependent in A. fumigatus ( 34 ). In Fusarium verticillioides , StuA is required for the production of fumonisin and the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of fumonisin and fusarin C ( 46 ). StuA is involved in the production of a mycotoxin (Alternariol) in S. nodorum ( 41 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…The APSES protein family is a class of transcription factors unique to fungi, including Asm1, Phd1, Sok1, Efg1, and StuA. StuA is involved in various biological functions, including conidiophore formation, spore generation, hyphal growth, secondary metabolism, and pathogenicity [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Although the StuA protein is highly conserved across a variety of fungi, its potential functions are not consistent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PdStuA Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in Penicillium digitatum

Du,

Zhu,

Tian

et al. 2023

JoF

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Penicillium digitatum has become one of the main pathogens in citrus due to its high spore production and easy spread. In this study, the function of the APSES transcription factor StuA in P. digitatum was characterized, and the results indicated that it was involved in conidium and conidiophore development. No conidiophores were observed in the mycelium of the ∆PdStuA mutant that had grown for two days, while an abnormal conidiophore was found after another two days of incubation, and only small thin phialides as well as a very small number of spores were formed at the top of the hyphae. Moreover, it was observed that the ∆PdStuA mutant showed various defects, such as reduced hydrophobicity and decreased tolerance to cell wall inhibitors and H2O2. Compared to the original P. digitatum, the colony diameter of the ∆PdStuA mutant was not significantly affected, but the growth of aerial hyphae was obviously induced. In in vivo experiments, the spore production of the ∆PdStuA mutant grown on citrus fruit was remarkably decreased; however, there was no significant difference in the lesion diameter between the mutant and original strain. It could be inferred that less spore production might result in reduced spread in citrus, thereby reducing the green mold infection in citrus fruit during storage. This study provided a gene, PdStuA, which played key role in the sporulation of P. digitatum, and the results might provide a reference for the molecular mechanisms of sporulation in P. digitatum.

show abstract

FvSTUA is a Key Regulator of Sporulation, Toxin Synthesis, and Virulence in Fusarium verticillioides

Cited by 8 publications

References 70 publications

Enhanced production of terrein in marine-derived Aspergillus terreus by refactoring both global and pathway-specific transcription factors

Enhanced production of terrein in marine-derived Aspergillus terreus by refactoring both global and pathway-specific transcription factors

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

PdStuA Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in Penicillium digitatum

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About