FocECM33, a GPI-anchored protein, regulates vegetative growth and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4.

ECM33, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein, is important for fungal development and infection through regulating fungal cell wall integrity, however, the functions of its orthologs in pathogenesis have not been characterized in Fusarium oxysporum. Here, we discovered a GPI-anchored protein, FocECM33, which is required for vegetative growth and virulence of Fusasium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4). FocECM33 was highly upregulated during the early infection process of Foc TR4 in banana roots. The targeted disruption of FocECM33 led to decreased hyphal growth, increased sensitivity to cell wall stresses and reduced virulence on banana plantlets. Furthermore, ΔFocECM33 mutant demonstrated a cell morphology defect, elevated ROS production and increased chitin content. Transcriptome analysis showed that FocECM33 has a significant influence on the production of various secondary metabolites and regulation of many biosynthetic processes in Foc TR4. Taken together, it seems FocECM33 contributes to the virulence of Foc TR4 through regulating the process of hyphal growth, ROS production and chitin synthesis. Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Citation

Huoqing Huang, Xiaoxia Zhang, Yong Zhang, Ganjun Yi, Jianghui Xie, Altus Viljoen, Wei Wang, Diane Mostert, Gang Fu, Changcao Peng, Dandan Xiang, Chunyu Li, Siwen Liu. FocECM33, a GPI-anchored protein, regulates vegetative growth and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4. Fungal biology. 2022 Mar;126(3):213-223

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PMID: 35183338

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