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BMC Biology May 2024Populations of the plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae display a complex and rich genetic diversity, yet the existence of sexual reproduction in the fungus...
BACKGROUND
Populations of the plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae display a complex and rich genetic diversity, yet the existence of sexual reproduction in the fungus remains contested. As pivotal genes, MAT genes play a crucial role in regulating cell differentiation, morphological development, and mating of compatible cells. However, the functions of the two mating type genes in V. dahliae, VdMAT1-1-1, and VdMAT1-2-1, remain poorly understood.
RESULTS
In this study, we confirmed that the MAT loci in V. dahliae are highly conserved, including both VdMAT1-1-1 and VdMAT1-2-1 which share high collinearity. The conserved core transcription factor encoded by the two MAT loci may facilitate the regulation of pheromone precursor and pheromone receptor genes by directly binding to their promoter regions. Additionally, peptide activity assays demonstrated that the signal peptide of the pheromone VdPpg1 possessed secretory activity, while VdPpg2, lacked a predicted signal peptide. Chemotactic growth assays revealed that V. dahliae senses and grows towards the pheromones FO-a and FO-α of Fusarium oxysporum, as well as towards VdPpg2 of V. dahliae, but not in response to VdPpg1. The findings herein also revealed that VdMAT1-1-1 and VdMAT1-2-1 regulate vegetative growth, carbon source utilization, and resistance to stressors in V. dahliae, while negatively regulating virulence.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings underscore the potential roles of VdMAT1-1-1 and VdMAT1-2-1 in sexual reproduction and confirm their involvement in various asexual processes of V. dahliae, offering novel insights into the functions of mating type genes in this species.
Topics: Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; Ascomycota; Pheromones; Fungal Proteins; Verticillium
PubMed: 38714997
DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01900-6 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Spatial and temporal tracking of fluorescent proteins in live cells permits visualization of proteome remodeling in response to extracellular cues. Historically, protein...
Spatial and temporal tracking of fluorescent proteins in live cells permits visualization of proteome remodeling in response to extracellular cues. Historically, protein dynamics during trafficking have been visualized using constitutively active fluorescent proteins (FPs) fused to proteins of interest. While powerful, such FPs label all cellular pools of a protein, potentially masking the dynamics of select subpopulations. To help study protein subpopulations, bioconjugate tags, including the fluorogen activation proteins (FAPs), were developed. FAPs are comprised of two components: a single-chain antibody (SCA) fused to the protein of interest and a malachite-green (MG) derivative, which fluoresces only when bound to the SCA. Importantly, the MG derivatives can be either cell-permeant or -impermeant, thus permitting isolated detection of SCA-tagged proteins at the cell surface and facilitating quantitative endocytic measures. To expand FAP use in yeast, we optimized the SCA for yeast expression, created FAP-tagging plasmids, and generated FAP-tagged organelle markers. To demonstrate FAP efficacy, we coupled the SCA to the yeast G-protein coupled receptor Ste3. We measured Ste3 endocytic dynamics in response to pheromone and characterized cis- and trans-acting regulators of Ste3. Our work significantly expands FAP technology for varied applications in S. cerevisiae.
PubMed: 38712197
DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.20.590399 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Apr 2024Females that mate multiply make postmating choices about which sperm fertilize their eggs (cryptic female choice); however, the male characteristics they use to make...
Females that mate multiply make postmating choices about which sperm fertilize their eggs (cryptic female choice); however, the male characteristics they use to make such choices remain unclear. In this study, we sought to understand female sperm use patterns by evaluating whether females adjust sperm use (second male paternity) in response to four main factors: male genotype, male courtship effort, male pheromone alteration, and male postmating reproductive morphology. Our experiment was replicated across four different lines, in a full factorial design, including a pheromone manipulation in which second males were perfumed to resemble heterospecific () males. We found that females prefer longer sperm-regardless of mating order-in almost all contexts; this observed pattern of 'long-sperm precedence' is consistent with female postcopulatory choice of high-fitness male traits. Nonetheless, we also found that this general preference can be plastically altered by females in response to effects including perfuming treatment; this differential female sperm use is between otherwise identical males, and therefore solely female-mediated. Furthermore, our finding that females exercise choice using diverse criteria suggests a possible mechanism for the maintenance of variation in sexually selected male traits.
PubMed: 38712086
DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591180 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024()-β-Farnesene (EBF) serves as the primary component of the alarm pheromone used by most aphid pest species. Pyrethrum () exhibits tissue-specific regulation of EBF...
()-β-Farnesene (EBF) serves as the primary component of the alarm pheromone used by most aphid pest species. Pyrethrum () exhibits tissue-specific regulation of EBF accumulation and release, effectively mimicking the aphid alarm signal, deterring aphid attacks while attracting aphid predators. However, cultivated chrysanthemum (), a popular and economically significant flower, is highly vulnerable to aphid infestations. In this study, we investigated the high expression of the pyrethrum EBF synthase (EbFS) gene promoter in the flower head and stem, particularly in the parenchyma cells. Subsequently, we introduced the gene, under the control of its native promoter, into cultivated chrysanthemum. This genetic modification led to increased EBF accumulation in the flower stem and young flower bud, which are the most susceptible tissues to aphid attacks. Analysis revealed that aphids feeding on transgenic chrysanthemum exhibited prolonged probing times and extended salivation durations during the phloem phase, indicating that EBF in the cortex cells hindered their host-location behavior. Interestingly, the heightened emission of EBF was only observed in transgenic chrysanthemum flowers after mechanical damage. Furthermore, we explored the potential of this transgenic chrysanthemum for aphid resistance by comparing the spatial distribution and storage of terpene volatiles in different organs and tissues of pyrethrum and chrysanthemum. This study provides valuable insights into future trials aiming for a more accurate replication of alarm pheromone release in plants. It highlights the complexities of utilizing EBF for aphid resistance in cultivated chrysanthemum and calls for further investigations to enhance our understanding of this defense mechanism.
PubMed: 38711605
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1373669 -
Journal of Advanced Research May 2024In sub-Saharan Africa, the invasive South American leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta is the most damaging tomato pest. Females of the pest can reproduce both sexually and...
INTRODUCTION
In sub-Saharan Africa, the invasive South American leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta is the most damaging tomato pest. Females of the pest can reproduce both sexually and through parthenogenesis and lay their eggs on all tomato plant parts. The mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis, a biological control agent for the pest, is also a tomato pest when prey population is low. To date, however, no study has developed an eco-friendly solution that targets both the predator and its host in a tomato farming system.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a bio-based management system for both pest and predator based on the combined use of sexual communication in the predator and visual cues.
METHODS
We collected volatiles from both sexes of the Kenyan population of the predator N. tenuis and identified candidate sex pheromone components by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We used electrophysiological assays to identify antennally-active odorants in the volatiles, followed by field trials with different pheromone-baited colored traps to validate the responses of both predator and prey. Thereafter, we compared the reflectance spectra of the colored traps with those of different tomato plant tissues.
RESULTS
Our results reveal an interplay between different sensory cues which in the predator-prey interaction may favor the predator. Antennae of both sexes of predator and prey detect the predator sex pheromone identified as 1-octanol and hexyl hexanoate. Unexpectedly, our field experiments led to the discovery of a lure for P. absoluta females, which were lured distinctly into a pheromone-baited trap whose reflectance spectrum mimicked that of ripe tomato fruit (long wavelength), an egg-laying site for females. Contrastingly, N. tenuis males were lured into baited white trap (short wavelength) when the predator is actively searching for prey.
CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate the novel use of a predator sex pheromone and different visual cues to assess complex trophic interactions on tomatoes.
PubMed: 38710469
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.05.005 -
PNAS Nexus Apr 2024Many animals use multicomponent sex pheromones for mating, but the specific function and neural processing of each pheromone component remain unclear. The cockroach is...
Many animals use multicomponent sex pheromones for mating, but the specific function and neural processing of each pheromone component remain unclear. The cockroach is a model for studying sex pheromone communication, and an adult female emits major and minor sex pheromone components, periplanone-B and -A (PB and PA), respectively. Attraction and courtship behaviors (wing-raising and abdominal extension) are strongly expressed when adult males are exposed to PB but weakly expressed when they are exposed to PA. When major PB is presented together with minor PA, behaviors elicited by PB were impaired, indicating that PA can both promote and suppress courtship behaviors depending on the pheromonal context. In this study, we identified the receptor genes for PA and PB and investigated the effects of knocking down each receptor gene on the activities of PA- and PB-responsive sensory neurons (PA- and PB-SNs), and their postsynaptic interneurons, and as well as effects on courtship behaviors in males. We found that PB strongly and PA weakly activate PB-SNs and their postsynaptic neurons, and activation of the PB-processing pathway is critical for the expression of courtship behaviors. PA also activates PA-SNs and the PA-processing pathway. When PA and PB are simultaneously presented, the PB-processing pathway undergoes inhibitory control by the PA-processing pathway, which weakens the expression of courtship behaviors. Our data indicate that physiological interactions between the PA- and PB-processing pathways positively and negatively mediate the attraction and courtship behaviors elicited by sex pheromones.
PubMed: 38689705
DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae162 -
DNA Research : An International Journal... Jun 2024Lodderomyces beijingensis is an ascosporic ascomycetous yeast. In contrast to related species Lodderomyces elongisporus, which is a recently emerging human pathogen, L....
Chromosome-level genome assembly of the yeast Lodderomyces beijingensis reveals the genetic nature of metabolic adaptations and identifies subtelomeres as hotspots for amplification of mating type loci.
Lodderomyces beijingensis is an ascosporic ascomycetous yeast. In contrast to related species Lodderomyces elongisporus, which is a recently emerging human pathogen, L. beijingensis is associated with insects. To provide an insight into its genetic makeup, we investigated the genome of its type strain, CBS 14171. We demonstrate that this yeast is diploid and describe the high contiguity nuclear genome assembly consisting of eight chromosome-sized contigs with a total size of about 15.1 Mbp. We find that the genome sequence contains multiple copies of the mating type loci and codes for essential components of the mating pheromone response pathway, however, the missing orthologs of several genes involved in the meiotic program raise questions about the mode of sexual reproduction. We also show that L. beijingensis genome codes for the 3-oxoadipate pathway enzymes, which allow the assimilation of protocatechuate. In contrast, the GAL gene cluster underwent a decay resulting in an inability of L. beijingensis to utilize galactose. Moreover, we find that the 56.5 kbp long mitochondrial DNA is structurally similar to known linear mitochondrial genomes terminating on both sides with covalently closed single-stranded hairpins. Finally, we discovered a new double-stranded RNA mycovirus from the Totiviridae family and characterized its genome sequence.
Topics: Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; Genome, Fungal; Chromosomes, Fungal; Saccharomycetales
PubMed: 38686638
DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsae014 -
Computational and Structural... Dec 2024The high-osmolarity-sensitive protein Sho1 functions as a key membrane receptor in phytopathogenic fungi, which can sense and respond to external stimuli or stresses,...
The high-osmolarity-sensitive protein Sho1 functions as a key membrane receptor in phytopathogenic fungi, which can sense and respond to external stimuli or stresses, and synergistically regulate diverse fungal biological processes through cellular signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of in , the causal agent of pear black spot. Targeted gene deletion revealed that AaSho1 is essential for infection structure differentiation, response to external stresses and synthesis of secondary metabolites. Compared to the wild-type (WT), the ∆ mutant strain showed no significant difference in colony growth, morphology, conidial production and biomass accumulation. However, the mutant strain exhibited significantly reduced levels of melanin production, cellulase (CL) and ploygalacturonase (PG) activities, virulence, resistance to various exogenous stresses. Moreover, the appressorium and infection hyphae formation rates of the ∆ mutant strain were significantly inhibited. RNA-Seq results showed that there were four branches including pheromone, cell wall stress, high osmolarity and starvation in the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade pathway. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid experiments showed that AaSho1 activates the MAPK pathway via AaSte11-AaPbs2-AaHog1. These results suggest that AaSho1 of is essential for fungal development, pathogenesis and osmotic stress response by activating the MAPK cascade pathway via Sho1-Ste11-Pbs2-Hog1.
PubMed: 38680872
DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.04.031 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2024Allelopathy is the main chemical means in the invasion process of exotic plants and one of the key factors in grassland degradation. In this experiment, we investigated...
Allelopathy is the main chemical means in the invasion process of exotic plants and one of the key factors in grassland degradation. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of ethyl acetate phase extract (EAE), n-butanol phase extract (BE) and aqueous phase extract (AE) from the aboveground (stems and leaves) and roots of on seed germination and seedling growth of four forages ( L. L. Griseb. (L.) Gaertn.) in their sympatric domains and one forage ( L.). The chemical components in each phase extract of were determined with UHPLC-MS/MS non-targeted metabolomics, and the differential compounds were screened using Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). Within a set concentration range, EAE significantly inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of four forages. BE and AE acted mainly in the seedling growth stage and did not significantly inhibit forage seed germination. was most sensitive to extracts; at 2.0 mg/mL of EAE from roots, germination energy and germination rate of seeds were 0. extracts inhibited the growth of seedlings and did not inhibit its seed germination. A total of 904 compounds were identified with UHPLC-MS/MS, among which 31, 64, 81 and 66 metabolites displayed different accumulation patterns in the four comparison groups (R.EAE vs. R.BE, R.EAE vs. R.AE, SL.EAE vs. SL.BE, SL.EAE vs. SL.AE), respectively. In particular, 9 compounds were found to be common up-regulated differential metabolites in the four comparison groups and were enriched in EAE. Additionally, N,N-dimethylaniline, Caffeic acid, 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and cis-9-Octadecenoic acid as potential allelochemicals in . The results of this study support efforts at finding alternative control plants for the restoration of poisonous grass-type degraded grasslands.
Topics: Allelopathy; Asteraceae; Pheromones; Introduced Species; Germination; Seedlings; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38678583
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2335025 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024The Japanese pine sawyer serves as the primary vector for pine wilt disease, a devastating pine disease that poses a significant threat to the sustainable development...
The Japanese pine sawyer serves as the primary vector for pine wilt disease, a devastating pine disease that poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of forestry in the Eurasian region. Currently, trap devices based on informational compounds have played a crucial role in monitoring and controlling the population. However, the specific proteins within involved in recognizing the aforementioned informational compounds remain largely unclear. To elucidate the spatiotemporal distribution of chemosensory-related genes, this study conducted neural transcriptome analyses to investigate gene expression patterns in different body parts during the feeding and mating stages of both male and female beetles. The results revealed that 15 genes in the gustatory receptor (GR) gene family exhibited high expression in the mouthparts, most genes in the odorant binding protein (OBP) gene family exhibited high expression across all body parts, 22 genes in the odorant receptor (OR) gene family exhibited high expression in the antennae, a significant number of genes in the chemosensory protein (CSP) and sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) gene families exhibited high expression in both the mouthparts and antennae, and 30 genes in the ionotropic receptors (IR) gene family were expressed in the antennae. Through co-expression analyses, it was observed that 34 genes in the IR gene family were co-expressed across the four developmental stages. The Antenna IR subfamily and IR8a/Ir25a subfamily exhibited relatively high expression levels in the antennae, while the Kainate subfamily, NMDA subfamily, and Divergent subfamily exhibited predominantly high expression in the facial region. is expressed only during the feeding stage of , the gene exhibits specific expression in male beetles, the gene exhibits specific expression during the feeding stage in male beetles, the and genes exhibit specific expression during the feeding stage in female beetles, and is expressed only during two developmental stages in male beetles and during the mating stage in female beetles. The IR gene family exhibits gene-specific expression in different spatiotemporal contexts, laying the foundation for the subsequent selection of functional genes and facilitating the full utilization of host plant volatiles and insect sex pheromones, thereby enabling the development of more efficient attractants.
Topics: Animals; Coleoptera; Male; Transcriptome; Female; Receptors, Odorant; Insect Proteins; Gene Expression Profiling; Arthropod Antennae; Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate
PubMed: 38674138
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084553