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Updated: Feb 6, 2026
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Protein Modifications: Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
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Plant surface cues prime Ustilago maydis for biotrophic development
Daniel Lanver1, Patrick Berndt1, Marie Tollot1
1Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Marburg, Germany.
Plos Pathogens
|July 18, 2014
Summary
Plant surface cues trigger fungal development in Ustilago maydis. Specific sensors (Sho1/Msb2) regulate genes for infection structure formation and virulence, enabling biotrophic growth.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Mycology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Phytopathogenic fungi require sensing plant surface cues for infection.
- Appressoria are specialized structures fungi use to penetrate plants.
- Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic smut fungus with a well-studied genetic system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms Ustilago maydis uses to sense plant surface cues.
- To identify genes and pathways involved in appressorium formation and plant penetration.
- To understand the role of specific sensors in initiating fungal development.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of Ustilago maydis to hydrophobic surfaces and cutin monomers.
- Genome-wide transcriptional profiling (RNA-seq) at the pre-penetration stage.
- Comparative analysis with sho1/msb2 double mutants and targeted gene deletion.
Main Results:
- Nearly 20% of Ustilago maydis genes showed altered transcription upon exposure to plant surface cues.
- Sho1 and Msb2 plasma membrane receptors regulate a subset of these genes, including secreted proteins and potential plant cell wall degrading enzymes.
- Upregulated GH51 and GH62 arabinofuranosidases and secreted effectors are crucial for virulence and plant penetration.
Conclusions:
- Plant surface cues prime Ustilago maydis for biotrophic development by inducing specific transcriptional programs.
- Sho1/Msb2-dependent gene expression is critical for virulence and involves secreted proteins and transcription factor regulation.
- Understanding these pathways provides insights into fungal-plant interactions and pathogen development.
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