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Manipulation and Analysis of Cell Cycle-Dependent Processes in Budding Yeast
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Distinct cell cycle regulation during saprophytic and pathogenic growth in fungal pathogens

Cong Jiang1,2, Jin-Rong Xu2, Huiquan Liu3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Current Genetics
|September 5, 2015
PubMed

Insights

In Fusarium graminearum, the cell cycle regulator Cdc2A, not Cdc2B, is crucial for plant infection. This suggests fungal pathogens may use specific cell cycle combinations for different growth stages.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cell cycle regulation is vital for morphological changes in dimorphic and hemibiotrophic pathogens.
  • The role of the key cell cycle regulator, mitotic CDK kinase Cdc2, in pathogenic growth remains unclear due to essential single CDC2 genes in most fungal pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific roles of the two CDC2 genes (CDC2A and CDC2B) in the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum.
  • To understand the functional divergence and interaction of Cdc2A and Cdc2B in pathogenic growth.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the interaction between Cdc2A and Cdc2B using protein interaction assays.
  • Analyzed sequence and structural differences between Cdc2A and Cdc2B.
  • Assessed the requirement of CDC2A and CDC2B for invasive growth and plant infection.

Main Results:

  • Fusarium graminearum possesses two CDC2 genes, CDC2A and CDC2B, with redundant functions in vegetative growth.
  • Only CDC2A is essential for invasive growth and infection of wheat plants.
  • Cdc2A and Cdc2B interact and can form homo- and heterodimers in vegetative hyphae.
  • Sequence and structural variations exist between Cdc2A and Cdc2B, potentially explaining their distinct roles.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal pathogens like Fusarium graminearum may employ stage-specific cyclin-CDK combinations for distinct growth phases.
  • Functional divergence in CDC2 genes contributes to specialized roles in pathogenicity.
Keywords:
CDC2CDC28CDKCyclinFusarium head blightGibberella zeae

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