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Retromer Is Essential for Autophagy-Dependent Plant Infection by the Rice Blast Fungus

Wenhui Zheng1,2, Jie Zhou1,2, Yunlong He3

  • 1Fujian-Taiwan Joint Center for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

Plos Genetics
|December 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The retromer complex is crucial for rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae) to infect plants. It ensures proper autophagy, which is essential for the fungus

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Plant pathology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • The retromer complex facilitates endosome-to-trans-Golgi network protein trafficking in eukaryotes.
  • Its role in pathogen-host interactions, particularly in fungal infections, is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the retromer complex in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • To determine the retromer's role in appressorium-mediated host penetration and infection processes.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the function of retromer components (MoVps35, MoVps26, MoVps29) in Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • Utilized cytological observations and co-localization studies with autophagy markers (MoAtg8).
  • Performed in vivo interaction studies between retromer components and autophagy proteins.

Main Results:

  • Loss of retromer function impaired appressorial development, including glycogen distribution, lipid body turnover, nuclear degeneration, and turgor.
  • MoVps35 co-localized with MoAtg8 at autolysosome peripheries.
  • Retromer deficiency led to MoAtg8 mislocalization, impaired autophagosome biogenesis, and failed recycling from autolysosomes.

Conclusions:

  • The retromer complex is essential for autophagy-dependent infection by Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • Retromer plays a critical role in regulating autophagy processes necessary for fungal pathogenicity.
  • Disruption of retromer function compromises the fungus' ability to infect rice plants.

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