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Phytophthora capsici PcFtsZ2 Is Required for Asexual Development and Plant Infection

Jing Li1, CongCong Ai1, CanCan Yang1

  • 1Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology of Vegetable Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions : MPMI
|February 26, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Phytophthora capsici FtsZ2 proteins are essential for fungal development and virulence. Altering PcFtsZ2 expression impacts cytoskeleton dynamics, affecting growth, sporulation, and lesion formation in this important plant pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology

Background:

  • FtsZ proteins are crucial for cell division in bacteria and early eukaryotes, forming the Z-ring structure.
  • While present in some eukaryotic lineages, FtsZ proteins have been lost in animals, fungi, and plants, suggesting divergent evolutionary paths.
  • This study investigates FtsZ orthologs in *Phytophthora capsici*, an oomycete pathogen, to understand their role in fungal biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize *Phytophthora capsici* FtsZ orthologs, specifically focusing on *PcFtsZ2* due to its functional complementation of *Escherichia coli* FtsZ.
  • To elucidate the role of *PcFtsZ2* in the asexual growth, development, and virulence of *P. capsici*.
  • To investigate the impact of *PcFtsZ2* on cytoskeleton dynamics, including mitochondrial distribution and actin plaque organization.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of *P. capsici* FtsZ genes (*PcFtsZ1* and *PcFtsZ2*) and their functional analysis in *E. coli*.
  • Generation of *P. capsici* mis-expression lines (silencing and overexpression) for *PcFtsZ2*.
  • Microscopic analysis of mitochondrial distribution and actin plaque morphology in altered *PcFtsZ2* expression lines.
  • Assessment of growth, development, sporulation, and virulence in *PcFtsZ2* mis-expression lines.

Main Results:

  • *PcFtsZ2* successfully complemented *E. coli* FtsZ deficiency, indicating functional conservation.
  • *PcFtsZ2* is highly expressed during key developmental stages and infection in *P. capsici*.
  • Mis-expression of *PcFtsZ2* led to aberrant asexual growth, altered mitochondrial distribution, and changes in actin plaque characteristics.
  • Silencing *PcFtsZ2* significantly inhibited growth, sporulation, and virulence, while overexpression affected germination rates and hyphal growth.
  • These findings highlight the essential role of *PcFtsZ2* in cytoskeleton organization and pathogen development.

Conclusions:

  • *PcFtsZ2* plays a critical role in the asexual development and virulence of *Phytophthora capsici*.
  • The FtsZ2 protein influences cytoskeleton dynamics, affecting mitochondrial distribution and actin organization.
  • This study underscores the evolutionary significance of FtsZ2 proteins in eukaryotic pathogens and their potential as targets for disease control.
Keywords:
FtsZ proteinsoomycete-plant interactions

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