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Genome-wide Analysis of Histone Modifications Distribution using the Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing Method in Magnaporthe oryzae
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MoWhi2 regulates appressorium formation and pathogenicity via the MoTor signalling pathway in Magnaporthe oryzae

Huanbin Shi1, Shuai Meng1,2, Jiehua Qiu1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China.

Molecular Plant Pathology
|May 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified MoWhi2 and MoPsr1 proteins that regulate rice blast fungus appressorium formation. Disrupting these proteins impairs pathogenicity by affecting cAMP levels and the MoTor signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Pathology
  • Molecular Mycology
  • Fungal Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a significant threat to global food security.
  • Appressorium formation is a critical stage in M. oryzae infection, making its regulatory mechanisms a key target for control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel regulators of appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • To elucidate the roles of MoWhi2 and MoPsr1 in M. oryzae pathogenicity and infection processes.

Main Methods:

  • Yeast two-hybridization screening to identify interacting proteins.
  • Gene disruption (knockout) to analyze the function of MoWHI2 and MoPSR1.
  • Phenotypic analysis of mutants, including appressoria formation assays and pathogenicity tests.
  • Measurement of intracellular cAMP levels and analysis of MoTor signaling pathway activation.

Main Results:

  • Disruption of MoWHI2 led to multiple appressoria formation and reduced pathogenicity.
  • MoPsr1 was identified as an interacting protein of MoWhi2, and its knockout exhibited similar defects.
  • Both mutants showed altered appressoria formation on hydrophilic surfaces, with increased cAMP levels.
  • The target of rapamycin (TOR) inhibitor rapamycin restored single appressorium formation in mutants.
  • Increased expression and activation of the MoTor signaling pathway were observed in the mutants, suggesting its dysregulation.

Conclusions:

  • MoWhi2 and MoPsr1 are crucial regulators of appressorium development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae.
  • These proteins likely mediate their effects by modulating intracellular cAMP levels and the activation of the MoTor signaling pathway.
  • Understanding these regulatory mechanisms offers potential targets for developing novel rice blast control strategies.
Keywords:
Psr1TOR signallingWhi2appressorium formationpathogenicityrice blast

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