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Mitochondrial prohibitin complex regulates fungal virulence via ATG24-assisted mitophagy

Yaqin Yan1,2, Jintian Tang3, Qinfeng Yuan1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.

Communications Biology
|July 14, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Prohibitins (ChPhb1 and ChPhb2) are crucial for mitochondrial function and virulence in the plant pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum. They regulate fungal mitophagy by interacting with ChATG24, impacting plant disease.

Area of Science:

  • Mitochondrial biology
  • Plant pathology
  • Fungal genetics

Background:

  • Prohibitins are conserved mitochondrial proteins with poorly understood roles in fungal virulence.
  • The regulation of fungal pathogenicity by mitochondrial proteins remains an open area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of prohibitins (ChPhb1 and ChPhb2) in the virulence of the plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of prohibitin-mediated virulence, focusing on mitophagy.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of ChPhb1 and ChPhb2 in Colletotrichum higginsianum.
  • Analysis of mitochondrial function, mitophagy, and virulence in knockout mutants.
  • Investigation of protein-protein interactions between ChPhb1, ChPhb2, and ChATG24.

Main Results:

  • ChPhb1 and ChPhb2 are essential for mitochondrial function, mitophagy, and virulence in Colletotrichum higginsianum.
  • ChPhb1 and ChPhb2 interact with ChATG24, an autophagy-related protein involved in prohibitin-dependent mitophagy.
  • Prohibitins modulate ChATG24 translocation into mitochondria during mitophagy, a conserved process in plant pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Prohibitins regulate fungal virulence by mediating ATG24-assisted mitophagy in Colletotrichum higginsianum.
  • This study reveals a novel mechanism linking mitochondrial quality control to fungal pathogenicity.

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