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A palisade-shaped membrane reservoir is required for rapid ring cell inflation in Drechslerella dactyloides

Yue Chen1, Jia Liu1, Seogchan Kang2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.

Nature Communications
|November 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Carnivorous fungi rapidly expand their plasma membrane (PM) using a unique Palisade-shaped Membrane-building Structure (PMS). This structure, facilitated by the DdSnc1 protein, enables swift cell inflation for nematode capture.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cellular expansion and shape change are driven by vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane (PM).
  • Carnivorous fungi possess specialized constricting ring (CR) cells that rapidly inflate to capture prey.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular mechanisms behind rapid and irreversible PM expansion in the carnivorous fungus Drechslerella dactyloides during CR inflation.
  • To elucidate the role of the Palisade-shaped Membrane-building Structure (PMS) and associated proteins in CR cell expansion.

Main Methods:

  • Microscopic observation of CR cell maturation and inflation.
  • Analysis of vesicle dynamics and membrane accumulation.
  • Investigation of the role of the v-SNARE protein DdSnc1 through genetic or biochemical approaches (implied).

Main Results:

  • Vesicles accumulate and fuse to form the PMS around the rumen side of CR cells during maturation.
  • The PMS disappears after CR inflation, correlating with PM smoothness.
  • The v-SNARE protein DdSnc1 accumulates in CR cells and is essential for PMS formation and CR inflation.

Conclusions:

  • The PMS acts as a reservoir for membrane-building materials, enabling rapid and extensive PM expansion during CR inflation.
  • DdSnc1 is a key protein regulating PMS formation and the rapid cell expansion required for nematode capture.

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