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A putative catabolite-repressed cell wall protein from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum
J M Lora1, J de la Cruz, T Benítez
1Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain.
Abstract:
A cDNA clone encoding a putative cell wall protein (Qid3) was isolated from a library prepared from chitin-induced mRNA in cultures of the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum. The predicted 14 kDa protein shows a potential signal peptide, several hydrophobic domains and certain motifs that are structurally similar to proline-rich and glycine-rich plant cell wall proteins. Expression of the qid3 gene is derepressed in the absence of glucose. When introduced in yeast, qid3 expression causes cell division arrest into cytokinesis and cell separation, probably due to its cell wall localization.
Insights
Researchers identified a novel cell wall protein, Qid3, in the fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Its expression in yeast disrupts cell division, suggesting a role in cell wall integrity and fungal development.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Fungal Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum plays a role in biological control.
- Understanding fungal cell wall composition and gene regulation is crucial for its application.
- Chitin induction is a key process in fungal development and interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel genes involved in fungal cell wall synthesis.
- To investigate the function of a specific chitin-induced gene, qid3, in Trichoderma harzianum.
- To explore the potential role of Qid3 in cell division and separation.
Main Methods:
- cDNA library construction from chitin-induced mRNA.
- Gene sequencing and protein prediction for the qid3 gene.
- Heterologous expression of qid3 in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
- Microscopic analysis of yeast cell morphology and division.
Main Results:
- Isolation of a cDNA clone encoding a putative 14 kDa cell wall protein, Qid3.
- Qid3 exhibits structural similarities to plant proline-rich and glycine-rich cell wall proteins.
- The qid3 gene is upregulated in the absence of glucose (derepression).
- Expression of qid3 in yeast leads to cell division arrest at cytokinesis and impaired cell separation.
Conclusions:
- Qid3 is a novel putative cell wall protein in Trichoderma harzianum.
- Qid3 likely localizes to the cell wall and influences cell division and separation processes.
- The findings provide insights into fungal cell wall dynamics and gene regulation.