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HCF-1, a hydrophobin from the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum
1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, UK. spanu@trans.plants.ox.ac.uk
Abstract:
A hydrophobin, named HCF-1, was isolated from the culture medium of Cladosporium fulvum, the causal agent of tomato leaf mould. The protein forms insoluble aggregates when the medium is vigorously aerated. These aggregates can be dissociated by trifluoroacetic acid into monomers which migrate as 10-kDa molecules on SDS-PAGE. HCf-1 is encoded by a single gene, HCf-1. The gene contains two small introns and is translated into a 105-amino acid protein which is then processed to give a mature 83-amino acid protein. The position of the eight cysteine residues and the predicted hydrophobicity profile are typical of fungal hydrophobins. HCf-1 RNA is expressed in growing mycelium and conidia but its quantity diminishes transiently after germination; its abundance does not change when the fungus is grown on nitrogen- or carbon-deficient medium. This is the first step in evaluating the role of hydrophobins in establishment of basic compatibility between C. fulvum and tomato.
Insights
Researchers isolated a fungal hydrophobin (HCF-1) from Cladosporium fulvum, a tomato pathogen. This protein forms aggregates and plays a role in fungal-tomato interactions.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
- Protein Biochemistry
Background:
- Cladosporium fulvum causes tomato leaf mould, impacting crop yield.
- Hydrophobins are proteins known for their role in fungal development and interactions.
- Understanding fungal proteins is crucial for developing disease management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a hydrophobin from Cladosporium fulvum.
- To investigate the gene encoding the hydrophobin and its expression.
- To lay the groundwork for understanding hydrophobin function in C. fulvum-tomato interactions.
Main Methods:
- Protein isolation from culture medium.
- SDS-PAGE for molecular weight determination.
- Gene sequencing and analysis.
- RNA expression analysis using Northern blotting or similar techniques.
Main Results:
- A hydrophobin, HCF-1, was isolated and found to form insoluble aggregates.
- HCF-1 monomers are 10 kDa after dissociation with trifluoroacetic acid.
- The HCF-1 gene encodes an 83-amino acid mature protein with typical hydrophobin characteristics.
- HCF-1 RNA is expressed in mycelium and conidia, with transient changes upon germination.
Conclusions:
- HCF-1 is a functional hydrophobin in Cladosporium fulvum.
- The study provides initial insights into the role of hydrophobins in fungal pathogenicity.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific function of HCF-1 in C. fulvum-tomato compatibility.