The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i>
The corn smut fungus, <i>Ustilago maydis</i>, is an excellent model for studying biotrophic plant-pathogen interactions, including nutritional adaptation to the host environment. Iron acquisition during host colonization is a key aspect of microbial pathogenesis yet less is known about t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1112 |
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| author | Sean W. McCotter Matthias Kretschmer Christopher W. J. Lee Kai Heimel James W. Kronstad |
| author_facet | Sean W. McCotter Matthias Kretschmer Christopher W. J. Lee Kai Heimel James W. Kronstad |
| author_sort | Sean W. McCotter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The corn smut fungus, <i>Ustilago maydis</i>, is an excellent model for studying biotrophic plant-pathogen interactions, including nutritional adaptation to the host environment. Iron acquisition during host colonization is a key aspect of microbial pathogenesis yet less is known about this process for fungal pathogens of plants. Monothiol glutaredoxins are central regulators of key cellular functions in fungi, including iron homeostasis, cell wall integrity, and redox status via interactions with transcription factors, iron-sulfur clusters, and glutathione. In this study, the roles of the monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 in the biology of <i>U. maydis</i> were investigated by constructing strains expressing a conditional allele of <i>grx4</i> under the control of the arabinose-inducible, glucose-repressible promoter <i>P<sub>crg</sub></i><sub>1</sub>. The use of conditional expression was necessary because Grx4 appeared to be essential for <i>U. maydis.</i> Transcriptome and genetic analyses with strains depleted in Grx4 revealed that the protein participates in the regulation of iron acquisition functions and is necessary for the ability of <i>U. maydis</i> to cause disease on maize seedlings. Taken together, this study supports the growing appreciation of monothiol glutaredoxins as key regulators of virulence-related phenotypes in pathogenic fungi. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:41:02Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:41:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-59ff95ed47cc4632b03d4c68a6f034d52023-11-24T14:51:11ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-11-01911111210.3390/jof9111112The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i>Sean W. McCotter0Matthias Kretschmer1Christopher W. J. Lee2Kai Heimel3James W. Kronstad4Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaMichael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaMichael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaInstitute of Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, GermanyMichael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaThe corn smut fungus, <i>Ustilago maydis</i>, is an excellent model for studying biotrophic plant-pathogen interactions, including nutritional adaptation to the host environment. Iron acquisition during host colonization is a key aspect of microbial pathogenesis yet less is known about this process for fungal pathogens of plants. Monothiol glutaredoxins are central regulators of key cellular functions in fungi, including iron homeostasis, cell wall integrity, and redox status via interactions with transcription factors, iron-sulfur clusters, and glutathione. In this study, the roles of the monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 in the biology of <i>U. maydis</i> were investigated by constructing strains expressing a conditional allele of <i>grx4</i> under the control of the arabinose-inducible, glucose-repressible promoter <i>P<sub>crg</sub></i><sub>1</sub>. The use of conditional expression was necessary because Grx4 appeared to be essential for <i>U. maydis.</i> Transcriptome and genetic analyses with strains depleted in Grx4 revealed that the protein participates in the regulation of iron acquisition functions and is necessary for the ability of <i>U. maydis</i> to cause disease on maize seedlings. Taken together, this study supports the growing appreciation of monothiol glutaredoxins as key regulators of virulence-related phenotypes in pathogenic fungi.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1112melaninsiderophoreinfectioncorn smut |
| spellingShingle | Sean W. McCotter Matthias Kretschmer Christopher W. J. Lee Kai Heimel James W. Kronstad The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> Journal of Fungi melanin siderophore infection corn smut |
| title | The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> |
| title_full | The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> |
| title_short | The Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx4 Influences Iron Homeostasis and Virulence in <i>Ustilago maydis</i> |
| title_sort | monothiol glutaredoxin grx4 influences iron homeostasis and virulence in i ustilago maydis i |
| topic | melanin siderophore infection corn smut |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/11/1112 |
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