FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>
Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> is a significant disease among cereal crops. In <i>F. graminearum</i>, biosynthesis of leucine, which is a branched chain amino acid, is achieved by converting α-isopropylmalate to β-isopropylmalate catalyzed by...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1090 |
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| author | Shaohua Sun Mingyu Wang Chunjie Liu Yilin Tao Tian Wang Yuancun Liang Li Zhang Jinfeng Yu |
| author_facet | Shaohua Sun Mingyu Wang Chunjie Liu Yilin Tao Tian Wang Yuancun Liang Li Zhang Jinfeng Yu |
| author_sort | Shaohua Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> is a significant disease among cereal crops. In <i>F. graminearum</i>, biosynthesis of leucine, which is a branched chain amino acid, is achieved by converting α-isopropylmalate to β-isopropylmalate catalyzed by isopropylmalate isomerase encoded by <i>LEU1</i>. Considering the potential for targeting this pathway by fungicides, we characterized the gene <i>FgLEU1</i> (FGSG-09589) in the <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> genome using bioinformatics methods. For functional characterization, we constructed a deletion mutant of <i>FgLEU1</i> (Δ<i>LEU1</i>) through homologous recombination. Compared with the wild-type strain PH-1, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed slower colony growth and fewer aerial mycelia. Leucine addition was needed to ensure proper mutant growth. Further, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed decreased conidial production and germination rates, and could not produce ascospores. Moreover, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed complete loss of pathogenicity and reduced ability to produce deoxynivalenol (DON) and aurofusarin. Upstream and downstream genes of <i>FgLEU1</i> were significantly upregulated in Δ<i>LEU1</i>. Contrary to previous reports, the deletion mutant was more resistant to osmotic stress and cell wall-damaging agents than the wild-type. Taken together, FgLEU1 plays a crucial role in leucine synthesis, aerial mycelial growth, sexual and asexual reproduction, pathogenicity, virulence, and pigmentation in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>, indicating its potential as a target for novel antifungal agents. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:00:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-a833ef1b21e14197b268a0a77d20b08c2023-11-24T00:47:47ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2022-10-01810109010.3390/jof8101090FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>Shaohua Sun0Mingyu Wang1Chunjie Liu2Yilin Tao3Tian Wang4Yuancun Liang5Li Zhang6Jinfeng Yu7Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaFusarium head blight (FHB) caused by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> is a significant disease among cereal crops. In <i>F. graminearum</i>, biosynthesis of leucine, which is a branched chain amino acid, is achieved by converting α-isopropylmalate to β-isopropylmalate catalyzed by isopropylmalate isomerase encoded by <i>LEU1</i>. Considering the potential for targeting this pathway by fungicides, we characterized the gene <i>FgLEU1</i> (FGSG-09589) in the <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> genome using bioinformatics methods. For functional characterization, we constructed a deletion mutant of <i>FgLEU1</i> (Δ<i>LEU1</i>) through homologous recombination. Compared with the wild-type strain PH-1, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed slower colony growth and fewer aerial mycelia. Leucine addition was needed to ensure proper mutant growth. Further, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed decreased conidial production and germination rates, and could not produce ascospores. Moreover, Δ<i>LEU1</i> showed complete loss of pathogenicity and reduced ability to produce deoxynivalenol (DON) and aurofusarin. Upstream and downstream genes of <i>FgLEU1</i> were significantly upregulated in Δ<i>LEU1</i>. Contrary to previous reports, the deletion mutant was more resistant to osmotic stress and cell wall-damaging agents than the wild-type. Taken together, FgLEU1 plays a crucial role in leucine synthesis, aerial mycelial growth, sexual and asexual reproduction, pathogenicity, virulence, and pigmentation in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>, indicating its potential as a target for novel antifungal agents.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1090<i>Fusarium graminearum</i>isopropylmalate isomerasebranched chain amino acidFgLEUvirulence |
| spellingShingle | Shaohua Sun Mingyu Wang Chunjie Liu Yilin Tao Tian Wang Yuancun Liang Li Zhang Jinfeng Yu FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> Journal of Fungi <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> isopropylmalate isomerase branched chain amino acid FgLEU virulence |
| title | FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> |
| title_full | FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> |
| title_fullStr | FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> |
| title_short | FgLEU1 Is Involved in Leucine Biosynthesis, Sexual Reproduction, and Full Virulence in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> |
| title_sort | fgleu1 is involved in leucine biosynthesis sexual reproduction and full virulence in i fusarium graminearum i |
| topic | <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> isopropylmalate isomerase branched chain amino acid FgLEU virulence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1090 |
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