| Summary: | Hog1, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), has been identified in diverse fungal species, and it regulates various cellular processes, such as osmoadaptation, nutrient-sensing, and pathogenesis. However, the roles that Hog1 plays in nematode-trapping fungi were previously unclear. Here, we characterized orthologs of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> Hog1 and membrane mucin Msb2 in the nematode-trapping fungus <i>Arthrobotrys oligospora</i>. We generated gene deletion mutants of <i>HOG1</i> and <i>MSB2</i> in <i>A. oligospora</i>, and characterized their roles in osmosensing, growth, and trap morphogenesis. We found that both <i>hog1</i> and <i>msb2</i> mutants were highly sensitive to high osmolarity. Predation analyses further revealed that <i>hog1</i> and <i>msb2</i> deletion caused a reduction in trap formation and predation efficiency. Furthermore, <i>HOG1</i> is required for conidiation in <i>A. oligospora</i>, demonstrating its critical role in this developmental pathway. In summary, this study demonstrated that the conserved Hog1 and Msb2 govern physiology, growth and development in the nematode-trapping fungus <i>A. oligospora</i>.
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