The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>
<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is a fungal pathogen with a broad range of hosts, which can cause diseases and pose a great threat to many crops. Fungal-specific Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> transcription factors (TFs) constitute a large family prevalent among pl...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/2/135 |
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| author | Yongkun Huang Zhima Zhaxi Yanping Fu Jiatao Xie Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Yang Lin Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng |
| author_facet | Yongkun Huang Zhima Zhaxi Yanping Fu Jiatao Xie Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Yang Lin Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng |
| author_sort | Yongkun Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is a fungal pathogen with a broad range of hosts, which can cause diseases and pose a great threat to many crops. Fungal-specific Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> transcription factors (TFs) constitute a large family prevalent among plant pathogens. However, the function of Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> TFs remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized SsZNC1, a Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> TF in <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>, which is involved in virulence, sclerotial development, and osmotic stress response. The expression of <i>SsZNC1</i> was significantly up-regulated in the early stages of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> infection on <i>Arabidopsis</i> leaves. The target deletion of <i>SsZNC1</i> resulted in reduced virulence on <i>Arabidopsis</i> and oilseed rape. In addition, sclerotial development ability and growth ability under hyperosmotic conditions of <i>SsZNC1</i> knockout transformants were reduced. A transcriptomic analysis unveiled its regulatory role in key cellular functions, including cellulose catabolic process, methyltransferase activity, and virulence, etc. Together, our results indicated that SsZNC1, a core regulatory gene involved in virulence, sclerotial development and stress response, provides new insight into the transcription regulation and pathogenesis of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:16Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa4850c1c550427886b4578aeb001d132024-02-23T15:23:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2024-02-0110213510.3390/jof10020135The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>Yongkun Huang0Zhima Zhaxi1Yanping Fu2Jiatao Xie3Tao Chen4Bo Li5Xiao Yu6Yang Lin7Daohong Jiang8Jiasen Cheng9National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is a fungal pathogen with a broad range of hosts, which can cause diseases and pose a great threat to many crops. Fungal-specific Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> transcription factors (TFs) constitute a large family prevalent among plant pathogens. However, the function of Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> TFs remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized SsZNC1, a Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> TF in <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>, which is involved in virulence, sclerotial development, and osmotic stress response. The expression of <i>SsZNC1</i> was significantly up-regulated in the early stages of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> infection on <i>Arabidopsis</i> leaves. The target deletion of <i>SsZNC1</i> resulted in reduced virulence on <i>Arabidopsis</i> and oilseed rape. In addition, sclerotial development ability and growth ability under hyperosmotic conditions of <i>SsZNC1</i> knockout transformants were reduced. A transcriptomic analysis unveiled its regulatory role in key cellular functions, including cellulose catabolic process, methyltransferase activity, and virulence, etc. Together, our results indicated that SsZNC1, a core regulatory gene involved in virulence, sclerotial development and stress response, provides new insight into the transcription regulation and pathogenesis of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/2/135<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> proteinsSsZNC1pathogenesissclerotial developmentabiotic stresses |
| spellingShingle | Yongkun Huang Zhima Zhaxi Yanping Fu Jiatao Xie Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Yang Lin Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Journal of Fungi <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> proteins SsZNC1 pathogenesis sclerotial development abiotic stresses |
| title | The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_full | The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_short | The Transcription Factor SsZNC1 Mediates Virulence, Sclerotial Development, and Osmotic Stress Response in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_sort | transcription factor ssznc1 mediates virulence sclerotial development and osmotic stress response in i sclerotinia sclerotiorum i |
| topic | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Zn<sub>2</sub>Cys<sub>6</sub> proteins SsZNC1 pathogenesis sclerotial development abiotic stresses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/2/135 |
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