{"title":"Secondary metabolite gene clusters from the phytopathogenic fungus Gaeumannomyces tritici","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s42161-024-01605-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>The take-all disease is one of the most important maladies in cereals and grasses, being caused by the fungus <em>Gaeumannomyces tritici</em>. Secondary metabolites are known to perform critical functions during the infection process of various phytopathogens. However, the current understanding of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in <em>G. tritici</em> is limited. Similarly, comprehensive analyses of the expression, conservation, and evolution of these biosynthesis-related genes are crucial for enhancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that drive the development of the take-all disease. Here we have performed a deep survey and description of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in <em>G. tritici</em>, analyzed a previously published RNA-seq of a mimicked infection condition, and assessed the conservation among 10 different Magnaporthales order members. Notably, the majority of the 35 putative gene clusters identified were conserved among these species, with GtPKS1, GtPKS3, and GtTERP4 uniquely identified in <em>G. tritici</em>. In the mimicked infection condition, seven gene clusters, including the GtPKS1 cluster, exhibited upregulated expression. Through comparative genomic analysis, GtPKS1 was associated with the production of dichlorodiaporthin, a metabolite with cytotoxic and antifungal activity. In addition, GtPKS10 and GtPKSNRPS3 showed similarities to already characterized biosynthetic pathways involved in the synthesis of ACR-toxin (phytotoxic) and trichosetin (phytotoxic and antibiotic), respectively. These three gene clusters were further scrutinized through phylogenetic inference, which revealed the distribution of orthologous sequences across various plant-associated fungi. Finally, the detailed identification of several genes enrolled in secondary metabolite biosynthesis provides the foundation for future in-depth research, supporting the potential impact of several small molecules on <em>G. tritici</em> lifecycle and host interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16837,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plant Pathology","volume":"84 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Plant Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-024-01605-3","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PLANT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The take-all disease is one of the most important maladies in cereals and grasses, being caused by the fungus Gaeumannomyces tritici. Secondary metabolites are known to perform critical functions during the infection process of various phytopathogens. However, the current understanding of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in G. tritici is limited. Similarly, comprehensive analyses of the expression, conservation, and evolution of these biosynthesis-related genes are crucial for enhancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that drive the development of the take-all disease. Here we have performed a deep survey and description of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in G. tritici, analyzed a previously published RNA-seq of a mimicked infection condition, and assessed the conservation among 10 different Magnaporthales order members. Notably, the majority of the 35 putative gene clusters identified were conserved among these species, with GtPKS1, GtPKS3, and GtTERP4 uniquely identified in G. tritici. In the mimicked infection condition, seven gene clusters, including the GtPKS1 cluster, exhibited upregulated expression. Through comparative genomic analysis, GtPKS1 was associated with the production of dichlorodiaporthin, a metabolite with cytotoxic and antifungal activity. In addition, GtPKS10 and GtPKSNRPS3 showed similarities to already characterized biosynthetic pathways involved in the synthesis of ACR-toxin (phytotoxic) and trichosetin (phytotoxic and antibiotic), respectively. These three gene clusters were further scrutinized through phylogenetic inference, which revealed the distribution of orthologous sequences across various plant-associated fungi. Finally, the detailed identification of several genes enrolled in secondary metabolite biosynthesis provides the foundation for future in-depth research, supporting the potential impact of several small molecules on G. tritici lifecycle and host interactions.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Plant Pathology (JPP or JPPY) is the main publication of the Italian Society of Plant Pathology (SiPAV), and publishes original contributions in the form of full-length papers, short communications, disease notes, and review articles on mycology, bacteriology, virology, phytoplasmatology, physiological plant pathology, plant-pathogeninteractions, post-harvest diseases, non-infectious diseases, and plant protection. In vivo results are required for plant protection submissions. Varietal trials for disease resistance and gene mapping are not published in the journal unless such findings are already employed in the context of strategic approaches for disease management. However, studies identifying actual genes involved in virulence are pertinent to thescope of the Journal and may be submitted. The journal highlights particularly timely or novel contributions in its Editors’ choice section, to appear at the beginning of each volume. Surveys for diseases or pathogens should be submitted as "Short communications".