The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity
The exocyst complex in eukaryotic cells modulates secretory vesicle transportation to promote exocytosis. The exocyst is also required for the hyphal growth and pathogenic development of several filamentous phytopathogens. Obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi cause considerable damage to many ca...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Jinyao Yin Xuehuan Zhu Yalong Chen Yanyang Lv Jiaxin Shan Yuhan Liu Wenbo Liu Weiguo Miao Xiao Li |
| author_facet | Jinyao Yin Xuehuan Zhu Yalong Chen Yanyang Lv Jiaxin Shan Yuhan Liu Wenbo Liu Weiguo Miao Xiao Li |
| author_sort | Jinyao Yin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The exocyst complex in eukaryotic cells modulates secretory vesicle transportation to promote exocytosis. The exocyst is also required for the hyphal growth and pathogenic development of several filamentous phytopathogens. Obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi cause considerable damage to many cash crops; however, the exocyst’s roles in this group of fungi is not well studied. To verify the functions of the exocyst in powdery mildew fungus, we identified two exocyst subunits, EqSec5 and EqSec6, from <i>Erysiphe quercicola</i>, a powdery mildew fungus that infects the rubber tree <i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>. When GFP-fused EqSec5 and EqSec6 were introduced into <i>E. quercicola</i> and another phytopathogenic fungus, <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i>, they primarily localized to the hyphal tip region. Inducing gene silencing of <i>EqSec5</i> or <i>EqSec6</i> caused growth and infection defects, and those defects could not be fully restored under the NADPH oxidase inhibitor treatment to the plant. The silenced strains also induced the host defense response including reactive oxygen species accumulation and callose deposition. The silencing of <i>EqSec5</i> or <i>EqSec6</i> also inhibited the secretion of the effector protein EqIsc1, interrupting plant salicylic acid biosynthesis. Yeast two-hybrid and gene overexpression assays suggested that EqSec5 and EqSec6 interact with each other and can complement each other’s function during host infection. Overall, our study provides evidence that the exocyst in this powdery mildew fungus facilitates effector secretion, hyphal growth, and infection. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-246621eeeddb4e0b8c6ec0c2b29f0ea02025-01-24T13:37:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011117310.3390/jof11010073The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and PathogenicityJinyao Yin0Xuehuan Zhu1Yalong Chen2Yanyang Lv3Jiaxin Shan4Yuhan Liu5Wenbo Liu6Weiguo Miao7Xiao Li8Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaKey Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Haikou 570228, ChinaThe exocyst complex in eukaryotic cells modulates secretory vesicle transportation to promote exocytosis. The exocyst is also required for the hyphal growth and pathogenic development of several filamentous phytopathogens. Obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi cause considerable damage to many cash crops; however, the exocyst’s roles in this group of fungi is not well studied. To verify the functions of the exocyst in powdery mildew fungus, we identified two exocyst subunits, EqSec5 and EqSec6, from <i>Erysiphe quercicola</i>, a powdery mildew fungus that infects the rubber tree <i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>. When GFP-fused EqSec5 and EqSec6 were introduced into <i>E. quercicola</i> and another phytopathogenic fungus, <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i>, they primarily localized to the hyphal tip region. Inducing gene silencing of <i>EqSec5</i> or <i>EqSec6</i> caused growth and infection defects, and those defects could not be fully restored under the NADPH oxidase inhibitor treatment to the plant. The silenced strains also induced the host defense response including reactive oxygen species accumulation and callose deposition. The silencing of <i>EqSec5</i> or <i>EqSec6</i> also inhibited the secretion of the effector protein EqIsc1, interrupting plant salicylic acid biosynthesis. Yeast two-hybrid and gene overexpression assays suggested that EqSec5 and EqSec6 interact with each other and can complement each other’s function during host infection. Overall, our study provides evidence that the exocyst in this powdery mildew fungus facilitates effector secretion, hyphal growth, and infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/73obligate biotrophic fungipowdery mildewexocysteffector protein |
| spellingShingle | Jinyao Yin Xuehuan Zhu Yalong Chen Yanyang Lv Jiaxin Shan Yuhan Liu Wenbo Liu Weiguo Miao Xiao Li The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity Journal of Fungi obligate biotrophic fungi powdery mildew exocyst effector protein |
| title | The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity |
| title_full | The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity |
| title_fullStr | The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity |
| title_short | The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity |
| title_sort | exocyst subunits eqsec5 and eqsec6 promote powdery mildew fungus growth and pathogenicity |
| topic | obligate biotrophic fungi powdery mildew exocyst effector protein |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/73 |
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