Woronin body protein UvHex1 is essential for pathogenesis, and contributes to conidiation, cell stress response, lipid metabolism, and mycotoxins production in rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

Abstract Woronin bodies (WBs) are unique single-membrane microbodies derived from peroxisomes found in fungi within the Pezizomycotina subphylum. WBs can seal hyphal septa to prevent cytoplasmic leakage upon hyphal damage. The hexagonal peroxisomal protein, Hex1, is a key component in the formation...

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Main Authors: Yijun Mao, Xiayan Pan, Mina Yu, Huijuan Cao, Tianqiao Song, Zhongqiang Qi, Yan Du, Rongsheng Zhang, Yongfeng Liu, Qingchao Deng, Junjie Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Phytopathology Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42483-025-00337-1
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Summary:Abstract Woronin bodies (WBs) are unique single-membrane microbodies derived from peroxisomes found in fungi within the Pezizomycotina subphylum. WBs can seal hyphal septa to prevent cytoplasmic leakage upon hyphal damage. The hexagonal peroxisomal protein, Hex1, is a key component in the formation of WBs. In this study, the ortholog of Hex1 in U. virens (UvHex1) was targeted for deletion using homologous recombination and subsequent complementation. The findings revealed that the deletion of Uvhex1 gene resulted in a loss of pathogenicity, a slight reduction in mycelial growth, and highly sensitivity to cell wall, oxidative, and osmotic stress. In contrast, the Uvhex1 deletion mutants exhibited enhanced capacity for utilizing long-chain fatty acids and producing mycotoxins. These results suggest that UvHex1 is crucial for WBs formation and pathogenicity, and it also plays important roles in conidiation, cellular stress response, lipid metabolism, and mycotoxin production in the rice false smut fungus U. virens.
ISSN:2524-4167