Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei
Abstract Filamentous fungi colonise substrates by invasive growth of multi-cellular hyphae. It is commonly accepted that hyphae expand by tip growth that is restricted to the first apical cell, where turgor pressure, exocytosis and endocytosis cooperate to expand the apex. Here we show that, contrar...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59606-4 |
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| author | Martin Schuster Sreedhar Kilaru Han A. B. Wösten Gero Steinberg |
| author_facet | Martin Schuster Sreedhar Kilaru Han A. B. Wösten Gero Steinberg |
| author_sort | Martin Schuster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Filamentous fungi colonise substrates by invasive growth of multi-cellular hyphae. It is commonly accepted that hyphae expand by tip growth that is restricted to the first apical cell, where turgor pressure, exocytosis and endocytosis cooperate to expand the apex. Here we show that, contrary to expectations, subapical cells play important roles in hyphal growth in the industrial enzyme-producing fungus Trichoderma reesei. We find that the second and third cells are crucial for hyphal extension, which correlates with tip-ward cytoplasmic streaming, and the fourth-to-sixth cells support rapid growth rates. Live cell imaging reveals exocytotic and endocytic activity in both apical and subapical cells, associated with microtubule-based bi-directional transport of secretory vesicles and early endosomes across septa. Moreover, visualisation of 1,3-β-glucan synthase in subapical cells reveals that these compartments deliver cell wall-forming enzymes to the apical growth region. Thus, subapical cells are active in exocytosis and endocytosis, and deliver growth supplies and enzymes to the expanding hyphal apex. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7ce9ae1dc99477bae785ee537ae2deb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7ce9ae1dc99477bae785ee537ae2deb2025-08-20T03:10:31ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111810.1038/s41467-025-59606-4Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reeseiMartin Schuster0Sreedhar Kilaru1Han A. B. Wösten2Gero Steinberg3Department of Biosciences, University of ExeterDepartment of Biosciences, University of ExeterMicrobiology, Department of Biology, University of UtrechtDepartment of Biosciences, University of ExeterAbstract Filamentous fungi colonise substrates by invasive growth of multi-cellular hyphae. It is commonly accepted that hyphae expand by tip growth that is restricted to the first apical cell, where turgor pressure, exocytosis and endocytosis cooperate to expand the apex. Here we show that, contrary to expectations, subapical cells play important roles in hyphal growth in the industrial enzyme-producing fungus Trichoderma reesei. We find that the second and third cells are crucial for hyphal extension, which correlates with tip-ward cytoplasmic streaming, and the fourth-to-sixth cells support rapid growth rates. Live cell imaging reveals exocytotic and endocytic activity in both apical and subapical cells, associated with microtubule-based bi-directional transport of secretory vesicles and early endosomes across septa. Moreover, visualisation of 1,3-β-glucan synthase in subapical cells reveals that these compartments deliver cell wall-forming enzymes to the apical growth region. Thus, subapical cells are active in exocytosis and endocytosis, and deliver growth supplies and enzymes to the expanding hyphal apex.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59606-4 |
| spellingShingle | Martin Schuster Sreedhar Kilaru Han A. B. Wösten Gero Steinberg Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei Nature Communications |
| title | Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei |
| title_full | Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei |
| title_fullStr | Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei |
| title_full_unstemmed | Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei |
| title_short | Secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus Trichoderma reesei |
| title_sort | secretion and endocytosis in subapical cells support hyphal tip growth in the fungus trichoderma reesei |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59606-4 |
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