The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>
<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>, known as a typical necrotrophic pathogenic fungus, exhibits a complex pathogenic mechanism. Research on <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> has primarily focused on oxalic acid, pathogenicity-related enzymes, and secreted proteins. In this study, we identi...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Huihui Zhao Xiaofan Liu Jintao Jiang Jiatao Xie Yanping Fu Yang Lin Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Xueqiong Xiao Xueliang Lyu Weidong Chen Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng |
| author_facet | Huihui Zhao Xiaofan Liu Jintao Jiang Jiatao Xie Yanping Fu Yang Lin Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Xueqiong Xiao Xueliang Lyu Weidong Chen Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng |
| author_sort | Huihui Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>, known as a typical necrotrophic pathogenic fungus, exhibits a complex pathogenic mechanism. Research on <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> has primarily focused on oxalic acid, pathogenicity-related enzymes, and secreted proteins. In this study, we identified a transcription factor, SsSR (<i>S. sclerotiorum</i> Sterol-Related transcription factor), which regulates <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> infection by modulating virulence through ergosterol biosynthesis. We characterized the transcriptional activity of <i>SsSR</i> and its downstream target gene, <i>SsCYP51</i>. <i>SsSR</i> undergoes phosphorylation induced by the host plant, subsequently regulating the expression of <i>SsCYP51</i>. The deletion of <i>SsSR</i> or <i>SsCYP51</i> does not affect the growth or acid production of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>, but it leads to a reduction in ergosterol, significantly diminishing virulence and impairing the stress tolerance of the hyphae. In summary, this study identifies a transcription factor, <i>SsSR</i>, that specifically regulates the virulence of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>. <i>SsSR</i> upregulates the expression of <i>SsCYP51</i> through phosphorylation during the infection phase, leading to the synthesis of ergosterol, which enhances hyphal stress tolerance and thereby promotes infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dea677ebabf1448480e8f8f7b427d64b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-dea677ebabf1448480e8f8f7b427d64b2025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-07-0111750910.3390/jof11070509The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>Huihui Zhao0Xiaofan Liu1Jintao Jiang2Jiatao Xie3Yanping Fu4Yang Lin5Tao Chen6Bo Li7Xiao Yu8Xueqiong Xiao9Xueliang Lyu10Weidong Chen11Daohong Jiang12Jiasen Cheng13National 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 Lab 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, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USANational 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>, known as a typical necrotrophic pathogenic fungus, exhibits a complex pathogenic mechanism. Research on <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> has primarily focused on oxalic acid, pathogenicity-related enzymes, and secreted proteins. In this study, we identified a transcription factor, SsSR (<i>S. sclerotiorum</i> Sterol-Related transcription factor), which regulates <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> infection by modulating virulence through ergosterol biosynthesis. We characterized the transcriptional activity of <i>SsSR</i> and its downstream target gene, <i>SsCYP51</i>. <i>SsSR</i> undergoes phosphorylation induced by the host plant, subsequently regulating the expression of <i>SsCYP51</i>. The deletion of <i>SsSR</i> or <i>SsCYP51</i> does not affect the growth or acid production of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>, but it leads to a reduction in ergosterol, significantly diminishing virulence and impairing the stress tolerance of the hyphae. In summary, this study identifies a transcription factor, <i>SsSR</i>, that specifically regulates the virulence of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>. <i>SsSR</i> upregulates the expression of <i>SsCYP51</i> through phosphorylation during the infection phase, leading to the synthesis of ergosterol, which enhances hyphal stress tolerance and thereby promotes infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/509<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>transcription factorvirulenceergosterolstress tolerance |
| spellingShingle | Huihui Zhao Xiaofan Liu Jintao Jiang Jiatao Xie Yanping Fu Yang Lin Tao Chen Bo Li Xiao Yu Xueqiong Xiao Xueliang Lyu Weidong Chen Daohong Jiang Jiasen Cheng The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Journal of Fungi <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> transcription factor virulence ergosterol stress tolerance |
| title | The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_full | The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_short | The Transcription Factor SsSR Mediates Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Virulence in <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> |
| title_sort | transcription factor sssr mediates ergosterol biosynthesis and virulence in i sclerotinia sclerotiorum i |
| topic | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> transcription factor virulence ergosterol stress tolerance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/509 |
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