TY - JOUR
T1 - The pep4 gene encoding proteinase A is involved in dimorphism and pathogenesis of Ustilago maydis
AU - Soberanes-Gutiérrez, Cinthia V.
AU - Juárez-Montiel, Margarita
AU - Olguín-Rodríguez, Omar
AU - Hernández-Rodríguez, César
AU - Ruiz-Herrera, José
AU - Villa-Tanaca, Lourdes
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 BSPP and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Vacuole proteases have important functions in different physiological processes in fungi. Taking this aspect into consideration, and as a continuation of our studies on the analysis of the proteolytic system of Ustilago maydis, a phytopathogenic member of the Basidiomycota, we have analysed the role of the pep4 gene encoding the vacuolar acid proteinase PrA in the pathogenesis and morphogenesis of the fungus. After confirmation of the location of the protease in the vacuole using fluorescent probes, we obtained deletion mutants of the gene in sexually compatible strains of U.maydis (FB1 and FB2), and analysed their phenotypes. It was observed that the yeast to mycelium dimorphic transition induced by a pH change in the medium, or the use of a fatty acid as sole carbon source, was severely reduced in Δpep4 mutants. In addition, the virulence of the mutants in maize seedlings was reduced, as revealed by the lower proportion of plants infected and the reduction in size of the tumours induced by the pathogen, when compared with wild-type strains. All of these phenotypic alterations were reversed by complementation of the mutant strains with the wild-type gene. These results provide evidence of the importance of the pep4 gene for the morphogenesis and virulence of U.maydis.
AB - Vacuole proteases have important functions in different physiological processes in fungi. Taking this aspect into consideration, and as a continuation of our studies on the analysis of the proteolytic system of Ustilago maydis, a phytopathogenic member of the Basidiomycota, we have analysed the role of the pep4 gene encoding the vacuolar acid proteinase PrA in the pathogenesis and morphogenesis of the fungus. After confirmation of the location of the protease in the vacuole using fluorescent probes, we obtained deletion mutants of the gene in sexually compatible strains of U.maydis (FB1 and FB2), and analysed their phenotypes. It was observed that the yeast to mycelium dimorphic transition induced by a pH change in the medium, or the use of a fatty acid as sole carbon source, was severely reduced in Δpep4 mutants. In addition, the virulence of the mutants in maize seedlings was reduced, as revealed by the lower proportion of plants infected and the reduction in size of the tumours induced by the pathogen, when compared with wild-type strains. All of these phenotypic alterations were reversed by complementation of the mutant strains with the wild-type gene. These results provide evidence of the importance of the pep4 gene for the morphogenesis and virulence of U.maydis.
KW - Fungal dimorphism
KW - Plant pathogenesis
KW - Proteinase A
KW - Ustilago maydis
KW - Vacuole proteinases
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940793764&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/mpp.12240
DO - 10.1111/mpp.12240
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 25597948
SN - 1464-6722
VL - 16
SP - 837
EP - 846
JO - Molecular Plant Pathology
JF - Molecular Plant Pathology
IS - 8
ER -