title: Gene expression profiles of Blumeria graminis indicate dynamic changes to primary metabolism during development of an obligate biotrophic pathogen.
abstract: cDNA microarrays of Blumeria graminis f sp hordei transcript profiles during the asexual development cycle reveal the dynamics of global gene expression as the fungus germinates, penetrates, feeds on its host, and produces masses of conidia for dispersal. The expression profiles of genes encoding enzymes involved in primary metabolism show that there is a striking degree of coordinate regulation of some of the genes in the same pathway. In one example, genes encoding several glycolytic enzymes are significantly upregulated as mature appressoria form and also in infected epidermis, which contain fungal haustoria. In another example, mRNAs for lipid degrading enzymes are initially expressed at high levels in the conidia and the early germination stages and decrease significantly later. We discuss these results and draw inferences on the metabolic status of this obligate biotrophic fungus as it infects its host and completes its life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Both
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Csukai
authors.forename: Michael P H
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: Pietro D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Spanu
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000235:genetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins