title: MgCRZ1, a transcription factor of Magnaporthe grisea, controls growth, development and is involved in full virulence.
abstract: Calcineurin, a conserved Ca(2+)/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase, is an important mediator of calcium-dependent signal transduction pathways in many organisms. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, calcineurin positively regulates transcription in response to stress by dephosphorylating the transcription factor Crz1p. Here we describe the identification, cloning, and function of the gene encoding the Magnaporthe grisea CRZ1 homolog, MgCRZ1. Specifically, we demonstrated that MgCRZ1 partially complemented a yeast Deltacrz1 mutant and exhibited Ca(2+) and calcineurin activity-dependent cellular localization. Targeted disruption of MgCRZ1 resulted in hypersensitivity to Ca(2+). Compared with the wild-type Guy11 strain, the Deltacrz1 mutants formed significantly reduced numbers of conidia and a large portion of abnormal appressoria (>50%) that exhibited little or no melanin production. Lipid metabolism was delayed, and the level of turgor pressure within the appressoria declined, thereby notably attenuating mutant pathogenicity. We conclude that MgCRZ1 is essential for growth, development, and full virulence of M. grisea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kaiyue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuanchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D020082:Magnaporthe / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014157:Transcription Factors