title: Metabolomic analysis reveals a common pattern of metabolic re-programming during invasion of three host plant species by Magnaporthe grisea.
abstract: The mechanisms by which biotrophic and hemi-biotrophic fungal pathogens simultaneously subdue plant defences and sequester host nutrients are poorly understood. Using metabolite fingerprinting, we show that Magnaporthe grisea, the causal agent of rice blast disease, dynamically re-programmes host metabolism during plant colonization. Identical patterns of metabolic change occurred during M. grisea infections in barley, rice and Brachypodium distachyon. Targeted metabolite profiling by GC-MS confirmed the modulation of a conserved set of metabolites. In pre-symptomatic tissues, malate and polyamines accumulated, rather than being utilized to generate defensive reactive oxygen species, and the levels of metabolites associated with amelioration of redox stress in various cellular compartments increased dramatically. The activity of NADP-malic enzyme and generation of reactive oxygen species were localized to pathogen penetration sites, and both appeared to be suppressed in compatible interactions. Early diversion of the shikimate pathway to produce quinate was observed, as well as accumulation of non-polymerized lignin precursors. These data are consistent with modulation of defensive phenylpropanoid metabolism by M. grisea and the inability of susceptible hosts to mount a hypersensitive reaction or produce lignified papillae (both involving reactive oxygen species) to restrict pathogen invasion. Rapid proliferation of M. grisea hyphae in plant tissue after 3 days was associated with accelerated nutrient acquisition and utilization by the pathogen. Conversion of photoassimilate into mannitol and glycerol for carbon sequestration and osmolyte production appear to drive hyphal growth. Taken together, our results suggest that fungal pathogens deploy a common metabolic re-programming strategy in diverse host species to suppress plant defence and colonize plant tissue.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zubair
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Enot
authors.forename: Zaira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Caracuel-Rios
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Overy
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Snowdon
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draper
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D001467:Hordeum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D020082:Magnaporthe; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D055432:Metabolomics; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species