FfVel1 and FfLae1, components of a velvet-like complex in Fusarium fujikuroi, affect differentiation, secondary metabolism and virulence.
Besides industrially produced gibberellins (GAs), Fusarium fujikuroi is able to produce additional secondary metabolites such as the pigments bikaverin and neurosporaxanthin and the mycotoxins fumonisins and fusarin C. The global regulation of these biosynthetic pathways is only poorly understood. Recently, the velvet complex containing VeA and several other regulatory proteins was shown to be involved in global regulation of secondary metabolism and differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we report on the characterization of two components of the F. fujikuroi velvet-like complex, FfVel1 and FfLae1. The gene encoding this first reported LaeA orthologue outside the class of Eurotiomycetidae is upregulated in ΔFfvel1 microarray-studies and FfLae1 interacts with FfVel1 in the nucleus. Deletion of Ffvel1 and Fflae1 revealed for the first time that velvet can simultaneously act as positive (GAs, fumonisins and fusarin C) and negative (bikaverin) regulator of secondary metabolism, and that both components affect conidiation and virulence of F. fujikuroi. Furthermore, the velvet-like protein FfVel2 revealed similar functions regarding conidiation, secondary metabolism and virulence as FfVel1. Cross-genus complementation studies of velvet complex component mutants between Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium support an ancient origin for this complex, which has undergone a divergence in specific functions mediating development and secondary metabolism.
Wiemann
Philipp
P
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Brown
Daren W
DW
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Kleigrewe
Karin
K
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Bok
Jin Woo
JW
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Keller
Nancy P
NP
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Humpf
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
Tudzynski
Bettina
B
Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, GermanyInstitut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, GermanyBacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USADepartment of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014774:Virulence
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D010860:Pigments, Biological