title: Disruption of Bcchs4, Bcchs6 or Bcchs7 chitin synthase genes in Botrytis cinerea and the essential role of class VI chitin synthase (Bcchs6).
abstract: Chitin synthases play critical roles in hyphal development and fungal pathogenicity. Previous studies on Botrytis cinerea, a model organism for necrotrophic pathogens, have shown that disruption of Bcchs1 and more particularly Bcchs3a genes have a drastic impact on virulence (Soulié et al., 2003, 2006). In this work, we investigate the role of other CHS including BcCHS4, BcCHS6 and BcCHS7 during the life cycle of B. cinerea. Single deletions of corresponding genes were carried out. Phenotypic analysis indicates that: (i) BcCHS4 enzyme is not essential for development and pathogenicity of the fungus; (ii) BcCHS7 is required for pathogenicity in a host dependant manner. For Bcchs6 gene disruption, we obtained only heterokaryotic strains. Indeed, sexual or asexual purification assays were unsuccessful. We concluded that class VI chitin synthase could be essential for B. cinerea and therefore BcCHS6 represents a valuable antifungal target.
authors.affiliation: UPMC Univ. Paris 06, UMR217, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morcx
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choquer
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assie
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blondet
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simond-Côte
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gajek
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chapeland-Leclerc
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Expert
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Soulie
mesh_terms: D020171:Botrytis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics; D002686:Chitin / Q000235:genetics; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D025301:Hyphae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D010935:Plant Diseases; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D002686:Chitin; C583388:BcCHS4 protein, Botrytis cinerea; C583387:BcCHS6 protein, Botrytis cinerea; C583386:BcCHS7 protein, Botrytis cinerea; D002687:Chitin Synthase