title: Malate synthase gene AoMls in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora contributes to conidiation, trap formation, and pathogenicity.
abstract: Malate synthase (Mls), a key enzyme in the glyoxylate cycle, is required for virulence in microbial pathogens. In this study, we identified the AoMls gene from the nematode-trapping fungus Arthobotrys oligospora. The gene contains 4 introns and encodes a polypeptide of 540 amino acids. To characterize the function of AoMls in A. oligospora, we disrupted it by homologous recombination, and the ΔAoMls mutants were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. The growth rate and colony morphology of the ΔAoMls mutants showed no obvious difference from the wild-type strains on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate. However, the disruption of gene AoMls led to a significant reduction in conidiation, failure to utilize fatty acids and sodium acetate for growth, and its conidia were unable to germinate on minimal medium supplemented with sodium oleate. In addition, the trap formation was retarded in the ΔAoMls mutants, which only produced immature traps containing one or two rings. Moreover, the nematicidal activity of the ΔAoMls mutants was significantly decreased. Our results suggest that the gene AoMls plays an important role in conidiation, trap formation and pathogenicity of A. oligospora.
authors: Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xinying
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Yunchuan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Ke-Qin
authors: KQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Jinkui
authors: J
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D007438:Introns; D008292:Malate Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009348:Nematoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D019346:Sodium Acetate / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D019346:Sodium Acetate; D008292:Malate Synthase