title: Glucosylceramides are required for mycelial growth and full virulence in Penicillium digitatum.
abstract: Glucosylceramides (GlcCers) are important lipid components of the membrane systems of eukaryotes. Recent studies have suggested the roles for GlcCers in regulating fungal growth and pathogenesis. In this study, we report the identification and functional characterization of PdGcs1, a gene encoding GlcCer synthase (GCS) essential for the biosynthesis of GlcCers, in Penicilliumdigitatum genome. We demonstrated that the deletion of PdGcs1 in P. digitatum resulted in the complete loss of production of GlcCer (d18:1/18:0 h) and GlcCer (d18:2/18:0 h), a decrease in vegetation growth and sporulation, and a delay in spore germination. The virulence of the PdGcs1 deletion mutant on citrus fruits was also impaired, as evidenced by the delayed occurrence of water soaking lesion and the formation of smaller size of lesion. These results suggest that PdGcs1 is a bona fide GCS that plays an important role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and virulence of P. digitatum by controlling the biosynthesis of GlcCers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors.forename: Congyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors.forename: Mingshuang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ruoxin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors.forename: Haijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8155, USA.
authors.forename: Cungui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. Electronic address: hyli@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002957:Citrus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005963:Glucosylceramides / Q000502:physiology*; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry; D009154:Mutation; D010407:Penicillium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005963:Glucosylceramides; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C023246:ceramide glucosyltransferase
keywords: GlcCers; GlcCers synthase; Penicillium digitatum; Virulence