title: The MADS-box transcription factor FgMcm1 regulates cell identity and fungal development in Fusarium graminearum.
abstract: In eukaryotic cells, MADS-box genes are known to play major regulatory roles in various biological processes by combinatorial interactions with other transcription factors. In this study, we functionally characterized the FgMCM1 MADS-box gene in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of wheat and barley head blight. Deletion of FgMCM1 resulted in the loss of perithecium production and phialide formation. The Fgmcm1 mutant was significantly reduced in virulence, deoxynivalenol biosynthesis and conidiation. In yeast two-hybrid assays, FgMcm1 interacted with Mat1-1-1 and Fst12, two transcription factors important for sexual reproduction. Whereas Fgmcm1 mutants were unstable and produced stunted subcultures, Fgmcm1 mat1-1-1 but not Fgmcm1 fst12 double mutants were stable. Furthermore, spontaneous suppressor mutations occurred frequently in stunted subcultures to recover growth rate. Ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis indicated that a number of sexual reproduction-related genes were upregulated in stunted subcultures compared with the Fgmcm1 mutant, which was downregulated in the expression of genes involved in pathogenesis, secondary metabolism and conidiation. We also showed that culture instability was not observed in the Fvmcm1 mutants of the heterothallic Fusarium verticillioides. Overall, our data indicate that FgMcm1 plays a critical role in the regulation of cell identity, sexual and asexual reproduction, secondary metabolism and pathogenesis in F. graminearum.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
authors: Cui
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
authors: Huiquan
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
authors: Guotian
authors: G
authors: Li
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
authors: Meigang
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Yingzi
authors: Y
authors: Yun
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
authors: Chenfang
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Zhonghua
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.|Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
authors: Jin-Rong
authors: JR
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001467:Hordeum / Q000382:microbiology; D026341:Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D064210:Secondary Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014908:Triticum / Q000382:microbiology; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D026341:Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D014255:Trichothecenes; C007262:deoxynivalenol