An ENA ATPase, MaENA1, of Metarhizium acridum influences the Na(+)-, thermo- and UV-tolerances of conidia and is involved in multiple mechanisms of stress tolerance.
In fungi, ENA ATPases play key roles in osmotic and alkaline pH tolerance, although their functions in thermo- and UV-tolerances have not been explored. Entomopathogenic fungi are naturally widespread and have considerable potential in pest control. An ENA ATPase gene, MaENA1, from the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum was functionally analyzed by deletion. MaENA1-disruption strain (ΔMaENA1) was less tolerant to NaCl, heat, and UV radiation than a wild-type strain (WT). Digital Gene Expression profiling of conidial RNAs resulted in 281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the WT and ΔMaENA1 strains. Eighty-five DEGs, 56 of which were down-regulated in the ΔMaENA1 strain, were shown to be associated with heat/UV tolerance, including six cytochrome P450 superfamily genes, 35 oxidoreductase genes, 24 ion-binding genes, seven DNA repair genes, and five other genes. In addition, eight genes were components of stress responsive pathways, including the Ras-cAMP PKA pathway, the RIM101 pathway, the Ca(2+)/calmodulin pathway, the TOR pathway, and the HOG/Spc1/Sty1/JNK pathway. These results demonstrated that MaENA1 influences fungal tolerances to Na(+), heat, and UV radiation in M. acridum, and is involved in multiple mechanisms of stress tolerance. Therefore, MaENA1 is required for the adaptation and survival of entomopathogenic fungi in stressful conditions in the environment and in their hosts.
Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China.
Qinsi
Q
Ma
Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China.
Kai
K
Jin
Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China.
Guoxiong
G
Peng
Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China. Electronic address: yuxianxia@cqu.edu.cn.
Yuxian
Y
Xia
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006358:Hot Temperature; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014774:Virulence
D002712:Chlorides; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; C001599:chlorite
ENA ATPase; Entomopathogenic fungus; Na(+)-tolerance; Thermotolerance; UV-tolerance