title: The transcription factor SKN7 regulates conidiation, thermotolerance, apoptotic-like cell death and parasitism in the nematode endoparasitic fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis.
abstract: The transcription factor SKN7 is a highly conserved protein among fungi and was initially recognized as a response regulator that protects cells from oxidative stress and maintains cell wall integrity in yeast. Orthologs of SKN7 are extensively present in biocontrol agents of plant pathogens, but they had not been functionally characterized. Here, we identified and characterized the transcription factor SKN7 in the nematode endoparasitic fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis. Null mutant lacking HIM-SKN7 (HIM_03620), which was generated by a gene disruption strategy, demonstrated reduced conidiation, increased sensitivity to high temperature, hydrogen peroxide, mannitol and ethanol, and reduced fungal resistance to farnesol. However, over-expression mutant showed increased conidial production, thermotolerance and resistance to farnesol, suggesting that HIM-SKN7 regulates antiapoptotic-like cell death in H. minnesotensis. Moreover, the results showed that in null mutant, H. minnesotensis had decreased endoparasitic ability as compared to wild type and over-expression strain. During the infection process, the relative expression of the HIM-SKN7 gene was significantly induced in the wild type and over-expression strain. The results of the present study advance our understanding of the functions of the SKN7 gene in biocontrol agents, in particular, nematode endoparasitic fungi.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Muzammil
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.|Department of Plant Pathology, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M Imran
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Niuniu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Meichun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xingzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D009348:Nematoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D000071436:Thermotolerance; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors