title: bZIP transcription factor CgAP1 is essential for oxidative stress tolerance and full virulence of the poplar anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.
abstract: Yeast AP1 transcription factor is a regulator of oxidative stress response. Here, we report the identification and characterization of CgAP1, an ortholog of YAP1 in poplar anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The expression of CgAP1 was highly induced by reactive oxygen species. CgAP1 deletion mutants displayed enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress compared with the wild-type strain, and their poplar leaf virulence was obviously reduced. However, the mutants exhibited no obvious defects in aerial hyphal growth, conidia production, and appressoria formation. CgAP1::eGFP fusion protein localized to the nucleus after TBH (tert-Butyl hydroperoxide) treatment, suggesting that CgAP1 functions as a redox sensor in C. gloeosporioides. In addition, CgAP1 prevented the accumulation of ROS during early stages of biotrophic growth. CgAP1 also acted as a positive regulator of several ROS-related genes (i.e., Glr1, Hyr1, and Cyt1) involved in the antioxidative response. These results highlight the key regulatory role of CgAP1 transcription factor in oxidative stress response and provide insights into the function of ROS detoxification in virulence of C. gloeosporioides.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yingjiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ylwang@bjfu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yonglin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chengming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D032107:Populus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: AP1 transcription factor; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; Oxidative stress response; Poplar anthracnose; Virulence