BcSUN1, aB. cinereaSUN-Family Protein, Is Involved in Virulence.
BcSUN1 is a glycoprotein secreted byBotrytis cinerea, an important plant pathogen that causes severe losses in agriculture worldwide. In this work, the role of BcSUN1 in different aspects of theB. cinereabiology was studied by phenotypic analysis ofBcsun1knockout strains. We identified BcSUN1 as the only member of the Group-I SUN family of proteins encoded in theB. cinereagenome, which is expressed both in axenic culture and during infection. BcSUN1 is also weakly attached to the cellular surface and is involved in maintaining the structure of the cell wall and/or the extracellular matrix. Disruption of theBcsun1gene produces different cell surface alterations affecting the production of reproductive structures and adhesion to plant surface, therefore reducingB. cinereavirulence. BcSUN1 is the first member of the SUN family reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of a filamentous fungus.
Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) La Laguna, Spain.
Alicia
A
Pérez-Hernández
Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) La Laguna, Spain.
Mario
M
González
Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) La Laguna, Spain.
Celedonio
C
González
Laboratory of Phytopathology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) Wageningen, Netherlands.
Jan A L
JA
van Kan
Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) La Laguna, Spain.
Nélida
N
Brito
BcSUN1; Botrytis cinerea; cell wall; glycoprotein; secretome; virulence