title: UmTco1, a Hybrid Histidine Kinase Gene, Is Essential for the Sexual Development and Virulence ofUstilago maydis.
abstract: Hybrid histidine kinase is part of a two-component system that is required for various stress responses and pathogenesis of pathogenic fungi. TheTco1gene in human pathogenCryptococcus neoformansencodes a hybrid histidine kinase and is important for pathogenesis. In this study, we identified aTco1homolog,UmTco1, in the maize pathogenUstilago maydisby bioinformatics analysis. To explore the role ofUmTco1in the survival ofU. maydisunder environmental stresses and its pathogenesis,Δumtco1mutants were constructed by allelic exchange. The growth ofΔumtco1mutants was significantly impaired when they were cultured under hyperosmotic stress. TheΔumtco1mutants exhibited increased resistance to antifungal agent fludioxonil. In particular, theΔumtco1mutants were unable to produce cytokinesis or conjugation tubes, and to develop fuzzy filaments, resulting in impaired mating between compatible strains. The expression levels ofPrf1, Pra1, andMfa1, which are involved in the pheromone pathway, were significantly decreased in theΔumtco1mutants. In inoculation tests to the host plant, theΔumtco1mutants showed significantly reduced ability in the production of anthocyanin pigments and tumor development on maize leaves. Overall, the combined results indicated thatUmTco1plays important roles in the survival under hyperosmotic stress, and contributes to cytokinesis, sexual development, and virulence ofU. maydisby regulating the expression of the genes involved in the pheromone pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Man Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D061245:Axenic Culture; D019295:Computational Biology; D048749:Cytokinesis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000071677:Histidine Kinase / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015576:Hyperostosis; D009154:Mutation; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010641:Phenotype; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000235:genetics*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014588:Ustilago / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004149:Dioxoles; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone; D014157:Transcription Factors; C121065:pheromone response factor 1, Ustilago maydis; D000071677:Histidine Kinase; C108339:fludioxonil
keywords: Hybrid histidine kinase; Ustilago maydis; hyperosmotic stress; mating; virulence