title: MoJMJ1, Encoding a Histone Demethylase Containing JmjC Domain, Is Required for Pathogenic Development of the Rice Blast Fungus,Magnaporthe oryzae.
abstract: Histone methylation plays important roles in regulating chromatin dynamics and transcription in eukaryotes. Implication of histone modifications in fungal pathogenesis is, however, beginning to emerge. Here, we report identification and functional analysis of a putative JmjC-domain-containing histone demethylase inMagnaporthe oryzae. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified seven genes, which encode putative histone demethylases containing JmjC domain. Deletion of one gene,MoJMJ1, belonging to JARID group, resulted in defects in vegetative growth, asexual reproduction, appressorium formation as well as invasive growth in the fungus. Western blot analysis showed that global H3K4me3 level increased in the deletion mutant, compared to wild-type strain, indicating histone demethylase activity of MoJMJ1. Introduction ofMoJMJ1gene into ΔMojmj1restored defects in pre-penetration developments including appressorium formation, indicating the importance of histone demethylation throughMoJMJ1during infection-specific morphogenesis. However, defects in penetration and invasive growth were not complemented. We discuss such incomplete complementation in detail here. Our work onMoJMJ1provides insights into H3K4me3-mediated regulation of infection-specific development in the plant pathogenic fungus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life and Applied Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea.
authors.forename: Akanksha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Seongbeom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life and Applied Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea.
authors.forename: Junhyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; Center for Fungal Genetic Resources and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Magnaporthe oryzae; histone demethylase; pathogenicity; rice blast