Cloning and Partial Characterization of Endopolygalacturonase Genes from Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea is a plant-pathogenic fungus infecting over 200 different plant species. We use a molecular genetic approach to study the process of pectin degradation by the fungus. Recently, we described the cloning and characterization of an endopolygalacturonase (endoPG) gene from B. cinerea (Bcpg1) which is required for full virulence. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of five additional endoPG-encoding genes from B. cinerea SAS56. The identity at the amino acid level between the six endoPGs of B. cinerea varied from 34 to 73%. Phylogenetic analysis, by using a group of 35 related fungal endoPGs and as an outgroup one plant PG, resulted in the identification of five monophyletic groups of closely related proteins. The endoPG proteins from B. cinerea SAS56 could be assigned to three different monophyletic groups. DNA blot analysis revealed the presence of the complete endoPG gene family in other strains of B. cinerea, as well as in other Botrytis species. Differential gene expression of the gene family members was found in mycelium grown in liquid culture with either glucose or polygalacturonic acid as the carbon source.     

Genetic characterization of grapevine-infecting Botrytis cinerea isolates from Argentina

BackgroundBotrytis cinerea is an ascomycete with a high genetic diversity and complex population structure, as reported from several hosts and sites. However, nothing is known about its genetic diversity in Argentina.AimsThe aim of this work is to estimate the genetic diversity of a local population of B. cinerea isolates obtained from grapevine in Argentina.MethodsIn this work, 35 strains that had been isolated from grapevines were genotyped for the presence of transposable elements and PCR-based RFLP molecular markers. The obtained results were compared with those from a large French population of the fungus, and used to perform a population genetics analysis using the Genepop software.ResultsAll the analysed isolates were classified as Group II (according to the most recent proposed classification) and showed a high degree of genetic diversity, with 14 different haplotypes. A significant difference in allele frequency was recorded between the local and French populations.ConclusionsThese comparisons between fungal populations, led to the detection of a high level of diversity and the differentiation between local and French groups of isolates. This was confirmed by an Fst value of 0.3332, which was higher than that reported for other pairwise comparisons of populations. This work constitutes the first report on the genetic diversity of B. cinerea isolates and their population structure in Argentina.     

Evolutionary analysis of endopolygalacturonase-encoding genes of Botrytis cinerea

Sequence analysis of five of the six endopolygalacturonase-encoding genes ( Bcpg1 , Bcpg2 , Bcpg3 , Bcpg4 , Bcpg5 ) from 32 strains of Botrytis cinerea showed marked gene to gene differences in the amount of among-strains diversity. Bcpg4 was almost invariable in all strains; Bcpg3 and Bcpg5 showed a moderate variability, similar to that of non-pathogenicity-associated genes examined in other studies. Conversely, Bcpg1 and Bcpg2 were highly variable and were shown to be under positive selection based on the McDonald–Kreitman test and likelihood ratio test. The evolution of the five endopolygalacturonase genes is explained by their different ecophysiological role. Diversification and balancing selection, as detected in Bcpg1 and Bcpg2 , can be used by the pathogen to escape recognition by the host and delay plant reaction in the early phases of infection. The analysis of the polymorphisms and the location of the sites with high probability of being positively selected highlighted the relevance of variability of the BcPG1 and BcPG2 proteins at their C-terminal end. By contrast, the absence of variability in Bcpg4 suggests that the efficiency of the product of this gene is critical for B. cinerea growth in late phases of infection or during intraspecific competition, thus markedly affecting strain fitness.     

灰葡萄孢交配型基因的分析与检测

通过生物信息对灰葡萄孢的MAT1‐1‐1与MAT1‐2‐1氨基酸序列进行了系统进化与结构域保守氨基酸分析,表明灰葡萄孢的交配型蛋白与核盘菌的亲源关系最近,结构域氨基酸比对结果表明该基因具有保守氨基酸的一致性与部分氨基酸的相似性。应用PCR技术检测灰葡萄孢交配型基因MAT1‐1‐1与MAT1‐2‐1,结果表明各种植区交配型菌株所占比例有较大的差异,多数种植区灰葡萄孢同时存在MAT1‐1与MAT1‐2两种交配类型,快速检测灰葡萄孢的交配型等位基因对于灰葡萄孢种群结构分析非常有意义。     

灰葡萄孢侵染垫缺失突变体的筛选及其相关生物学特性的研究

【目的】从农杆菌介导获得的灰葡萄孢RoseBC-3的突变体库中筛选侵染垫缺失突变体菌株,并明确其相关生物学特性。【方法】将菌株接种于洋葱表皮,利用棉兰染色观察侵染垫形成情况,筛选得到一个侵染垫缺失突变体(AT19)。采用形态学方法、离体叶片接种法、钌红染色法、小麦种子幼芽生长抑制法分别对该菌株的菌落培养性状、侵染垫产生情况、致病力、产果胶酶能力以及产植物毒性代谢产物能力进行测定。【结果】筛选灰葡萄孢突变体168株,根据侵染垫形成可分为三类：快速形成侵染垫型(158株)、缓慢形成侵染垫型(9株)和侵染垫形成缺陷型(1株,AT19)。AT19在接种洋葱120 h后依然无法形成成熟侵染垫。该菌株生长较为缓慢,菌落扩展均匀,可以产生分生孢子,对烟草、草莓、蚕豆和豌豆叶片均不能致病,可以产生果胶酶和植物代谢毒性物质。【结论】突变体菌株AT19可以产生果胶酶和植物代谢毒性物质,其致病力缺失与侵染垫产生缺陷相关。研究结果为了解灰葡萄孢侵染垫形成分子机制提供基础材料。     

灰葡萄孢犬尿氨酸途径关键酶基因的鉴定

【背景】灰葡萄孢是一种重要的植物病原真菌,实验室前期明确了灰葡萄孢犬尿氨酸单加氧酶(kynurenine3-monooxygenase,KMO)基因BcKMO参与调控病菌的生长发育和致病力。犬尿氨酸单加氧酶(KMO)是犬尿氨酸途径的关键酶,但灰葡萄孢是否存在犬尿氨酸途径及其在病菌生长、发育和致病过程中的功能尚未见相关报道。【目的】鉴定灰葡萄孢犬尿氨酸途径中的关键酶基因,确定灰葡萄孢犬尿氨酸途径的存在,为阐明灰葡萄孢生长发育和致病力的分子机理奠定基础。【方法】利用生物信息学方法,对灰葡萄孢犬尿氨酸途径中犬尿氨酸酶(kynureninase,KYN)、吲哚-2,3-双加氧酶(indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase,IDO)、犬尿氨酸氨基转移酶(kynurenine amino transferase,KAT)的编码基因进行分析;利用Real-time PCR技术,检测灰葡萄孢野生型BC22、BcKMO基因T-DNA插入突变体BCG183、恢复菌株BCG183/BcKMO中犬尿氨酸途径关键酶基因的表达水平;利用真菌犬尿氨酸酶KYN检测试剂盒,测定BcKMO突变体中犬尿氨酸酶(KYN)的含量。【结果】灰葡萄孢中含有2个犬尿氨酸氨基转移酶(KAT)的编码基因、3个吲哚-2,3-双加氧酶(IDO)的编码基因、10个犬尿氨酸氨基转移酶(KAT)的编码基因。灰葡萄孢KYN编码基因、IDO编码基因、KAT编码基因在突变体BCG183中的表达水平显著高于或低于在野生型和恢复菌株。突变体BCG183中犬尿氨酸酶(KYN)的含量显著低于野生型BC22和恢复菌株。【结论】灰葡萄孢中存在犬尿氨酸途径,灰葡萄孢BcKMO基因突变影响KYN、IDO和KAT编码基因的表达以及犬尿氨酸酶(KYN)的含量。     

Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding the endopolygalacturonase of Penicillium griseoroseum

A conserved region of a polygalacturonase (PG) gene from Penicillium griseoroseum was PCR amplified and used to screen a genomic library from this fungus. The nucleotide sequence of the isolated clone (pggI) consisted of 1497 bp, including a coding region of 1251 bp. This region potentially encodes a protein of 376 amino acids, and is interrupted by two introns. Extensive homology was observed between this protein and several fungal endopolygalacturonases. DNA hybridization analyses revealed that there is a low copy number of pggI in the P. griseoroseum genome, probably one or two copies.     

灰葡萄孢BC7-3菌株除草活性组分的纯化与结构鉴定

[目的]植物病原真菌毒素是一类重要的微生物源除草剂,本研究旨在找到一个新的具有除草活性的化合物结构.[方法]在前期薄层层析法、柱层析法和高效液相色谱法分析的基础上对灰葡萄孢诱变菌株BC7-3的代谢产物中具有除草活性的5个不同组分分别进行了液相色谱制备.[结果]本研究得到了一个纯度达99.38%对单子叶杂草马唐具有较强杀除活性的纯组分,通过对纯组分的物理性状测定并结合紫外-可见吸收光谱、红外光谱以及核磁共振波谱等分析方法鉴定化学结构为10-顺-二氢化灰霉二醛.[结论]研究的结果为微生物除草剂的创新和开发奠定了理论基础.     

Mycoviruses of Botrytis cinerea isolates from different hosts

Botrytis cinerea (teleomorph Botryotinia fuckeliana) is a necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus that causes grey mould and enormous economic losses worldwide in different crops. Control of B. cinerea is difficult due to the appearance of fungicide‐resistant isolates, and the diversity in virulence due to genetic variability and, perhaps, the infection with mycoviruses or fungal viruses. The discovery of mycoviruses and their possible application as biocontrol agents, as well as their use as tools to study the plant–pathogen interaction, has encouraged their study in B. cinerea. Herein, we have analysed the occurrence of mycoviruses in Spanish B. cinerea isolates to approach a better understanding of the interactions among viruses, fungi and plants in this pathosystem. Fifty‐five percent of the B. cinerea isolates analysed contained double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) elements, and the number of dsRNA elements, their relative concentration and size were variable among isolates. Some of these dsRNAs were related to the presence of virus like rod or isometric particles, and to cellular degeneration and malformed mitochondria. We have also demonstrated that a 3 kb dsRNA present in 55% of the isolates having dsRNA elements was a mycovirus genome. Partial sequence of that mycovirus presented high identity in nucleotide and amino acid sequence with Botrytis cinerea mitovirus 1 (BcMV1). Analysis of the genetic distance within Spanish BcMV1 sequences showed the existence of different isolates of this mitovirus inside the Spanish B. cinerea population analysed. This is the first report of the variability of dsRNA elements and the partial genome sequence of a mitovirus associated with Spanish B. cinerea isolates and the genetic diversity within Spanish isolates of BcMV1.     

Separation and characterization of endopolygalacturonase and exopolygalacturonase from peaches

Two polygalacturonases (PG I and PG II) have been separated from extracts of ripe peaches (Prunus persica) by chromatography on Sephadex G-100. PG I hydrolyzes polygalacturonic acid from the nonreducing ends of the molecules, releasing galacturonic acid as the product. It functions optimally at pH 5.5, requires Ca²⁺ for activity, and hydrolyzes low molecular weight substrates most rapidly. In contrast, PG II cleaves the molecular chain of the substrate randomly with a pH optimum at about 4. This enzyme is most reactive with substrates of intermediate molecular weight. It catalyzes the release of water-soluble, but 70% ethanol-insoluble, pectin from washed peach cell walls.     

Molecular and functional characterization of a fructose specific transporter from the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea

In the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea, spore germination and plant infection are stimulated in the presence of nutrients, in particular sugars. Applied at micromolar concentrations, fructose is a more potent inducer of germination than glucose. To test whether preferred fructose uptake is responsible for this effect, and to study the mechanism of fructose transport in B. cinerea, a gene (frt1) encoding a fructose transporter was cloned. FRT1 is highly similar to recently identified fructose transporters of yeasts, but much less to other fungal hexose transporters characterized so far. By using a hexose uptake deficient yeast strain for expression, FRT1 was found to be a high affinity proton coupled symporter specific for fructose but not for glucose. B. cinerea frt1 disruption mutants were created and showed normal vegetative growth and plant infection, but a delay in fructose-induced germination when compared to wild-type. Sugar uptake experiments with both wild-type and mutant conidia showed a higher affinity for glucose than for fructose. Thus, we propose that the specific effect of fructose on germination is not due to transport but rather to an as yet unknown intracellular sensing.     

灰葡萄孢分生孢子产生相关基因的克隆及功能分析

[目的]克隆灰葡萄孢分生孢子产生相关基因,并研究其功能,为进一步研究灰葡萄孢分生孢子产生机理和灰葡萄孢侵染及致病机理奠定基础.[方法]通过筛选灰葡萄孢ATMT突变体库,获得一株不能产生分生孢子的突变菌株BCt78,采用PCR和Southern Blotting技术,对突变菌株BCt78进行分子鉴定.利用TAIL-PCR技术获得T-DNA插入位点的侧翼序列;将所获得侧翼序列与灰葡萄孢基因组数据库中的已知基因序列进行BLAST分析,推测出T-DNA的插入位点;通过PCR进一步验证T-DNA的插入位点,利用RT-PCR技术确定突变基因;最后对突变菌株的菌落形态、生长速度、胞壁降解酶活力、粗毒素的生物活性、对番茄叶片的致病能力及部分致病相关基因的表达情况进行研究.[结果]TAIL-PCR结果证实T-DNA插入到灰葡萄孢BCIG 12707.1基因的ATG起始密码子区;RT-PCR结果证实突变基因为BCIG_12707.1,该基因DNA全长为135 bp,编码一个44个氨基酸的假定蛋白(Hypothetical protein).突变菌株在PDA培养基上菌落呈灰白色,生长速度减慢,不能产生分生孢子及菌核;对番茄叶片的致病性增强,且胞壁降解酶(PG、PMG和Cx)活力增强;突变菌株中参与细胞壁降解的角质酶基因cutA和多聚半乳糖醛酸酶基因Bepg1,信号转导途径基因(PKA1、PKA2、Bac、Bmp3),产毒素基因BcBOT2(Sesquiterpene synthase),漆酶基因Lac1,跨膜蛋白基因Btp1表达都增强.[结论]BC1G_ 12707.1基因在灰葡萄孢分生孢子产生、菌核形成及致病力等方面起重要作用.     

A new double-stranded RNA mycovirus from Botrytis cinerea

A simple double-stranded RNA mycovirus was detected in a wild-type Botrytis cinerea 55k strain. The virus was located in the fungus cytoplasm as free particles of approximately 28 nm in diameter. The mycovirus possesses a single double-stranded genome segment of 1.8 kilobase pairs (kbp) encapsidated within an isometric protein coat whose main structural component is a polypeptide of 68 kDa. Cells infected with this virus showed an important degree of cellular degeneration.