Involvement of BcStr2 in methionine biosynthesis,vegetative differentiation,multiple stress tolerance and virulence in Botrytis cinerea

The Str2 gene encodes a cystathionine γ‐synthase that is a key enzyme in methionine (Met) biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Met plays a critical role in protein synthesis and diverse cellular processes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In this study, we characterized the Str2 orthologue gene BcStr2 in Botrytis cinerea. The BcStr2 mutant was unable to grow on minimal medium (MM). In addition, conidia of the mutant were unable to germinate in water–agar medium within 15 h of incubation. Supplementation with 1 mm Met or 0.5 mg/mL homocysteine, but not 1 mm cysteine or 0.5 mg/mL glutathione, rescued the defect in mycelial growth of the BcStr2 deletion mutant. These results indicate that the enzyme encoded by BcStr2 is involved in the conversion of cysteine into homocysteine. The mutant exhibited decreased conidiation and impaired sclerotium development. In addition, the BcStr2 mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, cell wall‐damaging agents and thermal stress. The mutant demonstrated dramatically decreased virulence on host plant tissues. All of the defects were restored by genetic complementation of the mutant with wild‐type BcStr2. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that BcStr2 plays a critical role in the regulation of various cellular processes in B. cinerea.     

Role of type 2C protein phosphatases in growth regulation and in cellular stress signaling

A number of interesting features, phenotypes, and potential clinical applications have recently been ascribed to the type 2C family of protein phosphatases. Thus far, 16 different PP2C genes have been identified in the human genome, encoding (by means of alternative splicing) for at least 22 different isozymes. Virtually ever since their discovery, type 2C phosphatases have been predominantly linked to cell growth and to cellular stress signaling. Here, we provide an overview of the involvement of type 2C phosphatases in these two processes, and we show that four of them (PP2Calpha, PP2Cbeta, ILKAP, and PHLPP) can be expected to function as tumor suppressor proteins, and one as an oncoprotein (PP2Cdelta /Wip1). In addition, we demonstrate that in virtually all cases in which they have been linked to the stress response, PP2Cs act as inhibitors of cellular stress signaling. Based on the vast amount of experimental evidence obtained thus far, it therefore seems justified to conclude that type 2C protein phosphatases are important physiological regulators of cell growth and of cellular stress signaling.     

灰葡萄孢丝裂原活化蛋白激酶编码基因bmp1和bmp3的功能

【背景】植物病原真菌丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(Mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK)信号途径参与病菌有性生殖、细胞壁完整、菌丝侵染、致病力、胁迫响应等过程,灰葡萄孢MAPK信号途径参与病菌生长发育、致病力以及胁迫响应,但MAPK信号途径基因在灰葡萄孢中的功能尚未完全阐明,该信号途径对灰葡萄孢的生长发育和致病力的调控机制尚不明确。【目的】明确灰葡萄孢MAPK编码基因bmp1、bmp3在病菌生长发育、致病力以及氧化胁迫响应过程的功能,为进一步阐明MAPK信号途径调控灰葡萄孢生长发育和致病力的分子机制奠定基础。【方法】利用RNAi技术构建灰葡萄孢MAPK编码基因bmp1和bmp3的RNAi突变体,并以野生型BC22菌株为对照,对bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体的表型、致病力以及对氧化胁迫的敏感性进行分析。【结果】灰葡萄孢bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体其菌落形态、菌丝形态均与野生型BC22菌株没有明显差别;bmp1基因的RNAi突变体生长速率明显减慢,分生孢子产量明显降低;bmp3基因的RNAi突变体的生长速率与野生型BC22菌株没有明显差别,不能产生分生孢子。bmp1和bmp3基因的RNAi突变体在番茄果实的表面均不能产生明显的致病症状,而且不能穿透玻璃纸。bmp1基因的RNAi突变体在含有H_2O_2的培养基上受抑制的程度显著低于野生型,而在含甲萘醌的培养基上受抑制的程度显著高于野生型;bmp3基因的RNAi突变体在含有H_2O_2和甲萘醌的培养基受抑制的程度均显著高于野生型。【结论】灰葡萄孢bmp1基因正调控病菌生长、分生孢子形成、致病力和穿透能力,参与调控病菌对氧化胁迫的响应;灰葡萄孢bmp3基因正调控病菌分生孢子形成、致病力、穿透能力以及对氧化胁迫的响应。     

Involvement of phosphatases in the anchorage-dependent regulation of ERK2 activation

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is known to be regulated by cell adhesion, namely "anchorage dependence". Most studies on the anchorage-dependent regulation have focused on the upstream activating components. We previously reported that the focal adhesion protein vinexin beta can induce the anchorage-independent activation of ERK2. We show here that vinexin beta-induced anchorage-independent activation of ERK2 involves prevention of the dephosphorylation of ERK2, but not the promotion of MEK1 or Raf1 activity. Furthermore, knockdown of vinexin beta resulted in a faster dephosphorylation of ERK2 in A549 cells. Moreover, the coexpression of MKP3/rVH6, an ERK2 specific phosphatase, suppressed the anchorage-independent activation of ERK2 induced by vinexin beta. These results suggest that vinexin beta can prevent the dephosphorylation of ERK2 stimulated by cell detachment, leading to the anchorage-independent activation of ERK2. Furthermore, we found that phosphatase activity directed against activated ERK2 was higher in suspended cells than in adherent cells. In addition, orthovanadate efficiently induces anchorage-independent activation of ERK2 without marked activation of MEK1 in NIH3T3 cells. These observations suggest that the anchorage dependence of ERK1/2 activation is regulated not only by upstream kinases, Raf1 and MEK, but also by phosphatases acting against ERK1/2 and that vinexin beta can induce anchorage-independent activation of ERK by preventing the inactivation of ERK1/2.     

Sequence homologies between type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases

The Mr = 33,000 catalytic fragment of rabbit skeletal muscle type 1 protein phosphatase was digested with trypsin after reduction and alkylation. The resulting peptides were isolated, subjected to automated Edman degradation, and their sequences compared to the deduced peptide sequence of the bovine type 2A protein phosphatase cDNA. Of 10 tryptic peptides from the type 1 phosphatase that were sequenced, nine showed a high degree of homology with the type 2A phosphatase. This provides the first direct sequence comparison suggesting that the type 1 and type 2 protein phosphatases, distinguished functionally by their substrate specificities and sensitivity to inhibitors, make up part of a family of closely related gene products with similar structures.     

Interactions between soybean ABA receptors and type 2C protein phosphatases

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays important roles in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. Proteins in the PYR/PYL/RCAR family (hereafter referred to as PYLs) are known as ABA receptors. Since most studies thus far have focused on Arabidopsis PYLs, little is known about PYL homologs in crop plants. We report here the characterization of 21 PYL homologs (GmPYLs) in soybean. Twenty-three putative GmPYLs can be found from soybean genome sequence and categorized into three subgroups. GmPYLs interact with AtABI1 and two GmPP2Cs in diverse manners. A lot of the subgroup I GmPYLs interact with PP2Cs in an ABA-dependent manner, whereas most of the subgroup II and III GmPYLs bind to PP2Cs in an ABA-independent manner. The subgroup III GmPYL23, which cannot interact with any of the tested PP2Cs, differs from other GmPYLs. The CL2/gate domain is crucial for GmPYLs-PP2Cs interaction, and a mutation in the conserved proline (P109S) abolishes the interaction between GmPYL1 and AtABI1. Furthermore, the ABA dependence of GmPYLs-PP2Cs interactions are partially correlated with two amino acid residues preceding the CL2/gate domain of GmPYLs. We also show that GmPYL1 interacts with AtABI1 in an ABA-dependent manner in plant cells. Three GmPYLs differentially inhibit AtABI1 and GmPP2C1 in an ABA-dependent or -enhanced manner in vitro. In addition, ectopically expressing GmPYL1 partially restores ABA sensitivity of the Arabidopsis triple mutant pyr1/pyl1/pyl4. Taken together, our results suggest that soybean GmPYLs are ABA receptors that function by interacting and inhibiting PP2Cs.     

The structure, role, and regulation of type 1 protein phosphatases.

Type 1 protein phosphatases (PP-1) comprise a group of widely distributed enzymes that specifically dephosphorylate serine and threonine residues of certain phosphoproteins. They all contain an isoform of the same catalytic subunit, which has an extremely conserved primary structure. One of the properties of PP-1 that allows one to distinguish them from other serine/threonine protein phosphatases is their sensitivity to inhibition by two proteins, termed inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2, or modulator. The latter protein can also form a 1:1 complex with the catalytic subunit that slowly inactivates upon incubation. This complex is reactivated in vitro by incubation with MgATP and protein kinase FA/GSK-3. In the cell the type 1 catalytic subunit is associated with noncatalytic subunits that determine the activity, the substrate specificity, and the subcellular location of the phosphatase. PP-1 plays an essential role in glycogen metabolism, calcium transport, muscle contraction, intracellular transport, protein synthesis, and cell division. The activity of PP-1 is regulated by hormones like insulin, glucagon, alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists, glucocorticoids, and thyroid hormones.     

Involvement of ethylene in the regulation of growth and development of the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr.

Application of ethephon slightly increased the growth of hyphae of Botrytis cinerea. A competitive inhibitor of ethylene binding, 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD), inhibited growth of hyphae and mycelium and retarded the development of Botrytis cinerea. Transfer of the mycelium from an atmosphere containing NBD to air relieved the inhibition, indicating that the NBD effects were non-toxic and reversible. Addition of exogenous ethylene to an atmosphere containing NBD (20 ml 1^-1) effectively reduced the inhibition. Inhibition due to 40 ml 1^–1 NBD was not relieved by ethylene at any of the concentrations tested; however, a positive effect of ethylene appeared following transfer of the mycelia to air. The results suggest that ethylene may be required for the growth and development of Botrytis cinerea.Abbreviations NBD 2,5-norbornadiene - ethephon 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid - PDA potato dextrose agar     

cAMP regulation of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A in brain

Normal functioning of the brain is dependent upon a complex web of communication between numerous cell types. Within neuronal networks, the faithful transmission of information between neurons relies on an equally complex organization of inter- and intra-cellular signaling systems that act to modulate protein activity. In particular, post-translational modifications (PTMs) are responsible for regulating protein activity in response to neurochemical signaling. The key second messenger, cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), regulates one of the most ubiquitous and influential PTMs, phosphorylation. While cAMP is canonically viewed as regulating the addition of phosphate groups through its activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinases, it plays an equally critical role in regulating removal of phosphate through indirect control of protein phosphatase activity. This dichotomy of regulation by cAMP places it as one of the key regulators of protein activity in response to neuronal signal transduction throughout the brain. In this review we focus on the role of cAMP in regulation of the serine/threonine phosphatases protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and the relevance of control of PP1 and PP2A to regulation of brain function and behavior.     

Serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2A and their roles in stress signaling

Serine/threonine protein phosphatases are ubiquitous enzymes in all eukaryotes but many of their physiological roles in plants remain unknown. The available results have demonstrated critical functions for these enzymes in the regulation of adaptive stress responses, and recent studies have directed attention to the functional roles of Ser/Thr phosphatases type 2A (PP2A) as components of stress signaling pathways. This review is focused primarily on plant PP2As and their participation in the control of biotic and abiotic stress responses.Key words: protein phosphatases type 2A, PP2A, biotic stress, abiotic stress, signaling, okadaic acid     

Role of protein phosphatases 2C on tolerance to lithium toxicity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein phosphatases 2C are a family of conserved enzymes involved in many aspects of the cell biology. We reported that, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, overexpression of the Ptc3p isoform resulted in increased lithium tolerance in the hypersensitive hal3 background. We have found that the tolerance induced by PTC3 overexpression is also observed in wild-type cells and that this is most probably the result of increased expression of the ENA1 Na(+)-ATPase mediated by the Hog1 MAP kinase pathway. This effect does not require a catalytically active protein. Surprisingly, deletion of PTC3 (similarly to that of PTC2, PTC4 or PTC5) does not confer a lithium-sensitive phenotype, but mutation of PTC1 does. Lack of PTC1 in an ena1-4 background did not result in additive lithium sensitivity and the ptc1 mutant showed a decreased expression of the ENA1 gene in cells stressed with LiCl. In agreement, under these conditions, the ptc1 mutant was less effective in extruding Li(+) and accumulated higher concentrations of this cation. Deletion of PTC1 in a hal3 background did not exacerbate the halosensitive phenotype of the hal3 strain. In addition, induction from the ENA1 promoter under LiCl stress decreased similarly (50%) in hal3, ptc1 and ptc1 hal3 mutants. Finally, mutation of PTC1 virtually abolishes the increased tolerance to toxic cations provided by overexpression of Hal3p. These results indicate that Ptc1p modulates the function of Ena1p by regulating the Hal3/Ppz1,2 pathway. In conclusion, overexpression of PTC3 and lack of PTC1 affect lithium tolerance in yeast, although through different mechanisms.     

灰葡萄孢菌激发子pebC1在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达及其生物活性分析

为了实现激发子PebC1编码基因在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达,采用PCR方法从灰葡萄孢菌BC-4-2-2-1菌株中扩增获得激发子PebC1的编码序列,将其亚克隆至酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K中,以此片段构建了pPIC9K-pebC1重组表达质粒。重组表达质粒经Bgl Ⅱ线性化处理,电击转化至毕赤酵母宿主菌GS115,经MD、G418-YPD平板和PCR法筛选,获得了重组毕赤酵母菌GS115/pPIC9K-pebC1。用甲醇诱导重组酵母菌表达目标蛋白,发酵液经SDS-PAGE电泳分析,在约39 kDa处出现特异目标条带。Western blotting检测结果说明,重组表达产物具有良好的抗原性。生物活性检测表明,酵母重组表达蛋白PebC1能够诱导拟南芥和黄瓜幼苗对灰霉病的抗性。     

Involvement of Botrytis cinerea Small GTPases BcRAS1 and BcRAC in Differentiation,Virulence, and the Cell Cycle

Small GTPases of the Ras superfamily are highly conserved proteins that are involved in various cellular processes, in particular morphogenesis, differentiation, and polar growth. Here we report on the analysis of RAS1 and RAC homologues from the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea. We show that these small GTPases are individually necessary for polar growth, reproduction, and pathogenicity, required for cell cycle progression through mitosis (BcRAC), and may lie upstream of the stress-related mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. bcras1 and bcrac deletion strains had reduced growth rates, and their hyphae were hyperbranched and deformed. In addition, both strains were vegetatively sterile and nonpathogenic. A strain expressing a constitutively active (CA) allele of the BcRAC protein had partially similar but milder phenotypes. Similar to the deletion strains, the CA-BcRAC strain did not produce any conidia and had swollen hyphae. In contrast to the two deletion strains, however, the growth rate of the CA-BcRAC strain was normal, and it caused delayed but well-developed disease symptoms. Microscopic examination revealed an increased number of nuclei and disturbance of actin localization in the CA-BcRAC strain. Further work with cell cycle- and RAC-specific inhibitory compounds associated the BcRAC protein with progression of the cell cycle through mitosis, possibly via an effect on microtubules. Together, these results show that the multinucleate phenotype of the CA-BcRAC strain could result from at least two defects: disruption of polar growth through disturbed actin localization and uncontrolled nuclear division due to constitutive activity of BcRAC.     

Partition of the Botrytis cinerea complex in France using multiple gene genealogies

In micro-organisms biodiversity is often underestimated because relevant criteria for recognition of distinct evolutionary units are lacking. Phylogenetic approaches have been proved the most useful in fungi to address this issue. Botrytis cinerea, a generalist fungus causing gray mold, illustrates this problem. It long has been thought to be a single variable species. Recent population genetics studies have shown that B. cinerea is a species complex. However conflicting partitions were proposed. To identify the most relevant partitions within the B. cinerea complex we used a multiple-gene genealogies approach. We sequenced portions of four nuclear genes, of which genealogies congruently clustered into two well supported groups corresponding to Groups I and II previously described, indicating that they represent phylogenetic species. Estimates of migration rates and genetic differentiation showed that these groups had been isolated for a long time, without detectable gene flow. This was confirmed by the high number of polymorphic sites fixed within each group. The genetic diversity was lower within Group I, as revealed by DNA polymorphism and vegetative incompatibility tests. Groups I and II exhibited phenotypic differences in their phenology, host range, size of asexual spores and vegetative compatibility. All these morphological and molecular aspects suggest that B. cinerea Groups I and II may be different cryptic species, isolated for a long time. Phylogenies and molecular analyzes of variance revealed no genetic structure according to the other suggested partitions for the B. cinerea complex (i.e., among host plants, between strains with and without transposable elements, nor between strains responsible for noble rot and gray mold. This suggests that recombination regularly occurs, or occurred until recently, within B. cinerea Group II. This also was supported by recombination rates at each locus. Multiple-gene genealogies showed their utility by providing a relevant partition criterion for the B. cinerea complex.     

Developmental regulation of hexosamine biosynthesis by protein phosphatases 2A and 2C in Blastocladiella emersonii.

Extracts of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii were found to contain protein phosphatases type 1, type 2A, and type 2C with properties analogous to those found in mammalian tissues. The activities of all three protein phosphatases are developmentally regulated, increasing during sporulation, with maximum level in zoospores. Protein phosphatases 2A and 2C, present in zoospore extracts, catalyze the dephosphorylation of L-glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.6.1.16, amidotransferase), a key regulatory enzyme in hexosamine biosynthesis. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid induces encystment and inhibits germ tube formation but does not affect the synthesis of the chitinous cell wall. These results strongly suggest that phosphatase 2C is responsible for the dephosphorylation of amidotransferase in vivo. This dephosphorylation is inhibited by uridine-5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine, the end product of hexosamine synthesis and the substrate for chitin synthesis. This result demonstrates a dual role of uridine-5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine by inhibiting the activity of the phosphorylated form of amidotransferase and by preventing its dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases.