Non-canonical fungal G-protein coupled receptors promote Fusarium head blight on wheat

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Dilks, T., Halsey, K., De Vos, R., Hammond-Kosack, K. E. and Brown, N. A. 2019. Non-canonical fungal G-protein coupled receptors promote Fusarium head blight on wheat. PLOS Pathogens. 15 (4), p. e1007666. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007666

AuthorsDilks, T., Halsey, K., De Vos, R., Hammond-Kosack, K. E. and Brown, N. A.
Abstract

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is the number one floral disease of cereals and poses a serious health hazard by contaminating grain with the harmful mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Fungi adapt to fluctuations in their environment, coordinating development and metabolism accordingly. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) communicate changes in the environment to intracellular G-proteins that direct the appropriate biological response, suggesting that fungal GPCR signalling may be key to virulence. Here we describe the expansion of non-classical GPCRs in the FHB causing pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, and show that class X receptors are highly expressed during wheat infection. We identify class X receptors that are required for FHB disease on wheat, and show that the absence of a GPCR can cause an enhanced host response that restricts the progression of infection. Specific receptor sub-domains are required for virulence. These non-classical receptors physically interact with intracellular G-proteins and are therefore bona fide GPCRs. Disrupting a class X receptor is shown to dysregulate the transcriptional coordination of virulence traits during infection. This amounts to enhanced wheat defensive responses, including chitinase and plant cell wall biosynthesis, resulting in apoplastic and vascular occlusions that impede infection. Our results show that GPCR signalling is important to FHB disease establishment.

KeywordsWheat; Fusarium graminearum; G protein coupled receptors; Intermodes; Plant fungal pathogens; fungal genetics; Pheromone receptors; Fungal diseases
Year of Publication2019
JournalPLOS Pathogens
Journal citation15 (4), p. e1007666
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007666
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeDesigning Future Wheat (DFW) [ISPG]
Do G-protein coupled receptors regulate pathogenesis and mycotoxin biosynthesis in filamentous phytopathogenic fungi?
BB/GCRF-IAA17/18
20:20 Wheat [ISPG]
Publisher's version
Copyright license
CC BY
Supplemental file
Copyright license
Publisher copyright
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online01 Apr 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted28 Feb 2019
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLOS)
ISSN1553-7366

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