Dissecting the role of G-protein signalling in primary metabolism in the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum

Microbiology (Reading). 2013 Sep;159(Pt 9):1972-1985. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.067009-0. Epub 2013 Jun 6.

Abstract

Mutants of the wheat pathogenic fungus Stagonospora nodorum lacking G-protein subunits display a variety of phenotypes including melanization defects, primary metabolic changes and a decreased ability to sporulate. To better understand the causes of these phenotypes, Stagonospora nodorum strains lacking a Gα, Gβ or Gγ subunit were compared to a wild-type strain using metabolomics. Agar plate growth at 22 °C revealed a number of fundamental metabolic changes and highlighted the influential role of these proteins in glucose utilization. A further characterization of the mutants was undertaken during prolonged storage at 4 °C, conditions known to induce sporulation in these sporulation-deficient signalling mutants. The abundance of several compounds positively correlated with the onset of sporulation including the dissacharide trehalose, the tryptophan degradation product tryptamine and the secondary metabolite alternariol; metabolites all previously associated with sporulation. Several other compounds decreased or were absent during sporulation. The levels of one such compound (Unknown_35.27_2194_319) decreased from being one of the more abundant compounds to absence during pycnidial maturation. This study has shed light on the role of G-protein subunits in primary metabolism during vegetative growth and exploited the cold-induced sporulation phenomenon in these mutants to identify some key metabolic changes that occur during asexual reproduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota / enzymology*
  • Ascomycota / genetics
  • Ascomycota / growth & development
  • Ascomycota / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Spores, Fungal / enzymology
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / metabolism
  • Trehalose / metabolism
  • Triticum / microbiology*
  • Tryptophan / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Tryptophan
  • Trehalose
  • GTP-Binding Proteins