MoVrp1, a putative verprolin protein, is required for asexual development and infection in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 24:7:41148. doi: 10.1038/srep41148.

Abstract

Endocytosis is a crucial cellular process in eukaryotic cells which involves clathrin and/or adaptor proteins, lipid kinases, phosphatases and the actin cytoskeleton. Verprolin proteins, such as Vrp1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are conserved family proteins that regulate actin binding and endocytosis. Here, we identified and characterized MoVrp1 as the yeast Vrp1 homolog in Magnaporthe oryzae. Deletion of the MoVRP1 gene resulted in defects in vegetative growth, asexual development, and infection of the host plant. The ∆Movrp1 mutants also exhibited decreased extracellular peroxidase and laccase activities and showed defects in colony pigmentation, hyphal surface hydrophobicity, cell wall integrity, autophagy, endocytosis, and secretion of avirulent effector. Our studies provided new evidences that MoVrp1 involved in actin cytoskeleton is important for growth, morphogenesis, cellular trafficking, and fungal pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / physiology
  • Autophagy
  • Cell Wall / physiology
  • Endocytosis*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Fungal Proteins / physiology*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Magnaporthe / genetics
  • Magnaporthe / pathogenicity
  • Magnaporthe / physiology*
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology*
  • Oryza / parasitology
  • Reproduction, Asexual*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • VRP1 protein, S cerevisiae