Abstract
Ran, an important family of small GTP-binding proteins, has been shown to regulate a variety of important cellular processes in many eukaryotes. However, little is known about Ran function in pathogenic fungi. In this study, we report the identification and functional analysis of a Ran gene (designated PsRan) from Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), an important fungal pathogen affecting wheat production worldwide. The PsRan protein contains all conserved domains of Ran GTPases and shares more than 70% identity with Ran proteins from other organisms, indicating that Ran proteins are conserved in different organisms. PsRan shows a low level of intra-species polymorphism and is localized to the nucleus. qRT-PCR analysis showed that transcript level of PsRan was induced in planta during Pst infection. Silencing of PsRan did not alter Pst virulence phenotype but impeded fungal growth of Pst. In addition, heterologous overexpression of PsRan in plant failed to induce cell death but suppressed cell death triggered by a mouse BAX gene or a Pst Ras gene. Our results suggest that PsRan is involved in the regulation of fungal growth and anti-cell death, which provides significant insight into Ran function in pathogenic fungi.
Highlights
As an important plant pathogenic fungus, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) can cause the wheat stripe rust disease that is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide
Our recent study investigated the specific function of two Pst Ras genes using the barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) and heterologous expression assays, which showed that PsRas[1] and PsRas[2] are involved in rust pathogenicity and cell death, respectively[30]
We found that Pst contains only one Ran gene and it plays an important role in the regulation of fungal growth and anti-cell death, which provides significant insight into Ran function in pathogenic fungi
Summary
As an important plant pathogenic fungus, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) can cause the wheat stripe rust disease that is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide. Tritici (Pst) can cause the wheat stripe rust disease that is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide. The understanding of Pst pathogenesis and searching for novel pathogen control strategies are of great significance to durably control the wheat stripe rust disease. Our recent study investigated the specific function of two Pst Ras genes using the barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated HIGS and heterologous expression assays, which showed that PsRas[1] and PsRas[2] are involved in rust pathogenicity and cell death, respectively[30]. We found that Pst contains only one Ran gene and it plays an important role in the regulation of fungal growth and anti-cell death, which provides significant insight into Ran function in pathogenic fungi
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