The bZIP transcription factor PsBZP32 is involved in cyst germination, oxidative stress response, and pathogenicity of Phytophthora sojae

Yuting Sheng,Yuanchao Wang,Tianhuizi Pu,Wenwu Ye,Xiaoyun Liu,Han Chen,Long Lin,Suomeng Dong

doi:10.1186/s42483-020-00078-3

Abstract

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor family, one of the largest and most diverse transcription factor families in eukaryotes, is associated with the development and stress responses of many eukaryotic organisms. However, their biological functions in oomycete plant pathogens are unclear. A genome-wide analysis of bZIP transcription factors in Phytophthora sojae showed that PsBZP32, which has a unique bZIP-PAS domain structure, exhibited a high transcription level during the early stages of P. sojae infection. We silenced PsBZP32 in P. sojae and found that the transformants showed defective cyst germination and pathogenicity. The transformants could not eliminate host-derived reactive oxygen species during infection and were more sensitive to oxidative stress. Their response to oxidative stress was independent of the PsBZP32 transcription level; however, subcellular localization and phosphorylation of PsBZP32 were affected by H2O2 stress. These results indicate that PsBZP32 is involved in regulation of P. sojae cyst germination, oxidative stress response, and pathogenicity.

Highlights

The Phytophthora genus includes over 120 described species, which are sometimes referred to as funguslike organisms but are oomycetes in the kingdom Stramenopila (Martin et al 2014)
Based on cDNA sequencing, we found that PsBZP32 gene contained two introns (127 and 76 bp) and a 1176 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 391-amino-acid protein
Using the Pfam database, we found that the basic leucine zipper (bZIP)-PAS domain organization was conserved in the proteins of non-oomycetes such as brown algae and diatoms; it is likely specific to Stramenopila

Summary

Introduction

The Phytophthora genus includes over 120 described species, which are sometimes referred to as funguslike organisms but are oomycetes in the kingdom Stramenopila (Martin et al 2014). Phytophthora infestans is the etiologic agent of potato late blight, which caused the Irish potato famine of Transcription factors (TFs), which control the rate of transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences, play crucial roles in almost all biological processes, such as regulation and coordination of growth, development, cell cycle progression, and a series of physiological and metabolic adaptations to the environment (Karin 1990). Phytophthora species or oomycetes may have different and more complex transcriptional regulation networks. 1.2; http://ftfd.snu.ac.kr), the average number of TFs in Phytophthora species is 736, almost twofold that (424) in fungal species. The Myb TFs in Phytophthora species have novel diversified (2021) 3:1

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Conclusion