Rolle, Funktion und Wechselwirkung von Kmt6 in Fusarium spp.
Abstract
Fusaria represent one of the most important group of plant-pathogenic fungi. They are widely distributed and infect various economically important crops such as rice, wheat and maize. The Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFC), consisting of about 50 monophyletic, highly related Fusarium sp. comprises important members of these plant pathogens. Members of this group are known to produce a broad spectrum of small molecular weight compounds, so-called secondary metabolites (SMs), including harmful mycotoxins that frequently contaminate food and feed. A crucial step to combat mycotoxin contaminations is to understand the regulatory network that orchestrates their biosynthesis. In the recent years, it became evident that chromatin structure plays a key role in regulating fungal SM gene expression. The chromatin structure is highly dynamic and driven by changes in posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones deposited on the genome. In F. fujikuroi, trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) – a hallmark of facultative heterochromatin – functions in SM gene silencing. In contrast to published filamentous fungi, loss of H3K27me3 is lethal in this fungus. Knock-down of FfKMT6 by RNA Interference resulted in reduced H3K27me3 levels accompanied by crippled growth, abolished conidiation and increased SM biosynthesis. Intriguingly, reversion phenotypes occurred that showed elevated KMT6 expression and restored wild type-like growth and conidiation. The goal of EpiVit is to gain deeper knowledge on PRC2-mediated gene silencing in members of the FFC. In the focus of this project is the better understanding of the mode of action of Kmt6. Based on this, the following objectives were defined: (1) Evaluate whether Kmt6 vitality is conserved within members of the FFC; (2) Unravel the cause that sets F. fujikuroi (or the FFC) apart from other fungal species; and (3) Exploitation of the relationship between H3K27me3 and other relevant histone PTMs (histone crosstalk).
Schlagworte Epigenetik Sekundärmetabolite Genregulation Molekularbiologie
Publikationen
Mitarbeiter*innen
Lena Studt-Reinhold
Dr.in Lena Studt-Reinhold
lena.studt-reinhold@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-94493
Projektleiter*in
01.01.2021 - 31.08.2023