Open AccessGATA‐type transcription factor MrNsdD regulates dimorphic transition, conidiation, virulence and microsclerotium formation in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi
Author(s) -
Xin Caiyan,
Yang Jie,
Mao Yingyu,
Chen Wenbi,
Wang Zhongkang,
Song Zhangyong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/1751-7915.13581
Subject(s) - conidiation , biology , virulence , hypha , entomopathogenic fungus , transcription factor , mutant , fungal protein , microbiology and biotechnology , dimorphic fungus , transcriptome , gene , yeast , genetics , gene expression , botany , beauveria bassiana , biological pest control
Summary The GATA‐type sexual development transcription factor NsdD has been implicated in virulence, secondary metabolism and asexual development in filamentous fungi. However, little is known about its function in the yeast‐to‐hypha transition and in microsclerotium formation. In the current study, the orthologous NsdD gene MrNsdD in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi was characterized. Transcriptional analysis indicated that MrNsdD was involved in yeast‐to‐hypha transition, conidiation and microsclerotium formation. After targeted deletion of MrNsdD , dimorphic transition, conidiation, fungal virulence and microsclerotium formation were all impaired. Compared with the wild‐type strain, the Δ MrNsdD mutants were hypersensitive to thermal stress. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that MrNsdD regulated a distinct signalling pathway in M. rileyi during the yeast‐to‐hypha transition or microsclerotium formation, but exhibited overlapping regulation of genes during the two distinct developmental stages. Taken together, characterization of the MrNsdD targets in this study will aid in the dissection of the molecular mechanisms of dimorphic transition and microsclerotium development.