The ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus encodes a microRNA involved in cross-kingdom gene silencing during symbiosis

Journal Article · 10 January 2022 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103527119 · OSTI ID:1839163

Wong-Bajracharya, Johanna  ^[1]; Singan, Vasanth R. ^[2]; Monti, Remo ^[2]; Plett, Krista L. ^[1]; Ng, Vivian ^[2]; Grigoriev, Igor V.  ^[3]; Martin, Francis M. ^[4]; Anderson, Ian C. ^[5]; Plett, Jonathan M.  ^[5]

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1. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
2. US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
3. US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
4. French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE, 54280 Champenoux, France
5. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia

Significance Plant genomes encode hundreds of genes controlling the detection, signaling pathways, and immune responses necessary to defend against pathogens. Pathogens, in turn, continually evolve to evade these defenses. Small RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), are one mechanism used by pathogens to overcome plant defenses and facilitate plant colonization. Mounting evidence would suggest that beneficial microbes, likewise, use miRNAs to facilitate symbiosis. Here, we demonstrate that the beneficial fungus Pisolithus microcarpus encodes a miRNA that enters plant cells and stabilizes the symbiotic interaction. These results demonstrate that beneficial fungi may regulate host gene expression through the use of miRNAs and sheds light on how beneficial microbes have evolved mechanisms to colonize plant tissues.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1839163
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 119; ISSN 0027-8424
• Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English