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Title: Identification of a novel nematotoxic protein by challenging the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea with a fungivorous nematode

Journal Article · · G3
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. ETH Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland)
  2. Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California (United States)

The dung of herbivores, the natural habitat of the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea, is a nutrient-rich but also very competitive environment for a saprophytic fungus. Previously we showed that C. cinerea expresses constitutive, tissue-specific armories against antagonists such as animal predators and bacterial competitors. In order to dissect the inducible armories against such antagonists, we sequenced the poly(A)-positive transcriptome of C. cinerea vegetative mycelium upon challenge with fungivorous and bacterivorous nematodes, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and mechanical damage. As a response to the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchus avenae, C. cinerea was found to specifically induce the transcription of several genes encoding previously characterized nematotoxic lectins. In addition, a previously not characterized gene encoding a cytoplasmic protein with several predicted Ricin B-fold domains, was found to be strongly up-regulated under this condition. Functional analysis of the recombinant protein revealed a high toxicity towards the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Challenge of the mycelium with A. avenae also lead to the induction of several genes encoding putative antibacterial proteins. Some of these genes were also induced upon challenge of the mycelium with the bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Lastly, these results suggest that fungi have the ability to induce specific innate defense responses similar to plants and animals.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1239250
Journal Information:
G3, Vol. 6, Issue 1; ISSN 2160-1836
Publisher:
Genetics Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (10)

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Induction of antibacterial proteins and peptides in the coprophilous mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea in response to bacteria journal October 2018
Fungal Morphogenesis, from the Polarized Growth of Hyphae to Complex Reproduction and Infection Structures journal April 2018
Combining microfluidics and RNA-sequencing to assess the inducible defensome of a mushroom against nematodes journal March 2019
How fungi defend themselves against microbial competitors and animal predators journal September 2018
How fungi defend themselves against microbial competitors and animal predators text January 2018
Combining microfluidics and RNA-sequencing to assess the inducible defensome of a mushroom against nematodes text January 2019
Induction of antibacterial proteins and peptides in the coprophilous mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea in response to bacteria text January 2019
Induction of antibacterial proteins and peptides in the coprophilous mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea in response to bacteria text January 2018
Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model Host to Monitor the Candida Infection Processes journal November 2018