Trichoderma atroviride G-protein alpha-subunit gene tga1 is involved in mycoparasitic coiling and conidiation

Eukaryot Cell. 2002 Aug;1(4):594-605. doi: 10.1128/EC.1.4.594-605.2002.

Abstract

The soil fungus Trichoderma atroviride, a mycoparasite, responds to a number of external stimuli. In the presence of a fungal host, T. atroviride produces hydrolytic enzymes and coils around the host hyphae. In response to light or nutrient depletion, asexual sporulation is induced. In a biomimetic assay, different lectins induce coiling around nylon fibers; coiling in the absence of lectins can be induced by applying cyclic AMP (cAMP) or the heterotrimeric G-protein activator mastoparan. We isolated a T. atroviride G-protein alpha-subunit (Galpha) gene (tgal) belonging to the fungal subfamily with the highest similarity to the Galpha1 class. Generated transgenic lines that overexpress Galpha show very delayed sporulation and coil at a higher frequency. Furthermore, transgenic lines that express an activated mutant protein with no GTPase activity do not sporulate and coil at a higher frequency. Lines that express an antisense version of the gene are hypersporulating and coil at a much lower frequency in the biomimetic assay. The loss of Tgal in these mutants correlates with the loss of GTPase activity stimulated by the peptide toxin Mas-7. The application of Mas-7 to growing mycelial colonies raises intracellular cAMP levels, suggesting that Tgal can activate adenylyl cyclase. In contrast, cAMP levels and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity drop when diffusible host signals are encountered and the mycoparasitism-related genes ech42 and prb1 are highly expressed. Mycoparasitic signaling is unlikely to be a linear pathway from host signals to increased cAMP levels. Our results demonstrate that the product of the tga1 gene is involved in both coiling and conidiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • DNA, Antisense / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lectins / pharmacology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Pest Control, Biological
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trichoderma / genetics*
  • Trichoderma / growth & development
  • Trichoderma / pathogenicity
  • Trichoderma / physiology
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Antisense
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lectins
  • Mas7 protein, synthetic
  • Peptides
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins