Transposon-tagging identifies novel pathogenicity genes in Fusarium graminearum

Fungal Genet Biol. 2008 Dec;45(12):1552-61. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2008.09.004. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Abstract

With the increase of sequenced fungal genomes, high-throughput methods for functional analyses of genes are needed. We assessed the potential of a new transposon mutagenesis tool deploying a Fusarium oxysporum miniature inverted-repeat transposable element mimp1, mobilized by the transposase of impala, a Tc1-like transposon, to obtain knock-out mutants in Fusarium graminearum. We localized 91 mimp1 insertions which showed good distribution over the entire genome. The main exception was a major hotspot on chromosome 2 where independent insertions occurred at exactly the same nucleotide position. Furthermore insertions in promoter regions were over-represented. Screening 331 mutants for sexual development, radial growth and pathogenicity on wheat resulted in 19 mutants (5.7%) with altered phenotypes. Complementation with the original gene restored the wild-type phenotype in two selected mutants demonstrating the high tagging efficiency. This is the first report of a MITE transposon tagging system as an efficient mutagenesis tool in F. graminearum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • Fusarium / genetics*
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional / methods*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Triticum / microbiology
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements