The type 2C protein phosphatase FgPtc1p of the plant fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum is involved in lithium toxicity and virulence

Mol Plant Pathol. 2010 Mar;11(2):277-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2009.00598.x.

Abstract

Type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) are monomeric protein serine/threonine phosphatases that play various roles in eukaryotic organisms. In this study, we characterized the PP2C encoded by FgPTC1 in Fusarium graminearum, the major causal agent of Fusarium head blight on wheat and barley. We found that deletion of FgPTC1 delays the mycelium growth of F. graminearum in response to lithium. Consistently, FgPTC1 complemented the function of ScPTC1 in lithium toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, we showed that deletion of FgPTC1 attenuated the virulence of F. graminearum on wheat. Therefore, FgPTC1 plays an important role in regulating the hyphal growth and virulence of F. graminearum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fusarium / drug effects
  • Fusarium / enzymology*
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Lithium / toxicity*
  • Mycelium / drug effects
  • Mycelium / growth & development
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Triticum / drug effects
  • Triticum / microbiology
  • Virulence / drug effects

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Lithium
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C