Functional characterization of Fusarium verticillioides CPP1, a gene encoding a putative protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit. 2008

Yoon-E Choi, and Won-Bo Shim
Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Program for the Biology of Filamentous Fungi, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2132, USA.

Fusarium verticillioides produces the mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) on maize kernels. In this study, we identified a putative protein phosphatase gene CPP1 in F. verticillioides, and investigated its role in FB(1) regulation. Previous work has shown that CPP1 expression is elevated in an FB(1)-suppressing genetic background. Thus, we hypothesized that CPP1 is negatively associated with FB(1) production. To test this hypothesis, we generated a CPP1 knockout mutant, PP179, and studied the effects of gene deletion on FB(1) biosynthesis and fungal development. PP179 showed elevated expression of FUM genes, and in turn produced higher levels of FB(1) than the wild-type progenitor. Other significant mutant phenotypes included reduced radial growth on agar plates, reduced conidia germination rates, significantly increased macroconidia formation, and hyphal swelling. To verify that these phenotypes were directly due to CPP1 deletion, we complemented PP179 with the wild-type CPP1 gene. The complemented strain PPC4 showed FUM1 expression and FB(1) production similar to that of the wild-type, providing evidence that CPP1 is negatively associated with FB(1) biosynthesis. Other PP179 phenotypes, such as macroconidiation and hyphal swelling, were also restored to that of wild-type progenitor. Furthermore, we complemented F. verticillioides PP179 strain with Neurospora crassa wild-type ppe-1 gene, demonstrating that Cpp1 and PPE-1 proteins are functionally conserved. Pleiotropic effects of CPP1 deletion led us to hypothesize that CPP1 is associated with multiple downstream signalling pathways in F. verticillioides. Identification and functional characterization of downstream Cpp1-interacting proteins are necessary to better understand the complex regulatory mechanisms associated with Cpp1.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009492 Neurospora crassa A species of ascomycetous fungi of the family Sordariaceae, order SORDARIALES, much used in biochemical, genetic, and physiologic studies. Chrysonilia crassa
D004271 DNA, Fungal Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of fungi. Fungal DNA
D005656 Fungal Proteins Proteins found in any species of fungus. Fungal Gene Products,Fungal Gene Proteins,Fungal Peptides,Gene Products, Fungal,Yeast Proteins,Gene Proteins, Fungal,Peptides, Fungal,Proteins, Fungal
D005670 Fusarium A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include GIBBERELLA. Fusariums
D005816 Genetic Complementation Test A test used to determine whether or not complementation (compensation in the form of dominance) will occur in a cell with a given mutant phenotype when another mutant genome, encoding the same mutant phenotype, is introduced into that cell. Allelism Test,Cis Test,Cis-Trans Test,Complementation Test,Trans Test,Allelism Tests,Cis Tests,Cis Trans Test,Cis-Trans Tests,Complementation Test, Genetic,Complementation Tests,Complementation Tests, Genetic,Genetic Complementation Tests,Trans Tests
D013172 Spores, Fungal Reproductive bodies produced by fungi. Conidia,Fungal Spores,Conidium,Fungal Spore,Spore, Fungal
D015966 Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in fungi. Fungal Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Fungal,Regulation, Gene Expression, Fungal
D017353 Gene Deletion A genetic rearrangement through loss of segments of DNA or RNA, bringing sequences which are normally separated into close proximity. This deletion may be detected using cytogenetic techniques and can also be inferred from the phenotype, indicating a deletion at one specific locus. Deletion, Gene,Deletions, Gene,Gene Deletions
D017386 Sequence Homology, Amino Acid The degree of similarity between sequences of amino acids. This information is useful for the analyzing genetic relatedness of proteins and species. Homologous Sequences, Amino Acid,Amino Acid Sequence Homology,Homologs, Amino Acid Sequence,Homologs, Protein Sequence,Homology, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homologs,Protein Sequence Homology,Sequence Homology, Protein,Homolog, Protein Sequence,Homologies, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homolog,Protein Sequence Homologies,Sequence Homolog, Protein,Sequence Homologies, Protein,Sequence Homologs, Protein

Related Publications

Yoon-E Choi, and Won-Bo Shim
February 2000, Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry,
Yoon-E Choi, and Won-Bo Shim
November 1995, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology,
Yoon-E Choi, and Won-Bo Shim
January 1990, Advances in second messenger and phosphoprotein research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!