State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.
Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davisgrid.27860.3b, United States Agricultural Research Station, Salinas, California, USA.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2022 Nov 22;88(22):e0138522. doi: 10.1128/aem.01385-22. Epub 2022 Nov 7.
Transcription factors (TFs) bind to the promoters of target genes to regulate gene expression in response to different stimuli. The functions and regulatory mechanisms of transcription factors (TFs) in Verticillium dahliae are, however, still largely unclear. This study showed that a C2H2-type zinc finger TF, VdCf2 (V. dahliae chorion transcription factor 2), plays key roles in V. dahliae growth, melanin production, and virulence. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that VdCf2 was involved in the regulation of expression of genes encoding secreted proteins, pathogen-host interaction (PHI) homologs, TFs, and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Furthermore, VdCf2 positively regulated the expression of (), a previously reported virulence factor. VdCf2 thus regulates the expression of several pathogenicity-related genes that also contribute to virulence in V. dahliae. VdCf2 also inhibited the transcription of the gene cluster and interacted with two members encoding proteins (VDAG_07276 and VDAG_07278) in the gene cluster. Verticillium dahliae is an important soilborne phytopathogen which can ruinously attack numerous host plants and cause significant economic losses. Transcription factors (TFs) were reported to be involved in various biological processes, such as hyphal growth and virulence of pathogenic fungi. However, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of TFs in V. dahliae remain largely unclear. In this study, we identified a new transcription factor, VdCf2 (V. dahliae chorion transcription factor 2), based on previous transcriptome data, which participates in growth, melanin production, and virulence of V. dahliae. We provide evidence that VdCf2 regulates the expression of the pathogenicity-related gene () and gene cluster. VdCf2 also interacts with VDAG_07276 and VDAG_07278 in this gene cluster based on a yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay. These results revealed the regulatory mechanisms of a pivotal pathogenicity-related transcription factor, VdCf2 in V. dahliae.
转录因子（TFs）结合到靶基因的启动子上，以响应不同的刺激来调节基因表达。然而，Verticillium dahliae 中转录因子（TFs）的功能和调控机制在很大程度上仍然不清楚。本研究表明，一种 C2H2 型锌指 TF，VdCf2（V. dahliae 绒毛转录因子 2），在 V. dahliae 的生长、黑色素生成和致病性中发挥关键作用。转录组测序分析表明，VdCf2 参与了编码分泌蛋白、病原体-宿主相互作用（PHI）同源物、TFs 和 G 蛋白偶联受体（GPCRs）的基因表达调控。此外，VdCf2 正向调控先前报道的毒力因子 () 的表达。因此，VdCf2 调节几个与致病性相关的基因的表达，这些基因也有助于 V. dahliae 的毒力。VdCf2 还抑制了基因簇的转录，并与该基因簇中两个编码蛋白（VDAG_07276 和 VDAG_07278）的成员相互作用。
Verticillium dahliae 是一种重要的土传植物病原菌，可严重攻击许多宿主植物并造成重大经济损失。转录因子（TFs）被报道参与各种生物学过程，如丝状生长和致病性真菌的毒力。然而，TFs 在 V. dahliae 中的功能和调控机制在很大程度上仍然不清楚。在本研究中，我们根据先前的转录组数据鉴定了一个新的转录因子 VdCf2（V. dahliae 绒毛转录因子 2），它参与了 V. dahliae 的生长、黑色素生成和致病性。我们提供的证据表明，VdCf2 调节与致病性相关的基因 () 和基因簇的表达。VdCf2 还通过酵母双杂交和双分子荧光互补测定与该基因簇中的 VDAG_07276 和 VDAG_07278 相互作用。这些结果揭示了关键致病性相关转录因子 VdCf2 在 V. dahliae 中的调控机制。
