Rai Maruti Nandan, Rai Rikky
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Pathogens. 2024 Dec 9;13(12):1080. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13121080.
Pathogenic fungi represent a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms that significantly impact human health and agriculture. In recent years, the role of epigenetic modifications, particularly histone modifications, in fungal pathobiology has emerged as a prominent area of interest. Among these modifications, methylation of histone H3 at lysine-4 (H3K4) has garnered considerable attention for its implications in regulating gene expression associated with diverse cellular processes. A body of literature has uncovered the pivotal roles of H3K4 methylation in multiple biological processes crucial for pathogenic adaptation in a wide range of fungal pathogens of humans and food crops. This review delves into the recent advancements in understanding the impact of H3K4 methylation/demethylation on fungal pathogenesis. We explore the roles of H3K4 methylation in various cellular processes, including fungal morphogenesis and development, genome stability and DNA repair, metabolic adaptation, cell wall maintenance, biofilm formation, antifungal drug resistance, and virulence. We also discuss the conservation of H3K4 methylation regulators and their potential as therapeutic targets to prevent fungal diseases. Collectively, this review underscores the intricate links between H3K4 methylation, fungal pathogenesis, and potential avenues for novel antifungal strategies.
致病真菌是一类多样的真核微生物，对人类健康和农业有着重大影响。近年来，表观遗传修饰，特别是组蛋白修饰，在真菌病理生物学中的作用已成为一个备受关注的重要领域。在这些修饰中，组蛋白H3赖氨酸-4（H3K4）的甲基化因其在调节与多种细胞过程相关的基因表达中的作用而备受关注。大量文献揭示了H3K4甲基化在多种对人类和粮食作物的多种真菌病原体致病性适应至关重要的生物学过程中的关键作用。本综述深入探讨了在理解H3K4甲基化/去甲基化对真菌致病性影响方面的最新进展。我们探讨了H3K4甲基化在各种细胞过程中的作用，包括真菌形态发生与发育、基因组稳定性和DNA修复、代谢适应、细胞壁维持、生物膜形成、抗真菌药物耐药性和毒力。我们还讨论了H3K4甲基化调节因子的保守性及其作为预防真菌疾病治疗靶点的潜力。总的来说，本综述强调了H3K4甲基化、真菌致病性以及新型抗真菌策略潜在途径之间的复杂联系。
