Does sugar influx via transporters contribute to fungal virulence?

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21280
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Kohji 徳島大学, 大学院社会産業理工学研究部(生物資源産業学域), 助教 (40587672)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 糖トランスポーター / 病原糸状菌 / 病原性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Phytopathogenic fungi are reported to obtain sugars from their host plants as a carbon source during infection, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identified sugar transporters involved in fungal virulence by comprehensive gene disruption analysis of Colletotrichum orbiculare using CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre-loxP systems. In addition, we also found sugar-metabolizing enzymes involved in fungal virulence. Together, these results suggested that sugar absorption and metabolism are required for successful infection of C. orbiculare.

Free Research Field

植物分子生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ウリ類炭疽病菌の病原性に関与する糖トランスポーター遺伝子や糖代謝遺伝子を同定した。この結果より、糖の吸収および代謝が病原性に関与していることが明らかとなった。今後、これらの生化学的解析を進むことによって、糖の吸収および代謝の阻害を標的とした新規農薬などの開発に繋がることも期待される。