The study of ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated regulation of pathogenicity in plant fungal pathogens

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22581
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0602:Agricultural and environmental biology and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: SUMITA Takuya 滋賀県立大学, 環境科学部, 講師 (90881136)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 植物病原菌 / ユビキチン・プロテアソーム系 / 付着器 / ユビキチンシャトルタンパク質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previously, we showed that disruptants of the ubiquitin receptor gene exhibited impaired host invasion via an appressorium and loss of pathogenicity in two species of plant fungal pathogens. In this study, we showed that an ubiquitin shuttle protein gene is involved in pathogenicity and host invasion in the cucumber anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare. The analysis also suggested that two shuttle protein genes of the pathogen play different roles in pathogenicity. In addition, we performed genome analysis of the virulent revertant strains previously isolated from mutant sectors of the ubiquitin receptor gene disruptant, and obtained a list of polymorphic sites specific to revertant strains. Our further analysis is underway to identify mutant genes.

Free Research Field

植物病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、ウリ類炭疽病菌においてユビキチンシャトルタンパク質遺伝子が付着器による宿主への侵入および病原性発現に関与することを新たに明らかにした。この知見は、タンパク質の選択的分解による病原性発現制御メカニズムの解明に向けた有用な手がかりとなると考えられる。このような新たな制御メカニズムの解明により、病害防除法や殺菌剤の開発に寄与することが期待できる。また付着器による侵入機構は植物共生菌を含む幅広い分類群の菌類に存在することから、広く菌類と植物の寄生・共生関係の理解の進展につながると考えられる。