The Phosphatase Cascade Nem1/Spo7-Pah1 Regulates Fungal Development, Lipid Homeostasis, and Virulence in Botryosphaeria dothidea

• Published in: Microbiology spectrum Vol. 11; no. 3; p. e0388122
• Main Authors: Ren, Weichao, Zhang, Yihan, Zhu, Meiqi, Liu, Zequn, Lian, Sen, Wang, Caixia, Li, Baohua, Liu, Na
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 15.06.2023
• Subjects: Botryosphaeria dothidea; development; Genetics and Molecular Biology; Homeostasis; lipid homeostasis; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; phosphatase; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases - metabolism; Research Article; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics; Triglycerides - metabolism; Virulence; lipid homeostasis; development; phosphatase; Botryosphaeria dothidea; virulence
• ISSN: 2165-0497; 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03881-22

Protein phosphatase complex Nem1/Spo7 plays crucial roles in the regulation of various biological processes in eukaryotes. However, its biological functions in phytopathogenic fungi are not well understood. In this study, genome-wide transcriptional profiling analysis revealed that Nem1 was significantly upregulated during the infection process of Botryosphaeria dothidea, and we identified and characterized the phosphatase complex Nem1/Spo7 and its substrate Pah1 (a phosphatidic acid phosphatase) in B. dothidea. Nem1/Spo7 physically interacted with and dephosphorylated Pah1 to promote triacylglycerol (TAG) and subsequent lipid droplet (LD) synthesis. Moreover, the Nem1/Spo7-dependently dephosphorylated Pah1 functioned as a transcriptional repressor of the key nuclear membrane biosynthesis genes to regulate nuclear membrane morphology. In addition, phenotypic analyses showed that the phosphatase cascade Nem1/Spo7-Pah1 was involved in regulating mycelial growth, asexual development, stress responses, and virulence of . Botryosphaeria canker and fruit rot caused by the fungus is one of the most destructive diseases of apple worldwide. Our data indicated that the phosphatase cascade Nem1/Spo7-Pah1 plays important roles in the regulation of fungal growth, development, lipid homeostasis, environmental stress responses, and virulence in . The findings will contribute to the in-depth and comprehensive understanding of Nem1/Spo7-Pah1 in fungi and the development of target-based fungicides for disease management.