Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals That Rho GTPases Regulate Trap Development and Lifestyle Transition of the Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01759-21
• Publication Date: 2022-01-12T15:31:31Z
• Authors: Le Yang; Xuemei Li; Na Bai; Xuewei Yang; Ke-Qin Zhang; Jinkui Yang
• Keywords: CDC42

Nematode-trapping (NT) fungi can form unique infection structures (traps) to capture and kill free-living nematodes and, thus, play a potential role in the biocontrol of nematodes. Arthrobotrys oligospora is representative species NT fungi. Here, we performed time course transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis transcriptomes understand global gene expression levels A. during trap formation predation. We identified 5,752 differentially expressed genes, among which rac was significantly upregulated. Alternative splicing events occurred 2,012 including rho2 gene. Furthermore, characterized three Rho GTPases (Rho2, Rac, Cdc42) using disruption multiphenotypic analysis. Our analyses showed that AoRac AoCdc42 an important mycelium growth, lipid accumulation, DNA damage, sporulation, formation, pathogenicity, stress response oligospora. specifically interacted with components Nox complex, thus regulating production reactive oxygen species. Moreover, transcript several genes associated protein kinase A, mitogen-activated kinase, p21-activated were also altered mutants, suggesting might function upstream from these kinases. This study highlights provides insights into regulatory mechanisms signaling pathways morphogenesis lifestyle transition IMPORTANCE are widely distributed terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. Their broad adaptability flexible lifestyles make them ideal agents for controlling pathogenic model employed understanding interaction between revealed alternative crucial development exert differential effects on development, pathogenicity In particular, required sporulation morphogenesis. addition, our regulate Collectively, results expand roles fungi, thereby providing foundation exploring their application