Fungal Argonaute proteins act in bidirectional cross-kingdom RNA interference during plant infection

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2422756122
• Publication Date: 2025-04-23T17:37:33Z
• Authors: An-Po Cheng; Lihong Huang; Lorenz Oberkofler; Nathan R. Johnson; Adrian-Stefan Glo...; Kyra Stillman; Arne Weiberg
• Keywords: Argonaute

Argonaute (AGO) proteins bind to small RNAs induce RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved gene regulatory mechanism in animal, plant, and fungal kingdoms. Small of the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea were previously shown translocate into cells host AGO, which induced cross-kingdom RNAi promote infection. However, role AGOs during infection stayed elusive. In this study, we revealed that members B. BcAGO family contribute BcAGO1 binds both acts bidirectional RNAi, from fungus vice versa. BcAGO2 also but independent by regulating distinct genes. Nevertheless, is important for infection, as it required effective delivery RNAi. Providing these mechanistic insights promises improve RNAi-based crop protection strategies.