Small GTPase Rab7-mediated FgAtg9 trafficking is essential for autophagy-dependent development and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007546
• Publication Date: 2018-07-25T13:24:45Z
• Authors: Huawei Zheng; Pengfei Miao; Xiaolian Lin; Lingping Li; Congxian Wu; Xiaomin Chen; Yakubu Saddeeq Ab...; Justice Norvienyeku; Guangpu Li; Jie Zhou; Zonghua Wang; Wenhui Zheng
• Keywords: Autophagosome; Conidiation; Small GTPase

Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen that causes head blight (FHB) in wheat and barley. Autophagy highly conserved vacuolar degradation pathway essential for cellular homeostasis which Atg9 serves as multispanning membrane protein important generating membranes the formation of phagophore assembly site. However, mechanism autophagy or autophagosome phytopathogens awaits further clarifications. In this study, we identified characterized homolog (FgAtg9) F. by live cell imaging, biochemical genetic analyses. We find GFP-FgAtg9 localizes to late endosomes trans-Golgi network under both nutrient-rich nitrogen starvation conditions also show its dynamic actin-dependent trafficking cell. Further targeted gene deletion FgATG9 demonstrates it growth, aerial hyphae development, pathogenicity graminearum. Furthermore, mutant (ΔFgatg9) shows severe defects lipid metabolism response carbon starvation. Interestingly, small GTPase FgRab7 found be required FgAtg9, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays FgAtg9 associates with vivo. Finally, heterologous complementation assay functionally Magnaporthe oryzae. Taken together, conclude autophagy-dependent development graminearum, may regulated FgRab7.