A genome survey of Moniliophthora perniciosa gives new insights into Witches' Broom Disease of cacao

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The basidiomycete fungus <it>Moniliophthora perniciosa </it>is the causal agent of Witches' Broom Disease (WBD) in cacao (<it>Theobroma cacao</it>). It is a hemibiotrophic pathogen that colonizes the apoplast of cacao's meristematic tissues as a biotrophic pathogen, switching to a saprotrophic lifestyle during later stages of infection. <it>M. perniciosa</it>, together with the related species <it>M. roreri</it>, are pathogens of aerial parts of the plant, an uncommon characteristic in the order Agaricales. A genome survey (1.9× coverage) of <it>M. perniciosa </it>was analyzed to evaluate the overall gene content of this phytopathogen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genes encoding proteins involved in retrotransposition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) resistance, drug efflux transport and cell wall degradation were identified. The great number of genes encoding cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (1.15% of gene models) indicates that <it>M. perniciosa </it>has a great potential for detoxification, production of toxins and hormones; which may confer a high adaptive ability to the fungus. We have also discovered new genes encoding putative secreted polypeptides rich in cysteine, as well as genes related to methylotrophy and plant hormone biosynthesis (gibberellin and auxin). Analysis of gene families indicated that <it>M. perniciosa </it>have similar amounts of carboxylesterases and repertoires of plant cell wall degrading enzymes as other hemibiotrophic fungi. In addition, an approach for normalization of gene family data using incomplete genome data was developed and applied in <it>M. perniciosa </it>genome survey.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This genome survey gives an overview of the <it>M. perniciosa </it>genome, and reveals that a significant portion is involved in stress adaptation and plant necrosis, two necessary characteristics for a hemibiotrophic fungus to fulfill its infection cycle. Our analysis provides new evidence revealing potential adaptive traits that may play major roles in the mechanisms of pathogenicity in the <it>M. perniciosa</it>/cacao pathosystem.</p

Analise genomica do sistema mating type de Crinipellis perniciosa, fungo causador da vassoura-de-bruxa em Theobroma cacao

Orientadores: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira, Lyndel W. MeinhardtDissertção (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A doença vassoura-de-bruxa em Theobroma cacao (cacaueiro), causada pelo fungo Crinipellis perniciosa, é uma das doenças de maior impacto econômico nos países produtores de cacau, sendo o Brasil um destes países. Esse fungo infecta os tecidos meristemáticos do cacaueiro em duas fases: parasítica e saprofítica. Pesquisas com outros fitopatógenos têm demonstrado que a mudança da fase parasítica para a saprofítica é regulada por genes do sistema mating type tornando este estudo extremamente importante para inferir estratégias de combate à doença. O presente trabalho teve por finalidade identificar os genes mating type de C. perniciosa através da análise dos dados gerados pelo seu projeto genoma. Para a identificação dos genes do sistema mating type (Hd1, Hd2, Rc e Fe) foram feitas buscas no banco de dados do genoma de C. perniciosa comparando seqüências similares àquelas codificadas pelos fungos basidiomicetos Coprinus cinereus, Coprinus bilanatus, Schizophyllum commune e Ustilago maydis, identificadas e disponibilizadas em rede. Foram identificados seis genes do sistema mating type de C. perniciosa. Um gene que codifica a proteína regulatória Hd1, um gene que codifica a proteína regulatória Hd2 e quatro genes que codificam as proteínas receptoras de ferormônio Rc1, Rc2, Rc3 e Rc4. Não foram identificados genes que codificam ferormônios. Portanto, concluímos que a organização molecular do sistema mating type de C. perniciosa é tetrapolar, contendo o locus HD bialélico e o locus FRF multialélicoAbstract: The witch's broom disease in Theobroma cacao, caused by mushroom Crinipellis perniciosa, is one of the diseases with the biggest economic impact in cocoa producing countries, and Brazil is one of them. The mushroom infects the meristematics tissues of the cocoa tree in two phases: parasitic and saprofitic. Research with other phytopathogens have demonstrated that the change from the parasitic to the saprophytic phase is regulated by genes of the mating type system, making this study extremely important to infer fighting strategies to this disease. This work's proposal is to identify mating type genes of C. perniciosa through the analysis of data generated by its genome project. The genes identification of the (Hd1, Hd2, Rc and Fe) mating type system was made by database search in the C. perniciosa genome comparing similar sequences with the ones codified by the basidiomycetes mushrooms Coprinus cinereus, Coprinus bilanatus, Schizophyllum commune and Ustilago maydis, identified and available in the internet. Six genes were identified in C. perniciosa mating type system. One gene that codifies the regulatory protein Hd1, another that codifies the regulatory protein Hd2 and four genes that codify the pheromone receptor proteins Rc1, Rc2, Rc3 and Rc4. Genes that codify pheromones were not identified. Therefore, we concluded that the molecular organization of C. perniciosa mating type system is tetrapolar, containing the bialelic HD locus and the multialelic FRF locusMestradoBioquimicaMestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecula

The mitochondrial genome of the phytopathogenic basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa is 109 kb in size and contains a stable integrated plasmid

We present here the sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the basidiomycete phytopathogenic hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, causal agent of the Witches` Broom Disease in Theobroma cacao. The DNA is a circular molecule of 109103 base pairs, with 31.9 % GC, and is the largest sequenced so far. This size is due essentially to the presence of numerous non-conserved hypothetical ORFs. It contains the 14 genes coding for proteins involved in the oxidative phosphorylation, the two rRNA genes, one ORF coding for a ribosomal protein (rps3), and a set of 26 tRNA genes that recognize codons for all amino acids. Seven homing endonucleases are located inside introns. Except atp8, all conserved known genes are in the same orientation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cox genes agrees with the commonly accepted fungal taxonomy. An uncommon feature of this mitochondrial genome is the presence of a region that contains a set of four, relatively small, nested, inverted repeats enclosing two genes coding for polymerases with an invertron-type structure and three conserved hypothetical genes interpreted as the stable integration of a mitochondrial linear plasmid. The integration of this plasmid seems to be a recent evolutionary event that could have implications in fungal biology. This sequence is available under GenBank accession number AY376688. (c) 2008 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.CNPqCapesCNPq Regional Genoma ProgramSEAGRImFAPESP[02/09280-1

The mitochondrial genome of the phytopathogenic basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa is 109 kb in size and contains a stable integrated plasmid

We present here the sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the basidiomycete phytopathogenic hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, causal agent of the Witches' Broom Disease in Theobroma cacao. The DNA is a circular molecule of 109103 base pairs, with 31.9 % GC, and is the largest sequenced so far. This size is due essentially to the presence of numerous non-conserved hypothetical ORFs. It contains the 14 genes coding for proteins involved in the oxidative phosphorylation, the two rRNA genes, one ORF coding for a ribosomal protein (rps3), and a set of 26 tRNA genes that recognize codons for all amino acids. Seven homing endonucleases are located inside introns. Except atp8, all conserved known genes are in the same orientation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cox genes agrees with the commonly accepted fungal taxonomy. An uncommon feature of this mitochondrial genome is the presence of a region that contains a set of four, relatively small, nested, inverted repeats enclosing two genes coding for polymerases with an invertron-type structure and three conserved hypothetical genes interpreted as the stable integration of a mitochondrial linear plasmid. The integration of this plasmid seems to be a recent evolutionary event that could have implications in fungal biology. This sequence is available under GenBank accession number AY3766881121011361152CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçãosem informação02/09280-

The Mitochondrial Genome Of The Phytopathogenic Basidiomycete Moniliophthora Perniciosa Is 109 Kb In Size And Contains A Stable Integrated Plasmid.

We present here the sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the basidiomycete phytopathogenic hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, causal agent of the Witches' Broom Disease in Theobroma cacao. The DNA is a circular molecule of 109,103 base pairs, with 31.9% GC, and is the largest sequenced so far. This size is due essentially to the presence of numerous non-conserved hypothetical ORFs. It contains the 14 genes coding for proteins involved in the oxidative phosphorylation, the two rRNA genes, one ORF coding for a ribosomal protein (rps3), and a set of 26 tRNA genes that recognize codons for all amino acids. Seven homing endonucleases are located inside introns. Except atp8, all conserved known genes are in the same orientation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cox genes agrees with the commonly accepted fungal taxonomy. An uncommon feature of this mitochondrial genome is the presence of a region that contains a set of four, relatively small, nested, inverted repeats enclosing two genes coding for polymerases with an invertron-type structure and three conserved hypothetical genes interpreted as the stable integration of a mitochondrial linear plasmid. The integration of this plasmid seems to be a recent evolutionary event that could have implications in fungal biology. This sequence is available under GenBank accession number AY376688.1121136-5