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The Kelch Repeat Protein VdKeR1 Is Essential for Development, Ergosterol Metabolism, and Virulence in Verticillium dahliae

Summary

Verticillium dahliae is a serious fungal disease that kills many important crops like cotton and tomato by clogging their water-conducting vessels. Scientists discovered a protein called VdKeR1 that helps this fungus grow and cause disease by controlling how it makes ergosterol, a crucial component of fungal cell membranes. When researchers removed this protein, the fungus grew poorly, couldn’t form survival structures, and was much less dangerous to plants.

Background

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal pathogen causing vascular wilt in over 200 plant species including economically important crops. Kelch repeat proteins are essential for fungal growth and virulence, but their function in V. dahliae remains unclear. Ergosterol and its biosynthetic pathway are fundamental for fungal membrane function and cellular viability.

Objective

This study aimed to identify and characterize the Kelch repeat domain-containing protein VdKeR1 from V. dahliae and investigate its roles in fungal development, stress response, pathogenicity, and ergosterol metabolism. The researchers sought to understand the regulatory mechanisms of VdKeR1 in the ergosterol synthesis pathway.

Results

VdKeR1 contains six Kelch repeat motifs forming a β-propeller structure and is highly conserved among fungi. Deletion of VdKeR1 impaired vegetative growth, conidiation, microsclerotia development, and pathogenicity. The mutants showed increased tolerance to osmotic and chitin synthesis inhibitors but increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. VdKeR1 positively regulated squalene epoxidase activity, mediating squalene and ergosterol biosynthesis.

Conclusion

VdKeR1 is essential for V. dahliae development, stress responses, and virulence through its regulation of ergosterol metabolism. The protein mediates squalene and ergosterol synthesis by positively regulating squalene epoxidase activity. These findings provide theoretical and experimental foundations for developing new control strategies against Verticillium wilt disease.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 39330403, PMC: PMC11433423
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