MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Functional analysis of a novel endo-β-1,6-glucanase MoGlu16 and its application in detecting cell wall β-1,6-glucan of Magnaporthe oryzae

Summary

Scientists discovered and studied a special enzyme called MoGlu16 from rice blast fungus that breaks down a key component of fungal cell walls called β-1,6-glucan. This enzyme can be used to visualize where this cell wall component is located in the fungus at different stages of its life cycle. When applied to fungus spores, the enzyme prevents them from sprouting and forming infection structures, making it a promising candidate for developing new ways to control rice blast disease.

Background

β-1,6-glucan is an essential component of fungal cell walls crucial for growth and development, but its distribution in Magnaporthe oryzae has not been investigated. The cell wall serves as an outer barrier against external stress and is important for maintaining cellular integrity. Understanding cell wall structure is fundamental for developing novel antifungal strategies.

Objective

To clone and express a novel β-1,6-glucanase (MoGlu16) from M. oryzae, characterize its enzymatic properties, and develop a method to detect and visualize β-1,6-glucan distribution in different developmental stages of the rice blast fungus.

Results

MoGlu16 showed high specificity for β-1,6-glycosidic bonds with specific activity of 219.0 U/mg at pH 5.0 and 50°C. β-1,6-glucan was visualized in vegetative hyphae, conidia, and bud tubes but not appressoria. MoGlu16 treatment inhibited spore germination and appressorium formation, triggered ROS accumulation, and upregulated genes involved in cell wall polysaccharide synthesis.

Conclusion

MoGlu16 is a novel GH30 family β-1,6-glucanase that participates in cell wall remodeling in M. oryzae. The inactive GFP-tagged derivative provides a novel method for detecting β-1,6-glucan distribution in fungal cells. These findings establish β-1,6-glucan as a potential antifungal target for biocontrol strategies against rice blast.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 39027104
Scroll to Top