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Identification of a Novel Nematotoxic Protein by Challenging the Model Mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea with a Fungivorous Nematode

Summary

This research reveals how mushrooms defend themselves against predatory worms and bacteria by producing specific toxic proteins. The scientists discovered a new protein called CCTX2 that can stop harmful worms from developing, showing that fungi have sophisticated immune systems similar to plants and animals. This has important implications for: • Understanding how organisms naturally protect themselves from predators • Developing new natural pesticides for agricultural applications • Discovering novel antimicrobial compounds • Advancing our knowledge of immune system evolution • Potential applications in medicine and crop protection

Background

The dung of herbivores, the natural habitat of the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea, is a nutrient-rich but also very competitive environment for a saprophytic fungus. Previous research showed C. cinerea expresses constitutive, tissue-specific defenses against animal predators and bacterial competitors.

Objective

To dissect the inducible defense mechanisms of C. cinerea against antagonists by analyzing the transcriptional response of vegetative mycelium to nematode predation, bacterial coculture and mechanical damage at a genome-wide level.

Results

The study identified 29 genes significantly upregulated and 8 genes downregulated in response to A. avenae predation. A novel nematotoxic protein CCTX2 containing Ricin B-fold domains was discovered and shown to be toxic to C. elegans by arresting larval development. The transcriptional response was highly specific to different types of biotic stress, with minimal overlap between gene sets induced by different antagonists.

Conclusion

C. cinerea has the ability to mount specific innate defense responses against different antagonists by inducing appropriate defense proteins. The identification of CCTX2 and other defense-related genes demonstrates the existence of inducible defense systems in fungi similar to those found in plants and animals.
  • Published in:G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics,
  • Study Type:Transcriptomics and Functional Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1534/g3.115.023069
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