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MoMad2 With a Conserved Function in the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Is Required for Maintaining Appressorial Turgor Pressure and Pathogenicity of Rice Blast Fungus

Summary

Rice blast fungus causes significant crop damage worldwide. This research reveals that a protein called MoMad2 helps the fungus control its cell division timing and maintains pressure in specialized infection structures called appressoria, which are needed to penetrate rice leaves. When scientists removed the MoMad2 gene, the fungus became less effective at infecting rice plants, suggesting this protein could be a target for developing new disease control strategies.

Background

Mad2 is a conserved core component of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) that regulates mitotic progression in eukaryotes. The biological functions of Mad2 in plant-pathogenic fungi remain largely unknown. This study investigates the role of MoMad2, the Mad2 homologue in Magnaporthe oryzae, the rice blast fungus.

Objective

To characterize the conserved SAC function of MoMad2 and determine its role in M. oryzae pathogenicity, particularly in appressorial turgor pressure maintenance and rice infection.

Results

MoMad2 retained conserved SAC function by associating with Mad1 and Cdc20 and rescuing spindle checkpoint arrest in fission yeast. Knockout of MoMAD2 resulted in shortened hyphal compartments, accelerated conidial germination and appressorium formation, and increased sensitivity to nocodazole. Importantly, Δ Momad2 mutants exhibited significantly decreased appressorial turgor pressure and compromised pathogenicity on rice plants.

Conclusion

MoMad2 functions as a conserved SAC component essential for maintaining proper mitotic cell cycle regulation in M. oryzae. Its role in sustaining appressorial turgor pressure is critical for successful rice infection, indicating that proper cell cycle control contributes to fungal pathogenicity.
  • Published in:Molecular Plant Pathology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40969119, DOI: 10.1111/mpp.70157
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