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Physiological Stressors and Invasive Plant Infections Alter the Small RNA Transcriptome of the Rice Blast Fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae

Summary

This research examined how a destructive fungal pathogen that causes rice blast disease regulates its genes using small RNA molecules, particularly when exposed to different stresses and during plant infection. The findings help us better understand how this fungus adapts to different environments and causes disease in rice plants. Impacts on everyday life: – Improved understanding of rice blast disease could lead to better crop protection strategies – New insights into fungal adaptation mechanisms may help develop more effective fungicides – Better knowledge of plant diseases helps ensure more stable rice production and food security – Understanding gene regulation in fungi has implications for biotechnology applications – This research contributes to sustainable agriculture practices by revealing pathogen vulnerabilities

Background

The rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae is a destructive pathogen of rice and other related crops, causing significant yield losses worldwide. Endogenous small RNAs (sRNAs), including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical components of gene regulation in many eukaryotic organisms. Recently several new species of sRNAs have been identified in fungi. This fact along with the availability of genome sequence makes M. oryzae a compelling target for sRNA profiling.

Objective

To examine sRNA species and their biosynthetic genes in M. oryzae, and determine the degree to which these elements regulate fungal stress responses. The study aimed to characterize sRNAs under different physiological stress conditions, which had not yet been examined in this fungus.

Results

The resulting libraries contained over 37 million total genome matched reads mapping to intergenic regions, coding sequences, retrotransposons, inverted, tandem, and other repeated regions of the genome with more than half of the small RNAs arising from intergenic regions. The 24 nucleotide size class of sRNAs was predominant. Comparison to transcriptional data indicated sRNAs play a role in transcriptional regulation for a subset of genes. Analysis of mutants showed deletion of Dicer-like genes and an RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase gene increases transcriptional regulation of this subset of genes, including one involved in virulence.

Conclusion

Various physiological stressors and in planta conditions alter the small RNA profile of the rice blast fungus. The characterization of sRNA biosynthetic mutants helps to clarify the role of sRNAs in transcriptional control. The study revealed a previously unknown role for the Magnaporthe Dicer-Like1 gene in regulating gene expression.
  • Published in:BMC Genomics,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-326
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