The White Collar protein WcoA of Fusarium fujikuroi is not essential for photocarotenogenesis, but is involved in the regulation of secondary metabolism and conidiation

Fungal Genet Biol. 2008 May;45(5):705-18. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2007.12.003. Epub 2007 Dec 15.

Abstract

The fungal proteins of the White Collar photoreceptor family, represented by WC-1 from Neurospora crassa, mediate the control by light of different biochemical and developmental processes, such as carotenogenesis or sporulation. Carotenoid biosynthesis is induced by light in the gibberellin-producing fungus Fusarium fujikuroi. In an attempt to identify the photoreceptor for this response, we cloned the only WC-1-like gene present in the available Fusarium genomes, that we called wcoA. The predicted WcoA polypeptide is highly similar to WC-1 and contains the relevant functional domains of this protein. In contrast to the Neurospora counterpart, wcoA expression is not affected by light. Unexpectedly, targeted wcoA disruptant strains maintain the light-induced carotenogenesis. Furthermore, the wcoA mutants show a drastic reduction of fusarin production in the light, and produce less gibberellins and more bikaverins than the parental strain under nitrogen-limiting conditions. The changes in the production of the different products indicate a key regulatory role for WcoA in secondary metabolism of this fungus. Additionally, the mutants are severely affected in conidiation rates under different culture conditions, indicating a more general regulatory role for this protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carotenoids / biosynthesis*
  • Carotenoids / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / physiology*
  • Fusarium / genetics
  • Fusarium / physiology*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gibberellins / biosynthesis
  • Light
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial / genetics
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial / physiology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Spores, Fungal / genetics
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development*
  • T-2 Toxin / biosynthesis
  • Transcription Initiation Site
  • Xanthones / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Gibberellins
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial
  • Xanthones
  • bikaverin
  • Carotenoids
  • T-2 Toxin
  • Nitrogen

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AM778551