Universität zu Köln

Werner, Janina, Zuo, Weiliang, Winkler, Tom and Doehlemann, Gunther ORCID: 0000-0002-7353-8456 (2025). A recombinant hybrid provides insights into gene regulation, pathogenesis, and tumorigenesis of phytopathogenic smut fungi. Cell Reports, 44 (6). pp. 1-16. Elsevier. ISSN 2211-1247

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr. 115772] The closely related maize smut fungi Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum share genome structures but differ in their pathogenic behavior. U. maydis causes local tumors, while S. reilianum spreads systemi- cally and affects inflorescences. To investigate the genetic basis of these differences, we generate an inter- specific recombinant hybrid (recombinant U. maydis x S. reilianum hybrid [rUSH]) carrying the S. reilianum mating type. rUSH exhibits in planta proliferation and an S. reilianum-like phenotype, except for teliospore formation. Transcriptome profiling reveals that pathogenicity-related effector orthologs are induced in rUSH but not in a wild-type hybrid control. Comparative transcriptomics identifies 253 differentially ex- pressed one-to-one effector orthologs with cis-, trans-, and a rUSH-specific phenomenon of cis/trans. CRISPR-Cas9 uncovers three novel virulence factors among the rUSH-specific expressed effectors. Ulti- mately, we pinpoint the transcription factor UmHdp2 as a key regulator of U. maydis-induced tumorigenesis. Our findings highlight the utility of a recombinant, interspecific hybrid in unraveling the molecular mecha- nisms underlying pathogenic differences in closely related fungal pathogens.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Werner, Janina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Zuo, Weiliang UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Winkler, Tom UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Doehlemann, Gunther UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7353-8456 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-805165
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115772
Journal or Publication Title:	Cell Reports
Volume:	44
Number:	6
Page Range:	pp. 1-16
Number of Pages:	16
Date:	24 June 2025
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2211-1247
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	CEPLAS - Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences
Subjects:	Life sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language interspecific hybridization ; Ustilago maydis ; Sporisorium reilianum ; tumor formation ; effector gene regulation ; speciation ; orthologs ; virulence factor English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80516