Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e68058 |
| Journal | ELIFE |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Oct 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Fungal Hülle cells with nuclear storage and developmental backup functions are reminiscent of multipotent stem cells. In the soil, Hülle cells nurse the overwintering fruiting bodies of Aspergillus nidulans. The genome of A. nidulans harbors genes for the biosynthesis of xanthones. We show that enzymes and metabolites of this biosynthetic pathway accumulate in Hülle cells under the control of the regulatory velvet complex, which coordinates development and secondary metabolism. Deletion strains blocked in the conversion of anthraquinones to xanthones accumulate emodins and are delayed in maturation and growth of fruiting bodies. Emodin represses fruiting body and resting structure formation in other fungi. Xanthones are not required for sexual development but exert antifeedant effects on fungivorous animals such as springtails and woodlice. Our findings reveal a novel role of Hülle cells in establishing secure niches for A. nidulans by accumulating metabolites with antifeedant activity that protect reproductive structures from animal predators.
Keywords
- Hulle cells, sexual development, secondary metabolites, xanthones, emodin, Aspergillus nidulans, Verticillium, Sordaria macrospora, Folsomia candida, Trichorhina tomentosa, Tenebrio molitor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Immunology and Microbiology(all)
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- Neuroscience(all)
- General Neuroscience
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In: ELIFE, Vol. 10, e68058, 12.10.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Secondary metabolites of Hülle cells mediate protection of fungal reproductive and overwintering structures against fungivorous animals
AU - Liu, Li
AU - Sasse, Christoph
AU - Dirnberger, Benedict
AU - Valerius, Oliver
AU - Fekete-Szuecs, Eniko
AU - Harting, Rebekka
AU - Nordzieke, Daniela E.
AU - Poeggeler, Stefanie
AU - Karlovsky, Petr
AU - Gerke, Jennifer
AU - Braus, Gerhard H.
N1 - Funding information: We thank Verena Große, Nicole Scheiter, Gertrud Stahlhut, and Ruth Pilot for technical assistance, Kerstin Schmitt and Miriam Kolog Gulko for preparing protein digestion solutions and proteome data discussions. We acknowledge support by the doctoral programs of Göttinger Graduiertenzentrum für Neurowissenschaften, Biophysik und Molekulare Biowissenschaften (GGNB) (University of Göttingen), the China Scholarship Council (CSC), and the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 (grant agreement 607332). Funding was provided by the German Research Council to GHB (DFG grant BR 1502/19–1).
PY - 2021/10/12
Y1 - 2021/10/12
N2 - Fungal Hülle cells with nuclear storage and developmental backup functions are reminiscent of multipotent stem cells. In the soil, Hülle cells nurse the overwintering fruiting bodies of Aspergillus nidulans. The genome of A. nidulans harbors genes for the biosynthesis of xanthones. We show that enzymes and metabolites of this biosynthetic pathway accumulate in Hülle cells under the control of the regulatory velvet complex, which coordinates development and secondary metabolism. Deletion strains blocked in the conversion of anthraquinones to xanthones accumulate emodins and are delayed in maturation and growth of fruiting bodies. Emodin represses fruiting body and resting structure formation in other fungi. Xanthones are not required for sexual development but exert antifeedant effects on fungivorous animals such as springtails and woodlice. Our findings reveal a novel role of Hülle cells in establishing secure niches for A. nidulans by accumulating metabolites with antifeedant activity that protect reproductive structures from animal predators.
AB - Fungal Hülle cells with nuclear storage and developmental backup functions are reminiscent of multipotent stem cells. In the soil, Hülle cells nurse the overwintering fruiting bodies of Aspergillus nidulans. The genome of A. nidulans harbors genes for the biosynthesis of xanthones. We show that enzymes and metabolites of this biosynthetic pathway accumulate in Hülle cells under the control of the regulatory velvet complex, which coordinates development and secondary metabolism. Deletion strains blocked in the conversion of anthraquinones to xanthones accumulate emodins and are delayed in maturation and growth of fruiting bodies. Emodin represses fruiting body and resting structure formation in other fungi. Xanthones are not required for sexual development but exert antifeedant effects on fungivorous animals such as springtails and woodlice. Our findings reveal a novel role of Hülle cells in establishing secure niches for A. nidulans by accumulating metabolites with antifeedant activity that protect reproductive structures from animal predators.
KW - Hulle cells
KW - sexual development
KW - secondary metabolites
KW - xanthones
KW - emodin
KW - Aspergillus nidulans
KW - Verticillium
KW - Sordaria macrospora
KW - Folsomia candida
KW - Trichorhina tomentosa
KW - Tenebrio molitor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118210515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7554/eLife.68058
DO - 10.7554/eLife.68058
M3 - Article
VL - 10
JO - ELIFE
JF - ELIFE
SN - 2050-084X
M1 - e68058
ER -