The bZIP transcription factor BIP1 of the rice blast fungus is essential for infection and regulates a specific set of appressorium genes.

ABSTRACT: The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae differentiates specialized cells called appressoria that are required for fungal penetration into host leaves. In this study, we identified the novel basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor BIP1 (B-ZIP Involved in Pathogenesis-1) that is essential for pathogenicity. BIP1 is required for the infection of plant leaves, even if they are wounded, but not for appressorium-mediated penetration of artificial cellophane membranes. This phenotype suggests that BIP1 is not implicated in the differentiation of the penetration peg but is necessary for the initial establishment of the fungus within plant cells. BIP1 expression was restricted to the appressorium by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis

SUBMITTER: Lambou K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10833574 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature