The Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Protein Complex Is Important for Deoxynivalenol Production and the Virulence of Fusarium graminearum.

ABSTRACT: Fusarium graminearum is recognized as the pathogen responsible for wheat head blight. It produces deoxynivalenol (DON) during infection, which endangers human health. DON biosynthesis occurs within toxisomes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In eukaryotes, the ER membrane protein complex (EMC) is critical for the ER's normal operation. However, the specific role of the EMC in F. graminearum remains poorly understood. In this study, six EMC subunits (FgEmc1-6) were identified in F. graminearum, and all of them were localized to the toxisomes. Our results demonstrate that the EMC is indispensable for vegetative growth and asexual and sexual reproduction, which are the fundamental life processes of F. graminearum. Importantly, EMC deletion led to reduced virulence

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11856742 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature