The TOR Signaling Pathway Governs Fungal Development, Virulence and Ustiloxin Biosynthesis in <i>Ustilaginoidea virens</i>.

ABSTRACT: Ustilaginoidea virens is an economically important plant pathogen that causes rice false smut, which causes yield reduction and produces mycotoxins in infected grains that pose a serious threat to human and animal health. The target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway acts as a master regular in regulating cell growth and secondary metabolism in fungi. However, little is known about the function of the TOR pathway in regulating fungal development, pathogenicity and mycotoxin biosynthesis in U. virens. Here, we demonstrate that the TOR signaling pathway positively regulates the cell growth, conidiation and pathogenicity in U. virens through the biochemical inhibition of TOR kinases. The inhibition of TOR in U. virens (UvTOR) by rapamycin significantly ind

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12028740 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature