Methylation of mycovirus DNA is mediated by the RNAi machinery in vegetative hyphae of Fusarium graminearum.

ABSTRACT: DNA cytosine methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism for transposon silencing and gene regulation in fungi, particularly during sexual reproduction. However, its occurrence in vegetative hyphae and role in defense against mycoviruses is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that genomic-wide cytosine methylation of the tripartite genomovirus FgGMTV1 occurs in the hyphae of Fusarium graminearum, a destructive pathogen of wheat and barley worldwide. Elevated methylation levels were predominantly observed in the promoter regions of FgGMTV1, with the highest level reaching 55.87% in the DNA-C fragment MeC5. Methylation of the Rep promoter in DNA-A was showed to be mediated by DNA methyltransferase DIM2 and lead to its transcriptional activity suppression, resulting in a significant

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12167651 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature