The putative phospholipase Lip2 counteracts oxidative damage and influences the virulence of Ustilago maydis.

ABSTRACT: Ustilago maydis is an obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen which causes common smut disease of corn. To proliferate in host tissue, U. maydis must gain access to nutrients and overcome plant defence responses, such as the production of reactive oxygen species. The elucidation of the mechanisms by which U. maydis meets these challenges is critical for the development of strategies to combat smut disease. In this study, we focused on the contributions of phospholipases (PLs) to the pathogenesis of corn smut disease. We identified 11 genes encoding putative PLs and characterized the transcript levels for these genes in the fungus grown in culture and during infection of corn tissue. To assess the contributions of specific PLs, we focused on two genes, lip1 and lip2, which encode putative phosp

SUBMITTER: Lambie SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6638309 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature