A novel outer membrane β-1,6-glucanase is deployed in the predation of fungi by myxobacteria.

ABSTRACT: Myxobacterial predation on bacteria has been investigated for several decades. However, their predation on fungi has received less attention. Here, we show that a novel outer membrane β-1,6-glucanase GluM from Corallococcus sp. strain EGB is essential for initial sensing and efficient decomposition of fungi during predation. GluM belongs to an unstudied family of outer membrane β-barrel proteins with potent specific activity up to 24,000 U/mg, whose homologs extensively exist in myxobacteria. GluM was able to digest fungal cell walls efficiently and restrict Magnaporthe oryzae infection of rice plants. Genetic complementation with gluM restored the fungal predation ability of Myxococcus xanthus CL1001, which was abolished by the disruption of gluM homolog oar. The inability to prey on fung

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6776036 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature