Role of Two Metacaspases in Development and Pathogenicity of the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

ABSTRACT: Rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating disease of cultivated rice worldwide. Infections by this fungus lead to a significant reduction in rice yields and threats to food security. To gain better insight into growth and cell death in M. oryzae during infection, we characterized two predicted M. oryzae metacaspase proteins, MoMca1 and MoMca2. These proteins appear to be functionally redundant and can complement the yeast Yca1 homologue. Biochemical analysis revealed that M. oryzae metacaspases exhibited Ca²⁺-dependent caspase activity in vitro Deletion of both MoMca1 and MoMca2 in M. oryzae resulted in reduced sporulation, delay in conidial germination, and attenuation of disease severity. In additio

SUBMITTER: Fernandez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7885106 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature