Chitosan and Chitin Deacetylase Activity Are Necessary for Development and Virulence of Ustilago maydis.

ABSTRACT: The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis harbors a chitin deacetylase (CDA) family of six active genes as well as one pseudogene which are differentially expressed during colonization. This includes one secreted soluble CDA (Cda4) and five putatively glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored CDAs, of which Cda7 belongs to a new class of fungal CDAs. Here, we provide a comprehensive functional study of the entire family. While budding cells of U. maydis showed a discrete pattern of chitosan staining, biotrophic hyphae appeared surrounded by a chitosan layer. We purified all six active CDAs and show their activity on different chitin substrates. Single as well as multiple cda mutants were generated and revealed a virulence defect for mutants lacking cda7 We implica

SUBMITTER: Rizzi YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8092297 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature