Mutations in PpAGO3 Lead to Enhanced Virulence of Phytophthora parasitica by Activation of 25-26 nt sRNA-Associated Effector Genes.

ABSTRACT: Oomycetes represent a unique group of plant pathogens that are destructive to a wide range of crops and natural ecosystems. Phytophthora species possess active small RNA (sRNA) silencing pathways, but little is known about the biological roles of sRNAs and associated factors in pathogenicity. Here we show that an AGO gene, PpAGO3, plays a major role in the regulation of effector genes hence the pathogenicity of Phytophthora parasitica. PpAGO3 was unique among five predicted AGO genes in P. parasitica, showing strong mycelium stage-specific expression. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, we generated PpAGO3^ΔRGG1-3 mutants that carried a deletion of 1, 2, or 3 copies of the N-terminal RGG motif (QRGGYD) but failed to obtain com

SUBMITTER: Xu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8989244 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature