文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：The MrCYP52 Cytochrome P450 Monoxygenase Gene of Metarhizium robertsii Is Important for Utilizing Insect Epicuticular Hydrocarbons

作者：Lin, Liangcai[1,2];Fang, Weiguo[2];Liao, Xinggang[2];Wang, Fengqing[1];Wei, Dongzhi[1];Leger, Raymond J. St.[2]

机构：[1]E China Univ Sci & Technol, State Key Lab Bioreactor Engn, Newworld Inst Biotechnol, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China;[2]Univ Maryland, Dept Entomol, College Pk, MD 20742 USA

年份：2011

卷号：6

期号：12

外文期刊名：PLOS ONE

收录：;WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:000298664400031)】；

基金：This work was funded by United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service grant 2010-6510620580. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

语种：英文

摘要：Fungal pathogens of plants and insects infect their hosts by direct penetration of the cuticle. Plant and insect cuticles are covered by a hydrocarbon-rich waxy outer layer that represents the first barrier against infection. However, the fungal genes that underlie insect waxy layer degradation have received little attention. Here we characterize the single cytochrome P450 monoxygenase family 52 (MrCYP52) gene of the insect pathogen Metarhizium robertsii, and demonstrate that it encodes an enzyme required for efficient utilization of host hydrocarbons. Expressing a green florescent protein gene under control of the MrCYP52 promoter confirmed that MrCYP52 is up regulated on insect cuticle as well as by artificial media containing decane (C10), extracted cuticle hydrocarbons, and to a lesser extent long chain alkanes. Disrupting MrCYP52 resulted in reduced growth on epicuticular hydrocarbons and delayed developmental processes on insect cuticle, including germination and production of appressoria (infection structures). Extraction of alkanes from cuticle prevented induction of MrCYP52 and reduced growth. Insect bioassays against caterpillars (Galleria mellonella) confirmed that disruption of MrCYP52 significantly reduces virulence. However, MrCYP52 was dispensable for normal germination and appressorial formation in vitro when the fungus was supplied with nitrogenous nutrients. We conclude therefore that MrCYP52 mediates degradation of epicuticular hydrocarbons and these are an important nutrient source, but not a source of chemical signals that trigger infection processes.