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Transcriptome sequencing at early stage infection of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici reveals chromosomal differences in transcription patterns and host specific gene expression.

ABSTRACT: We have applied whole transcriptome profiling to infer genetic determinants of pathogenicity and host specialization in Z. tritici. Our data includes RNAseq data from early infection stages of a compatible (wheat) and a non-compatible host (Brachypodium distachyon). Overall transcription of AC genes is remarkably lower than genes on core chromosomes (CC) and only 40% of the genes are transcribed. We identify 31 AC and 1069 CC genes showing plant specific expression. In addition 21 CC genes are only upregulated in wheat supporting functional relevance in host specificity. We further explore the genomic composition and distribution of unique and paralogous genes in Z. tritici focusing on the evolutionary origin of AC genes. In contrast to previous studies we show that ACs mainly encode unique genes. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that rare duplication events in the Z. tritici genome precede diversification of Zymoseptoria species and demonstrate that ACs have been maintained in the genome of Zymoseptoria over long evolutionary times.

ORGANISM(S): Zymoseptoria tritici

PROVIDER: GSE54874 | GEO | 2014/06/30

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA237967

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Host-pathogen co-evolutionary dynamics force microbial plant pathogens to constantly develop and adjust specific adaptations to thrive in their plant host, and therefore also act as strong drivers of divergence and speciation in pathogens. Factors that confer host specialization and determine host specificity are very diverse and range from molecular and morphological strategies to metabolic and reproductive adaptations. Identification of these key factors is a major goal in the study of pathogen evolution and may aid the development of sustainable crops and crop protection strategies. We here took a novel experimental approach and conducted comparative microscopy and transcriptome analyses of the closely related, recently diverged fungal pathogens Zymoseptoria tritici, Z. pseudotritici, and Z. ardabiliae that establish compatible and incompatible interactions with wheat. Although infections of the incompatible species induce plant defense response during invasion of stomatal openings, we found a highly conserved early-infection program among the three species. The transcriptional programs of the three pathogens are conserved to a large extent, as only 9.2% of the 8,885 orthologous genes are significantly differentially expressed during initial infection of wheat. The genes up-regulated in the compatible pathogen reflect adaptation to growth in wheat tissue e.g., by re-programming of fungal metabolism. In contrast, genes primarily involved in counteracting cell stress and damage are strongly induced in the incompatible species. Based on the species-specific gene expression profiles, we further identified nine candidate genes encoding putative effectors and host-specificity determinants in Z. tritici. These effectors are strongly induced in the compatible species and may interfere with host immune suppression. We also identify putative necrotrophic effectors which are induced at the onset of necrotrophic growth. Together, the results presented here indicate that host specialization has involved transcriptional adaptation of a relatively small number of genes. Our findings demonstrate the potential comparative analyses of compatible and incompatible infections present for identifying traits involved in pathogen evolution and host specialization.

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Transcriptome sequencing at early stage infection of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici reveals chromosomal differences in transcription patterns and host specific gene expression.

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