AUTHOR=Kong Xiangjiu , van Diepeningen Anne D. , van der Lee Theo A. J. , Waalwijk Cees , Xu Jingsheng , Xu Jin , Zhang Hao , Chen Wanquan , Feng Jie 

TITLE=The Fusarium graminearum Histone Acetyltransferases Are Important for Morphogenesis, DON Biosynthesis, and Pathogenicity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00654

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00654

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Post-translational modifications of chromatin structure by histone acetyltransferase (HATs) play a central role in the regulation of gene expression and various biological processes in eukaryotes. Although HAT genes have been studied in many fungi, few of them have been functionally characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized four putative HATs (<italic>FgGCN5, FgRTT109, FgSAS2, FgSAS3</italic>) in the plant pathogenic ascomycete <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic>, the causal agent of <italic>Fusarium</italic> head blight of wheat and barley. We replaced the genes and all mutant strains showed reduced growth of <italic>F. graminearum</italic>. The Δ<italic>FgSAS3</italic> and Δ<italic>FgGCN5</italic> mutant increased sensitivity to oxidative and osmotic stresses. Additionally, Δ<italic>FgSAS3</italic> showed reduced conidia sporulation and perithecium formation. Mutant Δ<italic>FgGCN5</italic> was unable to generate any conidia and lost its ability to form perithecia. Our data showed also that <italic>FgSAS3</italic> and <italic>FgGCN5</italic> are pathogenicity factors required for infecting wheat heads as well as tomato fruits. Importantly, almost no Deoxynivalenol (DON) was produced either in Δ<italic>FgSAS3</italic> or Δ<italic>FgGCN5</italic> mutants, which was consistent with a significant downregulation of TRI genes expression. Furthermore, we discovered for the first time that <italic>FgSAS3</italic> is indispensable for the acetylation of histone site H3K4, while <italic>FgGCN5</italic> is essential for the acetylation of H3K9, H3K18, and H3K27. H3K14 can be completely acetylated when <italic>FgSAS3</italic> and <italic>FgGCN5</italic> were both present. The RNA-seq analyses of the two mutant strains provide insight into their functions in development and metabolism. Results from this study clarify the functional divergence of HATs in <italic>F. graminearum</italic>, and may provide novel targeted strategies to control secondary metabolite expression and infections of <italic>F. graminearum</italic>.</p>