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Eukaryotic Cell, March 2009, p. 262-270, Vol. 8, No. 3
1535-9778/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00338-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Hypovirus-Responsive Transcription Factor Gene pro1 of the Chestnut Blight Fungus Cryphonectria parasitica Is Required for Female Fertility, Asexual Spore Development, and Stable Maintenance of Hypovirus Infection{triangledown}

Qihong Sun, Gil H. Choi, and Donald L. Nuss*

Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Shady Grove Campus, Rockville, Maryland 20850

Received 7 October 2008/ Accepted 16 December 2008

We report characterization of the gene encoding putative transcription factor PRO1, identified in transcriptional profiling studies as being downregulated in the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica in response to infection by virulence-attenuating hypoviruses. Sequence analysis confirmed that pro1 encodes a Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster DNA binding protein with significant sequence similarity to the pro1 gene product that controls fruiting body development in Sordaria macrospora. Targeted disruption of the C. parasitica pro1 gene resulted in two phenotypic changes that also accompany hypovirus infection, a significant reduction in asexual sporulation that could be reversed by exposure to high light intensity, and loss of female fertility. The pro1 disruption mutant, however, retained full virulence. Although hypovirus CHV1-EP713 infection was established in the pro1 disruption mutant, infected colonies continually produced virus-free sectors, suggesting that PRO1 is required for stable maintenance of hypovirus infection. These results complement the recent characterization of the hypovirus-responsive homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ste12 C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor gene, cpst12, which was shown to be required for C. parasitica female fertility and virulence.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Shady Grove Campus, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Phone: (240) 314-6218. Fax: (240) 314-6225. E-mail: nuss{at}umbi.umd.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 29 December 2008.

Eukaryotic Cell, March 2009, p. 262-270, Vol. 8, No. 3
1535-9778/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00338-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Chiba, S., Salaipeth, L., Lin, Y.-H., Sasaki, A., Kanematsu, S., Suzuki, N. (2009). A Novel Bipartite Double-Stranded RNA Mycovirus from the White Root Rot Fungus Rosellinia necatrix: Molecular and Biological Characterization, Taxonomic Considerations, and Potential for Biological Control. J. Virol. 83: 12801-12812 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sun, Q., Choi, G. H., Nuss, D. L. (2009). A single Argonaute gene is required for induction of RNA silencing antiviral defense and promotes viral RNA recombination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: 17927-17932 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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