| Title | The role of Jacalin-related lectin gene AOL_s00083g511 in the development and pathogenicity of the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora |
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| Author | Xinyuan Dong1,2,3, Jiali Si1,2,3, Guanghui Zhang1,2,3, Zhen Shen1,2,3, Li Zhang1,2,3, Kangliang Sheng1,2,3, Jingmin Wang1,2,3, Xiaowei Kong1,2,3, Xiangdong Zha1,2,3, and Yongzhong Wang1,2,3,4* |
| Address | 1School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China, 2Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China, 3Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei 230601, P. R. China, 4Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 59(8),736–745, 2021, |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12275-021-1029-4 |
| Key Words | nematophagous fungi, Arthrobotrys oligospora, Jacalin-like lectins |
| Abstract | Arthrobotrys oligospora is a model species of nematophagous fungi and has great potential for the biological control of nematode diseases. Lectin is a protein that binds to carbohydrates and their complexes with high specificity, which mediates recognition events in various physiological and pathological processes. This study aimed to investigate the role of the Jacalin-related lectin (JRL) gene, AOL_s00083g511, in A. oligospora development. Through a homology recombination approach, we obtained the AOL_s00083g511 knockout mutant strain (Δg511). Next, the biological characteristics of the Δg511 mutant strain, including growth rate, conidia germination rate, adaptation to environmental stresses, and nematocidal activity, were compared with those of the wild-type (WT) strain. The results showed that the JRL gene AOL_ s00083g511 did not affect fungal growth, conidia germination, 3D-trap formation, and the ability of A. oligospora to prey on nematodes significantly. We speculate that this phenomenon may be caused by a loss of the key β1–β2 loops in the AOL_ s00083g511-encoded JRL domain and an intrinsic genetic compensation of AOL_s00083g511 in this fungus. The growth rates of both strains on high salt or surfactant media were similar; however, in the strong oxidation medium, the growth rate of the Δg511 mutant was significantly lower than that of the WT strain, indicating that AOL_s00083g511 might play a role in oxidative stress resistance. These findings provide a basis for further analysis of the related functions of the JRL gene in A. oligospora and their potential roles in the biological control of nematodes in the future. |