Peroxin FgPEX22-Like Is Involved in FgPEX4 Tethering and Fusarium graminearum Pathogenicity

• Published in: Frontiers in microbiology 2021-12, Vol.12, p.756292-756292
• Main Authors: Zhang, Li, Liu, Chunjie, Wang, Mingyu, Tao, Yilin, Liang, Yuancun, Yu, Jinfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FgPEX22-like; FgPEX4; Fusarium graminearum; Microbiology; pathogenicity; peroxisome
• ISSN: 1664-302X; 1664-302X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.756292

Peroxisomes are essential organelles that play important roles in a variety of biological processes in eukaryotic cells. To understand the synthesis of peroxisomes comprehensively, we identified the gene , encoding FgPEX22-like, a peroxin, in . Our results showed that although FgPEX22-like was notably different from other peroxins (PEX) in , it contained a predicted PEX4-binding site and interacted with FgPEX4 as a rivet protein of FgPEX4. To functionally characterize the roles of in , we performed homologous recombination to construct a deletion mutant (Δ ). Analysis of the mutant showed that was essential for sexual and asexual reproduction, fatty acid utilization, pathogenicity, and production of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Deletion of also led to increased production of lipid droplets and decreased elimination of reactive oxygen species. In addition, FgPEX22-like was required for the biogenesis of Woronin bodies. Taken together, our data demonstrate that FgPEX22-like is a peroxin in that interacts with PEX4 by anchoring PEX4 at the peroxisomal membrane and contributes to the peroxisome function in .