The lifestyle transition of Arthrobotrys oligospora is mediated by microRNA-like RNAs

The lifestyle transition of fungi, defined as switching from taking organic material as nutrients to pathogens, is a fundamental phenomenon in nature. However, the mechanisms of such transition remain largely unknown. Here we show microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) play a key role in fungal lifestyle tran...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science China. Life sciences 2020-04, Vol.63 (4), p.543-551
Main Authors: Ji, Xinglai, Li, Heng, Zhang, Weihua, Wang, Jiai, Liang, Lianming, Zou, Chenggang, Yu, Zefen, Liu, Shuqun, Zhang, Ke-Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ARGONAUTE gene
Arthrobotrys oligospora
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Fungi
Immunoprecipitation
Life Sciences
Lifestyles
MicroRNAs
miRNA
Nutrients
Predators
Research Paper
RNA-mediated interference
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Summary:The lifestyle transition of fungi, defined as switching from taking organic material as nutrients to pathogens, is a fundamental phenomenon in nature. However, the mechanisms of such transition remain largely unknown. Here we show microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) play a key role in fungal lifestyle transition for the first time. We identified milRNAs by small RNA sequencing in Arthrobotrys oligospora , a known nematode-trapping fungus. Among them, 7 highly expressed milRNAs were confirmed by northern-blot analysis. Knocking out two milRNAs significantly decreased A. oligospora’ s ability to switch lifestyles. We further identified that two of these milRNAs were associated with argonaute protein QDE-2 by RNA-immunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis. Three of the predicted target genes of milRNAs were found in immunoprecipitation (IP) products of QDE-2. Disruption of argonaute gene qde -2 also led to serious defects in lifestyle transition. Interestingly, knocking out individual milRNAs or qde -2 lead to diverse responses under different conditions, and qde -2 itself may be targeted by the milRNAs. Collectively, it indicates the lifestyle transition of fungi is mediated by milRNAs through RNA interference (RNAi) machinery, revealing the wide existence of miRNAs in fungi kingdom and providing new insights into understanding the adaptation of fungi from scavengers to predators and the mechanisms underlying fungal infections.
ISSN:1674-7305
1869-1889
DOI:10.1007/s11427-018-9437-7