Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most important pathogens of maize, causing rot and producing fumonisin mycotoxins during infection. Ingestion of fumonisin-contaminated corn causes underperformance and even fatal toxicity in livestock and is associated with neural tube birth defects, growth stunting in children, and some cancers. StuA, an APSES-class transcription factor, is a major developmental transcriptional regulator in fungi. It has been shown to regulate crucial developmental processes, such as sporulation, virulence, and mycotoxin synthesis among others. In this study, the role of FvSTUA in F. verticillioides was examined by characterizing ∆FvstuA deletion mutants functionally and transcriptomally. The deletion mutants exhibited reduced vegetative growth, stunted aerial hyphae, and significant reductions in microconidiation. Macroconidiation and hydrophobicity of the deletion strains were reduced as well. Additionally, fumonisin production and virulence of the deletion mutants were greatly reduced. Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of expression of several genes in the fumonisin and fusarin C biosynthetic clusters and differential expression of genes involved in conidiation and virulence. Nuclear localization of FvSTUA supported its likely function as a transcription factor. Together, our results indicate that FvSTUA plays a global role in transcriptional regulation in F. verticillioides influencing morphogenesis, toxin production, and virulence.

中文翻译：

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FvSTUA是轮状镰刀菌中孢子形成，毒素合成和毒力的关键调节剂。

枯萎镰刀菌是玉米最重要的病原体之一，在感染过程中会引起腐烂并产生伏马菌素霉菌毒素。摄入被伏马菌素污染的玉米会导致牲畜性能低下甚至致命，并与神经管先天缺陷，儿童生长发育迟缓和某些癌症有关。StuA是APSES类的转录因子，是真菌中的主要发育转录调节因子。已显示它可以调节关键的发育过程，例如孢子形成，毒力和霉菌毒素合成。在这项研究中，通过功能上和转录本上表征ΔFvstuA缺失突变体，研究了FvSTUA在网状假丝酵母中的作用。缺失突变体表现出营养生长减少，气生菌丝发育不良以及微分生孢子显着减少。缺失菌株的大构象和疏水性也降低了。此外，伏马菌素的生产和缺失突变体的毒力大大降低。转录组学分析显示伏马菌素和富沙林C生物合成簇中几个基因的表达下调以及参与分生和毒力的基因的差异表达。FvSTUA的核定位支持其可能作为转录因子的功能。在一起，我们的结果表明FvSTUA在F.verticalillioides影响形态发生，毒素产生和毒力的转录调控中起着全球性的作用。转录组学分析显示伏马菌素和富沙林C生物合成簇中几个基因的表达下调以及参与分生和毒力的基因的差异表达。FvSTUA的核定位支持其可能作为转录因子的功能。在一起，我们的结果表明FvSTUA在F.verticalillioides影响形态发生，毒素产生和毒力的转录调控中起着全球性的作用。转录组学分析显示伏马菌素和富沙林C生物合成簇中几个基因的表达下调以及参与分生和毒力的基因的差异表达。FvSTUA的核定位支持其可能作为转录因子的功能。在一起，我们的结果表明FvSTUA在F.verticalillioides影响形态发生，毒素产生和毒力的转录调控中起着全球性的作用。