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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359911
Research Project: Genomic and Metabolomic Approaches for Detection and Control of Fusarium, Fumonisins and Other Mycotoxins on Corn

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Sphingolipid metabolism and programmed cell death: the pivotal role of the fumonisins produced by Fusarium verticillioides

Author
item BECCACCIOLI, MARZIA - University Of Rome Sapienza
item SALUSTRI, MANUEL - University Of Rome Sapienza
item Brown, Daren
item SCALA, VALERIA - Centro Di Ricerca Difesa E Certificazione (CREA – DC)
item REVERBERI, MASSIMO - University Of Rome Sapienza

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2019
Publication Date: 3/17/2019
Citation: Beccaccioli, M., Salustri, M., Brown, D.W., Scala, V., Reverberi, M. 2019. Sphingolipid metabolism and programmed cell death: the pivotal role of the fumonisins produced by Fusarium verticillioides [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sphingolipids are complex molecules that play a key role in both cell structure and signaling in eukaryotes. Programmed cell death (PCD) represents a complex response to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli and is strongly regulated by sphingolipids. We investigated this connection in a plant-fungus interaction, namely between Zea mays and its pathogen, the ascomycete Fusarium verticillioides. During growth on maize F. verticillioides is able to produce multiple toxic secondary metabolites including fumonisins (FBs). FBs inhibit the activity of the ceramide synthase, because they have an analogous structure to its substrate, the sphingoid bases. The alteration of this metabolic pathway generates changes in the sphigolipidome and directs the plant to towards PCD. In this study we characterized and quantified by mass spectrometry sphingolipid perturbations in maize ears artificially infected with F. verticillioides and a deletion mutant (fum1'), which lacks a key gene required for fumonisin synthesis. We found that sphingoid base accumulation was effected in maize exposed to F. verticillioides produced FBs; an event correlated with MPK6 cascade and salicylic acid synthesis which together drive cells towards PCD and transcription of plant defense-related genes. The different membrane rearrangements also noted are likely linked to the formation of defense-related lipid rafts enriched in the differentially present sphingolipids. Our findings suggest that F. verticillioides may reshape the plant-fungal sphingolipid profile through fumonisin production further promoting its own colonization. We support the hypothesis that the pathogen adopted this strategy to switch from an endophytic to a necrotrophic lifestyle.