Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Publication

Diterpene Synthases of the Rice Blast Fungus: Phylogenetic Analysis and Biochemical Characterization

Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi harbor various specialized metabolites including diterpenoids that function as hormones and virulence factors. The fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is the causal agent of rice blast disease and can infect over 50 grass species. We demonstrate that the rice blast fungus encodes two diterpene synthases that produce normal pimara-8,15-diene and manoyl oxide scaffolds. Phylogenetic analysis of diterpene synthases among rice blast pathotypes showed functional conservation of the two core diterpene synthases amongst all pathotypes and suggests further expansion in select grass species. These insights into the blast fungal terpenome may inform efforts to counteract deleterious phytopathogens in crucial food crops.
Type
openaccess
article
thesis
Date
2022-05-13
Publisher
License
License