Biosynthesis of an extracellular siderophore is essential for maintenance of mutualistic endophyte-grass symbioses

Authors

  • L.J. Johnson
  • M. Steringa
  • A. Koulman
  • M. Christensen
  • R.D. Johnson
  • C.R. Voisey
  • G. Bryan
  • I. Lamont
  • S. Rasmussen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.13.2006.3054

Abstract

We have identified a novel siderophore from the mutualistic grass symbiont Epichloë festucae. Targeted gene replacement of a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (termed sidF) from E. festucae eliminated biosynthesis of this extracellular siderophore. Structural characterisation, based on extensive mass spectrometry showed similarities to fusarinine-type siderophores. Plants inoculated with strains carrying a targeted deletion in sidF have a dramatic phenotype. Siderophore loss changed a mutualistic symbiont into an antagonistic fungus, causing de-regulation and proliferation of fungal hyphae, plant stunting and sometimes even tiller death. We hypothesise that loss of the biosynthesis of the siderophore disrupts iron homeostasis within the whole symbiotum, which is a critical factor for maintenance of mutualistic endophyte-grass symbioses. Keywords: siderophore, iron homeostasis, NRPS

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Published

2007-01-01

How to Cite

Johnson, L., Steringa, M., Koulman, A., Christensen, M., Johnson, R., Voisey, C., Bryan, G., Lamont, I., & Rasmussen, S. (2007). Biosynthesis of an extracellular siderophore is essential for maintenance of mutualistic endophyte-grass symbioses. NZGA: Research and Practice Series, 13, 177–179. https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.13.2006.3054

Issue

Vol. 13 (2007): 6th International Symposium on Fungal Endophytes of Grasses

Section

Past volumes

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Rights granted to the New Zealand Grassland Association through this agreement are non-exclusive. You are free to publish the work(s) elsewhere and no ownership is assumed by the NZGA when storing or curating an electronic version of the work(s). The author(s) will receive no monetary return from the Association for the use of material contained in the manuscript. If I am one of several co-authors, I hereby confirm that I am authorized by my co-authors to grant this Licence as their agent on their behalf. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the rights to supply the article in electronic and online forms and systems.