Functional studies of the effector candidate g5159 from Sporisorium scitamineum

• Grant number: 23/13701-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello
• Grantee: João Vitor Ferro Mazzei
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane cultivation is of great importance to the global economy. However, it faces challenges such as sugarcane smut disease, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum. This fungus interferes with sugarcane development, especially during the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase, by secreting effector molecules that affect host cells and result in the formation of elongated structures called whips, one of the characteristic symptoms of the disease. Genomic and transcriptomic studies have helped to understand these complex interactions, leading to the identification of genes encoding effector candidates (ECs), such as g5159. One of the potential targets of this EC is the transcription factor (TF) SPL13, which belongs to the squamosa-like family and regulates the transition between vegetative and reproductive phases in plants. The interaction between the EC g5159 and the sugarcane FT SPL13 was validated through heterologous expression experiments. This work aims to analyze the g5159 protein sequence and induce alterations based on its three-dimensional structure and interaction with sugarcane FT SPL13. The candidate will be exposed to computational analysis methods that will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Marisa Fabiana Nicolás from the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC). Procedures previously validated by the student in previous activities will be used to obtain the truncated form of the g5159 EC and assess its interaction with sugarcane FT SPL13. Subsequently, experiments confirming the EC's involvement in PTI and ETI suppression will be conducted to evaluate the biological effect of the alterations made.