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The nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora detects prey pheromones via G protein-coupled receptors.

Chih-Yen KuoRebecca J TayHung-Che LinSheng-Chian JuanGuillermo Vidal-Diez de UlzurrunYu-Chu ChangJason HokiFrank C SchroederYen-Ping Hsueh
Published in: Nature microbiology (2024)
The ability to sense prey-derived cues is essential for predatory lifestyles. Under low-nutrient conditions, Arthrobotrys oligospora and other nematode-trapping fungi develop dedicated structures for nematode capture when exposed to nematode-derived cues, including a conserved family of pheromones, the ascarosides. A. oligospora senses ascarosides via conserved MAPK and cAMP-PKA pathways; however, the upstream receptors remain unknown. Here, using genomic, transcriptomic and functional analyses, we identified two families of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in sensing distinct nematode-derived cues. GPCRs homologous to yeast glucose receptors are required for ascaroside sensing, whereas Pth11-like GPCRs contribute to ascaroside-independent nematode sensing. Both GPCR classes activate conserved cAMP-PKA signalling to trigger trap development. This work demonstrates that predatory fungi use multiple GPCRs to sense several distinct nematode-derived cues for prey recognition and to enable a switch to a predatory lifestyle. Identification of these receptors reveals the molecular mechanisms of cross-kingdom communication via conserved pheromones also sensed by plants and animals.
Keyphrases
  • transcription factor
  • physical activity
  • cardiovascular disease
  • metabolic syndrome
  • dna damage
  • blood pressure
  • weight loss
  • gene expression
  • blood glucose
  • insulin resistance
  • copy number
  • rna seq
  • saccharomyces cerevisiae