Fatal Attraction of Caenorhabditis Elegans to Predatory Fungi Through 6-methyl-salicylic Acid

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2021 Sep 16

PMID 34526503

Citations 31

Authors

Xi Yu

Xiaodi Hu

Maria Pop

Nicole Wernet

Frank Kirschhofer

Gerald Brenner-Weiss

Julia Keller

Mirko Bunzel

Reinhard Fischer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Salicylic acid is a phenolic phytohormone which controls plant growth and development. A methyl ester (MSA) derivative thereof is volatile and involved in plant-insect or plant-plant communication. Here we show that the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans uses a methyl-salicylic acid isomer, 6-MSA as morphogen for spatiotemporal control of trap formation and as chemoattractant to lure Caenorhabditis elegans into fungal colonies. 6-MSA is the product of a polyketide synthase and an intermediate in the biosynthesis of arthrosporols. The polyketide synthase (ArtA), produces 6-MSA in hyphal tips, and is uncoupled from other enzymes required for the conversion of 6-MSA to arthrosporols, which are produced in older hyphae. 6-MSA and arthrosporols both block trap formation. The presence of nematodes inhibits 6-MSA and arthrosporol biosyntheses and thereby enables trap formation. 6-MSA and arthrosporols are thus morphogens with some functions similar to quorum-sensing molecules. We show that 6-MSA is important in interkingdom communication between fungi and nematodes.

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