Work

Mutation of the MaFH27 gene leads to rapid conidia germination, accelerated mycelial growth, and enhanced virulence in the insect pathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND Ceramidases (CDases) are essential enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of sphingolipids and ceramides, which play an important role in regulating several biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. However, the function of CDases in entomopathogenic fungi used as biological agents remains largely unclear. RESULTS The MaFH27 gene in Metarhizium anisopliae was cloned. The gene encodes a predicted protein composed of 743 amino acids. This protein contains a putative signal peptide, along with the N‐terminal and C‐terminal domains characteristic of a group of alkaline CDases. Deletion of the MaFH27 gene led to earlier conidial germination and a reduction in the median germination time (GT 50 ) compared to the wild‐type. Additionally, the loss of MaFH27 gene resulted in faster vegetative growth and an increase in dry mycelial yield when grown in CZP medium, but a lower conidial yield. Moreover, the virulence increased significantly, with a 17.3% decrease in median lethal time (LT 50 ). Regarding osmotic stress resistance, the ΔMaFH27 mutant strain exhibited a significant increase in colonial growth rate on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium supplemented with sodium chloride (NaCl) or sorbitol compared to the wild‐type strain. Overexpression of the MaFH27 gene led to a sharp decline in conidia germination, mycelial growth, and virulence compared to the wild‐type strain. CONCLUSION The findings indicated that MaFH27 plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of conidial germination, mycelial growth, virulence and stress tolerance in entomopathogenic fungi. The study highlights the importance of the biosynthesis of ceramides and will deepen the understanding of the potential contributions of MaFH27 gene in M. anisopliae during the infection of insect hosts. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Source: Pest Management Science

DOI: 10.1002/ps.70521

Authors: Tingting Zhou, Xin Jia, Zexin Zhuo, Jinxin Liu, Zhen Huang

Institution: South China Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award: G7633393951