Work

Dynamic acetylation of a metabolic enzyme orchestrates spore stability and germination to facilitate host infection

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Fungal spores maintain viability and then germinate to infect host plants, but how these biological processes are integrated remains elusive. Here, we show that γ-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase 1 (FolCmd1) is an acetylated protein reversibly regulated by the controlling enzymes in the devastating soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. FolCmd1 is largely acetylated and imported into the nucleus by FolFkbp4, thereby avoiding excessive metabolism of aromatic amino acids that are critical for long-term survival of spores. During invasion, FolCmd1 is deacetylated and translocated into the cytoplasm to remove host-derived ferulic acid, thus enabling spore germination. Consequently, dysacetylation of FolCmd1 leads to impaired virulence. These findings reveal a sophisticated pathogenic mechanism by coordinating two developmental stages through dynamic modification of a metabolic enzyme.

Source: Cell Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117753

Authors: Qianqian Yang, Fugen Yang, Xiaojun Yuan, Juan Du, Wenxing Liang

Institution: Qingdao Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,620

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China