RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Secreted TAL effectors protect symbiotic bacteria from entrapment within fungal hyphae
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.03.28.013177
DO 10.1101/2020.03.28.013177
A1 Ingrid Richter
A1 Zerrin Uzum
A1 Claire E. Stanley
A1 Nadine Moebius
A1 Timothy P. Stinear
A1 Sacha J. Pidot
A1 Iuliia Ferling
A1 Falk Hillmann
A1 Christian Hertweck
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/03/29/2020.03.28.013177.abstract
AB The association of the agriculturally significant phytopathogenic fungus Rhizopus microsporus with the bacterial endosymbiont Burkholderia rhizoxinica is a remarkable example of bacteria controlling host physiology and reproduction. Here, we show that a group of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) called Burkholderia TALE-like proteins (BATs) from B. rhizoxinica are essential for the establishment of the symbiosis. Mutants lacking BAT proteins are unable to induce host sporulation. Utilising novel microfluidic devices in combination with fluorescence microscopy we observed the accumulation of BAT-deficient mutants in specific fungal side-hyphae with accompanying increased fungal re-infection. High-resolution live imaging revealed septa biogenesis at the base of infected hyphae leading to compartmental trapping of BATdeficient endobacteria. Trapped endosymbionts showed reduced intracellular survival, suggesting a protective response from the fungal host against bacteria lacking specific effectors. These findings underscore the involvement of BAT proteins in maintaining a balance between mutualism and antagonism in bacterial-fungal interactions and provide deeper insights into the dynamic interactions between bacteria and eukaryotes.