TY - JOUR T1 - A key regulator with a MIF-like domain orchestrates cellular differentiation and virulence in the fungal pathogen <em>Magnaporthe oryzae</em> JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2022.08.05.502968 SP - 2022.08.05.502968 AU - Matteo Galli AU - Stefan Jacob AU - Ying Zheng AU - Parviz Ghezellou AU - Martin Gand AU - Wendell Albuquerque AU - Jafargholi Imani AU - Valérie Allasia AU - Christine Coustau AU - Harald Keller AU - Bernhard Spengler AU - Eckhard Thines AU - Karl-Heinz Kogel Y1 - 2022/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/08/06/2022.08.05.502968.abstract N2 - MACROPHAGE MIGRATION INHIBITORY FACTOR (MIF) is a pleiotropic protein with chemotactic, pro-inflammatory, and growth-promoting activities first discovered in mammals. In parasites, MIF homologs are involved in immune evasion and pathogenesis. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of a MIF protein from the devastating plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (Mo). The fungal genome encodes a single MIF protein (MoMIF1) that, unlike the human homolog, harbors multiple low-complexity regions (LCRs) and is unique to Ascomycota. Following infection, MoMIF1 is expressed in the biotrophic phase of the fungus, and is strongly down-regulated during subsequent necrotrophic growth in leaves and roots. We show that MoMIF1 is secreted during plant infection, affects the production of the mycotoxin tenuazonic acid and inhibits plant cell death. Our results show that MoMIF1 is a novel key regulator of fungal virulence that maintains the balance between biotrophy and necrotrophy during the different phases of fungal infection.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -