AUTHOR=Jiang Liqun , Situ Junjian , Deng Yi Zhen , Wan Lang , Xu Dandan , Chen Yubin , Xi Pinggen , Jiang Zide 

TITLE=PlMAPK10, a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) in Peronophythora litchii, Is Required for Mycelial Growth, Sporulation, Laccase Activity, and Plant Infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00426

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00426

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are ubiquitous and evolutionarily conserved signal transduction modules directing cellular respond to a diverse array of stimuli, in the eukaryotic organisms. In this study, <italic>PlMAPK10</italic> was identified to encode a MAPK in <italic>Peronophythora litchii</italic>, the oomycete pathogen causing litchi downy blight disease. PlMAPK10, containing a specific and highly conserved dual phosphorylation lip sequence SEY (Serine-Glutamic-Tyrosine), represents a novel group of MAPKs as previously reported. Transcriptional profiling showed that <italic>PlMAPK10</italic> expression was up-regulated in zoospore and cyst stages. To elucidate its function, the <italic>PlMAPK10</italic> gene was silenced by stable transformation. <italic>PlMAPK10</italic> silence did not impair oospore production, sporangium germination, zoospore encyst, or cyst germination but hindered hyphal growth, sporulation, pathogenicity, likely due to altering laccase activity. Over all, our results indicated that a MAPK encoded by <italic>PlMAPK10</italic> gene in <italic>P. litchii</italic> is important for pathogenic development.</p>