Epigenetic regulation of Epichloë festucae secondary metabolite biosynthesis and symbiotic interaction with Lolium perenne : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2017
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Massey University
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Abstract
Histone methylation is one of several epigenetic layers for transcriptional regulation. Most studies on the
importance of this histone modification in regulating fungal secondary metabolite gene expression and
pathogenicity have focussed on the role of histone methyltransferases, while few studies have focussed
on the role of histone demethylases that catalyse the reversal of the modification. Epichloë festucae
(Ascomycota) is an endophyte that forms a mutualistic interaction with perennial ryegrass. The fungus
contributes to the symbiosis by the production of several classes of secondary metabolites, these have
anti-insect and/or anti-mammalian activity. The EAS and LTM clusters in E. festucae are located
subtelomerically and contain the biosynthetic genes for two of these important metabolites which are
only synthesised in planta. Thus, in the host plant these genes are highly expressed, but they are tightly
silenced in culture conditions. Previous study has shown that histone H3K9 and H3K27 methylation and
their corresponding histone methyltransferases are important for this process. In this study, the role of
histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) in regulating these genes and the symbiotic interaction is described.
Eight candidate histone demethylases (Jmj1-Jmj8) were identified in E. festucae, among these proteins
are homologues of mammalian KDM4, KDM5, KDM8, JMDJ7, and N. crassa Dmm-1. The genes for the
proteins were overexpressed in E. festucae and histone methylation levels were determined in the strains.
Overexpression of the genes was not observed to cause any change to the culture and symbiotic
phenotypes of the fungus. Western blot analysis subsequently identified one of the proteins, KdmB, as
the histone H3K4me3 demethylase. Further analysis by ChIP- and RT-qPCR showed that demethylation of
H3K4me3 by KdmB at the eas/ltm genes is crucial for the activation of these genes in planta. The full
expression of several other telomeric genes was similarly found to require KdmB. On the other hand, the
COMPASS H3K4 methyltransferase complex subunit CclA that is required for H3K4 trimethylation in E.
festucae represses the eas/ltm genes in culture conditions by maintaining H3K4me3 levels at the loci.
Thus, these findings suggest a repressive role for H3K4me3 at these subtelomeric secondary metabolite
loci and are consistent with the role of H3K4me3 in yeast telomeric silencing. Disruption of kdmB did not
affect the symbiotic interaction of E. festucae with the host grass but severely reduced the levels of
lolitrem B, an animal neurotoxin. At the same time, the levels of ergovaline, another animal toxin, and
peramine, an insect feeding deterrent, were not affected. Therefore, disruption or inhibition of KdmB may
also serve as a promising approach for future endophyte improvement programmes.
The E. festucae homologue of KDM8 (an H3K36me2 demethylase), Jmj4, was further investigated in this
study but no H3K6 demethylase activity was found for the protein. Both disruption and overexpression of
the gene encoding Jmj4 similarly had no effect on the culture and symbiotic phenotypes of E. festucae.
However, deletion of setB, encoding the homologue of yeast Set2 (H3K36 methyltransferase) specifically
reduced histone H3K36me3 levels in E. festucae. This contrasts with deletion of Set2 in other fungi which
affected H3K36 mono-, di- and trimethylation. The ΔsetB mutant was severely impeded in development,
and was unable to establish infection of the host plant. Introduction of the wild-type setB gene reversed
these phenotypes.
This study shows that H3K4 trimethylation controlled by CclA and KdmB is an important regulator of
subtelomeric secondary metabolite genes in E. festucae but not for the symbiotic interaction of the fungus
with perennial ryegrass. On the other hand, the histone H3K36 methyltransferase SetB specifically
controls H3K36 trimethylation in E. festucae and is required for normal vegetative growth and ability of the fungus to infect the host plant.
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Epichloë, Endophytic fungi, Genetics, Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Biology::Cell and molecular biology::Genetics