Pathogenic fungus exploits the lateral root regulators to induce pluripotency in maize shoots
Authors: Khan, M., Nagarajan, N., Schneewolf, K., Marcon, C., Wang, D., Hochholdinger, F., Yu, P., Djamei, A.
Date: 2025-07-01 · Version: 1
DOI: 10.1101/2025.06.30.662278 Category: Plant Biology
Model Organism: Zea mays
▶ AI Summary
The study identifies fungal effectors from Ustilago maydis that interact with plant TOPLESS corepressors and induce gall formation by hijacking maize lateral root initiation pathways, notably through upregulation of LBD transcription factors. Transgenic expression of class II effectors derepresses auxin signaling, leading to pluripotent calli without external hormones, and maize mutants in LBD genes show reduced gall development.
Ustilago maydis effectors TOPLESS corepressor auxin signaling lateral root initiation LBD transcription factors