A parasitic fungus exhibiting immunity against anti-fungal substances, rocaglates, naturally produced by plants has been identified by RIKEN researchers. This surprising discovery, attributed to a gene mutation in the fungus, may influence the future usage of rocaglates for treating diseases like COVID-19 and cancer.
At least one fungus has shown resilience against the anti-fungal substances produced by plants, as discovered by the scientists at RIKEN.
These scientists unraveled how a certain parasitic fungus neutralizes the robust anti-fungal substances created by some plants. Besides offering an intriguing look into the constant battle between plants and parasites, these findings may prove beneficial in devising new therapies for humans.
Parasitic fungi, notorious for infecting plants, pose a considerable economic challenge due to significant crop losses. This situation calls for a deeper understanding of plant-fungi interactions by the scientific community.
To defend themselves, numerous plants generate small molecules capable of eliminating fungi. One such group of anti-fungal molecules is rocaglates that perform their action by binding to a molecule known as elF4A, which is essential for protein synthesis in fungi, plants, and animals alike.
An intriguing event took place in Shintaro Iwasaki’s previous office in the United States. His Aglaia plant got infected with a fungus, despite its natural production of rocaglates, the anti-fungal compound. Iwasaki and his team managed to uncover how this fungus resisted the effects of rocaglates to infect Aglaia. Credit: © 2023 RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory
Shintaro Iwasaki, from the RIKEN RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, along with his colleagues, has now identified a fungal species that can evade the deadly effects of rocaglates.
The discovery came unexpectedly. “It was a fortunate mishap,” admits Iwasaki. He had been studying the Aglaia plant (also recognized as the Chinese perfume plant) in the United States, but couldn’t take the plant to Japan due to import regulations on foreign plants.
“I requested a student to take care of the plant as it might be essential for further research,” Iwasaki says. However, due to overwatering, the plant ended up with a fungal infection. It took Iwasaki by surprise, given the plant’s production of rocaglates should have safeguarded it from such infections.
Curiosity led Iwasaki and his team to examine this resilient fungus. They found that a single point mutation in the fungus’s gene for elF4A resulted in a slightly altered form of elF4A to which rocaglates couldn’t bind. This mutation essentially shielded the fungus from rocaglates.
To validate this, Iwasaki introduced this gene to a cucumber-infecting fungus and found that the fungus flourished even in the presence of a rocaglates-derived chemical.
Interestingly, plants that produce rocaglates use a similar strategy to avoid self-poisoning.
With rocaglates showing potential for treating diseases like COVID-19 and cancer, this finding could influence the design of future therapies. “Some people might have a similar mutation to the fungus, which could render rocaglate-based treatments ineffective,” notes Iwasaki.
Reference: “A parasitic fungus employs mutated eIF4A to survive on rocaglate-synthesizing Aglaia plants” by Mingming Chen, Naoyoshi Kumakura, Hironori Saito, Ryan Muller, Madoka Nishimoto, Mari Mito, Pamela Gan, Nicholas T Ingolia, Ken Shirasu, Takuhiro Ito, Yuichi Shichino and Shintaro Iwasaki, 28 February 2023, eLife.
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.81302
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Parasitic fungus immunity
What did the RIKEN researchers discover?
The RIKEN researchers discovered a parasitic fungus that is immune to anti-fungal compounds produced by plants, called rocaglates. This immunity is due to a gene mutation in the fungus.
How could this discovery impact future therapies?
This discovery could have implications for future therapies, particularly in the development of treatments for diseases like COVID-19 and cancer. Rocaglates have shown potential as antifungal agents, but individuals with a similar mutation to the fungus may not benefit from rocaglate-based treatments.
What do rocaglates do in plants and fungi?
Rocaglates are a family of antifungal compounds that work by binding to a molecule called elF4A, which is essential for protein synthesis in fungi, plants, and animals. Many plants use rocaglates to ward off fungi by killing them.
How did the researchers make the discovery?
The discovery came as a result of a fortuitous accident. The researchers were studying the Aglaia plant in the United States, which produces rocaglates, but it got infected with a fungus. Upon analyzing the fungus, they found a point mutation in its gene for encoding elF4A, which conferred resistance to rocaglates.
Why is understanding plant-fungi interactions important?
Parasitic fungi that infect plants cause significant crop losses, leading to economic burdens. Understanding the interactions between plants and fungi is crucial for developing strategies to protect crops and improve agricultural productivity.
More about Parasitic fungus immunity
- eLife: A parasitic fungus employs mutated eIF4A to survive on rocaglate-synthesizing Aglaia plants
- RIKEN RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory
- Rocaglates as potential treatments for COVID-19 and cancer
4 comments
i wondr if those mutations affect humanz too. might mess up treatments. need 2 keep studying this!
rly intresting how 1 tiny gene mutation gives the fungus immunity 2 rocaglates! who knws wut else can change our treatments?
cool discovry! rocaglates r tricky, right? plants use it, but this fungi finds a way 2 fight back! #sciencerocks
wow, ths RIKEN researhers found a fungus tht’s imune to plant anti-fungals! crazy stuf! can it realy affect our covid-19 & cancer treatments?