Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Domain Transcription Factor MBZ1 Regulates Cell Wall Integrity, Spore Adherence, and Virulence inMetarhizium robertsii

摘要: Transcription factors (TFs) containing the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain are widely distributed in eukaryotes and display an array of distinct functions. In this study, a bZIP-type TF gene (MBZ1) was deleted functionally characterized insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. The deletion mutant (ΔMBZ1) showed defects cell wall integrity, adhesion to hydrophobic surfaces, topical infection insects. Relative WT, ΔMBZ1 also impaired growth conidiogenesis. Examination putative target expression indicated that genes involved chitin biosynthesis were differentially transcribed compared with which led accumulation higher level walls. MBZ1 exhibited negative regulation subtilisin proteases, but positive control adhesin gene, is consistent observation effects on autolysis reduction spore adherence surfaces ΔMBZ1. Promoter binding assays can bind different suggested possibility heterodimer formation increase diversity regulatory network. results study advance our understanding divergence TFs at both intra- interspecific levels.