Histone deacetylase HDAC3 regulates the ergosterol biosynthesis and affects the hyphal growth, sporulation, plant colonization and virulence of M. robertsi

In entomopathogenic fungi, epigenetic regulators play an important role in the regulation of fungal virulence, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms were largely unknown. In this study, we identified a novel histone deacetylase (HDAC3) in the entomopathogenic fungus M. robertsi, which catalyzed the deacetylation of histone H3K56. HDAC3 regulated the hyphal growth, sporulation, plant colonization ability and virulence of M. robertsi. HDAC3 indirectly regulated the expression of lanosterol synthetase (LAS1) and thus affected the content of ergosterol in the cell membrane. The decreased content of ergosterol in cell membrane impaired the selective permeability and made blastospres more sensitive to ROS produced by insect immune system. Our work significantly advances the insights into regulation mechanism of epigenetic regulators to the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi.