FGM4 is the cluster-specific transcriptional regulator of FG3_54. Fusarium graminearum PH-1

Purpose: To assess global changes in gene expression in response to FGM4 Methods: mycelium mRNA profiles of 3-day-old wild-type PH-1,∆fgm4,WT-OE::FGM4 and ∆fg3_54-OE::FGM4 were generated by deep sequencing, in duplicate, using Illumina HiSeq 2500. Results: We mapped more than 31 million clean sequence reads per sample to the Fusarium graminearum PH-1 genome. RNA-seq data confirmed that expression of all FG3_54 cluster member genes was elevated in WT-OE::FGM4 compared to the remaining strains, while expression of neighboring genes outside the cluster remained unchanged. Conclusions: Our study represents that FGM4 functions as a cluster-specific transcriptional regulator. Overall design: mRNA profiles of 3-day-old Fusarium graminearum mycelia growing in YEPD medium were generated by deep sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 2500 Sequencing System.