Effect of Mac1 deletion on copper homoestasis and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici [RNA-seq]

The transcription factor Mac1 is a key regulator of copper homeostasis, controlling the transcriptional response to copper-limiting conditions in fungi. It has been described as a virulence factor in human pathogens such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, but surprisingly its role in plant pathogenesis is poorly understood. Targeted deletion of Mac1 in the soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxisporum results in an inability to grow under copper-limited conditions and kills tomato plants. The aim of this RNA-seq analysis is to elucidate the role of Mac1 in gene regulation under copper starvation and during infection of tomato plants by F. oxysporum. Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici 4287 WT and mac1 knock-out mutant grown in liquid culture with and witout added copper (Cu) and tomato root tissue after 2 and 6 days post infection (dpi)