Calcineurin-responsive transcription factor CgCRZA is required for cell wall integrity and infection-related morphogenesis in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

本研究新发现C2H2类转录因子CgCRZA在正常条件下同时定位于细胞质和细胞核，但在胞外钙离子环境下，其定位模式从细胞质转移到细胞核。功能研究发现， CgCRZA调控了杉木炭疽菌的营养生在和无性繁殖，该基因的缺失突变导致严重的细胞壁完整性缺陷，并抑制了侵染结构的发育，完全丧失了对寄主植物的致病力。

This study newly identified the C2H2-type transcription factor CgCRZA. Under normal conditions, CgCRZA localizes to both the cytoplasm and nucleus; however, its localization pattern shifts from the cytoplasm to the nucleus under extracellular calcium conditions. Functional analyses revealed that CgCRZA regulates the vegetative growth and asexual reproduction of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the cedar anthracnose pathogen. Deletion mutation of this gene causes severe cell wall integrity defects, inhibits the development of infection structures, and completely abolishes the pathogenicity of this fungus against host plants.