Publications of NIPGR Scientists

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Author: search.filters.author.Nizam, ShadabSubject: search.filters.subject.Ascochyta rabiei

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    Comparative structural modeling of six old yellow enzymes (OYEs) from the necrotrophic fungus Ascochyta rabiei: Insight into novel OYE classes with differences in cofactor binding, organization of active site residues and stereopreferences
    (PLOS, 2014) Nizam, Shadab; Gazara, Rajesh Kumar; Verma, Sandhya; Singh, Kunal; Verma, Praveen K.
    Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE1) was the first flavin-dependent enzyme identified and characterized in detail by the entire range of physical techniques. Irrespective of this scrutiny, true physiological role of the enzyme remains a mystery. In a recent study, we systematically identified OYE proteins from various fungi and classified them into three classes viz. Class I, II and III. However, there is no information about the structural organization of Class III OYEs, eukaryotic Class II OYEs and Class I OYEs of filamentous fungi. Ascochyta rabiei, a filamentous phytopathogen which causes Ascochyta blight (AB) in chickpea possesses six OYEs (ArOYE1-6) belonging to the three OYE classes. Here we carried out comparative homology modeling of six ArOYEs representing all the three classes to get an in depth idea of structural and functional aspects of fungal OYEs. The predicted 3D structures of A. rabiei OYEs were refined and evaluated using various validation tools for their structural integrity. Analysis of FMN binding environment of Class III OYE revealed novel residues involved in interaction. The ligand para-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PHB) was docked into the active site of the enzymes and interacting residues were analyzed. We observed a unique active site organization of Class III OYE in comparison to Class I and II OYEs. Subsequently, analysis of stereopreference through structural features of ArOYEs was carried out, suggesting differences in R/S selectivity of these proteins. Therefore, our comparative modeling study provides insights into the FMN binding, active site organization and stereopreference of different classes of ArOYEs and indicates towards functional differences of these enzymes. This study provides the basis for future investigations towards the biochemical and functional characterization of these enigmatic enzymes.
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    Expression of the fluorescent proteins DsRed and EGFP to visualize early events of colonization of the chickpea blight fungus Ascochyta rabiei
    (Springer, 2010) Nizam, Shadab; Singh, Kunal; Verma, Praveen K.
    Ascochyta blight caused by the ascomycete fungus Ascochyta rabiei, is a major biotic constraint of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), resulting in disastrous crop losses worldwide. To study early stages of development and pathogenic mechanisms of the fungus, two binary vectors for the constitutive expression of the red fluorescent protein (DsRed-Express) and the green fluorescent protein (EGFP1) were constructed. Furthermore, we have developed an improved and highly reproducible Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol for A. rabiei. Transformation events were confirmed through Southern hybridizations that suggest single-copy integration of reporter genes in majority of the transformants. High level expression of both DsRed and EGFP proteins was obtained both in spores and in mycelia as detected by fluorescence microscopy. Intense fluorescence was used as a highly efficient vital marker to visualize early developmental changes of the fungus. The formation of infection structures like appressoria and germ tubes were observed both in vitro and in planta. This work will be useful to develop methodologies for understanding the mechanisms of Ascochyta-chickpea interaction and functional genomics of A. rabiei towards the isolation of virulence genes.