In-silico analysis of the regulatory region of effector protein genes in Verticillium dahliae

Abstract

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen that infects more than 400 plant species throughout the world, causing huge economic losses annually. Due to its wide host range and adaptation strategy of producing resting structures, Verticillium infection and spread are difficult to control. The resting dormant melanized structures called microsclerotia, produced during the dormant stage of the pathogen can persist in soil for years and are the primary source of infection as they germinate after being stimulated by root exudates. The fungus secrets effector proteins that facilitate the primary infection and subsequent spread. In the current study, we used in silico tools to analyze effector proteins belonging to hydrophobin, necrosis, and ethylene inducing like-protein and polysaccharide lyase 3 protein family which are required for virulence and pathogenicity of the pathogen. Our study showed that the genes for these protein families consist of many paralogs. Some of these paralogous proteins display similar functions but differential expression during pathogenicity establishment. This study will provide information about cis-acting factors regulating differential regulation of paralogs during infection.