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Poster

Session: Session 1 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-342 - A novel peptide-GPCR system senses plant entry to drive fungal adaptation

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
09:55 - 11:30  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Subcellular dynamics and signaling in host-microbe interactions

    Presenting Author(s)

  • GM

    Gabriel Mendoza Rojas, MS (he/him/his)

    PhD student
    Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf
    Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    • Author(s)

  • PN

    Philip Nakonz

    PhD student
    Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf
    Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

  • JP

    Johannes Postma

    PhD student
    Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf
    Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

  • ML

    Min Lu

    Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Netherlands

  • SB

    Sonja Billerbeck

    3Bioengineering Department, Imperial College London
    London, United Kingdom

  • FA

    Florian Altegoer

    Research Group Leader
    CEPLAS/Heinrich-Heine University
    Duesseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Interactions between fungi and their hosts rely heavily on sensing - dedicated signaling molecules, nutrients, and host-derived factors - often mediated by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). In plant-pathogenic fungi, GPCRs are crucial for detecting host signals that drive lifestyle transitions, yet the repertoire of ligands and precise mechanisms of receptor activation remain poorly understood. Based on recent developments in structure prediction, we systematically investigated the presence of potential GPCRs in the plant pathogen Ustilago maydis. This analysis revealed several GPCR candidates, many of which are specific to basidiomycetes and absent from ascomycetes. Combining structure prediction with a synthetic yeast approach, we gained insights into the associated heterotrimeric G-proteins and discovered a peptide ligand that activates one of these GPCRs. Remarkably, this peptide is embedded within a secreted pheromone-like precursor protein that appears to function as a safeguard, preventing premature release. Upon plant penetration, plant-derived proteases cleave the precursor to liberate the peptide, which then activates the GPCR, leading to receptor internalization and profound cellular reprogramming, including enhanced fungal proliferation. Our results further suggest that this GPCR-peptide module is conserved in closely related fungi and similar receptors are present in more distantly related basidiomycetes, suggesting a broader evolutionary significance.