Update on Nox function, site of action and regulation in .

Background: The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a balanced redox homeostasis are essential parameters, which control the infection process of the plant pathogen . The necrotrophic fungus is able to cope with the plants' oxidative burst and even produces its own ROS to overcome the plants' defense barrier. Major enzyme complexes, which are responsible for the production of superoxide, are NADPH oxidase (Nox) complexes.

Chasing stress signals - Exposure to extracellular stimuli differentially affects the redox state of cell compartments in the wild type and signaling mutants of Botrytis cinerea.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important molecules influencing intracellular developmental processes as well as plant pathogen interactions. They are produced at the infection site and affect the intracellular redox homeostasis. However, knowledge of ROS signaling pathways, their connection to other signaling cascades, and tools for the visualization of intra- and extracellular ROS levels and their impact on the redox state are scarce.

Identification of NoxD/Pro41 as the homologue of the p22phox NADPH oxidase subunit in fungi.

NADPH oxidases (Nox) are membrane complexes that produce O2(-). Researches in mammals, plants and fungi highlight the involvement of Nox-generated ROS in cell proliferation, differentiation and defense. In mammals, the core enzyme gp91(phox)/Nox2 is associated with p22(phox) forming the flavocytochrome b558 ready for activation by a cytosolic complex.

BcNoxD, a putative ER protein, is a new component of the NADPH oxidase complex in Botrytis cinerea.

NADPH oxidases (Nox) are major enzymatic producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In fungi these multi-enzyme complexes are involved in sexual differentiation and pathogenicity. However, in contrast to mammalian systems, the composition and recruitment of the fungal Nox complexes are unresolved.

Functional analysis of BcBem1 and its interaction partners in Botrytis cinerea: impact on differentiation and virulence.

In phytopathogenic fungi the establishment and maintenance of polarity is not only essential for vegetative growth and differentiation, but also for penetration and colonization of host tissues. We investigated orthologs of members of the yeast polarity complex in the grey mould fungus Botrytis cinerea: the scaffold proteins Bem1 and Far1, the GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) Cdc24, and the formin Bni1 (named Sep1 in B. cinerea).

Correction: The NADPH Oxidase Complexes in : Evidence for a Close Association with the ER and the Tetraspanin Pls1.

[This corrects the article on p. e55879 in vol. 8.

The NADPH oxidase complexes in Botrytis cinerea: evidence for a close association with the ER and the tetraspanin Pls1.

NADPH oxidases (Nox) are major enzymatic systems that generate reactive-oxygen species (ROS) in multicellular eukaryotes. In several fungi they have been shown to be involved in sexual differentiation and pathogenicity. However, in contrast to the well characterized mammalian systems, basic information on the composition, recruitment, and localization of fungal Nox complexes and on the molecular mechanisms of their cellular effects are still lacking.

Reactive oxygen species generation in fungal development and pathogenesis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH-dependent oxidases (Nox) have been shown to function as signaling molecules and to be essential for many differentiation processes in mammals and plants. There is growing evidence that ROS are important for many aspects of fungal life including vegetative hyphal growth, differentiation of conidial anastomosis tubes, fruiting body and infection structure formation, and for induction of apoptosis. Recent results from studies in fungal saprophytic and pathogenic model systems have shed new light on the role of Nox in cytoskeleton organization, the structure of Nox complexes and links to components of the apical complex, and the localization of Nox to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Germling fusion via conidial anastomosis tubes in the grey mould Botrytis cinerea requires NADPH oxidase activity.

In many filamentous ascomycete species, the early steps of colony development include fusion between germinating vegetative spores (conidial germlings). Often these fusion events are mediated by specialized hyphal structures, so-called conidial anastomosis tubes (CATs). Here, we show that germling fusion in the grey mould Botrytis cinerea is mediated by hyphal structures possessing the typical features of CATs.