My lab
works with the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum and rice blast
fungus Magnaporthe oryzae on the regulation of infection-related
morphogenesis and fungal-plant interactions. We have identified and characterized various
components of the cAMP-PKA and MAP kinase pathways that are involved in the
regulation of surface sensing, infection structure formation, penetration,
invasive growth, and sporulation. By systematic
characterization of the predicted protein kinase and G-protein coupled receptor
(GPCR) genes, we have identified novel kinases and GPCRs that play critical
roles in regulating pathogenesis and sexual development.
Although fungi lack ADAR enzymes
responsible for mRNA editing in animals, genome-wide A-to-I RNA editing occurs specifically
during sexual reproduction in filamentous ascomycetes. We have identified genetic mutations that
affect RNA editing and ascosporogenesis but not vegetative growth or asexual
reproduction. Furthermore, we have
showed that RNA editing is functionally related to other sexual stage-specific genetic
and phylogenetic phenomena. My lab also
works on the regulation of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis by
different signaling pathways, nitrogen metabolism, and epigenetic elements.