Identification of the Histone Acetyltransferase Gene Family in Fusarium proliferatum and Expression Analysis Under Nutrient Stress
Huan‐Qi Cun, Hong‐Xin Liao, Jin‐Rui Wen, Hong‐Mei Shi, Yun‐Ju Hong, Zhang‐Feng Hu, Fu‐Rong Xu, Sulukkana Noiprasert, Kanyaphat Apiwongsrichai, Xiao‐Yun Liu, Xian DongABSTRACT
Fusarium proliferatum is a pathogenic fungus causing severe root rot and wilt in medicinal plants. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) affect fungal development and pathogenicity in Fusarium , but HAT genes in F. proliferatum remain poorly characterized. Here, we identified seven Fp‐HAT genes, classified into four subfamilies—SAS, COG, KAT, and Hat—based on phylogeny and domain composition. Members of each subfamily share conserved motifs. These genes are unevenly distributed across chromosomes, with no duplication events, and show strong collinearity within Fusarium . Their promoters contain 25 cis ‐acting elements, suggesting roles in environmental stress responses and growth/development. Functional annotation indicates that Fp‐HATs participate in histone acetylation and multiple signaling pathways. Nutritional conditions significantly altered mycelial growth and Fp‐HAT expression; under phosphorus treatment, FpCOG1 was induced >37‐fold, whereas FpHat1 was inhibited nearly 100‐fold. This study first characterizes the structure and function of the HAT family in F. proliferatum and its dynamic responses to nutritional changes, providing a basis for exploring epigenetic mechanisms in plant pathogens.