B03 | Cell death regulation and function in plant-fungal symbiosis
Prof. Dr. Alga Zuccaro
Botanical Institute
CEPLAS - University of Cologne
Contact: azuccaro(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
For more information visit: Zuccaro lab
Abstract
Colonisation of plant roots by the beneficial fungal endophyte Serendipita indica involves a biotrophic phase and a host cell death phase characterised by production of deoxyadenosine (dAdo). This project will dissect plant immunity and cell death mechanisms induced by dAdo during fungal accommodation and the associated signalling pathways. We aim to elucidate how manipulation of particular plant cell death processes interferes with fungal accommodation and beneficial effects and whether these converge on a common core machinery for cell death control in plant roots.
Recent Publications
2025
Zecua-Ramirez P, Dunken N, Charura NM, Llamas E, De Quattro C, Mandel A, Langen G, Dagdas Y, Zuccaro A. Autophagy restricts symbiosis-associated cell death and regulates colonization by Serendipita indica in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2025 Nov 18:kiaf590. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiaf590. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41253704.
Dunken N, Thomsen T, Zuccaro A. Purine-based infochemicals and immunometabolites: a comparative review of emerging signaling pathways in plants and animals. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2025 Jan 14;49:fuaf029. doi: 10.1093/femsre/fuaf029. PMID: 40650573; PMCID: PMC12306445.
Project B03 Publications 2nd Funding Period 2024 - 2027
2024
Dunken N, Widmer H, Balcke GU, Straube H, Langen G, Charura NM, Saake P, De Quattro C, Schön J, Rövenich H, Wawra S, Khan M, Djamei A, Zurbriggen MD, Tissier A, Witte CP, Zuccaro A. A nucleoside signal generated by a fungal endophyte regulates host cell death and promotes root colonization. Cell Host Microbe. 2024 Nov 19:S1931-3128(24)00406-2. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.10.020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39603244.
Charura N, Llamas E, De Quattro C, Vilchez D, Nowack MK, Zuccaro A. Root cap cell corpse clearance limits microbial colonization in Arabidopsis thaliana. Elife. 2024 Nov 12;13:RP96266. doi: 10.7554/eLife.96266. PMID: 39531016; PMCID: PMC11556792.
Project B03 Publications 1st Funding Period 2020 - 2023
2023
Llamas, E., Koyuncu, S., Lee, H.J., Wehrmann, M., Gutierrez-Garcia, R., Dunken, N., Charura, N., Torres-Montilla, S., Schlimgen, E., Mandel, A.M., Theile, E.B., Grossbach, J., Wagle, P., Lackmann, J.W., Schermer, B., Benzing, T., Beyer, A., Pulido, P., Rodriguez-Concepcion, M., Zuccaro, A. and Vilchez, D. (2023) In planta expression of human polyQ-expanded huntingtin fragment reveals mechanisms to prevent disease-related protein aggregation. Nat Aging. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00502-1
2021
Llamas, E., Torres-Montilla, S., Lee, H. J., Barja, M. V., Schlimgen, E., Dunken, N., Wagle, P., Werr, W., Zuccaro, A., Rodríguez-Concepción, M., & Vilchez, D (2021). The intrinsic chaperone network of Arabidopsis stem cells confers protection against proteotoxic stress.Aging Cell, 00, e13446. doi.org/10.1111/acel.13446
Project related Publications
2011 - 2019
Wawra, S., Fesel, P., Widmer, H., Neumann, U., Lahrmann, U., Becker, S., Hehemann, J.H., Langen, G., and Zuccaro, A. (2019). FGB1 and WSC3 are in planta-induced beta-glucan-binding fungal lectins with different functions. New Phytol 222, 1493-1506.
Nizam, S., Qiang, X., Wawra, S., Nostadt, R., Getzke, F., Schwanke, F., Dreyer, I., Langen, G., and Zuccaro, A. (2019). Serendipita indica E5'NT modulates extracellular nucleotide levels in the plant apoplast and affects fungal colonization. EMBO Rep 20, e47430
Wawra, S., Fesel, P., Widmer, H., Timm, M., Seibel, J., Leson, L., Kesseler, L., Nostadt, R., Hilbert, M., Langen, G., and Zuccaro, A. (2016). The fungal-specific beta-glucan-binding lectin FGB1 alters cell-wall composition and suppresses glucan-triggered immunity in plants. Nature commun 7, 13188.
Fesel, P.H., and Zuccaro, A. (2016). Dissecting endophytic lifestyle along the parasitism/mutualism continuum in Arabidopsis. Curr Opin Microbiol 32, 103-112.
Lo Presti, L., Lanver, D., Schweizer, G., Tanaka, S., Liang, L., Tollot, M., Zuccaro, A., Reissmann, S., Kahmann, R., and Merchant, S. (2015). Fungal Effectors and Plant Susceptibility. Annu Rev Plant Biol 66, 513-545.
Lahrmann, U., Strehmel, N., Langen, G., Frerigmann, H., Leson, L., Ding, Y., Scheel, D., Herklotz, S., Hilbert, M., and Zuccaro, A. (2015). Mutualistic root endophytism is not associated with the reduction of saprotrophic traits and requires a noncompromised plant innate immunity. New Phytol 207, 841-857.
Zuccaro, A., Lahrmann, U., and Langen, G. (2014). Broad compatibility in fungal root symbioses. Curr Opin Plant Biol 20, 135-145.
Lahrmann, U., Ding, Y., Banhara, A., Rath, M., Hajirezaei, M.R., Doehlemann, S., von Wiren, N., Parniske, M., and Zuccaro, A. (2013). Host-related metabolic cues affect colonization strategies of a root endophyte. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110, 13965-13970.
Lahrmann, U., and Zuccaro, A. (2012). Opprimo ergo sum-Evasion and Suppression in the Root Endophytic Fungus Piriformospora indica. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 25, 727-737.
Zuccaro, A., Lahrmann, U., Gueldener, U., Langen, G., Pfiffi, S., Biedenkopf, D., Wong, P., Samans, B., Grimm, C., Basiewicz, M., et al. (2011). Endophytic Life Strategies Decoded by Genome and Transcriptome Analyses of the Mutualistic Root Symbiont Piriformospora indica. Plos Pathog 7, e1002290.