Figure 9.

Model for MoSnt2-mediated epigenetic control of pathogenicity in M. oryzae. MoTor promotes the expression of MoSNT2 through unidentified effector(s) or transcription factor(s). Nucleus-localized MoSnt2 recognizes acetylated histone H3 and recruits the histone HDAC deacetylase complex to targeted chromatin regions. The MoSnt2-recruited HDAC then deacetylates H3 and alters expression of genes. MoSnt2-regulated gene expression functions to repress autophagy to promote hyphal proliferation during vegetative growth in nutrient rich conditions, while promoting autophagic conidial cell death and assisting pathogenic growth on host rice.