What is it about?
This study, using a model filamentous blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, highlights a novel mechanism underlying sustained energy during ageing or under starvation. We show that an ion transporter Mnr2, specifically in old cells, localizes to the membrane of vacuoles - a warehouse of the cell – and likely helps in providing previously-stored magnesium ions essential for the proper functioning of the mitochondria – the powerhouse of the cell - and thereby in sustenance during ageing or starvation.
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Why is it important?
This study using a filamentous plant pathogen is of general interest to a large scientific community interested in ageing and inter-organellar crosstalk. This is the first study to our knowledge that establishes the role of magnesium homeostasis in ageing in yeast or filamentous fungus.
Perspectives
Over the years, the asymmetric distribution of organelles and proteins has been shown to preserve the lifespan of daughter cells in the budding yeast. Here, we propose the asymmetric expression of Mnr2 to be crucial for the integrity and function of mitochondria in the old cells of Magnaporthe oryzae. This work becomes relevant where nutrient sensing is pivotal for the successful disease progression in the host.
Md Hashim Reza
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Vacuolar transporter Mnr2 safeguards organellar integrity in aged cells, Molecular Microbiology, July 2021, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14776.
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