Background: While nucleotides are best known as the building blocks of DNA and RNA and as intracellular energy carriers, they can also have important functions when released into the space surrounding cells. Extracellular nucleotides are increasingly recognized as conserved signaling molecules that regulate immune responses, stress adaptation, and interactions between hosts and associated microbial communities. 

In plants, extracellular ATP, NAD and related metabolites function as danger-associated signals that activate immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that pathogens can manipulate extracellular nucleotide pools through secreted enzymes, thereby interfering with host signaling and potentially reshaping immune responses and host-microbiome interactions. However, the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of pathogen-mediated nucleotide manipulation remain largely unexplored. 

Project Description: This project aims to investigate how Verticillium dahliae exploits nucleotide-modifying enzymes to manipulate extracellular signaling processes during host colonization. We will explore candidate enzymes predicted to modify extracellular nucleotides, assess their mechanisms by structure determination and evolutionary conservation, and define their activities via substrate screenings. Their contribution to fungal virulence will be evaluated in plant infection assays using Verticillium dahliae knockout mutants.