The cell-end protein Tea4 spatially regulates hyphal branch initiation and appressorium remodeling in the blast fungus

The differentiation of specialized infection cells, called appressoria, from polarized germ tubes of the blast fungus , requires remarkable remodeling of cell polarity and architecture, yet our understanding of this process remains incomplete. Here we investigate the behavior and role of cell-end marker proteins in appressorium remodeling and hyphal branch emergence. We show that the SH3 domain-containing protein Tea4 is required for the normal formation of an F-actin ring at Tea1-GFP-labeled polarity nodes, which contributes to the remodeling of septin structures and repolarization of the appressorium. Further, we show that Tea1 localizes to a cortical structure during hyphal septation which, unlike contractile septin rings, persists after septum formation, and, in combination with other polarity determinants, likely spatially regulates branch emergence. Genetic loss of Tea4 leads to mislocalization of Tea1 at the hyphal apex and with it, impaired growth directionality. In contrast, Tea1 is largely depleted from septation events in Δ mutants and branching and septation are significantly reduced. Together, our data provide new insight into polarity remodeling during infection-related and vegetative growth by the blast fungus.