tRNA thiolation optimizes appressorium-mediated infection by enhancing codon-specific translation in Magnaporthe oryzae

Thiolation, a post-transcriptional modification catalyzed by Uba4-Urm1-Ncs2/Ncs6 pathway in three specific transfer RNAs (tRNAs), is conserved from yeast to humans and plays an important role in enhancing codon–anticodon interaction and translation efficiency. Yet, except for affecting effector secretion, its roles in plant pathogenic fungi are not fully understood. Here, we used Magnaporthe oryzae as a model system to illustrate the vital role of s2U34 modification on the appressorium-mediated virulence. The absence of tRNA thiolation leads to diminished translation elongation at AAA/CAA/GAA but not their synonymous codons, resulting in reduced levels of key proteins enriched in these codons, which are critical for appressorium development and function. Importantly, overexpressing these proteins can partially mitigate the defects resulting from NCS2 deletion. Our study sheds light on the s2U34 modification’s role in plant pathogenic fungi, enhancing our understanding of translational control beyond effector secretion.