cDNA cloning, expression, and mutagenesis of scytalone dehydratase needed for pathogenicity of the rice blast fungus, Pyricularia oryzae

We purified scytalone dehydratase from the rice blast fungus. Pyricularia oryzae, and cloned its cDNA on the basis of its amino acid sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence was 62% identical to the scytalone dehydratase from Colletotrichum lagenarium. The expression of this gene was induced transcriptionally in the stationary phase when melanin synthesis occurs. We constructed a heterologous expression system for the enzyme in Escherichia coli, did deletion analysis with this system, and found that a C-terminal region is essential for the enzyme function.