Functional diversity and cooperative regulation of GATA transcription factors reveals a novel WC1/WC2–Sre1 cascade contributing to fungal pathogenicity and chlamydospore formation in Arthrobotrys flagrans

The nematode-trapping (NT) fungus Arthrobotrys flagrans requires chlamydospore and trap formation for its lifecycle and biocontrol. Although GATA-type transcription factors are key developmental regulators in eukaryotes, their functional atlas and regulatory network in NT fungi remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically characterized all eight GATA-type transcription factors in A. flagrans and found them all significantly upregulated during trap and chlamydospore formation.