Mating Systems and Sexual Morphogenesis in Ascomycetes

Debuchy, Robert; Berteaux‐Lecellier, Véronique; Silar, Philippe

doi:10.1128/9781555816636.ch33

Cited by 124 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 201 publications

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“…This is a major finding because MAT genes have previously been primarily known for their role in determining sexual identity, as well as for other aspects of sexual development (19). We had previously observed that hyphal morphology, and consequently pellet formation, in P. chrysogenum is dependent on a wide range of factors (44).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The principle aim of the current study was therefore to determine whether a functional sexual cycle could be induced in P. chrysogenum, using knowledge of MAT gene organization in the species to set up directed crosses between known MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 isolates, and if the sexual cycle could be used for strain development purposes. We also investigated whether MAT genes, which are defined primarily by their role in governing sexual identity (11,19), might have additional roles in regulating other developmental processes of biotechnological relevance.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Sexual reproduction and mating-type–mediated strain development in the penicillin-producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

Böhm

Hoff

O’Gorman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

119

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Penicillium chrysogenum is a filamentous fungus of major medical and historical importance, being the original and present-day industrial source of the antibiotic penicillin. The species has been considered asexual for more than 100 y, and despite concerted efforts, it has not been possible to induce sexual reproduction, which has prevented sexual crosses being used for strain improvement. However, using knowledge of mating-type (MAT) gene organization, we now describe conditions under which a sexual cycle can be induced leading to production of meiotic ascospores. Evidence of recombination was obtained using both molecular and phenotypic markers. The identified heterothallic sexual cycle was used for strain development purposes, generating offspring with novel combinations of traits relevant to penicillin production. Furthermore, the MAT1-1-1 mating-type gene, known primarily for a role in governing sexual identity, was also found to control transcription of a wide range of genes with biotechnological relevance including those regulating penicillin production, hyphal morphology, and conidial formation. These discoveries of a sexual cycle and MAT gene function are likely to be of broad relevance for manipulation of other asexual fungi of economic importance.sexual recombination | secondary metabolism | ascomycete

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual reproduction and mating-type–mediated strain development in the penicillin-producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

Böhm

Hoff

O’Gorman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

119

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“…ISTINCTION between self and nonself is a fundamental requirement for various biological events in eukaryotes, ranging from somatic growth and mate selection in fungi (Janeway and Medzhitov 2002;Aanen et al 2010;Casselton and Feldbrugge 2010;Debuchy et al 2010) to immune defense in vertebrates (Janeway and Medzhitov 2002;Boehm 2006). In heterothallic ascomycete filamentous fungi, nonself-recognition is important during vegetative growth and sexual reproduction (see reviews in Glass and Dementhon 2006;Aanen et al 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The genetic barrier and sexual identity of heterothallic strains are established by the mating type (mat) genes. mat genes encode transcriptional regulators that control the expression of many genes required for sexual compatibility and reproduction, including the mating-type-specific pheromone and its G-protein-linked receptor (reviewed by Debuchy et al 2010). The mating process of heterothallic fungi is best understood in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Kurjan 1992;Bardwell 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

Roles for Receptors, Pheromones, G Proteins, and Mating Type Genes During Sexual Reproduction in Neurospora crassa

Kim

Wright²,

Park³

et al. 2012

Genetics

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Here we characterize the relationship between the PRE-2 pheromone receptor and its ligand, CCG-4, and the general requirements for receptors, pheromones, G proteins, and mating type genes during fusion of opposite mating-type cells and sexual sporulation in the multicellular fungus Neurospora crassa. PRE-2 is highly expressed in mat a cells and is localized in male and female reproductive structures. Dpre-2 mat a females do not respond chemotropically to mat A males (conidia) or form mature fruiting bodies (perithecia) or meiotic progeny (ascospores). Strains with swapped identity due to heterologous expression of pre-2 or ccg-4 behave normally in crosses with opposite mating-type strains. Coexpression of pre-2 and ccg-4 in the mat A background leads to self-attraction and development of barren perithecia without ascospores. Further perithecial development is achieved by inactivation of Sad-1, a gene required for meiotic gene silencing. Findings from studies involving forced heterokaryons of opposite mating-type strains show that presence of one receptor and its compatible pheromone is necessary and sufficient for perithecial development and ascospore production. Taken together, the results demonstrate that although receptors and pheromones control sexual identity, the mating-type genes (mat A and mat a) must be in two different nuclei to allow meiosis and sexual sporulation to occur.

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“…Homothallic fungi are self-fertile and can complete the sexual cycle without the need for a partner, whereas heterothallic fungi require a partner of a complementary mating type. Research over the past 20 years has revealed that the different forms of sexual breeding systems are determined principally by the presence within the genome of key "mating type" (MAT) genes (11). Heterothallic species contain a single MAT locus, and complementary mating types have different genes encoding members of the high-mobility-group (HMG) superfamily of proteins (41).…”

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confidence: 99%

Presence and Functionality of Mating Type Genes in the Supposedly Asexual Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus oryzae

Wada

Maruyama

Yamaguchi

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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ABSTRACTThe potential for sexual reproduction inAspergillus oryzaewas assessed by investigating the presence and functionality ofMATgenes. Previous genome studies had identified aMAT1-1gene in the reference strain RIB40. We now report the existence of a complementaryMAT1-2gene and the sequencing of an idiomorphic region fromA. oryzaestrain AO6. This allowed the development of a PCR diagnostic assay, which detected isolates of theMAT1-1andMAT1-2genotypes among 180 strains assayed, including industrialtane-kojiisolates. Strains used for sake and miso production showed a near-1:1 ratio of the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating types, whereas strains used for soy sauce production showed a significant bias toward the MAT1-2 mating type. MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 isogenic strains were then created by genetic manipulation of the resident idiomorph, and gene expression was compared by DNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) methodologies under conditions in whichMATgenes were expressed. Thirty-three genes were found to be upregulated more than 10-fold in either the MAT1-1 host strain or the MAT1-2 gene replacement strain relative to each other, showing that both theMAT1-1andMAT1-2genes functionally regulate gene expression inA. oryzaein a mating type-dependent manner, the first such report for a supposedly asexual fungus.MAT1-1expression specifically upregulated an α-pheromone precursor gene, but the functions of most of the genes affected were unknown. The results are consistent with a heterothallic breeding system inA. oryzae, and prospects for the discovery of a sexual cycle are discussed.

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Mating Systems and Sexual Morphogenesis in Ascomycetes

Cited by 124 publications

References 201 publications

Sexual reproduction and mating-type–mediated strain development in the penicillin-producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

Sexual reproduction and mating-type–mediated strain development in the penicillin-producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

Roles for Receptors, Pheromones, G Proteins, and Mating Type Genes During Sexual Reproduction in Neurospora crassa

Presence and Functionality of Mating Type Genes in the Supposedly Asexual Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus oryzae

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