Mating-Type Structure, Evolution, and Function in Euascomycetes

Debuchy, Robert; Turgeon, Benjamin

doi:10.1007/3-540-28135-5_15

Cited by 163 publications

(221 citation statements)

References 89 publications

(122 reference statements)

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“…Unpublished, but publicly available nucleotide data indicate that the Ophiostoma MAT1-1 idiomorph also contains the MAT1-1-2 and MAT1-1-1 genes (Figure 1). Although this gene organisation is quite common among the Ascomycota (Coppin et al 1997;Debuchy and Turgeon 2006;Glass and Nelson 1994;Nelson 1996), elements thought to be exclusively associated with either the MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorphs were found in all the O. quercus isolates examined. Despite the fact that it was possible to assign "+" and "-" mating specificities to the strictly heterothallic isolates of this fungus, isolates of both mating types harboured MAT1-1-3 and MAT1-2-1 sequences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Of these, the α-box protein encoding gene, MAT1-1-1 (Coppin et al 1997;Debuchy and Turgeon 2006), was first identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Astell et al 1981) and has subsequently been identified in all fungal MAT1-1 idiomorphs ; Kanematsu et al 2007;Li et al 2010). The MAT1-1-2 gene encodes an amphipathic α-helix protein with a conserved Histidine, Proline, Glycine (HPG) domain (Debuchy and Turgeon 2006), while the MAT1-1-3 gene encodes a protein with a High Mobility Group (HMG) domain (Coppin et al 1997;Debuchy and Turgeon 2006). Another HMG domain protein, encoded by the MAT1-2-1 gene, is characteristic of the MAT1-2 idiomorph (Arie et al 1997;Coppin et al 1997;Nelson 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Both mating types in the heterothallic fungus Ophiostoma quercus contain MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes

et al. 2012

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In heterothallic Ascomycota, two opposite but distinct mating types control all sexual processes. Using mating crosses on agar plates, the heterothallic nature of the wood-inhabiting fungus Ophiostoma quercus was confirmed and mating types were assigned to 10 isolates. Primers were subsequently designed to target both the mating type 1 (MAT1-1) and 2 (MAT1-2) idiomorphs in these isolates. The results showed that all isolates contained sequence fragments representing both idiomorphs. This was unexpected, as each isolate from a heterothallic species would typically contain only one of the two possible MAT idiomorphs. An atypical mating system such as the one described in this study has not previously been encountered in any other Ascomycota mating locus described to date.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Both mating types in the heterothallic fungus Ophiostoma quercus contain MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes

et al. 2012

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“…Fertilization occurs exclusively between mat(+) and mat(2) strains and self-fertilization is prohibited (Turgeon 1998). The role of the mating type genes has been well characterized in outcrossing heterothallic systems, where Mat proteins control not only recognition mechanisms leading to cross-fertilization but also later stages of sexual development, including nuclear segregation and coordinated fruiting body differentiation (Metzenberg and Glass 1990;Debuchy and Turgeon 2006). In contrast to heterothallic species, most homothallic fungi have closely linked mat-HMG and mat-a genes present in the haploid genome.…”

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confidence: 99%

Complex Mechanisms Regulate Developmental Expression of thematA(HMG) Mating Type Gene in HomothallicAspergillus nidulans

Czaja

Miller

2011

Genetics

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Sexual reproduction is a fundamental developmental process that allows for genetic diversity through the control of zygote formation, recombination, and gametogenesis. The correct regulation of these events is paramount. Sexual reproduction in filamentous fungi, including mating strategy (self-fertilization/homothallism or outcrossing/heterothallism), is determined by the expression of mating type genes at mat loci. Aspergillus nidulans matA encodes a critical regulator that is a fungal ortholog of the hSRY/SOX9 HMG box proteins. In contrast to well-studied outcrossing systems, the molecular basis of homothallism and role of mating type genes during a self-fertile sexual cycle remain largely unknown. In this study the genetic model organism, A. nidulans, has been used to investigate the regulation and molecular functions of the matA mating type gene in a homothallic system. Our data demonstrate that complex regulatory mechanisms underlie functional matA expression during self-fertilization and sexual reproduction in A. nidulans. matA expression is suppressed in vegetative hyphae and is progressively derepressed during the sexual cycle. Elevated levels of matA transcript are required for differentiation of fruiting bodies, karyogamy, meiosis, and efficient formation of meiotic progeny. matA expression is driven from both initiator (Inr) and novel promoter elements that are tightly developmentally regulated by position-dependent and position-independent mechanisms. Deletion of an upstream silencing element, matA SE, results in derepressed expression from wildtype (wt) promoter elements and activation of an additional promoter. These studies provide novel insights into the molecular basis of homothallism in fungi and genetic regulation of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.S EXUAL reproduction is a central part of the life cycle in most eukaryotic organisms and has a profound impact on the evolution and biology of species. Successful exchange of genetic material requires establishment of sexual identity (male and female function). Sexual identity in animals is governed by genes located on sex chromosomes, whereas in fungi mating type genes residing at mat loci (sexual-identity loci) control cell-type identity and sexual development. The correct regulation and spatiotemporal expression of sex determining genes is crucial during reproduction. Mechanisms underlying gene regulation in eukaryotic sexual development are not well understood (Harley et al. 2003;Fraser and Heitman 2005;Kashimada and Koopman 2010). Mating type genes have been described in numerous heterothallic (cross-fertile) and homothallic (self-fertile) filamentous fungi, where they function as master regulators of sexual reproduction (Kronstad and Staben 1997;Debuchy et al. 2010). The mat loci typically encode transcription factors, either Mat-HMG (high-mobility group box) or Mat-a (alpha box), proteins that coordinate expression of sex-specific genes. Several lines of study indicate that mating type genes in fungi share structural and functiona...

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“…The DED fungi are heterothallic species in which mating occurs between sexually-compatible individuals carrying different alleles (or idiomorphs) at the mating-type locus, designated MAT1 according to standard genetic nomenclature (Debuchy & Turgeon 2006). The MAT1-2 idiomorph was cloned by gene-walking (Paoletti et al 2005), whereas a portion (MAT1-1-3 gene) of the MAT1-1 idiomorph was retrieved from an EST library derived from O. novo-ulmi subsp.…”

Section: Obtained Epg1mentioning

confidence: 99%