Tagging target genes of the MAT1-2-1 transcription factor in Fusarium verticillioides (Gibberella fujikuroi MP-A)

Abstract

Mating type in filamentous ascomycetes is controlled by idiomorphic alleles, named MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, which contain 1-3 genes. Of these genes MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 encode putative transcription factors and are thus considered to be the major regulators of sexual communication and mating. Fungi with no known sexual stage may also have fully functional mating type genes and therefore it was plausible to hypothesize that the MAT products may also regulate other types of genes not involved directly in the mating process. To identify putative target genes of these transcription factors in Fusarium verticillioides, DMAT1-2-1 knock out mutants were produced and transcript profiles of mutant and wild type were compared by means of differential cDNA hybridization. Clones, either up-or down-regulated in the DMAT1-2-1 mutant were sequenced and a total of 248 sequences were blasted against the NCBI database as well as the Gibberella zeae and Gibberella moniliformis genomes. Fifty-five percent of the clones were down-regulated in the mutant, indicating that the MAT1-2-1 product positively affected these tagged sequences. On the other hand, 45% were found to be up-regulated in the mutant, suggesting that the MAT1-2-1 product also exerted a negative regulatory function on this set of genes. Sequences involved in protein synthesis and metabolism occurred more frequently among the clones up-regulated in the mutant, whereas genes belonging to cell signalling and communication were especially frequently tagged among the sequences down-regulated in the mutant.

Characterization ofFusarium avenaceumfrom lupin in central Alberta: genetic diversity, mating type and aggressiveness

“…It is possible that there are virulence-related genes linked to the MAT locus, or that genes in the mating type locus regulate virulencerelated genes. In F. verticillioides, MAT1-2-1 has been shown to affect the regulation of numerous genes, not all of which appear related to mating or sexual communication (Keszthelyi et al, 2007). Within other fungi, a more direct link between the MAT locus and virulence factors has been discovered (Wahl et al, 2010).…”

Sexual Reproduction as the Cause of Heat Resistance in the Food Spoilage Fungus Byssochlamys spectabilis (Anamorph Paecilomyces variotii )

“…Of these genes, MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 encode putative transcription factors and are thus considered to be the major regulators of sexual communication and mating (21). Homothallic species contain both mating types, while for heterothallic fungi, the two mating types carry either of the two idiomorphs.…”

Transcriptome analyses during fruiting body formation in Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides reflect species life history and ecology

“…In addition, it suggests that these genes are not critical to development of the wall tissue, which has been suggested to be formed from vegetative hyphae of the female parent (Moore-Landecker, 1996). Mutants of FvMAT1-2-1 result in inability to mate with MAT1-1 strains, although the precise step in the process was not reported (Keszthelyi et al, 2007). The expression experiments shown here suggest that in the heterothallic species, MAT1-2 may be involved earlier in the development of the perithecia than MAT1-1.…”