Target genes of the developmental regulator PRIB of the mushroom Lentinula edodes

Using the method of genomic binding-site cloning, we identified three target genes of the developmental regulator, the product of priB gene (PRIB) in Lentinula edodes: the previously cloned priB and uck1 (UMP-CMP kinase gene) and a new gene, which we named mfbC. Identification of the former two genes was expected, because the promoter regions of priB and the gene encoding UMP-CMP kinase (uck1) have been shown to contain four or two consensus-like sequences of PRIB binding respectively. The mfbC gene contained two consensus-like sequences of PRIB binding in its promoter region and the PRIB protein bound them. The deduced 330 amino acid sequence of the product of mfbC gene (MFBC) was highly homologous to the 325 amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae YJR070C/Lia1, the protein interacting with a putative translation initiation factor. Only the mature fruiting body of L. edodes was shown to contain the transcript of the mfbC gene almost exclusively, suggesting that mfbC may play a role in the final stage of fruiting-body formation.