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Plasmid-like DNAs in the commercially important mushroom genus Agaricus

M Mohan1, R J Meyer, J B Anderson

  • 1Mushroom Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Erindale Campus, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Current Genetics
|November 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified two novel linear DNA elements, pEM and pMPJ, within Agaricus mushroom mitochondria. These elements show no genetic similarity to the mushroom

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The mushroom genus Agaricus is commercially significant.
  • Mitochondria contain extrachromosomal DNA elements in some species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize unique DNA components found in Agaricus mitochondria.
  • To investigate the nature and relationship of these DNA elements.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of mitochondria from Agaricus mushrooms.
  • Analysis of plasmid-like DNA components using restriction endonuclease digestion.
  • Homology screening against nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.

Main Results:

  • Two distinct linear DNA components, pEM (7.35 kb) and pMPJ (3.65 kb), were identified in Agaricus mitochondria.
  • pEM exhibited terminal inverted repeated sequences.
  • No homology was found between pEM, pMPJ, and the host nuclear or mitochondrial genomes, suggesting independent replication.
  • Restriction analysis revealed pEM comprises two distinct sub-components (pEM1 and pEM2).

Conclusions:

  • Agaricus mitochondria harbor unique, linear plasmid-like DNA elements.
  • pEM and pMPJ represent distinct genetic entities with independent replication mechanisms.
  • The structural and sequence characteristics of pEM suggest a complex organization.

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