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Sexual Reproduction in Dermatophytes
1Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Halkali cad, No: 2, Halkali, 34303, Kucukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. banu.metin@izu.edu.tr.
Mycopathologia
|October 4, 2016
Summary
Fungal sexual reproduction relies on mating types (MAT) for genetic variation. This review explores MAT locus structure and reproductive modes in dermatophytes, questioning unisexual reproduction in anthropophilic species.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Sexual reproduction in fungi generates genetic diversity.
- Two main modes exist: heterothallism (requiring compatible mating types) and homothallism (self-fertile).
- The mating type (MAT) locus governs fungal sexual reproduction and sex determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review sexual reproduction and MAT locus structure in dermatophytes.
- To summarize reproductive modes and mating types across dermatophyte clades.
- To investigate the potential for unisexual reproduction in anthropophilic dermatophytes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on sexual reproduction in dermatophytes.
- Analysis of MAT locus structure and gene organization.
- Phylogenetic comparison of mating types and reproductive strategies.
Main Results:
- Dermatophytes, filamentous ascomycetes, possess a MAT locus with transcription factor genes.
- Reproductive modes and mating types vary across dermatophyte phylogenetic clades.
- Unisexual reproduction is proposed as a potential mode in anthropophilic dermatophytes.
Conclusions:
- The MAT locus structure is crucial for understanding dermatophyte sexual reproduction.
- Further research is needed to confirm unisexual reproduction in anthropophilic dermatophytes.
- Understanding fungal mating systems is key to fungal genetics and evolution.
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