Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus
05:34

Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Published on: June 6, 2025

314

Comparative transcriptomics reveal different mechanisms for hyphal growth across four plant-associated dimorphic

Teeratas Kijpornyongpan1, M Catherine Aime1

  • 1Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 915 W State St, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, USA.

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B
|May 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Fungal dimorphism mechanisms vary across species, even closely related ones. Comparative transcriptomics reveals conserved genes in energy, metabolism, and cytoskeleton, but highlights divergent pathways for hyphal growth.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Fungal dimorphism, the ability to switch between yeast and hyphal forms, is crucial for pathogenicity in many fungi.
  • Ustilago maydis is a model organism for studying dimorphism, but its mechanisms may not apply universally to other dimorphic fungi.
  • Understanding conserved and divergent dimorphic pathways is essential for broader applications in fungal biology and disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the transcriptomic mechanisms underlying fungal dimorphism in two non-model smut fungi, Tilletiopsis washingtonensis and Meira miltonrushii.
  • To identify conserved genes and pathways involved in hyphal growth across diverse dimorphic fungal species.
  • To assess the correlation between phylogenetic relatedness and transcriptomic similarity in fungal dimorphism.

Main Methods:

  • Transcriptomic profiling of T. washingtonensis and M. miltonrushii during yeast and hyphal growth, induced by Tween40.
  • Comparative transcriptomics integrating data from Ustilago maydis and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify commonly upregulated genes during hyphal growth and enriched functional categories.

Main Results:

  • Tilletiopsis washingtonensis exhibited the least transcriptomic similarity in dimorphic transition compared to other species, despite close phylogenetic relationships.
  • Conserved gene enrichment was observed in cell energy, amino acid metabolism, and cytoskeleton functions across the four species.
  • Only genes for cell end marker Tea4/TeaC and kinesin motor protein Kin3 were consistently upregulated in hyphal growth across all four species.

Conclusions:

  • Phylogenetic relatedness does not predict transcriptomic similarity in fungal dimorphism.
  • While core pathways like energy metabolism and cytoskeleton are conserved, specific mechanisms for dimorphic transition and hyphal growth diverge significantly among fungal species.
  • The findings underscore the need for species-specific investigations into fungal dimorphism and pathogenicity.
Keywords:
Filamentous growthNon-model speciesPhylogenetic relatednessSmut fungiTween40Yeast

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level08:19

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

3.9K
Isolation, Characterization, and Total DNA Extraction to Identify Endophytic Fungi in Mycoheterotrophic Plants06:53

Isolation, Characterization, and Total DNA Extraction to Identify Endophytic Fungi in Mycoheterotrophic Plants

Published on: May 5, 2023

3.3K

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
463
Gene Regulation During Sporulation01:17

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
172
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
635
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
216
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
397
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
488