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A large pheromone and receptor gene complex determines multiple B mating type specificities in Coprinus cinereus
S F O'Shea1, P T Chaure, J R Halsall
1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Genetics
|April 16, 1998
Summary
Researchers identified mating-specific genes in Coprinus cinereus, revealing how combinations of pheromone and receptor genes generate diverse mating types in fungi.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pheromone signaling is crucial for fungal mating and sexual development.
- Genes for peptide pheromones and 7-transmembrane helix (7-TM) receptors are located in the B mating type locus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the B6 mating type locus of Coprinus cinereus.
- To understand the organization and function of pheromone and receptor genes within the B locus.
Main Methods:
- DNA sequencing and transformation analysis of the B6 mating type locus.
- Southern blot analysis to assess gene homology and cross-hybridization between different mating type loci (B3, B42, B6).
Main Results:
- Nine genes (3 receptors, 6 pheromone precursors) were identified within the B6 locus, organized into three potential subfamilies.
- B6 genes altered mating specificity in a B3 host, but only some activated development in a B42 host.
- Cross-hybridization patterns indicated shared alleles between B6 and B42 for one subfamily, suggesting allelic variation generates mating diversity.
Conclusions:
- The arrangement of genes suggests functionally independent subfamilies within the B mating type locus.
- Allelic combinations of these gene subfamilies likely generate the large number of mating specificities observed in fungi.
- Cross-hybridization is a reliable method for identifying shared alleles across different B mating type loci.