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Mol Microbiol

Title:		A MAP kinase encoded by the ubc3 gene of Ustilago maydis is required for filamentous growth and full virulence
Author(s):		Mayorga ME; Gold SE;
Address:		"Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA"
Journal Title:		Mol Microbiol
Year:		1999
Volume:		34
Issue:		3
Page Number:		485 - 497
DOI:		10.1046/j.1365-2958.1999.01610.x
ISSN/ISBN:		0950-382X (Print) 0950-382X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of corn smut disease, displays dimorphic growth in which it alternates between a budding haploid saprophyte and a filamentous dikaryotic pathogen. We are interested in identifying the genetic determinants of filamentous growth and pathogenicity in U. maydis. To do this, we have taken a forward genetic approach. Previously, we showed that haploid adenylate cyclase (uac1) mutants display a constitutively filamentous phenotype. Mutagenesis of a uac1 disruption strain allowed the isolation of a large number of budding suppressor mutants. These mutants are named ubc, for Ustilago bypass of cyclase, as they no longer require the production of cAMP to grow in the budding morphology. Complementation of one of these suppressor mutants led to the identification of ubc3, which is required for filamentous growth and encodes a MAP kinase most similar to those of the yeast pheromone response pathway. In addition to filamentous growth, the ubc3 gene is required for pheromone response and for full virulence. Mutations in the earlier identified fuz7 MAP kinase kinase also suppress the filamentous phenotype of the uac1 disruption mutant, adding evidence that both ubc3 and fuz7 are members of this same MAP kinase cascade. These results support an important interplay of the cAMP and MAP kinase signal transduction pathways in the control of morphogenesis and pathogenicity in U. maydis"
Keywords:		"Amino Acid Sequence Cloning, Molecular Gene Deletion Genes, Fungal Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism Molecular Sequence Data Pheromones/metabolism Plant Diseases/microbiology Sequence Alignment Sequence Analysis, DNA Ustila;"
Notes:		"MedlineMayorga, M E Gold, S E eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 1999/11/17 Mol Microbiol. 1999 Nov; 34(3):485-97. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1999.01610.x"