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Fungal Biol

Title:		Mutualism and asexual reproduction influence recognition genes in a fungal symbiont
Author(s):		van der Nest MA; Steenkamp ET; Wilken MP; Stenlid J; Wingfield MJ; Wingfield BD; Slippers B;
Address:		"Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute-FABI, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa"
Journal Title:		Fungal Biol
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130516
Issue:		6
Page Number:		439 - 450
DOI:		10.1016/j.funbio.2013.05.001
ISSN/ISBN:		1878-6146 (Print)
Abstract:		"Mutualism between microbes and insects is common and alignment of the reproductive interests of microbial symbionts with this lifestyle typically involves clonal reproduction and vertical transmission by insect partners. Here the Amylostereum fungus-Sirex woodwasp mutualism was used to consider whether their prolonged association and predominance of asexuality have affected the mating system of the fungal partner. Nucleotide information for the pheromone receptor gene rab1, as well as the translation elongation factor 1alpha gene and ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer region were utilized. The identification of rab1 alleles in Amylostereum chailletii and Amylostereum areolatum populations revealed that this gene is more polymorphic than the other two regions, although the diversity of all three regions was lower than what has been observed in free-living Agaricomycetes. Our data suggest that suppressed recombination might be implicated in the diversification of rab1, while no evidence of balancing selection was detected. We also detected positive selection at only two codons, suggesting that purifying selection is important for the evolution of rab1. The symbiotic relationship with their insect partners has therefore influenced the diversity of this gene and influenced the manner in which selection drives and maintains this diversity in A. areolatum and A. chailletii"
Keywords:		"Animals Basidiomycota/*genetics/physiology Cluster Analysis DNA, Fungal/chemistry/*genetics DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Hymenoptera/*microbiology Molecular Sequence Data Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics Polymorp;"
Notes:		"Medlinevan der Nest, Magriet A Steenkamp, Emma T Wilken, Markus P Stenlid, Jan Wingfield, Mike J Wingfield, Brenda D Slippers, Bernard eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2013/07/03 Fungal Biol. 2013 Jun; 117(6):439-50. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2013.05.001. Epub 2013 May 16"