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Fungal Biol

Title:		Characterization of MAT gene functions in the life cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum reveals a lineage-specific MAT gene functioning in apothecium morphogenesis
Author(s):		Doughan B; Rollins JA;
Address:		"Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0680, USA. Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0680, USA. Electronic address: rollinsj@ufl.edu"
Journal Title:		Fungal Biol
Year:		2016
Volume:		20160622
Issue:		9
Page Number:		1105 - 1117
DOI:		10.1016/j.funbio.2016.06.007
ISSN/ISBN:		1878-6146 (Print)
Abstract:		"Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a phytopathogenic fungus that relies on the completion of the sexual cycle to initiate aerial infections. The sexual cycle produces apothecia required for inoculum dispersal. In this study, insight into the regulation of apothecial multicellular development was pursued through functional characterization of mating-type genes. These genes are hypothesized to encode master regulatory proteins required for aspects of sexual development ranging from fertilization through fertile fruiting body development. Experimentally, loss-of-function mutants were created for the conserved core mating-type genes (MAT1-1-1, and MAT1-2-1), and the lineage-specific genes found only in S. sclerotiorum and closely related fungi (MAT1-1-5, and MAT1-2-4). The MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-5, and MAT1-2-1 mutants are able to form ascogonia but are blocked in all aspects of apothecium development. These mutants also exhibit defects in secondary sexual characters including lower numbers of spermatia. The MAT1-2-4 mutants are delayed in carpogenic germination accompanied with altered disc morphogenesis and ascospore production. They too produce lower numbers of spermatia. All four MAT gene mutants showed alterations in the expression of putative pheromone precursor (Ppg-1) and pheromone receptor (PreA, PreB) genes. Our findings support the involvement of MAT genes in sexual fertility, gene regulation, meiosis, and morphogenesis in S. sclerotiorum"
Keywords:		"Ascomycota/cytology/*genetics/*growth & development Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal Gene Knockout Techniques *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Mutation Pheromones/biosynthesis Receptors, Pheromone/biosynthesis Spores, Fungal/growth & development Ascomycete D;"
Notes:		"MedlineDoughan, Benjamin Rollins, Jeffrey A eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Netherlands 2016/08/29 Fungal Biol. 2016 Sep; 120(9):1105-17. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.06.007. Epub 2016 Jun 22"