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Mol Gen Genet

Title:		An asexual fungus has the potential for sexual development
Author(s):		Sharon A; Yamaguchi K; Christiansen S; Horwitz BA; Yoder OC; Turgeon BG;
Address:		"Botany Department, Tel-Aviv University, Israel"
Journal Title:		Mol Gen Genet
Year:		1996
Volume:		251
Issue:		1
Page Number:		60 - 68
DOI:		10.1007/BF02174345
ISSN/ISBN:		0026-8925 (Print) 0026-8925 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The availability of cloned genes that control sexual reproduction (mating type genes) in high fungi has allowed us to consider the causes of failure to mate in asexual fungi. We report here that the asexual fungus Bipolaris sacchari has a homolog of the MAT-2 gene of its sexual ascomycete relative Cochliobolus heterostrophus. The B. sacchari MAT-2 sequence is highly similar to that of C. heterostrophus MAT-2 and, in fact, functions in transgenic C. heterostrophus. Thus, the asexual nature of B. sacchari is not due to absence or mutation of MAT. When either of the C. heterostrophus MAT genes was transformed into B. sacchari, the recipient could neither self nor cross with other B. sacchari strains, in contrast to transgenic C. heterostrophus strains which can do both. Persistent asexuality of B. sacchari, in spite of the presence of complementary functional MAT genes, suggests that this fungus lacks genes other than MAT which are essential for mating. Notably, the transgenic B. sacchari strains were sometimes able to initiate, but not complete, sexual development in interspecific pairings with C. heterostrophus. Transcript analysis showed that the B. sacchari MAT-2 gene is expressed in transgenic C. heterostrophus and that the C. heterostrophus MAT genes are expressed in transgenic B. sacchari. No transcript of the native B. sacchari MAT-2 gene was detected under any growth condition tested"
Keywords:		"Amino Acid Sequence Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology Base Sequence DNA Primers DNA, Fungal/isolation & purification *Genes, Fungal *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Mating Factor Mitosporic Fungi/genetics/*physiology Molecular Sequence Data Open Reading Frames P;"
Notes:		"MedlineSharon, A Yamaguchi, K Christiansen, S Horwitz, B A Yoder, O C Turgeon, B G eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Germany 1996/04/24 Mol Gen Genet. 1996 Apr 24; 251(1):60-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02174345"