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J Fungi (Basel)

Title:		Genetic Manipulation of the Brassicaceae Smut Fungus Thecaphora thlaspeos
Author(s):		Plucker L; Bosch K; Geissl L; Hoffmann P; Gohre V;
Address:		"Institute of Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence in Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine University, Building 26.24.01, Universitatsstr.1, 40205 Dusseldorf, Germany"
Journal Title:		J Fungi (Basel)
Year:		2021
Volume:		20210109
Issue:		1
Page Number:		-
DOI:		10.3390/jof7010038
ISSN/ISBN:		2309-608X (Electronic) 2309-608X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Investigation of plant-microbe interactions greatly benefit from genetically tractable partners to address, molecularly, the virulence and defense mechanisms. The smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a model pathogen in that sense: efficient homologous recombination and a small genome allow targeted modification. On the host side, maize is limiting with regard to rapid genetic alterations. By contrast, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is an excellent model with a vast amount of information and techniques as well as genetic resources. Here, we present a transformation protocol for the Brassicaceae smut fungus Thecaphora thlaspeos. Using the well-established methodology of protoplast transformation, we generated the first reporter strains expressing fluorescent proteins to follow mating. As a proof-of-principle for homologous recombination, we deleted the pheromone receptor pra1. As expected, this mutant cannot mate. Further analysis will contribute to our understanding of the role of mating for infection biology in this novel model fungus. From now on, the genetic manipulation of T. thlaspeos, which is able to colonize the model plant A. thaliana, provides us with a pathosystem in which both partners are genetically amenable to study smut infection biology"
Keywords:		homologous recombination infection mating pheromone receptor protoplast smut transformation;
Notes:		"PubMed-not-MEDLINEPlucker, Lesley Bosch, Kristin Geissl, Lea Hoffmann, Philipp Gohre, Vera eng EXC-2048/1 - Project ID 390686111/Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ 391465903/GRK 2466/Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ Switzerland 2021/01/14 J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Jan 9; 7(1):38. doi: 10.3390/jof7010038"