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Genetics

Title:		The pheromone cell signaling components of the Ustilago a mating-type loci determine intercompatibility between species
Author(s):		Bakkeren G; Kronstad JW;
Address:		"Biotechnology Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada"
Journal Title:		Genetics
Year:		1996
Volume:		143
Issue:		4
Page Number:		1601 - 1613
DOI:		10.1093/genetics/143.4.1601
ISSN/ISBN:		0016-6731 (Print) 0016-6731 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The MAT region of Ustilago hordei, a bipolar barley pathogen, harbors distinct mating functions (a and b loci). Here, we show that the b locus is essential for mating and pathogenicity, and can induce pathogenicity when introduced into a strain carrying a b locus of opposite specificity. Transformation experiments using components of the a1 locus and analysis of resulting dual mating phenotypes revealed that this locus harbors a pheromone receptor gene (Uhpra1) and a pheromone gene (Uhmfa1). These U. hordei a1 genes, when introduced by transformation, are necessary and sufficient to make U. maydis, a tetrapolar corn pathogen, intercompatible with U. hordei MAT-2, but not MAT-1, strains. U. hordei strains transformed with the U. maydis a1 locus also become intercompatible with U. maydis a2, but not a1, strains. The interspecies hybrids produced dikaryotic hyphae but were not fully virulent on either corn or barley. Partial, natural intercompatibility was shown to exist between the sugarcane smut U. scitaminea and both U. hordei and U. maydis. These results show that the signal transduction pathway for mating responses is conserved between different smut species. We conclude that, apart from intraspecies compatibility, the Ustilago a locus also dictates intercompatibility in this group of fungi"
Keywords:		"Chromosome Mapping Crosses, Genetic *Genes, Fungal *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Hordeum/microbiology Pheromones/*genetics Signal Transduction/genetics Species Specificity Ustilago/*genetics/pathogenicity Virulence/genetics Zea mays/microbiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineBakkeren, G Kronstad, J W eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1996/08/01 Genetics. 1996 Aug; 143(4):1601-13. doi: 10.1093/genetics/143.4.1601"