title: Two classes of homeodomain proteins specify the multiple a mating types of the mushroom Coprinus cinereus.
abstract: The A mating type locus of the mushroom Coprinus cinereus regulates essential steps in sexual development. The locus is complex and contains several functionally redundant, multiallelic genes that encode putative transcription factors. Here, we compare four genes from an A locus designated A42. Overall, the DNA sequences are very different (approximately 50% homology), but two classes of genes can be distinguished on the basis of a conserved homeodomain motif in their predicted proteins (HD1 and HD2). Development is postulated to be triggered by an HD1 and an HD2 gene from different A loci. Thus, proteins encoded by genes of the same locus must be distinguished from those encoded by another locus. Individual proteins of both classes recognize each other using the region N-terminal to the homeodomain. These N-terminal specificity regions (COP1 and COP2) are predicted to be helical and are potential dimerization interfaces. The amino acid composition of the C-terminal regions of HD1 proteins suggests a role in activation, and gene truncations indicate that this region is essential for function in vivo. A corresponding C-terminal region in HD2 proteins can be dispensed with in vivo. We will discuss these predicted structural features of the C. cinereus A proteins, their proposed interactions following a compatible cell fusion, and their similarities to the a1 and alpha 2 mating type proteins of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kües
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Asante-Owusu
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mutasa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tymon
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Göttgens
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Casselton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003302:Coprinus / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D000072235:Mating Factor; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000072235:Mating Factor