Single mating type-specific genes and their 3' UTRs control mating and fertility in Cochliobolus heterostrophus.
To determine the number of proteins required for mating type (MAT) locus-regulated control of mating in Cochliobolus heterostrophus, MAT fragments of various sizes were expressed in MAT deletion strains. As little as 1.5 kb of MAT sequence, encoding a single unique protein in each mating type (MAT-1 and MAT-2), conferred mating ability, although an additional 160 bp of 3' UTR was needed for production of ascospores. No other mating type-specific genes involved in mating identity or fertility were found. Thus, although homologs of the C. heterostrophus MAT-1 and MAT-2 genes exist in the filamentous ascomycetes Neurospora crassa and Podospora anserina, C. heterostrophus does not appear to have mating type-specific homologs of two additional genes required by both N. crassa and P. anserina for successful sexual reproduction. Three genes were identified in the common DNA flanking the MAT locus: a gene encoding a GTPase-activating protein and an ORF of unknown function lie 5' while a beta-glucosidase encoding gene lies found 3'. None of these genes appears to be involving in the mating process.
Wirsel
S
S
Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Horwitz
B
B
Yamaguchi
K
K
Yoder
O C
OC
Turgeon
B G
BG
D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C080928:MAT-1 protein, Cochliobolus heterostrophus; C080929:MAT-2 protein, Cochliobolus heterostrophus; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012333:RNA, Messenger