title: Molecular analysis of the pheromone and pheromone receptor genes of Ustilago hordei.
abstract: Cell-cell signaling is an integral part of the sexual and disease cycles of the smut fungi, which must mate to be pathogenic. This study reports the cloning and characterization of the pheromone genes Uhmfa1 and Uhmfa2 from MAT-1 and MAT-2 mating types of U. hordei, respectively, and the pheromone receptor gene Uhpra2 from MAT-2 cells. Similar to other fungal pheromone genes, Uhmfa1 and Uhmfa2 encode precursor peptides. Uhpra2 encodes a protein with sequence similarity to the 7-transmembrane class of G-protein coupled receptors. Deletion of Uhmfa1 and Uhpra1, and their subsequent replacement, confirmed the role of these genes in initiation of the sexual cycle. Uhmfa1 and Uhmfa2 were differentially expressed in various cell types and when opposite mating-type cells were grown together. The predicted mature pheromones of each mating type were synthesized, and each specifically induced conjugation tube formation in cells of the opposite mating type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Willits
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kosted
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Martinez-Espinoza
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010675:Pheromones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016385:TATA Box; D014588:Ustilago / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C402628:MFA1 protein, Ustilago hordei; C402629:MFA2 protein, Ustilago hordei; D010675:Pheromones; D011498:Protein Precursors