title: The MAT1 locus of Histoplasma capsulatum is responsive in a mating type-specific manner.
abstract: Recombination events associated with sexual replication in pathogens may generate new strains with altered virulence. Histoplasma capsulatum is a mating-competent, pathogenic fungus with two described phenotypic mating types, + and -. The mating (MAT) locus of H. capsulatum was identified to facilitate molecular studies of mating in this organism. Through syntenic analysis of the H. capsulatum genomic sequence databases, a MAT1-1 idiomorph region was identified in H. capsulatum strains G217B and WU24, and a MAT1-2 idiomorph region was identified in the strain G186AR. A mating type-specific PCR assay was developed, and two clinical isolates of opposite genotypic mating type, UH1 and VA1, were identified. A known--mating type strain, T-3-1 (ATCC 22635), was demonstrated to be of MAT1-2 genotypic mating type. The clinical isolates UH1 and VA1 were found to be mating compatible and also displayed mating-type-dependent regulation of the MAT transcription factors in response to extracts predicted to contain mating pheromones. These studies support a role for the identified MAT1 locus in determining mating type in H. capsulatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0560, USA.
authors.forename: Meggan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bubnick
authors.forename: A George
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Smulian
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors