title: Functional analysis of the MATB mating-type idiomorph of the dimorphic fungus Yarrowia lipolytica.
abstract: The whole MATA cassette from Yarrowia lipolytica, a dimorphic fungus, was replaced by the URA3 gene through a double homologous recombination. This MAT-less strain lost its mate capacity with A or B Y. lipolytica strains. Introduction of polymerase chain reaction-synthesized idiomorph MATB in a null strain of A locus by double homologous recombination gave rise to a "transsexual" B strain. Mating capacity of this engineered mutant was assayed using Y. lipolytica strains of either A or B mating type. Mating took place only with an A strain, demonstrating the MATB idiomorph functionality in a MATA phenotype. Our data suggest that specific downstream genes are responsible for the final A or B phenotypes present in all Y. lipolytica cells, independent of their MAT idiomorph phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato Guanajuato 36500, Mexico. rrquijano@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Raymundo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosas-Quijano
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaillardin
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Herrera
mesh_terms: D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D025062:Yarrowia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal