Coprinopsis cinerea as a model fungus to evaluate genes underlying sexual development in basidiomycetes.
Coprinopsis cinerea is an excellent model for study of sexual reproduction and development in basidiomycetes because of its short-life cycle, capability to grow and fruit on artificial media under laboratory conditions. Deepening the understanding of genes underlying sexual reproduction and development in this mushroom model is expected to help in the future the world mushroom cultivation of any other basidiomycetes concerning the potential agronomic, economic and environmental benefits. This study presents findings with clear statements from the literature as well as own results focusing on the genetic analysis of genes acting in sexual reproduction and development in C. cinerea. Sexual reproduction and development in C. cinerea are regulated by the A and B mating type genes that encode two types of homeodomain transcription factors, pheromones and pheromone receptors, respectively. Coprinopsis cinerea has two different mycelial stages defined as the monokaryotic-(primary) and dikaryotic-(secondary) mycelium. When two compatible haploid monokaryons with different mating type alleles at A and B loci are fused, the fertile dikaryons are formed and developed into fruiting bodies, indicating that mating type genes regulate sexual development in C. cinerea. Self-fertile homokaryon AmutBmut strain with mutations in the A and B mating loci is ideal for production of mutants in fruiting body formation. Co-isogenic strains were generated by the repeated back-crossing against AmutBmut to analyze the genetic background of such mutants and the functions of genes in the fruiting pathway. Genetic analysis of AmutBmut fruiting mutants that are blocked at different stages in fruiting pathway will be described.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang Sub-District, Kuntarawichai District, Mahasarakham Province, 44150, Thailand.
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Loutchanwoot
D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D040461:Gene Components; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*