The transcription factor Rbf1 is the master regulator for b-mating type controlled pathogenic development in Ustilago maydis.
In the phytopathogenic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis, sexual and pathogenic development are tightly connected and controlled by the heterodimeric bE/bW transcription factor complex encoded by the b-mating type locus. The formation of the active bE/bW heterodimer leads to the formation of filaments, induces a G2 cell cycle arrest, and triggers pathogenicity. Here, we identify a set of 345 bE/bW responsive genes which show altered expression during these developmental changes; several of these genes are associated with cell cycle coordination, morphogenesis and pathogenicity. 90% of the genes that show altered expression upon bE/bW-activation require the zinc finger transcription factor Rbf1, one of the few factors directly regulated by the bE/bW heterodimer. Rbf1 is a novel master regulator in a multilayered network of transcription factors that facilitates the complex regulatory traits of sexual and pathogenic development.
Heimel
Kai
K
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Genetics, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Scherer
Mario
M
Vranes
Miroslav
M
Wahl
Ramon
R
Pothiratana
Chetsada
C
Schuler
David
D
Vincon
Volker
V
Finkernagel
Florian
F
Flor-Parra
Ignacio
I
Kämper
Jörg
J
D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002469:Cell Separation; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014588:Ustilago / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D014157:Transcription Factors