title: Functional Analysis of Developmentally Regulated Genes chs7 and sec22 in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora.
abstract: During sexual development, filamentous ascomycetes form complex, three-dimensional fruiting bodies for the generation and dispersal of spores. In previous studies, we identified genes with evolutionary conserved expression patterns during fruiting body formation in several fungal species. Here, we present the functional analysis of two developmentally up-regulated genes, chs7 and sec22, in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The genes encode a class VII (division III) chitin synthase and a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein, respectively. Deletion mutants of chs7 had normal vegetative growth and were fully fertile but showed sensitivity toward cell wall stress. Deletion of sec22 resulted in a reduced number of ascospores and in defects in ascospore pigmentation and germination, whereas vegetative growth was normal in the mutant. A SEC22-EGFP fusion construct under control of the native sec22 promoter and terminator regions was expressed during different stages of sexual development. Expression of several development-related genes was deregulated in the sec22 mutant, including three genes involved in melanin biosynthesis. Our data indicate that chs7 is dispensable for fruiting body formation in S. macrospora, whereas sec22 is required for ascospore maturation and germination and thus involved in late stages of sexual development.
authors: Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Traeger
authors: Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany minou.nowrousian@rub.de.
authors: Minou
authors: M
authors: Nowrousian
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D020037:Sordariales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002687:Chitin Synthase
keywords: SNARE protein; Sordaria macrospora; chitin synthase; fruiting body; sexual development