The control of meiosis progression in the fungus Coprinus cinereus by light/dark cycles

Meiosis progression in Coprinus cinereus is controlled by light/dark cycles. Light is essential to propel basidia into karyogamy and light intensity determines the timing of meiotic events. The higher the light intensities, the faster the fruiting bodies enter karyogamy. The critical period when light has this influence is between 16 and 6 h before karyogamy. The control is highly stage specific. A 3-h dark period is essential for a Java dikaryon and the Japanese A(mut)B(mut) homokaryon to enter meiotic metaphase; without it the fruit body is permanently arrested at diffused diplotene. This arrest is light intensity-dependent (>20 hlx) and temperature-dependent (e.g., 27 degrees C). The placement of the dark period is very stage specific; it has no effect when placed before karyogamy stage. A dikaryon of London origin is light blind and able to complete meiosis under continuous high light regime. Fruiting bodies arrested under a continuous high light can be rescued by a 3-h dark treatment, but there is always an 8-h lag time to enter meiotic metaphase. It is possible that the dark effect signals cellular processes leading to division events. Cytological studies of arrested fruiting bodies showed that chromosomes are normal in meiotic prophase through pachytene and diplotene, but are unable to undergo chromosome condensation. Genetic crosses between a monokaryon of Java stock J6;5.4 and a monokaryon BL55 or H5 of London stock showed that light-blindness is dominant, and is controlled by a single Mendelian gene.     

Influence of activated<Emphasis Type="Italic"> A</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> B</Emphasis> mating-type pathways on developmental processes in the basidiomycete<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Coprinus cinereus</Emphasis>

The A and B mating type pathways in Coprinus cinereus monokaryons can be activated by transformation with cloned genes from strains of compatible mating types. The presence of heterologous A mating-type genes (Aon) induces production of submerged chlamydospores, hyphal knots and sclerotia in cultures kept in the dark. Upon illumination of transformants of certain strains (218), fruiting body primordia may develop that arrest before karyogamy. Furthermore, formation of aerial spores (oidia) is repressed by the action of A mating type genes in the dark, but light overrides this repression. Heterologous B mating type genes enhance the effects of the A genes on developmental processes, and partially repress the negative action of light on A-mediated regulation of development. Most notably, A-induced fruiting occurs more efficiently and earlier when the B mating type pathway is also active (Bon). However, activation of the B pathway alone is not sufficient to induce fruiting. Unlike A-activated transformants, A+ B-activated transformants of monokaryon 218 form mature fruiting bodies. Therefore, the B genes control fruiting body maturation at the stage of karyogamy. Basidia within the fruiting bodies that were analysed contained four spores in a typical post-meiotic arrangement. In the absence of an activated A mating type pathway, B mating type genes cause deformation and hyperbranching of vegetative hyphae, a reduction in aerial mycelium, and invasion of the agar substrate - a phenotype resembling the "flat" phenotype known from B-activated Schizophyllum commune strains. B-activated transformants usually show enhanced production of chlamydospores and hyphal knots, but maturation of sclerotia is variably efficient. Activation of the B mating type pathway in monokaryons blocked acceptance of nuclei, but not activation of the A mating type pathway.     

Monokariotic fruiting body and clamp cell formation in Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii (Bunaharitake)

The ability to produce monokaryotic fruiting bodies and clamp cells in culture was examined in monokaryotic strain isolated from several dikaryotic parental strains of the edible mushroom, Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii (Bunaharitake). We describe a single dikaryotic M. aitchisonii strain, TUFC50005, and 20 monokaryons derived from it, which exhibited a wide spectrum of monokaryotic fruiting types. Most strains formed primordia, or young fruiting body-like structures, but only one of the monokaryons, strain TUFC50005-4, formed a fruiting body, even though it had only one nucleus and produced only two spores after meiosis. We demonstrated that dikariotization was not required for clamp cell formation, fruiting body formation, or meiosis, in this mushroom.     

Molecular cloning of RNAs differentially expressed in monokaryons and dikaryons ofSchizophyllum commune in relation to fruiting

A complementary DNA library cloned in pBR327 was prepared from RNA of a fruiting dikaryon of the basidiomyceteSchizophyllum commune. An improved colony-lysis method led to the isolation of complementary DNA clones hybridizing to nine different RNAs abundantly present in the fruiting dikaryon but present in very low or undetectable levels in the monokaryons. One of these RNAs, measuring 580 nucleotides, was exceptional in contributing more than 3% to the mRNA mass of the fruiting dikaryon. A role of the detected dikaryon-specific RNAs in fruiting was suggested by (i) their absence or low concentration in vegetatively growing monokaryons or the dikaryon, (ii) their steep increase in concentration during fruit-body formation in the dikaryon, (iii) a higher concentration of most of these RNAs in the fruit-body initials than in the supporting mycelium, and (iv) their prevalence in full-grown fruit bodies. The “fruiting-specific” RNAs were also present in a suspension-grown dikaryon, in the absence of fruiting, but in concentrations less than 10% of those in surface-grown fruiting dikaryon. The level of expression of these RNAs in the monokaryons was even lower or undetectable. Since the dikaryon and the monokaryons are otherwise coisogenic, it appears that the presence of two different incompatibility genes in the dikaryon allows for a low level of expression of the “fruiting genes” even in the absence of fruiting, whereas the genes are fully expressed under conditions permitting fruit-body formation.     

SC3 and SC4 hydrophobins have distinct roles in formation of aerial structures in dikaryons of Schizophyllum commune

Two monokaryons of Schizophyllum commune can form a fertile dikaryon when the mating-type genes differ. Monokaryons form sterile aerial hyphae, while dikaryons also form fruiting bodies that function in sexual reproduction. The SC3 hydrophobin gene is expressed both in monokaryons and in dikaryons. The SC4 hydrophobin is dikaryon specific. In the monokaryon, SC3 lowers the water surface tension, coats aerial hyphae with a hydrophobic layer and mediates attachment of hyphae to hydrophobic surfaces. The SC4 protein lines gas channels within fruiting bodies with a hydrophobic membrane. Using gene disruptions, in this study, we show that in dikaryons SC3 fulfils the same roles as in monokaryons. SC4, on the other hand, has a role within fruiting bodies. In contrast to gas channels in fruiting bodies of the wild type, those of a DeltaSC4 strain easily filled with water. Thus, SC4 prevents gas channels filling with water under wet conditions, probably serving uninterrupted gas exchange. Other dikaryon-specific hydrophobin genes, SC1 and SC6, apparently do not substitute for the SC4 gene. In addition, by expressing the SC4 gene behind the SC3 promoter in a DeltaSC3 monokaryon, it was shown that SC4 cannot fully substitute for SC3, indicating that both hydrophobins evolved to fulfil specific functions.     

Isolation and characterization of a sporeless mutant in Pleurotus eryngii

A sporeless mutant dikaryon, completely defective in sporulation, was isolated from mycelial protoplasts of Pleurotus eryngii mutagenized by UV irradiation. Newly established dikaryons between one component monokaryon from the mutant, and 12 different wild type monokaryons from 3 other wild type dikaryons, all exhibited the sporeless phenotype, whereas those between the other monokaryon and the same wild type monokaryons all produced normal fruiting bodies. These results indicated that the sporeless mutation was induced in one of two nuclei of the mutant and was dominant. In the wild type basidia, the pattern of nuclear behavior during sporulation corresponded to the pattern C nuclear behavior as defined by Duncan and Galbraith. Cytological observation revealed that in the sporeless mutant meiosis was blocked at the meta-anaphase I in most basidia and hence basidiospores and sterigmata were not produced. Although fruiting bodies of the sporeless mutant showed a somewhat leaning growth, their gross morphology and its fruiting body productivity were comparable to that of the original wild type strain. Based on these results, it was considered that the sporeless mutant could serve as a potential material in breeding of sporeless P. eryngii commercial strains.     

Isolation and characterization of a sporeless mutant in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis>

 A sporeless mutant dikaryon, completely defective in sporulation, was isolated from mycelial protoplasts of Pleurotus eryngii mutagenized by UV irradiation. Newly established dikaryons between one component monokaryon from the mutant, and 12 different wild type monokaryons from 3 other wild type dikaryons, all exhibited the sporeless phenotype, whereas those between the other monokaryon and the same wild type monokaryons all produced normal fruiting bodies. These results indicated that the sporeless mutation was induced in one of two nuclei of the mutant and was dominant. In the wild type basidia, the pattern of nuclear behavior during sporulation corresponded to the pattern C nuclear behavior as defined by Duncan and Galbraith. Cytological observation revealed that in the sporeless mutant meiosis was blocked at the meta-anaphase I in most basidia and hence basidiospores and sterigmata were not produced. Although fruiting bodies of the sporeless mutant showed a somewhat leaning growth, their gross morphology and its fruiting body productivity were comparable to that of the original wild type strain. Based on these results, it was considered that the sporeless mutant could serve as a potential material in breeding of sporeless P. eryngii commercial strains. Received: September 5, 2002 / Accepted: October 16, 2002 Acknowledgments We are grateful to Mrs. Motoe Masuda for her skillful technical assistance. Contribution no. 358 from the Tottori Mycological Institute Correspondence to:Y. Obatake     

A common genetic control of dikaryotic and monokaryotic fruiting in the basidiomycete Agrocybe aegerita

Summary In the edible mushroom Agrocybe aegerita (Agaricales) fruit bodies may be formed in both the sexual and asexual cycle. The major difference between the two types of fruit bodies is that the latter are smaller and contain only two spores on each basidium. Sexual fruiting requires the establishment of a dikaryon which is under the control of the well known incompatibility factors A and B. Asexual fruiting starts directly from a monokaryon. In both dikaryotic and monokaryotic fruiting the same two genes (fi ⁺ , fb ⁺ )are responsible for the initiation and differentiation of fruit bodies respectively. This shows that the morphogenetic procedures leading to fruit body formation in higher basidiomycetes are not necessarily correlated with the sexual cycle. These findings are significant for basic and applied research.     

香菇交配型因子次级重组体的鉴定

对13个香菇菌株的担孢子后代进行了交配型分析,其中8个菌株非亲和反应与亲和反应之比与预期的3∶1的比例无显著差异。另外5个菌株非亲和反应与亲和反应之比不符合3∶1,其中4个菌株在0.05显著水平的X2值仅略高于理论值,而另一菌株HL01具有特殊的表现,其单核体132个随机配对的非亲和反应与亲和反应之比为82∶50,X2值显著偏离3∶1的临界值。用4个标准测试菌株鉴定了来自HL01同一子实体的189个孢子单核体的交配型,在189个单核体中,161个单核体归于4种正常交配型(A1B1,A2B2,A1B2,A2B1)之一。而另外28个可能源于次级重组的单核体可分成另外4个类群。通过以所有可能的组合进行配对杂交,进一步分析了28个单核体的交配型。结果表明,次级重组同时在A因子和B因子中发生,重组值分别为8.5%和11.6%。A因子至少由2个亚基组成而B因子可能由不止2个亚基组成。随后的出菇试验表明,至少含有1个重组体的所有可亲和配对均具有结实能力。     

A DNA Damage Checkpoint Pathway Coordinates the Division of Dikaryotic Cells in the Ink Cap Mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea

The fungal fruiting body or mushroom is a multicellular structure essential for sexual reproduction. It is composed of dikaryotic cells that contain one haploid nucleus from each mating partner sharing the same cytoplasm without undergoing nuclear fusion. In the mushroom, the pileus bears the hymenium, a layer of cells that includes the specialized basidia in which nuclear fusion, meiosis, and sporulation occur. Coprinopsis cinerea is a well-known model fungus used to study developmental processes associated with the formation of the fruiting body. Here we describe that knocking down the expression of Atr1 and Chk1, two kinases shown to be involved in the response to DNA damage in a number of eukaryotic organisms, dramatically impairs the ability to develop fruiting bodies in C. cinerea, as well as other developmental decisions such as sclerotia formation. These developmental defects correlated with the impairment in silenced strains to sustain an appropriated dikaryotic cell cycle. Dikaryotic cells in which chk1 or atr1 genes were silenced displayed a higher level of asynchronous mitosis and as a consequence aberrant cells carrying an unbalanced dose of nuclei. Since fruiting body initiation is dependent on the balanced mating-type regulator doses present in the dikaryon, we believe that the observed developmental defects were a consequence of the impaired cell cycle in the dikaryon. Our results suggest a connection between the DNA damage response cascade, cell cycle regulation, and developmental processes in this fungus.     

糙皮侧耳染色体计数和担孢子形成过程中细胞核行为的研究

糙皮侧耳(Pleurotus ostreatus)菌褶经有丝分裂阻断剂预处理、原生质体铺片和Gie-msa 染色并结合苏木精染色后,经过多次反复实验观察,证明糙皮侧耳的染色体条数为 9(n=9);糙皮侧耳从菌褶分化完成到子实体完全成熟的过程中,不断有少量新的双核担子产生,发生核配直到释放担孢子。其减数分裂同步性不高。减数分裂后,4个子核分别进入4个担孢子中,留下中空的担子。     

Molecular genetics of sexual development in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus

Sexual development in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus is under the control of two mating type loci, A and B. When two haploid homokaryons with compatible alleles at both A and B loci are mated, the coordinated activities of A- and B-regulated pathways lead to formation of a mycelium termed the dikaryon, in which the two nuclei from the mating partners pair in each cell without fusing. The dikaryon is a prolonged mycelial stage that can be induced to develop a multicellular structure, the mushroom, under proper environmental conditions. The two nuclei fuse in specialized cells on the mushroom and immediately undergo meiosis to complete the sexual life cycle. It has been established recently that the A genes encode two classes of homeodomain proteins while the B genes encode pheromones and their receptors. More recently, molecular genetics has been used to reveal genes that work downstream of the mating type genes to regulate dikaryon formation, mushroom morphogenesis, and meiosis.     

香菇沪香F2菌株重要农艺性状在F2和F3代中的遗传规律

以香菇菌株“沪香F2”及其自交优良F2代菌株“申香1504”为实验材料,收集孢子单核体,对其交配型进行鉴定,然后通过单孢自交的方法,构建F2和F3代群体,并对孢子单核体、F2、F3代群体各阶段培养、出菇情况以及重要农艺性状进行详细统计分析,研究各性状表型分化的情况及遗传规律。结果表明：2个亲本所获得的孢子单核体中A₂B₁交配型比例均为最高,根据孢子单核体交配型数量分别设计了1 028和972个F2和F3代自交配对组合。在2个群体中,配对阶段,分别有15.47%和23.56%的配对组合由于菌丝生长缓慢无法获得后代双核体菌株,且F3代显著高于F2代;生产种培养阶段,出现不良性状的菌株数量分别为7.78%和9.57%;菌棒培养阶段,出现不良性状的菌株数量分别为41.05%和49.28%,且F3代退化菌株比例显著高于F2代,不转色菌株比例显著低于F2代;出菇阶段,分别有3.11%和4.32%的菌株不现蕾,分别有13.04%和4.32%的菌株出畸形菇,分别有19.55%和8.95%的菌株能出正常菇,且F2代出正常菇的菌株比例显著高于F3代。“沪香F2”和“申香1504”分别有26个和8个孢子单核体,多次配对获得的杂交子,出正常菇的概率达50%以上。2个群体的平均单棒产量、平均单棒菇数、平均单菇重表现出明显的分化现象,且两个群体之间均存在极显著性差异。与F2代相比,F3代的产量分布、菇数分布表现出偏分离现象,平均单棒产量低于F2代43.84%,平均单棒菇数低于F2代56.77%。香菇“沪香F2”菌株在F3代中的培养、出菇情况以及农艺性状整体表现劣于F2代,且在F2代中获得表现优于亲本的高产品种,在F3代中获得大朵型品种,对香菇优良菌株选育具有重要的指导作用。     

Dikaryotic fruiting body development in a single dikaryon of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrocybe aegerita</Emphasis> and the spectrum of monokaryotic fruiting types in its monokaryotic progeny

Using monokaryotic offspring from several dikaryotic parental strains, the phenomenon of monokaryotic fruiting has been previously analysed in the commercially cultivated high-quality edible mushroom Agrocybe aegerita, revealing a variety of monokaryotic fruiting types. Here, we report a single dikaryotic A. aegerita strain, A. aegerita AAE-3, and 40 monokaryons derived from it, which exhibit a wide spectrum of monokaryotic fruiting types, including a rare, previously unknown type. Advantageously, the selected parental strain A. aegerita AAE-3 completes its life cycle within three weeks by the formation of dikaryotic fruiting bodies of typical agaric morphology on malt extract agar plates. In order to morphologically compare normal dikaryotic fruiting to monokaryotic fruiting, histology was performed from all dikaryotic fruiting body development stages and all fruiting types of monokaryotic origin. No clamp connections or dikaryotic hyphae were observed within the plectenchyma of monokaryotic fruiting stages. Among the monokaryotic fruiting types of the A. aegerita AAE-3-derived monokaryons, we also characterised the rare ‘stipe type’ here described as ‘elongated initials type’ as no differentiation into a future cap and stipe was seen. The two mating-compatible monokaryotic strains representing the extremes of the fruiting type spectrum observed, A. aegerita AAE-3-13 (‘mycelium type’) and A. aegerita AAE-3-32 (‘abortive?+?true homokaryotic fruiting fruiter type, AHF?+?THF fruiter type’), were also found to readily produce oidia (arthrospores). In order to obtain a set of mating-compatible monokaryons covering the whole observed spectrum of monokaryotic fruiting, the two monokaryons A. aegerita AAE-3-40 (‘initials type’) and A. aegerita AAE-3-37 (‘elongated initials type’) have been selected for their mating compatibility with A. aegerita AAE-3-32 and A. aegerita AAE-3-13, respectively. Together with the parental dikaryotic strain A. aegerita AAE-3, this set of standard monokaryons could prove useful for studies exploring the factors regulating monokaryotic fruiting in comparison to dikaryotic mushroom formation.     

Basidiospore formation in monokaryotic fruiting bodies of a mutant strain of Coprinus macrorhizus

The process of basidiospore formation in a mutant strain Fis^c of Coprinus macrorhizus, a heterothallic species of Basidiomycete, which forms monokaryotic fruiting bodies was examined. A single nucleus in a young basidium divided mitotically and two daughter nuclei were fused subsequently. The fused nucleus then divided meiotically forming four basidiospores on a basidium. The typical chromosome behaviours in the first meiotic prophase were observed. Synaptonemal complexes were observed in a basidium at the first meiotic prophase. A continuous illumination of fruiting bodies was effective to arrest meiosis in monokaryotic fruiting bodies at the particular stage of meiotic division.     

Fruiting body productivity of protoplast-derived clones inLentinula edodes

More than 100 dikaryotic clones (protoclones) derived from mycelial protoplasts of aLentinula edodes dikaryon were examined for their mycelial growth and fruiting body productivity. These protoclones exhibited a variety of vegetative mycelial growth rates, but no apparent difference in colonial morphology compared with the original (parental) dikaryon. Protoclones were cultivated on wood logs under natural conditions, and they exhibited a very wide range of fruiting body yields. Of the 134 protoclones, four were selected that produced a 30–40% increase in dry weight of fruiting body yield over that of the original dikaryon. This high productivity of fruiting bodies was maintained for at least several years. The present results suggest thatL. edodes protoclones can be practically used in strain improvement to increase the capability of fruiting body formation. Contribution No. 287 from the Tottori Mycological Institute.     

Photosporogenesis of Coprinus congregatus: Correlations between the physiological age of lamellae and the development of their potential for renewed fruiting

When the hymenial lamellae of Coprinus congregatus Bull ex Fr. are used as implants, their potential for renewed fruiting varies according to the photocontrolled meiosis and the consecutive sporogenesis. In the case of young lamellae, whose basidia are still at the dikaryon stage, one can observe immediate start of mycelial growth all around the lamellae and production of the first mature sporophores directly on the lamellae (direct fruiting). Simultaneously, meiosis does not occur in hymenial cells. Conversely, in the case of implantation of the oldest lamellae, whose basidia are characterized by meiotic nuclei beyond prophase 1 and rather near telophase 2 (tetranucleate stage), vegetative growth starts slowly and the first mature sporophores are not produced on the lamellae but on the surrounding vegetative mycelium (indirect fruiting). When the lamellae are isolated from photoindifferent primordia – for instance, 12 h before maturity – sporogenesis in hymenial cells proceeds normally until autolysis of the isolated lamellae. Such isolated lamellae no longer show direct fruiting where the first flush is concerned.