The Phytophthora mating hormone α2 is an antagonist of the counterhormone α1

The crop destroyer Phytophthora uses mating hormones α1 and α2 to commence its sexual reproduction. The α1-induced sexual reproduction of the A2 mating type was unexpectedly found to be interfered with by the counterhormone α2 that the A2 type itself produces to induce the sexual reproduction of the A1 type. A plausible mechanism is proposed based on structure–activity relationships.     

Structure-activity relationship of α hormones, the mating factors of phytopathogen Phytophthora

The mating hormones α1 and α2 induce sexual reproduction of the phytopathogenic genus Phytophthora. To demonstrate the structural elements responsible to hormonal activity, 17 derivatives of α1 and α2 were synthesized and their hormonal activity (oospore-inducing activity) was evaluated. The terminal ester derivatives of α1 (diacetate and dibenzoate) retained the hormonal activity, whereas a dicarbamate derivative completely suppressed the activity. Even monocarbamates showed weak activities; among them the 1-O-carbamate was less active than 16-O-carbamate, suggesting that the 1-OH group is a little more important than 16-OH. Dihydro, dehydro, and demethyl derivatives exhibited the minimum level of activity. Surviving activity of 15-epi-α1 suggested a less importance of this stereochemistry. Contrary to α1, not only the terminal diacetate derivative but also monoacetates of α2 exhibited no or little activity. Among the monoacetates, 1-O-acetyl-α2 exhibited little yet relatively better activity than the others. No activity was observed for mono- and dicarbamoyl derivatives of α2. Dihydro α2 with the saturated double bond lost most of the activity. These findings suggest that both the mating hormones α1 and α2 require most of the functional (hydroxyl, keto, and olefinic) groups they possess in their natural form for inducing the sexual reproduction of Phytophthora.     

CHEMICAL NATURE OF YEAST SEXUAL HORMONES

From culture media of yeast cells of the two mating types, a and α, hormones, which made cells of the opposite mating type expand, were extracted with methylene chloride. They were then isolated by either thin layer chromatography or vacuum distillation. The isolated hormones showed color reactions of steroidal compounds. According to Rf values and UV absorption spectra, the two yeast hormones apparently are different from testosterone and estradiol, which have activity similar to that of the yeast sexual hormones excreted by a and α type cells, respectively.     

Presence and functionality of mating type genes in the supposedly asexual filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae

The potential for sexual reproduction in Aspergillus oryzae was assessed by investigating the presence and functionality of MAT genes. Previous genome studies had identified a MAT1-1 gene in the reference strain RIB40. We now report the existence of a complementary MAT1-2 gene and the sequencing of an idiomorphic region from A. oryzae strain AO6. This allowed the development of a PCR diagnostic assay, which detected isolates of the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genotypes among 180 strains assayed, including industrial tane-koji isolates. Strains used for sake and miso production showed a near-1:1 ratio of the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating types, whereas strains used for soy sauce production showed a significant bias toward the MAT1-2 mating type. MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 isogenic strains were then created by genetic manipulation of the resident idiomorph, and gene expression was compared by DNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) methodologies under conditions in which MAT genes were expressed. Thirty-three genes were found to be upregulated more than 10-fold in either the MAT1-1 host strain or the MAT1-2 gene replacement strain relative to each other, showing that both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes functionally regulate gene expression in A. oryzae in a mating type-dependent manner, the first such report for a supposedly asexual fungus. MAT1-1 expression specifically upregulated an α-pheromone precursor gene, but the functions of most of the genes affected were unknown. The results are consistent with a heterothallic breeding system in A. oryzae, and prospects for the discovery of a sexual cycle are discussed.     

Characterization of α-factor pheromone and pheromone receptor genes of Ashbya gossypii

The genome of Ashbya gossypii contains homologs of most of the genes that are part of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone-signal transduction cascade. However, we currently lack understanding of a potential sexual cycle for this pre-whole genome duplication hemiascomycete. The sequenced strain bears three identical copies encoding MATa. We show that the syntenic A. gossypii homolog of MFα1 (AFL062w) does not encode a mature α-factor peptide, but identified another gene, AAR163c, which encodes a candidate α-specific mating pheromone and is thus reannotated as AgMFα2. The expression of the AgSTE2α-factor receptor in an Scste2 S. cerevisiae MATa strain resulted in dosage-dependent growth arrest upon exposure to A. gossypiiα-factor, which indicated that the pheromone response was effectively coupled to the S. cerevisiae signal transduction cascade. Comparison of α-pheromones and α-pheromone receptors showed greater conservation between Eremothecium cymbalariae and S. cerevisiae than between A. gossypii and E. cymbalariae. We constructed A. gossypii strains deleted for the STE2 and STE3 pheromone receptors. These strains showed no phenotypic abnormalities and an ste2, ste3 double mutant is still able to sporulate. The deletion of STE12 as the downstream target of pheromone signalling, however, led to a hypersporulation phenotype.     

黑木耳交配型的研究*

从黑木耳Auricularia auricula沪3菌株的子实体收集、分离、鉴定得到157株单孢子萌发的单核菌丝体,以其中73株孢子单核体为材料进行交配实验,经过三轮交配反应,结果表明,木耳的交配型符合四极性交配系统的分布规律。根据四种交配反应情况把73株孢子单核体分为四组,并从四组中挑选出B17、B177、B101、B65作为四种交配型的标准菌株;与此同时,从沪3菌株的双核菌丝体制备的原生质体中获得53株原生质体单核体,对这些单核体进行交配,确定出两种亲本交配型,以Y150(A1B1)和Y121(A2B2)作为标准菌株,将两个亲本交配型标准菌株与四个孢子单核体标准菌株进行交配反应,初步确定出四种孢子单核体的交配型分别为: B17 (A2B2)、B177(A1B1)、B101(A2B1)和B65(A1B2)。     

Control of yeast cell type by the mating type locus: I. Identification and control of expression of the a-specific gene BAR1

The MATα allele of the yeast mating type locus confers the α mating phenotype and contains two complementation groups, MATα1 and MATα2. The α1–α2 hypothesis proposes that MATα1 is a positive regulator of α-specific genes and that MATα2 is a negative regulator of a-specific genes. According to this hypothesis, matα2 mutants, which are defective in mating and in production of extracellular α-factor, express both a-specific functions (because they lack MATα2 product) and α-specific functions (because they contain MATα1 product). Failure to produce extracellular α-factor results from antagonism between these functions; in particular, because α-factor (an α-specific function) is degraded by an a-specific function. If this view is correct, matα2 mutants should acquire the ability to produce α-factor if they also carry a defect in the gene(s) responsible for α-factor degradation. We have isolated a derivative of a matα2 mutant that produces α-factor and have characterized the suppressor mutation in this strain. (1) This strain carries a mutation (bar1-1) tightly linked to HIS6 (on chromosome IX) that allows matα2 mutants to produce α-factor. (2) It does not allow matα1 mutants to produce α-factor. (3) Haploids of the a mating type bearing the bar1-1 mutation still mate, but are unable to act as a barrier to the diffusion of α-factor. MATa bar1-1 cells display increased sensitivity to α-factor. (4) A mutation (sst1?2) that causes increased sensitivity to α-factor is allelic to bar1-1 and also allows α-factor synthesis by matα2 mutants. The ability of matα2 bar1 double mutants to produce extracellular α-factor indicates that matα2 mutants do produce α-factor but that it is degraded by the Barrier function. These results suggest that BAR1 is normally expressed only in a cells, and is negatively regulated in α cells by the MATα2 product.     

Control of yeast cell type by the mating type locus: II. Genetic interactions between MATα and unlinked α-specific STE genes

The alleles of the yeast mating type locus, MATα and MATa, determine the yeast cell types, a,α, and a/α. It has been proposed that the MATα2 product negatively regulates expression of unlinked a-specific genes, and that the MATα1 product positively regulates expression of unlinked α-specific genes. The behavior of mutants defective in MATα2, which are deficient in mating and in production of α-factor, can thus be attributed to antagonism between a-specific and α-specific functions expressed simultaneously in matα2^? strains. If this view is correct, then elimination by mutation of the specific functions required to mate as α may allow matα2 mutants to mate as a. In order to test this possibility, we examined the interactions between matα2 mutations and various unlinked mutations that cause α cells but not a cells to be mating defective (α-specific STE mutations). Three α-specific mutations (ste3, ste13 and kex2) were found to be non-allelic. Furthermore, although matα2 mutants mate weakly as a, matα2, ste3 double mutants, but not matα2 ste13 or matα2 kex2 double mutants, mate efficiently as a. The ability of matα2 ste3 strains to mate as a supports the view that matα2 mutants express a-specific mating functions, and suggests that a mating functions are expressed constitutively in MATa cells. The mating behaviour of the matα2 ste3 double mutant is consistent with the proposal that STE3 is positively regulated by the MATα1 product.     

Duckling toxicity and the production of fumonisin and moniliformin by isolates in the A and E mating populations of Gibberella fujikuroi (Fusarium moniliforme).

Two biological species of Gibberella fujikuroi (A and F mating populations) share the Fusarium moniliforme anamorph. Twenty strains of each of these biological species were tested for the ability to produce fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 and moniliformin and for toxicity to 1-day-old ducklings. Most of the members of the A mating population (19 of 20 strains) produced more than 60 micrograms of total fumonisins per g, whereas only 3 of 20 members of the F mating population produced more than trace levels of these toxins and none produced more than 40 micrograms of total fumonisins per g. In addition, only 3 of 20 members of the A mating population produced more than 1 microgram of moniliformin per g (and none produced more than 175 micrograms/g), while all 20 strains of the F mating population produced more than 85 micrograms of this toxin per g and 1 strain produced 10,345 micrograms/g. The duckling toxicity profiles of the strains of the two mating populations were similar, however, and the level of either toxin by itself was not strongly correlated with duckling toxicity. On the basis of our data we think that it is likely that the members of both of these mating populations produce additional toxins that have yet to be chemically identified. These toxins may act singly or synergistically with other compounds to induce the observed duckling toxicity.     

Through a glass opaquely: the biological significance of mating in Candida albicans

Most Candida albicans strains are heterozygous at the MTL (mating-type-like) locus, but mating occurs in hemi- or homozygous strains. The white-opaque switch process is repressed by the heterodimer of the MTLa1 and MTLalpha2 gene products, while mating genes are induced by a2 and alpha1. Mating occurs in opaque cells and produces tetraploid progeny. A small percentage (3-7%) of clinical isolates are homozygous at the MTL locus and most are mating-competent. MTL gene expression is controlled in part by a gene which activates MTLalpha genes and represses MTLa genes in response to hemoglobin. A failure to find meiosis and the lack of evidence of mating in vivo, together with some of the properties of opaque cells, leads to the suggestion that mating may have persisted because the tightly associated switch facilitates the commensal lifestyle of this fungus.     

中国香菇交配型和基因型的分析

自1987—1990,在长江以南九省(区)采集52个香菇品系,43株制作了孢子印用以检测交配型,又以检测A.B因子位点的等位基因方法测定了担孢子的基因型,保藏了以A_xB_x(或A_xB_y……)标记的标准单核菌丝体,这是建立中国香菇种质库的第一步,将为香菇杂交育种提供有效亲本。结果表明:每一菌株的四个交配型呈随机分配。具有四个交配型的菌株百分率是79%,有二个交配型的香菇菌株百分率是21%。有9个菌株的单核菌丝的基因型从A_1B_1……A_(18)B_(18)不同,A.B因子等位基因差异明显,这些菌株显示了A.B因子的很低的地区性重复频率。本项研究中建立了区分同宗A同宗B以及四个交配型的试验方法,遵循着核移动的规律,这个方法能够重复。     

Efficient production of ethanol from raw starch by a mated diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae with integrated α-amylase and glucoamylase genes

The goal of this research was to construct a stable and efficient process for the production of ethanol from raw starch, using a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is productive even under conditions such as non-selection or long-term operation. Three recombinant yeast strains were used, two haploid strains (MT8-1SS and NBRC1440SS) and one diploid strain (MN8140SS). The recombinant strains were constructed by integrating the glucoamylase gene from Rhizopus oryzae fused with the 3′-half of the α-agglutinin gene as the anchor protein, and the α-amylase gene from Streptococcus bovis, respectively, into their chromosomal DNA by homologous recombination. The diploid strain MN8140SS was constructed by mating these opposite types of integrant haploid strains in order to enhance the expression of integrated amylase genes. The diploid strain had the highest ethanol productivity and reusability during fermentation from raw starch. Moreover, the ethanol production rate of the integrant diploid strain was maintained when batch fermentation was repeated three times (0.67, 0.60, and 0.67 g/l/h in each batch). These results clearly show that a diploid strain developed by mating two integrant haploid strains is useful for the establishment of an efficient ethanol production process.     

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌萘啶酸抗性菌株的选育和信号标签突变株的构建

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(APP)是重要的猪呼吸道病原菌,给世界养猪业造成严重的经济损失.信号标签突变(STM)技术是在宿主动物体内鉴定病原菌毒力因子的高通量方法.通过体外传代选育出APP血清1型和3型萘啶酸抗性菌株,再以萘啶酸抗性菌株为受体菌,以携带mini-Tn10的标签质粒(pLOF/TAG1-48)的E.coli CC118 λ pir或S17-1λpir为供体菌,在或不在E.coli DH5α(pRK2073)的辅助下,进行三亲本或两亲本接合,通过抗性筛选、PCR和Southern杂交鉴定转座突变株.结果表明:体外萘啶酸加压传代很容易选育出萘啶酸抗性APP菌株,该抗性的产生与DNA促旋酶A亚基基因gyrA的突变有关.在APP与E. coli接合实验中,两亲本接合比三亲本接合操作更简单,效率也较高;APP不同菌株在接合和转座效率上存在很大差异,血清1型菌株高于血清3型菌株,3型标准菌株高于地方分离株JL03-R.本研究为APP STM突变体库的构建与毒力基因的鉴定奠定了基础.     

单孢分离菌株的异核不对称特性揭示梯棱羊肚菌为假同宗结合真菌

本文以基因组数据显示只具有MAT1-1 idiomorph的单孢菌株YPL6-3和只具有MAT1-2 idiomorph的单孢菌株YPL6-1为材料,研究它们子代的子囊果、单孢菌株群体和同一子囊中8个单孢菌株的交配型分布情况。YPL6-3和YPL6-1菌株分别隔离栽培和互补混栽均能形成正常的子囊果,其子囊果菌柄交配型分布与亲本菌株有关。PCR扩增检测235株子代单孢菌株的交配基因出现有趣现象：一些菌株的MAT1-1-1基因电泳条带强,而MAT1-2-1基因的条带弱;另一些菌株则MAT1-1-1基因条带弱,而MAT1-2-1基因条带强。同时也有两基因条带都强或者一基因条带强,另一基因无条带的菌株。从3个子囊果中共挑取了10个子囊,并对每个子囊中的单孢进行独立分离,PCR扩增并电泳检测交配基因时也出现了上述相同的情况。若MAT1-1-1强,则MAT1-2-1弱或无,这样的菌株在同一子囊中不会超出4个,反之亦然。利用长片段PCR扩增YPL6-1和YPL6-3菌株的全长MAT idiomorph,利用Nanopore测序技术对扩增子进行单分子实时测序,2次重复实验的序列比对发现：菌株YPL6-1中存在99.63%和99.81%的MAT1-2 idiomorph分子及0.37%和0.19%的MAT1-1 idiomorph分子;菌株YPL6-3中存在99.45%和99.74%的MAT1-1 idiomorph 分子及0.55%和0.26%的MAT1-2 idiomorph分子。从而证实,这2个基因组测序和PCR扩增都只能检测到一种交配型的菌株,其实是异核菌株,只是2种交配型核的数量占比存在较大偏离。根据上述现象推断,梯棱羊肚菌的子囊孢子都是异核的,萌发后形成的单孢菌株具有异核不对称特点,从而推测梯棱羊肚菌是一种特殊的假同宗子囊菌,同时也揭示了梯棱羊肚菌单孢出菇的真相。     

A pheromone receptor gene, pre-1, is essential for mating type-specific directional growth and fusion of trichogynes and female fertility in Neurospora crassa

Neurospora crassa is a heterothallic filamentous fungus with two mating types, mat a and mat A. Its mating involves differentiation of female reproductive structures (protoperithecia) and chemotropic growth of female-specific hyphae (trichogynes) towards a cell of the opposite mating type in a pheromone-mediated process. In this study, we characterize the pre-1 gene, encoding a predicted G-protein-coupled receptor with sequence similarity to fungal pheromone receptors. pre-1 is most highly expressed in mat A strains under mating conditions, but low levels can also be detected in mat a strains. Analysis of pre-1 deletion mutants showed that loss of pre-1 does not greatly affect vegetative growth, heterokaryon formation or male fertility in either mating type. Protoperithecia from Deltapre-1 mat A mutants do not undergo fertilization; this defect largely stems from an inability of their trichogynes to recognize and fuse with mat a cells. Previous work has demonstrated that the Galpha subunit, GNA-1, and the Gbeta protein, GNB-1, are essential for female fertility in N. crassa. Trichogynes of Deltagna-1 and Deltagnb-1 mutants displayed severe defects in growth towards and fusion with male cells, similar to that of Deltapre-1 mat A strains. However, the female sterility defect of the Deltapre-1 mat A mutant could not be complemented by constitutive activation of gna-1, suggesting additional layers of regulation. We propose that PRE-1 is a pheromone receptor coupled to GNA-1 that is essential for the mating of mat A strains as females, consistent with a role in launching the pheromone response pathway in N. crassa.     

互补交配型配对诱导蛹虫草有性子实体形成

前期我们获得了优良性状蛹虫草Cordyceps militaris野生菌株W141436,其子实体虫草素含量高达3.72 mg/kg干重,子实体多糖高达6.7 g/100 g干重,但在大规模应用中发现它发生退化。针对蛹虫草人工栽培退化问题,我们提出蛹虫草子实体形成是有性生殖过程,其两种交配型发生交配是蛹虫草子实体形成的必要条件。本文基于交配型基因分子标记研究了优良性状蛹虫草野生菌株W141436的退化机制。具体地,采用单孢子分离的方法对蛹虫草野生分离株W141436的子囊孢子进行分离,得到了72个单孢菌株。进一步采用PCR方法对单孢菌株及亲本菌株进行了交配型基因类型鉴定。在72个单孢菌株中,28株为Mat1-1类型交配基因型,31株为Mat1-2类型交配基因型,13株含有与亲本相同的交配型基因。根据鉴定结果,对2株Mat1-1型(SP28、SP33)和2株Mat1-2型(SP15、SP32)菌株进行了栽培实验。结果表明,形成子实体的栽培用亲本菌株同时含有Mat1-1和Mat1-2两种交配类型基因,即只有含不同交配型基因的菌株具有发育为子实体的能力,而含同种交配型基因的菌株则不能发育为子实体。本研究为防止蛹虫草在大规模种植中退化提供了理论依据。     

Directed Replacement of Mt a by Mt a-1 Effects a Mating Type Switch in Neurospora Crassa

To test the functions of a mating type genes, we developed an efficient strategy to select transformants of Neurospora crassa in which resident A mating type DNA was replaced by cloned DNA from the mt a idiomorph. Cloned a idiomorphic DNA could specify all functions, including fertility, of a mating type, but only when it replaced A DNA at the mating type locus. Only the mt a-1 region of the a idiomorph was necessary in order to specify a mating type. Gene replacement events involved the homologous sequences flanking the unique mating type idiomorphic DNA, resulting in apparently isogenic a and A strains. These isogenic strains were fertile when crossed with one another, indicating that no determinants outside the transforming DNA are necessary for fertility as a and that no host sequences of A strains interfere with fertility as a. One a replacement strain bore a duplication of the transforming mt a-1 and hph DNA. The duplication strain had unexpected properties. Although mating type segregated 1:1 in crosses of this strain to A, the duplicated regions were efficiently altered during the sexual process to generate a single copy in the progeny. No progeny were recovered that had undergone RIP (repeat induced point mutation) sufficient to inactivate the mt a-1 gene. We infer that the mt a-1 gene is necessary and sufficient to specify a mating type identity in all vegetative and sexual activities. Mt a-1 may also play an essential role in ascosporogenesis after fertilization.