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Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lin, X; Huang, JC; Mitchell, TG; Heitman, J
Published in: PLoS Genetics
November 1, 2006

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal human pathogen with a bipolar mating system. It undergoes a dimorphic transition from a unicellular yeast to hyphal filamentous growth during mating and monokaryotic fruiting. The traditional sexual cycle that leads to the production of infectious basidiospores involves cells of both α and a mating type. Monokaryotic fruiting is a modified form of sexual reproduction that involves cells of the same mating type, most commonly α, which is the predominant mating type in both the environment and clinical isolates. However, some a isolates can also undergo monokaryotic fruiting. To determine whether mating type and other genetic loci contribute to the differences in fruiting observed between α and a cells, we applied quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping to an inbred population of F2 progeny. We discovered that variation in hyphal length produced during fruiting is a quantitative trait resulting from the combined effects of multiple genetic loci, including the mating type (MAT) locus. Importantly, the α allele of the MAT locus enhanced hyphal growth compared with the a allele. Other virulence traits, including melanization and growth at 39°C, also are quantitative traits that share a common QTL with hyphal growth. The Mac1 transcription factor, encoded in this common QTL, regulates copper homeostasis. MAC1 allelic differences contribute to phenotypic variation, and mac1Δ mutants exhibit defects in filamentation, melanin production, and high temperature growth. Further characterization of these QTL regions will reveal additional quantitative trait genes controlling biological processes central to fungal development and pathogenicity. © 2006 Lin et al.

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Published In

PLoS Genetics

DOI

EISSN

1553-7404

ISSN

1553-7390

Publication Date

November 1, 2006

Volume

2

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1801 / 1814

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental Biology
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 0604 Genetics
 

Citation

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Lin, X., Huang, J. C., Mitchell, T. G., & Heitman, J. (2006). Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation. PLoS Genetics, 2(11), 1801–1814. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020187
Lin, X., J. C. Huang, T. G. Mitchell, and J. Heitman. “Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation.” PLoS Genetics 2, no. 11 (November 1, 2006): 1801–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020187.
Lin X, Huang JC, Mitchell TG, Heitman J. Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation. PLoS Genetics. 2006 Nov 1;2(11):1801–14.
Lin, X., et al. “Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation.” PLoS Genetics, vol. 2, no. 11, Nov. 2006, pp. 1801–14. Scopus, doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0020187.
Lin X, Huang JC, Mitchell TG, Heitman J. Virulence attributes and hyphal growth of C. neoformans are quantitative traits and the MATα allele enhances filamentation. PLoS Genetics. 2006 Nov 1;2(11):1801–1814.

Published In

PLoS Genetics

DOI

EISSN

1553-7404

ISSN

1553-7390

Publication Date

November 1, 2006

Volume

2

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1801 / 1814

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental Biology
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 0604 Genetics