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Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete.

Publication ,  Journal Article
David-Palma, M; Sampaio, JP; Gonçalves, P
Published in: PLoS genetics
June 2016

In fungi belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota, sexual compatibility is usually determined by two genetically unlinked MAT loci, one of which encodes one or more pheromone receptors (P/R) and pheromone precursors, and the other comprehends at least one pair of divergently transcribed genes encoding homeodomain (HD) transcription factors. Most species are heterothallic, meaning that sexual reproduction requires mating between two sexually compatible individuals harboring different alleles at both MAT loci. However, some species are known to be homothallic, one individual being capable of completing the sexual cycle without mating with a genetically distinct partner. While the molecular underpinnings of the heterothallic life cycles of several basidiomycete model species have been dissected in great detail, much less is known concerning the molecular basis for homothallism. Following the discovery in available draft genomes of the homothallic basidiomycetous yeast Phaffia rhodozyma of P/R and HD genes, we employed available genetic tools to determine their role in sexual development. Two P/R clusters, each harboring one pheromone receptor and one pheromone precursor gene were found in close vicinity of each other and were shown to form two redundant P/R pairs, each receptor being activated by the pheromone encoded by the most distal pheromone precursor gene. The HD locus is apparently genetically unlinked to the P/R locus and encodes a single pair of divergently transcribed HD1 and HD2 transcription factors, both required for normal completion of the sexual cycle. Given the genetic makeup of P. rhodozyma MAT loci, we postulate that it is a primarily homothallic organism and we propose a model for the interplay of molecular interactions required for sexual development in this species. Phaffia rhodozyma is considered one of the most promising microbial source of the carotenoid astaxanthin. Further development of this yeast as an industrial organism will benefit from new insights regarding its sexual reproduction system.

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Published In

PLoS genetics

DOI

EISSN

1553-7404

ISSN

1553-7390

Publication Date

June 2016

Volume

12

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e1006110

Related Subject Headings

  • Reproduction
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • Phylogeny
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genes, Mating Type, Fungal
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Developmental Biology
  • Basidiomycota
 

Citation

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David-Palma, M., Sampaio, J. P., & Gonçalves, P. (2016). Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete. PLoS Genetics, 12(6), e1006110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006110
David-Palma, Márcia, José Paulo Sampaio, and Paula Gonçalves. “Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete.PLoS Genetics 12, no. 6 (June 2016): e1006110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006110.
David-Palma M, Sampaio JP, Gonçalves P. Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete. PLoS genetics. 2016 Jun;12(6):e1006110.
David-Palma, Márcia, et al. “Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete.PLoS Genetics, vol. 12, no. 6, June 2016, p. e1006110. Epmc, doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006110.
David-Palma M, Sampaio JP, Gonçalves P. Genetic Dissection of Sexual Reproduction in a Primary Homothallic Basidiomycete. PLoS genetics. 2016 Jun;12(6):e1006110.

Published In

PLoS genetics

DOI

EISSN

1553-7404

ISSN

1553-7390

Publication Date

June 2016

Volume

12

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e1006110

Related Subject Headings

  • Reproduction
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • Phylogeny
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genes, Mating Type, Fungal
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Developmental Biology
  • Basidiomycota