Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mating-type loci of heterothallic Diaporthe spp.: homologous genes are present in opposite mating-types

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Current Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sexual reproduction of fungi is governed by genes located on the mating-type (MAT) locus. To analyze the MAT locus of the genus Diaporthe (anamorph: Phomopsis), a large genera within the ascomycetous class Sordariomycetes, we cloned and sequenced loci MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 from two heterothallic Diaporthe species, designated as Diaporthe W- and G-types (four isolates in total). The mating-type loci structures of Diaporthe W- and G-types were similar; MAT1-1 isolates had a MAT locus containing three genes, MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-2 and MAT1-1-3, as was the case with other Sordariomycetes, and in contrast to other Sordariomycetes, MAT1-2 isolates had genes homologous to MAT1-1-2 and MAT1-1-3, in addition to MAT1-2-1. Expression analysis by RT-PCR revealed that all the mating-type genes of Diaporthe W-type were transcriptionally active during vegetative growth. The structure of MAT loci of Diaporthe W- and G-types is distinct from that in other heterothallic filamentous ascomycetes, which have dissimilar gene structure in opposite mating-type loci. This unique structure is informative to discussing the evolutionary history and function of mating-type genes of Sordariomycete fungi.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arie T, Christiansen SK, Yoder OC, Turgeon BG (1997) Efficient cloning of ascomycete mating type genes by PCR amplification of the conserved MAT HMG box. Fungal Genet Biol 21:118–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arie T, Kaneko I, Yoshida T, Noguchi M, Nomura Y, Yamaguchi I (2000) Mating -type genes from asexual phytopathogenic ascomycetes Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 13:1330–1339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barve MP, Arie T, Salimath SS, Muehlbauer FJ, Peever TL (2003) Cloning and characterization of the mating type(MAT) locus from Ascochyta rabiei (teleomorph:Didymella rabiei) and a MAT phylogeny of legume-associated Ascochyta spp. Fungal Genet Biol 39:151–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brayford D (1990) Variation in Phomopsis isolates from Ulmus species in the British Isles and Italy. Mycol Res 94:691–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler G, Kenny C, Fagan A, Kuriischko C, Gaillardin C, Wolfe KH (2004) Evolution of the MAT locus and its HO endonuclease in yeast species. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1010:1632–1637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castlebury LA, Rossman AY, Jaklitsch WJ, Valsilyeva LN (2002) A preliminary overview of the Diaporthales based on large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Mycologia 94:1017–1031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi GH, Larson TG, Nuss DL (1992) Molecular analysis of the laccase gene from the chestnut blight fungus and selective suppression of its expression in an isogenic hypovirulenct strain. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 5:119–128

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coppin E, Debuchy R, Alnaise S, Picard M (1997) Mating types and sexual development in filamentous ascomycetes. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 61:411–428

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Debuchy R, Coppin E (1992) The mating types of Podospora anserina: functional analysis and sequence of the fertilization domains. Mol Gen Genet 233:113–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Debuchy R, Turgeon BG (2006) Mating-type structure, evolution, and function in Euascomycetes. In: Kües U, Fischer R (eds) The Mycota, growth, differentiation and sexuality, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 293–323

  • Debuchy R, Arnaise S, Lecellier G (1993) The mat—allele of Podospora anserina contains three regulatory genes required for the development of fertilized female organs. Mol Gen Genet 241:667–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira AVB, Saupe S, Glass NL (1996) Transcriptional analysis of the mtA idiomorph of Neurospora crassa identifies two genes in addition to mtA-1. Mol Gen Genet 250:767–774

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser JA, Heitman J (2004) Evolution of fungal sex chromosomes. Mol Microbiol 51:299–306

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glass NL, Grotelueschen J, Metzenberg RL (1990) Neurospora crassa A mating-type region. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:4912–4916

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huelsenbeck JP, Ronquist F (2001) MrBayes: Bayesian inferences of phylogeny. Bioinformatics 17:754–775

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inderbitzin P, Harkness J, Turgeon BG, Berbee ML (2005) Lateral transfer of mating system in Stemphylium. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:11390–11395

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanematsu S, Kobayashi T, Kudo A, Ohtsu Y (1999) Conidial morphology, pathogenicity and culture characteristics of Phomopsis isolates from peach, Japanese pear and apple in Japan. Ann Phytopathol Soc Jpn 65:264–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanematsu S, Minaka N, Kobayashi T, Kudo A, Ohtsu Y (2000) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers and mating tests in Phomopsis isolates from fruit trees. J Gen Plant Pathol 66:191–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahn BT, Page DC (1999) Four evolutionary strata on the human X chromosome. Science 286:964–967

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YG, Whittier RF (1995) Thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR: automatable amplification and sequencing of insert end fragments from P1 and YAC clones for chromosome walking. Genomics 25:674–681

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mcguire IC, Marra RE, Turgeon BG, Milgroom MG (2001) Analysis of mating-type genes in the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. Fungal Genet Biol 34:131–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metzenberg RL, Glass NL (1990) Mating type and mating type strategies in Neurospora. Bioessays 12:53–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mostert L, Crous PW, Kang JC, Phillips AJL (2001) Species of Phomospis and a Libertella sp. occurring on grapevines with specific reference to South Africa: morphological, cultural, molecular and pathological characterization. Mycologia 93:146–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell K, Ward TJ, Geiser DM, Kistler HC, Aoki T (2004) Genealogical concordance between the mating type locus and seven other nuclear genes supports formal recognition of nine phylogenetically disticnt species within the Fusarium graminearum clade. Fungal Genet Biol 41:600–623

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paoletti M, Buck KW, Brasier CM (2005a) Cloning and sequence analysis of the MAT-B(MAT-2) genes from the three Dutch elm disease pathogens, Ophiostoma ulmi, O. novo-ulmi, and O. himal-ulmi. Mycol Res 109:983–991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paoletti M et al (2005b) Evidence for sexuality in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Curr Biol 15:1242–1248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pöggeler S (1999) Phylogenetic relationships between mating-type sequences from homothallic and heterohtallic ascomycetes. Curr Genet 36:222–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 2nd edn. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor

    Google Scholar 

  • Staben C, Yanofsky C (1990) Neurospora crassa a mating-type region. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:4917–4921

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turgeon BG (1998) Application of mating type gene technology to problems in fungal biology. Ann Rev Phytopathol 36:115–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turgeon BG, Yoder OC (2000) Proposed nomenclature for mating type genes of filamentous ascomycetes. Fungal Genet Biol 31:1–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uecker FA (1988) A world list of Phomopsis names with notes on nomenclature, morphology and biology. Cramer Publishers, Berlin, pp 1–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Aa HA, Noordeloos ME, Gruyter JD (1990) Species concepts in some larger genera of the coelomycetes. Stud Mycol 32:3–19

    Google Scholar 

  • van Niekerk JM, Groenewald JZ, Farr DF, Fourie PH, Halleen F, Crous PW (2005) Reassessment of Phomopsis species on grapevines. Australas Plant Pathol 34:27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer LE (1933) The genus Diaporthe Nitschke and its segregates. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pp 1–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamagishi K, Kimura T, Suzuki M, Shinmoto H (2002) Suppression of fruit-body formation by constitutively active G-protein α-subunits ScGP-A and ScGP-C in the homobasidiomycete Schizophyllum commune. Microbiol 148:2729–2809

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama E, Yamagishi K, Hara A (2003) Structure of the mating-type loci of Cordyceps takaomontana. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:5019–5022

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yun SH, Berbee ML, Yoder OC, Turgeon BG (1999) Evolution of the fungal self-fertile reproductive life style from self-sterile ancestors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:5592–5597

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yun SH, Arie T, Kaneko I, Yoder OC, Turgeon BG (2000) Molecular organization of mating type loci in heterothallic, homothallic and asexual Giberella/Fusarium species. Fungal Genet Biol 31:7–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang AW, Riccioni L, Pedersen WL, Kollipara KP, Hartman GL (1998) Molecular identification and phylogenetic grouping of Diaporthe phaseolorum and Phomopsis longicolla isolates from soybean. Phytopathol 88:1306–1314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. N. Matsumoto for critical review of this manuscript, and Dr. T. Arie for poviding the primers NcHMG1 and NcHMG2. This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid (Bio Design Program) from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Apple Research Station, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, NARO, Shimokuriyagawa, Morioka, 020-0123, Japan

    Satoko Kanematsu & Tsutae Ito

  2. National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region, NARO, Akahira, Morioka, 020-0198, Japan

    Yoshihiko Adachi

Authors
  1. Satoko Kanematsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yoshihiko Adachi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tsutae Ito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Satoko Kanematsu.

Additional information

Communicated by U. Kück.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kanematsu, S., Adachi, Y. & Ito, T. Mating-type loci of heterothallic Diaporthe spp.: homologous genes are present in opposite mating-types. Curr Genet 52, 11–22 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-007-0132-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-007-0132-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation