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Characterization and mRNA expression profile of the TbNre1 gene of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii

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Abstract

This study focuses on the cloning and characterization of the major nitrogen regulator element from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii, TbNre1. Sequence analysis of the predicted protein and complementation experiments in Neurospora crassa demonstrated that the cloned gene is orthologous to areA/nit-2 gene. Transcriptional expression investigations by real-time RT-PCR showed TbNre1 up-regulation in the presence of nitrate or in the absence of nitrogen during free-living mycelium growth. On the contrary, TbNre1 mRNA levels remained at basal values in the presence of preferred nitrogen sources like ammonium and glutamine. Furthermore, TbNre1 mRNA was found to be up-regulated during T. borchii and T. platyphyllos interaction. All these data suggest that the regulatory protein TBNRE1 could play a major role in regulating N metabolism genes of T. borchii in the free living mycelium and in T. borchii–T. platyphyllos interaction. Finally, the possible role of the transcription factor TBNRE1 in the induction of proteases and virulence-like genes, necessary in ectomycorrhizal establishment, was also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Prof. Viotti A. for kindly providing the mycelium genomic DNA library, Marzluf G.A. for the gift of nit-2 RIP-350 mutant strain of N. crassa, Ballario P. and Grimaldi B. for kindly providing the pMYX2 vector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomolecular Science, Institute of Biological Chemistry “G. Fornaini”, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Via Saffi, 2, 61029, Urbino, Italy

    Michele Guescini, L. Stocchi, S. Zeppa, E. Polidori, P. Ceccaroli, R. Saltarelli & V. Stocchi

  2. Department of Human, Environmental and Nature Science, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Campus Scientifico Sogesta, Loc Crocicchia, 61029, Urbino (PU), Italy

    D. Sisti

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  1. Michele Guescini
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  2. L. Stocchi
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  3. D. Sisti
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  4. S. Zeppa
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  5. E. Polidori
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  6. P. Ceccaroli
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  7. R. Saltarelli
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  8. V. Stocchi
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Correspondence to V. Stocchi.

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Communicated by U. Kües.

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Guescini, M., Stocchi, L., Sisti, D. et al. Characterization and mRNA expression profile of the TbNre1 gene of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii . Curr Genet 55, 59–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-008-0222-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-008-0222-x

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