Arthroderma benhamiae (The Teleomorph of Trichophyton mentagrophytes) Mating Type-Specific Genes
- 226 Downloads
- 8 Citations
Abstract
This study first report to identify the mating type (−)-specific gene of alpha-box and the mating type (+)-specific gene of the high-mobility-group (HMG) DNA-binding domain in zoophilic dermatophytes of Arthroderma benhamiae in an effort to understand the epidemiological characteristics of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The sequence of the alpha-box gene (1,387 bp) was found to contain two exons, from 184 to 475 bp and from 525 to 1,387 bp, coding a protein of 384 amino acids, beginning with a putative initiating methionine (ATG). The sequence of the HMG gene (1,910 bp) contained two exons, from 234 to 415 bp and from 479 to 1,457 bp, coding a protein of 386 amino acids, beginning with a putative initiating methionine (ATG).
PCR analysis detected the alpha-box gene in A. benhamiae (−) mating type strains but not in (+) mating type strains. On the other hand, the HMG gene was detected in A. benhamiae (+) mating type strains but not in (−) mating type strains. These findings suggest that the HMG and alpha-box genes could be specific to the (+) and (−) mating types, respectively.
Keywords
Arthroderma benhamiae Alpha-box HMG Mating type Trichophyton mentagrophytesNotes
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Academic Frontier Project of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Nihon University.
References
- 1.Casselton LA. Fungal sex genes-searching for the ancestors. BioEssays. 2008;30:711–4.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 2.Bubnick M, Smulian AG. The MAT1 locus of Histoplasma capsulatum is responsive in a mating type-specific manner. Eukaryotic Cell. 2007;6:616–21.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 3.Kwon-Chung KJ, Bennett EJ. Medical mycology. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1992. pp.136-7 and 816-26.Google Scholar
- 4.Li W, Metin B, White TC, Heitman J. Organization and evolutionary trajectory of the mating type (MAT) locus in the dermatophyte and dimorphic pathogen. Eukaryotic Cell. 2009;6:616–21.Google Scholar
- 5.Ajello L, Cheng S-L. The perfect state of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Sabouraudia. 1967;4:230–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 6.Stockdale MP, Mackenzie WRD, Austwick KCP. Arthroderma simii sp. nov., the perfect state of Trichophyton simii (Pinoy) comb. nov. Sabouraudia. 1967;4:112–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 7.Takashio M. The Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex. In: Iwata K, editor. Recent advances in medical and veterinary mycology. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press; 1977. p. 271–6.Google Scholar
- 8.Bialek R, Ibricevic A, Fothergill A, Begerow D. Small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence shows Paracoccidioides brasiliensis closely related to Blastomyces dermatotidis. J Clin Microbiol. 2000;34:3190–3.Google Scholar
- 9.Leclerc CM, Philippe H, Guého E. Phylogeny of dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi based on large subunit ribosomal RNA sequence comparisons. J Med Vet Mycol. 1994;32:331–41.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 10.Kano R, Nakamura Y, Watanabe S, Hasegawa A. Chitin synthase 1 and 2 genes of dermatophytes. Stud Mycol. 2002;47:49–56.Google Scholar
- 11.Kawasaki M, Anzawa K, Takeda K, et al. Genetic and phenotypic variation among F1 progenies of Arthroderma benhamiae. Jpn J Med Mycol. 2008;49:103–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar