Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The little difference: in vivo analysis of pheromone discrimination in Schizophyllum commune

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

Abstract.

The B mating type of Schizophyllum commune is defined by a multi-specific pheromone/receptor system. The interaction of pheromone receptors and their ligands, encoded by the Bα locus, triggers sexual development. The receptors belong to the family of G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain receptors, while the ligands are small lipopeptide pheromones. A productive interaction is only possible between molecules derived from different specificities. There is no induction of sexual development by pheromones of self-specificity. Since there are nine versions of different specificity for pheromones and receptors in Bα, this system can be used to study multi-ligand discrimination. We investigated pheromone discrimination using chimeric receptor molecules and the influence of single point mutations on activation profiles of the receptor.

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. 3A–F.
Fig. 4.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ausubel FM, Brent R, Kingston RE, Moore DD, Seidmann JG, Smith JA, Struhl K (1999) Current protocols in molecular biology. Wiley, New York

  • Bourne HR (1997) How receptors talk to trimeric G proteins. Curr Opin Cell Biol 9:134–142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burkholder AC, Hartwell LH (1985) The yeast α-factor receptor: structural properties deduced from the sequence of the STE2 gene. Nucleic Acids Res 13:8463–8475

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dohlman HG, Thorner J, Caron MG, Lefkowitz RJ (1991) Model systems for the study of seven-transmembrane-segment receptors. Annu Rev Biochem 60:653–688

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler TJ, Mitton MF, Raper CA (1998) Gene mutations affecting specificity of pheromone/receptor mating interactions in Schizophyllum commune. In: Griensven LJDJ van, Visser J (eds) Proceedings of the fourth meeting on the genetics and cellular biology of basidiomycetes. Horst Mushroom Experimental Station, Horst, The Netherlands, pp 130–134

  • Fowler TJ, DeSimone SM, Mitton MF, Kurjan J, Raper CA (1999) Multiple sex pheromones and receptors of a mushroom-producing fungus elicit mating in yeast. Mol Biol Cell 10:2559–2572

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler TJ, Mitton MF, Vaillancourt LJ, Raper CA (2001) Changes in mate recognition through alterations of pheromones and receptors in the multisexual mushroom fungus Schizophyllum commune. Genetics 158:1491–1503

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gether U (2000) Uncovering molecular mechanisms involved in activation of G protein-coupled receptors. Endocrinol Rev 21:90–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gola S, Hegner J, Kothe E (2000) Chimeric pheromone receptors in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune. Fungal Genet Biol 30:191–196

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen DC, McCaffrey G, Sprague GF Jr (1986) Evidence the yeast STE3 gene encodes a receptor for the peptide pheromone a factor: gene sequence and implications for the structure of the presumed receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:1418–1422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hegner J, Siebert-Bartholmei C, Kothe E (1999) Ligand recognition in multiallelic pheromone receptors from the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune studied in yeast. Fungal Genet Biol 26:190–197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman RM, Raper JR (1971) Genetic restriction of energy conservation in Schizophyllum. Science 171:418–419

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kniep H (1920) Über morphologische und physiologische Geschlechtsdifferenzierung (Untersuchung an Basidiomyzeten). Verh Phys Med Ges Wuerzburg 46:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Kniep H (1922) Über Geschlechtsbestimmung und Reduktionsteilung. Verh Phys Med Ges Wuerzburg 47:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobilka B (1992) Adrenergic receptors as models for G protein-coupled receptors. Annu Rev Neurosci 15:87–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koltin Y, Stamberg J, Lemke PA (1972) Genetic structure and evolution of the incompatibility factors in higher fungi. Bacteriol Rev 36:156–171

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kothe E (1996) Tetrapolar fungal mating types: sexes by the thousands. FEMS Microbiol Rev 18:65–87

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kothe E (2002) Sexual development in basidiomycetes. In: Osiewacz HD (ed) Molecular biology of fungal development. Dekker, New York, pp 245–273

  • Kothe E, Gola S, Wendland J (2002) Evolution of multispecific mating type alleles for pheromone perception in the homobasidiomycete fungi. Curr Genet DOI 10.1007/s00294-002-0352-5

  • Leff P (1995) The two-state model of receptor activation. Trends Pharmacol Sci 16:89–97

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leff P, Scaramellini C, Law C, McKechnie K (1997) A three-state receptor model of agonist action. Trends Pharmacol Sci 18:355–362

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz-Rivas AM, Specht CA, Ullrich RC, Novotny CP (1986) Isolation of the DNA sequence coding indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthetase and phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase of Schizophyllum commune. Curr Genet 10:909–913

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nanevicz T, Wang L, Chen M, Ishii M, Coughlin SR (1996) Thrombin receptor activating mutations. Alteration of an extracellular agonist recognition domain causes constitutive signaling. J Biol Chem 271:702–706

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raper CA (1983) Controls for development and differentiation of the dikaryon in basidiomycetes. In: Bennett J, Ciegler A (eds) Secondary metabolism and differentiation in fungi. Dekker, New York, pp 195–238

  • Raper JR (1966) Genetics of sexuality in higher fungi. Ronald Press, New York

  • Raper JR, Hoffman RM (1974) Schizophyllum commune. In: King RC (ed) Handbook of genetics, vol 1. Plenum Press, New York, pp 597–626

  • Raudaskoski M (1998) The relationship between B-mating-type genes and nuclear migration in Schizophyllum commune. Fungal Genet Biol 24:207–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raudaskoski M, Koltin Y (1973) Ultrastructural aspects of a mutant of Schizophyllum commune with continuous nuclear migration. J Bacteriol 116:981–988

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samama P, Cotecchia S, Costa T, Lefkowitz RJ (1993) A mutation-induced activated state of the β2-adrenergic receptor. Extending the ternary complex model. J Biol Chem 268:4625–4636

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwalb MN, Miles PG (1967) Morphogenesis of Schizophyllum commune. II. Effect of microaerobic growth. Mycologia 59:610–622

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Short JM, Fernandez JM, Sorge JA, Huse WD (1988) Lambda ZAP: a bacteriophage lambda expression vector with in vivo excision properties. Nucleic Acids Res 16:7583–7600

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Specht CA, Muñoz-Rivas A, Novotny CP, Ullrich RC (1988) Transformation of Schizophyllum commune: an analysis of parameters for improving transformation frequencies. Exp Mycol 12:357–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaillancourt LJ, Raper CA (1996) Pheromones and pheromone receptors as mating-type determinants in basidiomycetes. Genet Eng 18:219–247

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaillancourt LJ, Raudaskoski M, Specht CA, Raper CA (1997) Multiple genes encoding pheromones and a pheromone receptor define the Bβ1 mating-type specificity in Schizophyllum commune. Genetics 146:541–551

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wendland J, Kothe E (1996) Allelic divergence at Bα1 pheromone receptor genes of Schizophyllum commune. FEMS Microbiol Lett 145:451–455

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wendland J, Vaillancourt LJ, Hegner J, Lengeler KB, Laddison KJ, Specht CA, Raper CA, Kothe E (1995) The mating-type locus Bα1 of Schizophyllum commune contains a pheromone receptor gene and putative pheromone genes. EMBO J 14:5271–5278

    Google Scholar 

  • Wendland J, Lengeler KB, Kothe E (1996) An instant preparation method for nucleic acids of filamentous fungi. Fungal Genet Newsl 43:54–55

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement.

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich-Schiller-University, Institute of Microbiology, Winzerlaer Strasse 10, 07745, Jena, Germany

    Susanne Gola & Erika Kothe

Authors
  1. Susanne Gola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erika Kothe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erika Kothe.

Additional information

Communicated by U. Kück

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gola, S., Kothe, E. The little difference: in vivo analysis of pheromone discrimination in Schizophyllum commune . Curr Genet 42, 276–283 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-002-0353-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-002-0353-4

Keywords.

Search

Navigation