Characterization and population analysis of the mating-type genes in Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus

Ramírez-Prado, Jorge Humberto; Moore, Geromy G.; Horn, Bruce W.; Carbone, Ignazio

doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2008.06.007

Cited by 132 publications

(162 citation statements)

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“…Information regarding structure and organization of MAT genes can be used to establish whether a fungal species reproduces in a homothallic or heterothallic fashion. Furthermore, such knowledge can be used to develop molecular markers in order to determine the mating types of isolates, replacing the laborious and time consuming process of developing and crossing mating tester strains (Brewer et al 2011;Ramirez-Prado et al 2008;Scherrer et al 2005;Steenkamp et al 2000). The ability to identify mating types using molecular 4 markers is also useful when it is necessary to select isolates of opposite mating type for genetic experiments, and this facilitates the discovery of sexual states of species known only by their asexual morphs (Kück and Pöggeler 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the mating-type genes in Leptographium procerum and Leptographium profanum

et al. 2013

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Highlights· The mating-type loci in Leptographium procerum and L. profanum were characterized.· The PCR-based mating-type markers were developed for these two species.· Leptographium procerum and L. profanum had a heterothallic mating system and thus these species are heterothallic. · Cryptic sexual reproduction was suggested for a population of L. procerum. AbstractLeptographium procerum and the closely related species Leptographium profanum, are ascomycetes associated with root-infesting beetles on pines and hardwood trees, respectively.Both species occur in North America where they are apparently native. Leptographium procerum has also been found in Europe, China New Zealand, and South Africa where it has most probably been introduced. As is true for many other Leptographium species, sexual states 2 have never been observed in L. procerum or L. profanum. The objectives of this study were to clone and characterize the mating type loci of these fungi, and to develop markers to determine the mating types of individual isolates. To achieve this, a partial sequence of MAT1-2-1 was amplified using degenerate primers targeting the high mobility group (HMG) sequence. A complete MAT1-2 idiomorph of L. profanum was subsequently obtained by screening a genomic library using the HMG sequence as a probe. Long range PCR was used to amplify the complete MAT1-1 idiomorph of L. profanum and both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs of L.procerum. Characterization of the MAT idiomorphs suggests that the MAT genes are fully functional and that individuals of both these species are self-sterile in nature with a heterothallic mating system. Mating type markers were developed and tested on a population of L. procerum isolates from the USA, the assumed center of origin for this species. The results suggest that cryptic sexual reproduction is occurring or has recently taken place within this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the mating-type genes in Leptographium procerum and Leptographium profanum

et al. 2013

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“…Although highly divergent when compared to each other, the MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 idiomorphs are highly conserved on the DNA and amino acid levels when examined separately, both within and between species (Ramirez‐Prado et al., 2008). This was not the case for the MAT loci in A. nomius (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Strict regulations are being set worldwide, which means the need for effective control of aflatoxin‐producing fungi is crucial (Klich, 2007). Recent discoveries of the sexual states in A. flavus , A. nomius and A. parasiticus suggest that barriers to genetic recombination, such as heterokaryon incompatibility, are not impassable (Horn, Gell, Singh, Sorensen, & Carbone, 2016; Horn, Moore, & Carbone, 2011; Horn, Ramirez‐Prado, and Carbone, 2009a; Horn, Ramirez‐Prado, and Carbone, 2009b; Horn, Moore et al., 2009; Micali & Smith, 2005; Ramirez‐Prado et al., 2008), and genetic exchange and recombination could potentially create new strains or species that are better adapted to particular niches (Milgroom, 1996). Geiser and coworkers reported two reproductively isolated clades (identified as Groups I and II) within A. flavus for an Australian population, and they suggested that recombination could be occurring among strains within the species (Geiser, Pitt, & Taylor, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This signature of balancing selection has been inferred for the mating‐type loci of various fungi (May et al., 1999; Ramirez‐Prado et al., 2008), transcending species boundaries and resulting in trans‐speciation, a phenomenon where the loci under balancing selection are more similar among species than within a single species. Other evolutionary mechanisms that may result in a signature of trans‐speciation include hybridization and introgression, or incomplete lineage sorting, at specific loci (Sun, Corcoran et al., 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global population structure and adaptive evolution of aflatoxin‐producing fungi

Moore

Olarte

Horn

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Aflatoxins produced by several species in Aspergillus section Flavi are a significant problem in agriculture and a continuous threat to human health. To provide insights into the biology and global population structure of species in section Flavi, a total of 1,304 isolates were sampled across six species (A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. nomius, A. caelatus, A. tamarii, and A. alliaceus) from single fields in major peanut‐growing regions in Georgia (USA), Australia, Argentina, India, and Benin (Africa). We inferred maximum‐likelihood phylogenies for six loci, both combined and separately, including two aflatoxin cluster regions (aflM/alfN and aflW/aflX) and four noncluster regions (amdS, trpC, mfs and MAT), to examine population structure and history. We also employed principal component and STRUCTURE analysis to identify genetic clusters and their associations with six different categories (geography, species, precipitation, temperature, aflatoxin chemotype profile, and mating type). Overall, seven distinct genetic clusters were inferred, some of which were more strongly structured by G chemotype diversity than geography. Populations of A. flavus S in Benin were genetically distinct from all other section Flavi species for the loci examined, which suggests genetic isolation. Evidence of trans‐speciation within two noncluster regions, whereby A. flavus SBG strains from Australia share haplotypes with either A. flavus or A. parasiticus, was observed. Finally, while clay soil and precipitation may influence species richness in Aspergillus section Flavi, other region‐specific environmental and genetic parameters must also be considered.

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“…With evidence that both of these agriculturally important Aspergilli have histories of recombination, the Carbone lab began exploring the genomes for a MAT locus in all three species. Ramirez-Prado, Moore et al (2008) published evidence of a heterothallic mating system in A. flavus and A. parasiticus by the amplification of a single idiomorph locus (chromosome VI) that was either MAT1-1 (alpha-box) or MAT1-2 (HMG). The A. alliaceus mating-type locus contained both idiomorphs on the same chromosome as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Identification Of Mat Loci In Section Flavimentioning

confidence: 99%