The mating-type locus B alpha 1 of Schizophyllum commune contains a pheromone receptor gene and putative pheromone genes.

Abstract

Analysis of the multispecific B alpha mating‐type locus of Schizophyllum commune provided evidence that pheromones and pheromone receptors govern recognition of self versus non‐self and sexual development in this homobasidiomycetous fungus. Four subclones of an 8.2 kb genomic fragment carrying B alpha 1 specificity induced B‐regulated sexual morphogenesis when introduced into a strain with one of the eight compatible B alpha specificities that are known to exist in nature. One of these clones, which activated all other B alpha specificities, contains a gene termed bar1. The predicted protein product of bar1, as well as that of bar2, a homologous gene isolated from a B alpha 2 strain, has significant homology to known fungal pheromone receptor proteins in the rhodopsin‐like superfamily of G protein‐linked receptors. The other three active B alpha 1 clones were subcloned further to identify the minimal active element in each clone. Every active subclone contains a putative pheromone gene ending in a signal for possible isoprenylation. A message of approximately 600 bp was observed for one of these genes, bap1(1). This paper presents the first evidence for a system of multiple pheromones and pheromone receptors as a basis for multispecific mating types in a fungus.

Elevation of Intracellular cAMP Levels by Dominant Active Heterotrimeric G Protein Alpha SubunitsScGP-AandScGP-Cin Homobasidiomycete,Schizophyllum commune

“…But the heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors have been found to be the receptors for mating peptide pheromones. 42,43) It has been hypothesized that SCGPALPHA1 and SCGPALPHA2 are coupled with the receptors in S. commune. The heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits might transduce both peptide pheromones and other signals, since Gpa3 is essential for pathogenicity and the transmission of mating pheromones in U. maydis.…”

Biogenesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pheromone a -Factor, from Yeast Mating to Human Disease

“…For R. toruloides, the precursor gene encodes multiple copies of the pheromone, and an initial processing step is required to reveal C-terminal CAAX motifs for each (3,63). Other Basidiomycetes for which pheromones are known are Usitlago maydis (32,144,244,252), Usitlago hordei (6,145), Cryptococcus neoformans (72,177,189,243), Schizophyllum commune (92,267), Coprinus cinereus (38,52,197), and Sporisorium reilianium (235). For S. reilianium, at least 8 pheromone precursor genes have been identified, ranging in size from 10 to 74 residues, all encoding CAAX motifs.…”

Life History and Developmental Processes in the BasidiomyceteCoprinus cinereus

“…A more recent study of Lenzites showed that such barrage formation is related to the action of a diffusible pheromone, suggesting that extracellular effects take part in self-nonself recognition (170). Molecular analysis of the B mating-type genes has established in C. cinereus (153a, 374, 377) and also in S. commune (167,497,516) that the B locus encodes pheromones and pheromone receptor genes. Pheromones and pheromone receptors of different specificities are complementary (see below), and it is not obvious whether or how this can relate to the observation of barrage formation in common B matings.…”