The novel Aspergillus fumigatus MAT1-2-4 mating-type gene is required for mating and cleistothecia formation

Yu, Yidong; Amich, Jorge; Will, Cornelia; Eagle, C. E.; Dyer, Paul S.; Krappmann, Sven

doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2017.09.001

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…As a result the MAT1-1-1 alpha domain family gene was named simply MAT1-1 (as there were no alternative idiomorphs in this species), the MAT1-2-1 HMG domain family gene was named MAT2-1, and the novel MAT1-2-4 family gene was named MAT2-4 ( Fig. 7 ) for consistency with previous work ( Turgeon and Yoder, 2000 , Paoletti et al., 2007 , Rydholm et al., 2007 , Yu et al., 2017 ). For further background see Wilken et al.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Further analysis of the MAT region also revealed the presence of a putative MAT1-2-4 gene homologue, containing one putative intron and which was predicted to encode a 242 amino acid MAT1-2-4 protein ( Fig. 7 ), as reported by Yu et al. (2017) .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 58%

“…2016 ). Further analysis of the MAT1-2 idiomorph region of isolate 50-3 also revealed, intriguingly, the presence of an additional putative ORF which shared high homology with the recently described MAT1-2-4 gene identified from A. fumigatus ( Yu et al. 2017 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 62%

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Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Ojeda-López¹,

Chen²,

Eagle³

et al. 2018

Studies in Mycology

118

106

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Aspergillus nidulans has long-been used as a model organism to gain insights into the genetic basis of asexual and sexual developmental processes both in other members of the genus Aspergillus, and filamentous fungi in general. Paradigms have been established concerning the regulatory mechanisms of conidial development. However, recent studies have shown considerable genome divergence in the fungal kingdom, questioning the general applicability of findings from Aspergillus, and certain longstanding evolutionary theories have been questioned. The phylogenetic distribution of key regulatory elements of asexual reproduction in A. nidulans was investigated in a broad taxonomic range of fungi. This revealed that some proteins were well conserved in the Pezizomycotina (e.g. AbaA, FlbA, FluG, NsdD, MedA, and some velvet proteins), suggesting similar developmental roles. However, other elements (e.g. BrlA) had a more restricted distribution solely in the Eurotiomycetes, and it appears that the genetic control of sporulation seems to be more complex in the aspergilli than in some other taxonomic groups of the Pezizomycotina. The evolution of the velvet protein family is discussed based on the history of expansion and contraction events in the early divergent fungi. Heterologous expression of the A. nidulans abaA gene in Monascus ruber failed to induce development of complete conidiophores as seen in the aspergilli, but did result in increased conidial production. The absence of many components of the asexual developmental pathway from members of the Saccharomycotina supports the hypothesis that differences in the complexity of their spore formation is due in part to the increased diversity of the sporulation machinery evident in the Pezizomycotina. Investigations were also made into the evolution of sex and sexuality in the aspergilli. MAT loci were identified from the heterothallic Aspergillus (Emericella) heterothallicus and Aspergillus (Neosartorya) fennelliae and the homothallic Aspergillus pseudoglaucus (=Eurotium repens). A consistent architecture of the MAT locus was seen in these and other heterothallic aspergilli whereas much variation was seen in the arrangement of MAT loci in homothallic aspergilli. This suggested that it is most likely that the common ancestor of the aspergilli exhibited a heterothallic breeding system. Finally, the supposed prevalence of asexuality in the aspergilli was examined. Investigations were made using A. clavatus as a representative ‘asexual’ species. It was possible to induce a sexual cycle in A. clavatus given the correct MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 partners and environmental conditions, with recombination confirmed utilising molecular markers. This indicated that sexual reproduction might be possible in many supposedly asexual aspergilli and beyond, providing general insights into the nature of asexuality in fungi.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 58%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Ojeda-López¹,

Chen²,

Eagle³

et al. 2018

Studies in Mycology

118

106

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A recent study has demonstrated that the MAT1‐2 idiomorph of A. fumigatus harbors an additional gene – MAT1‐2‐4 – that is required for its mating process and the formation of cleistothecia (Yu et al ., ) and, as shown here, that is increasingly transcribed upon MAT1‐2 overexpression. Given that the deduced MAT1‐2‐4 gene product does not comprise a recognized DNA binding domain, an influence of this factor on the fungal transcriptome seems rather unlikely.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…), including the pheromone precursor‐encoding gene ppgA , the pheromone receptor‐encoding genes preA and preB (Pöggeler, ), as well as nsdD , a conserved positive regulator of Aspergillus cleistothecia development (Han et al ., ; Große and Krappmann, ), and veA , a component of the velvet complex balancing development and secondary metabolism in the aspergilli (Kim et al ., ; Calvo et al ., ; Duran et al ., ; Bayram et al ., ; Bayram and Braus, ). Based on the initial RNA‐seq data, preB , ppgA and the recently identified MAT1‐2‐4 gene (Yu et al ., ) appeared to be upregulated by forced expression of the MAT1‐2 gene, while preA as well as ppgA became increasingly expressed in a MAT1‐1 ‐dependent manner. The other transcripts were missing in the transcription profiles of either overexpressing strain to be differentially expressed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating‐type factor‐specific regulation of the fumagillin/pseurotin secondary metabolite supercluster in Aspergillus fumigatus

Blachowicz

Will

et al. 2018

Molecular Microbiology

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In the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus, sexual identity is determined by the mating-type idiomorphs MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 residing at the MAT locus. Upon crossing of compatible partners, a heterothallic mating is executed to eventually form cleistothecia that contain recombinant ascospores. Given that the MAT1 gene products are DNA binding master regulators that govern this complex developmental process, we monitored the MAT1-driven transcriptomes of A. fumigatus by conditional overexpression of either MAT1 gene followed by RNA-seq analyses. Numerous genes related to the process of mating were found to be under transcriptional control, such as pheromone production and recognition. Substantial differences between the MAT1-1-and MAT1-2-driven transcriptomes could be detected by functional categorization of differentially expressed genes. Moreover, a significant and distinct impact on expression of genetic clusters of secondary metabolism became apparent, which could be verified on the product level. Unexpectedly, specific cross-regulation of the fumagillin/pseurotin supercluster was evident, thereby uncoupling its coregulatory characteristic. These insights imply a tight interconnection of sexual development accompanied by ascosporogenesis with secondary metabolite production of a pathogenic fungus and impose evolutionary constraints that link these two fundamental aspects of the fungal lifestyle.

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Culturing and Mating of Aspergillus fumigatus

Ashton

Dyer

2019

CP Microbiology

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Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen, capable of causing invasive aspergillosis in patients with compromised immune systems. The fungus was long considered a purely asexual organism. However, a sexual cycle was reported in 2009, with methods described to induce mating under laboratory conditions. The presence of a sexual cycle now offers a valuable tool for classical genetic analysis of the fungus, such as allowing determination of whether traits of interest are mono‐ or poly‐genic in nature. For example, the sexual cycle is currently being exploited to determine the genetic basis of traits of medical importance such as resistance to azole antifungals and virulence, and to characterize the genes involved. The sexual cycle can also be used to assess the possibility of gene flow between isolates. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This unit describes protocols for culturing of A. fumigatus and for inducing sexual reproduction between compatible MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 isolates of the species. The unit also provides working methods for harvesting sexual structures, isolating single‐spore progeny and confirming whether sexual recombination has occurred. © The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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The novel Aspergillus fumigatus MAT1-2-4 mating-type gene is required for mating and cleistothecia formation

Cited by 20 publications

References 50 publications

Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Mating‐type factor‐specific regulation of the fumagillin/pseurotin secondary metabolite supercluster in Aspergillus fumigatus

Culturing and Mating of Aspergillus fumigatus

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