Molecular analysis of the pheromone and pheromone receptor genes of Ustilago hordei

• Published in: Gene Vol. 240; no. 1; pp. 89 - 97
• Main Authors: Anderson, Cynthia M., Willits, Deborah A., Kosted, Paula J., Ford, Eugene J., Martinez-Espinoza, Alfredo D., Sherwood, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-11-1999
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; amino acid sequences; Barley-covered smut; Base Sequence; Chemoreceptor Cells; cloning; Cloning, Molecular; deletions; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; Fungal Proteins; genbank/af043940; genbank/af184069; genbank/af184070; Gene Deletion; Gene disruption; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; genes; Genes, Fungal - genetics; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; introns; loci; mat-1 locus; mating behavior; Molecular cloning; Molecular Sequence Data; mutants; nucleotide sequences; open reading frames; pheromone receptors; pheromone response elements; pheromones; Pheromones - chemical synthesis; Pheromones - genetics; Pheromones - pharmacology; promoter regions; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Precursors - genetics; receptors; Reproduction - drug effects; Sequence Analysis, DNA; sexual reproduction; TATA Box; Uhmfa1 gene; Uhmfa2 gene; Uhpra2 gene; Ustilago - cytology; Ustilago - drug effects; Ustilago - genetics; Ustilago hordei; Ustilago segetum; Ummfa1, Ummfa2, Umpra1 and Umpra2, pheromone and pheromone receptor genes from U. maydis; Uhmfa1 and Uhmfa2, pheromone genes from MAT-1 and MAT-2 cells of Ustilago hordei respectively; Gene disruption; Uhmfa1, Uhmfa2, Uhpra1 and Uhpra2, gene products of the corresponding pheromone and pheromone receptor genes of U. hordei; Molecular cloning; Barley-covered smut; Uhpra2, pheromone receptor gene from MAT-2 U. hordei cells
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1119(99)00428-X

Cell–cell signaling is an integral part of the sexual and disease cycles of the smut fungi, which must mate to be pathogenic. This study reports the cloning and characterization of the pheromone genes
Uhmfa1 and
Uhmfa2 from MAT-1 and MAT-2 mating types of
U. hordei, respectively, and the pheromone receptor gene
Uhpra2 from MAT-2 cells. Similar to other fungal pheromone genes,
Uhmfa1 and
Uhmfa2 encode precursor peptides.
Uhpra2 encodes a protein with sequence similarity to the 7-transmembrane class of G-protein coupled receptors. Deletion of
Uhmfa1 and
Uhpra1, and their subsequent replacement, confirmed the role of these genes in initiation of the sexual cycle.
Uhmfa1 and
Uhmfa2 were differentially expressed in various cell types and when opposite mating-type cells were grown together. The predicted mature pheromones of each mating type were synthesized, and each specifically induced conjugation tube formation in cells of the opposite mating type.