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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
The heterothallic sugarbeet pathogen Cercospora beticola contains exon fragments of both MAT genes that are homogenized by concerted evolution
Fungal Genetics and Biology, Volume 62, Year 2014
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Description
Dothideomycetes is one of the most ecologically diverse and economically important classes of fungi. Sexual reproduction in this group is governed by mating type (MAT) genes at the MAT1 locus. Self-sterile (heterothallic) species contain one of two genes at MAT1 (MAT1-1-1 or MAT1-2-1) and only isolates of opposite mating type are sexually compatible. In contrast, self-fertile (homothallic) species contain both MAT genes at MAT1. Knowledge of the reproductive capacities of plant pathogens are of particular interest because recombining populations tend to be more difficult to manage in agricultural settings. In this study, we sequenced MAT1 in the heterothallic Dothideomycete fungus Cercospora beticola to gain insight into the reproductive capabilities of this important plant pathogen. In addition to the expected MAT gene at MAT1, each isolate contained fragments of both MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 at ostensibly random loci across the genome. When MAT fragments from each locus were manually assembled, they reconstituted MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 exons with high identity, suggesting a retroposition event occurred in a homothallic ancestor in which both MAT genes were fused. The genome sequences of related taxa revealed that MAT gene fragment pattern of Cercospora zeae-maydis was analogous to C. beticola. In contrast, the genome of more distantly related Mycosphaerella graminicola did not contain MAT fragments. Although fragments occurred in syntenic regions of the C. beticola and C. zeae-maydis genomes, each MAT fragment was more closely related to the intact MAT gene of the same species. Taken together, these data suggest MAT genes fragmented after divergence of M. graminicola from the remaining taxa, and concerted evolution functioned to homogenize MAT fragments and MAT genes in each species. © 2013 .
Authors & Co-Authors
Bolton, Melvin D.
United States, Washington, D.c.
Usda Agricultural Research Service
de Jonge, Ronnie
Belgium, Ghent
Vlaams Instituut Voor Biotechnologie
Belgium, Ghent
Universiteit Gent
Inderbitzin, Patrik
United States, Davis
University of California, Davis
Liu, Zhaohui
United States, Fargo
North Dakota State University
Van de Peer, Y.
Belgium, Ghent
Vlaams Instituut Voor Biotechnologie
Belgium, Ghent
Universiteit Gent
Subbarao, Krishna V.
United States, Davis
University of California, Davis
Thomma, Bart P.H.J.
Netherlands, Wageningen
Wageningen University & Research
Secor, Gary A.
United States, Fargo
North Dakota State University
Statistics
Citations: 13
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.fgb.2013.10.011
ISSN:
10871845
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Sexual And Reproductive Health