ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Key words Mating type
;
Pheromones
;
Mitochondrial inheritance
;
Fungal development
;
Ustilago maydis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The a mating type locus of Ustilago maydis contains the structural genes for a pheromone-based cell recognition system that governs fusion of haploid cells. The locus exists in two alleles, termed a1 and a2. We have completed the analysis of the nucleotide sequences unique to a1 and a2. Within these dissimilar regions we find two short patches of DNA sequence similarity. Interestingly, one of these segments corresponds to the transcribed region of the a1 pheromone precursor. As a result of multiple nucleotide exchanges this sequence does not code for a functional product. The existence of a second pheromone gene in the a2 allele suggests that the present locus had a multiallelic ancestor. In addition, we describe the presence of two additional genes in the a2 allele. We have investigated the role of these genes during mating and pathogenic development and speculate that they might affect mitochondrial inheritance.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02174029
