A Large-Scale Functional Analysis of Putative Target Genes of Mating-Type Loci Provides Insight into the Regulation of Sexual Development of the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005486
• Publication Date: 2015-09-03T17:52:17Z
• Authors: Hee-Kyoung Kim; Seong-Mi Jo; Gi-Yong Kim; Da-Woon Kim; Yeon-Ki Kim; Sung-Hwan Yun
• Keywords: Sexual reproduction; Aspergillus nidulans

Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of head blight in cereal crops, produces sexual progeny (ascospore) as an important overwintering and dissemination strategy for completing disease cycle. This homothallic ascomycetous species does not require a partner mating; instead, it carries two opposite mating-type (MAT) loci single nucleus to control development. To gain comprehensive understanding regulation development F. we used in-depth high-throughput analyses examine target genes controlled transcriptionally by two-linked MAT (MAT1-1, MAT1-2). We hybridized genome-wide microarray with total RNAs from graminearum mutants that lacked each locus individually or together, overexpressed MAT1-2-1, well their wild-type progenitor, at early stage A comparison gene expression levels revealed 1,245 differentially expressed (DEGs) among all examined. Among these, involved metabolism, cell wall organization, cellular response stimuli, adhesion, fertilization, development, chromatin silencing, signal transduction, were significantly enriched. Protein binding analysis presence putative core DNA sequences (ATTAAT ATTGTT) HMG (high mobility group)-box motif MAT1-2-1 protein. Targeted deletion 106 DEGs 25 specifically required most which regulated both MAT1-1 MAT1-2 loci. Taken together patterns key genes, propose regulatory pathway MAT-mediated may be activated several environmental cues via remodeling and/or signaling pathways, then least during cascades networks involving downstream transcription factors RNA interference pathway.