The clp1 gene of the mushroom Coprinus cinereus is essential for A-regulated sexual development

Ustilago maydis as a Pathogen

The Ustilago maydis-maize pathosystem has emerged as the current model for plant pathogenic basidiomycetes and as one of the few models for a true biotrophic interaction that persists throughout fungal development inside the host plant. This is based on the highly advanced genetic system for both the pathogen and its host, the ability to propagate U. maydis in axenic culture, and its unique capacity to induce prominent disease symptoms (tumors) on all aerial parts of maize within less than a week. The corn smut pathogen, though economically not threatening, will continue to serve as a model for related obligate biotrophic fungi such as the rusts, but also for closely related smut species that induce symptoms only in the flower organs of their hosts. In this review we describe the most prominent features of the U. maydis-maize pathosystem as well as genes and pathways most relevant to disease. We highlight recent developments that place this system at the forefront of understanding the function of secreted effectors in eukaryotic pathogens and describe the expected spin-offs for closely related species exploiting comparative genomics approaches.

Novel Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase expressed in actively growing mycelia of the basidiomycetous mushroom Coprinus cinereus

We isolated cDNA clones for novel protein kinases by expression screening of a cDNA library from the basidiomycetous mushroom Coprinus cinereus. One of the isolated clones was found to encode a calmodulin (CaM)-binding protein consisting of 488 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 53,906, which we designated CoPK12. The amino acid sequence of the catalytic domain of CoPK12 showed 46% identity with those of rat Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) I and CaMKIV. However, a striking difference between these kinases is that the critical Thr residue in the activating phosphorylation site of CaMKI/IV is replaced by a Glu residue at the identical position in CoPK12. As predicted from its primary sequence, CoPK12 was found to behave like an activated form of CaMKI phosphorylated by an upstream CaMK kinase, indicating that CoPK12 is a unique CaMK with different properties from those of the well-characterized CaMKI, II, and IV. CoPK12 was abundantly expressed in actively growing mycelia and phosphorylated various proteins, including endogenous substrates, in the presence of Ca2+/CaM. Treatment of mycelia of C. cinereus with KN-93, which was found to inhibit CoPK12, resulted in a significant reduction in growth rate of mycelia. These results suggest that CoPK12 is a new type of multifunctional CaMK expressed in C. cinereus, and that it may play an important role in the mycelial growth.

Dikaryotic cell division of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Dikaryons, cells with two haploid nuclei contributed by the members of a mating pair, are part of the life cycle of many filamentous fungi, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the division of dikaryons are largely unknown. We found that the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has a latent ability to divide as a dikaryon. Cells capable of restarting the mitotic cycle with two nuclei were prepared by transient inactivation of the septation initiation network. Close pairing of the two nuclei before mitosis was dependent on minus-end-directed kinesin Klp2p and was essential for propagation as a dikaryon. The two spindles extended in opposite directions, keeping their old spindle pole bodies at the prospective site of cell division until the mid-anaphase. The spindles then overlapped, exchanging the inner nuclei. Finally, twin mitosis was followed by a single cytokinesis, producing two daughter dikaryons carrying copies of the original pair of nuclei.

Sexual development in Cryptococcus neoformans requires CLP1, a target of the homeodomain transcription factors Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a

Sexual development in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is a multistep process that results in the formation of spores, the likely infectious particles. A critical step in this developmental process is the transition from bud-form growth to filamentous growth. This transition is controlled by the homeodomain transcription factors Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a, whose targets are largely unknown. Here we describe the discovery of a gene, CLP1, that is regulated by Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a and is essential for sexual development. In vitro binding studies also show that the CLP1 promoter is bound directly by Sxi1alpha and Sxi2a. The deletion of CLP1 leads to a block in sexual development after cell fusion but before filament formation, and cells without CLP1 are unable to grow vegetatively after cell fusion. Our findings lead to a model in which CLP1 is a downstream target of the Sxi proteins that functions to promote growth after mating and to establish the filamentous state, a critical step in the production of spores.

The exp1 gene essential for pileus expansion and autolysis of the inky cap mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea (Coprinus cinereus) encodes an HMG protein

The homobasidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea is a member of the fungi known as inky cap mushrooms, and its fruiting-body pileus autolyzes soon after completion of the development. During the last 3h of the development, the pileus exhibits umbrella-like expansion: the pileal tissue is cracked at the base of each gill and then each gill tissue is split to form a V-shape, as seen in a cross section. We identified two C. cinerea mutants defective in both pileus expansion and autolysis. The defects in both mutants are due to recessive mutations in a single gene, designated exp1. The exp1 gene is predicted to encode an HMG1/2-like protein with two HMG domains. The transcription of exp1 is strongly induced in the pileus 3h before pileus expansion. This result, together with the fact that the exp1 mutations cause a specific developmental phenotype, suggest that Exp1 is a novel, transcriptional regulator controlling the final phase of fruiting-body morphogenesis.

Involvement of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases in mycelial growth of the basidiomycetous mushroom, Coprinus cinereus

Although multifunctional Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM-kinases) are widely distributed in animal cells, the occurrence of CaM-kinases in the basidiomycetous mushroom has not previously been documented. When the extracts from various developmental stages from mycelia to the mature fruiting body of Coprinus cinereus were analyzed by Western blotting using Multi-PK antibodies, which had been generated to detect a wide variety of protein serine/threonine kinases (Ser/Thr kinases), a variety of stage-specific Ser/Thr kinases was detected. Calmodulin (CaM) overlay assay using digoxigenin-labeled CaM detected protein bands of 65 kDa, 58 kDa, 46 kDa, 42 kDa, and 38 kDa only in the presence of CaCl(2), suggesting that these bands were CaM-binding proteins. When the CaM-binding fraction was prepared from mycelial extract of C. cinereus by CaM-Sepharose and analyzed with Multi-PK antibodies, two major immunoreactive bands corresponding to 65 kDa and 46 kDa were detected. CaM-binding fraction, thus obtained, exhibited Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinase activity toward protein substrates such as histones. These CaM-kinases were found to be highly expressed in the actively growing mycelia, but not in the resting mycelial cells. Mycelial growth was enhanced by the addition of CaCl(2) in the culture media, but inhibited by the addition of EGTA or trifluoperazine, a potent CaM inhibitor. This suggested that CaM-dependent enzymes including CaM-kinases play crucial roles in mycelial growth of basidiomycete C. cinereus.

The Clp1 protein is required for clamp formation and pathogenic development of Ustilago maydis

In the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, pathogenic development is controlled by a heterodimer of the two homeodomain proteins bE and bW, encoded by the b-mating-type locus. We have identified a b-dependently induced gene, clampless1 (clp1), that is required for the proliferation of dikaryotic filaments in planta. We show that U. maydis hyphae develop structures functionally equivalent to clamp cells that participate in the distribution of nuclei during cell division. In clp1 mutant strains, dikaryotic filaments penetrate the plant cuticle, but development is stalled before the first mitotic division, and the clamp-like structures are not formed. Although clp1 is immediately activated upon b-induction on the transcriptional level, nuclear-localized Clp1 protein is first observed at the stage of plant penetration prior to the first cell division. Induced expression of clp1 strongly interferes with b-dependent gene regulation and blocks b-dependent filament formation and b-dependent cell cycle arrest. We speculate that the Clp1 protein inhibits the activity of the bE/bW heterodimer to facilitate the cell cycle progression during hyphal growth.

The dst1 gene involved in mushroom photomorphogenesis of Coprinus cinereus encodes a putative photoreceptor for blue light

The homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus exhibits remarkable photomorphogenesis during fruiting-body development. Under proper light conditions, fruiting-body primordia proceed to the maturation phase in which basidia in the pileus undergo meiosis, producing sexual spores, followed by stipe elongation and pileus expansion for efficient dispersal of the spores. In the continuous darkness, however, the primordia do not proceed to the maturation phase but are etiolated: the pileus and stipe tissues at the upper part of the primordium remain rudimentary and the basal part of the primordium elongates, producing "dark stipe." In this study we genetically analyzed five strains that produce dark stipes even if light conditions promoting the maturation are given and then characterized one of them, Uar801 (dst1-1). The dst1 gene was cloned as a DNA fragment that rescues the dst1-1 mutation. Dst1 is predicted to be a protein of 1175 amino acids that contains two PAS domains, a coiled-coil structure, and a putative, glutamine-rich, transcriptional activation domain (AD). One of the PAS domains exhibits significant similarity to the LOV domains of known blue-light receptors, suggesting that Dst1 is a blue-light receptor of C. cinereus. The dst1-1 mutation is predicted to truncate the putative AD in the C-terminal region.

The eln3 gene involved in fruiting body morphogenesis of Coprinus cinereus encodes a putative membrane protein with a general glycosyltransferase domain

We identified and characterized elongationless3 (eln3-1), a restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) mutation affecting fruiting body morphogenesis in Coprinus cinereus. The mutant produces an aberrant fruiting body in which the stipe hardly elongates during fruiting body maturation. In the wild type, cylindrical stipe cells, elongation growth of which is responsible for stipe elongation, make side-by-side contact with one another and run parallel to the stipe axis, whereas in the mutant, the organization of the stipe tissue is disturbed and much space is produced between stipe cells. This disorganization of the stipe tissue, together with reduced elongation of the stipe cells, causes the mutant stipe short and bulgy. After a plasmid rescue, the eln3 gene was identified as a DNA fragment that complements the eln3-1 mutation. The eln3 ORF is predicted to encode a protein of 927 amino acids with a general glycosyltransferase domain and to be located in the plasma membrane. Transcription of the eln3 gene is specifically activated in rapidly elongating stipes. Possible involvement of the putative Eln3 enzyme in cell-to-cell connection is discussed.

A linkage map of the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus based on random amplified polymorphic DNAs and restriction fragment length polymorphisms

A genetic linkage map of the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus was constructed on the basis of the segregation of 219 RAPD markers, 28 RFLP markers and the A and B mating-type loci among 40 random basidiospore progeny from a single cross between a wild-type homokaryon, KF(3)#2, and an AmutBmut strain, #326. Thirteen linkage groups covering a total of 1346cM were identified and correlated to the 13 chromosomes of this fungus by hybridization of RFLP and RAPD marker probes to CHEF blots. These probes also revealed chromosome length polymorphisms (CLP), which could be associated with haplotype plots of the progeny. The average kb/cM ratio in this cross was approximately 27.9kb/cM. The AmutBmut strain undergoes sexual development without mating, because of mutations in both A and B mating-type loci, and has been used to identify mutations affecting developmental processes such as dikaryosis, fruit body morphogenesis, and meiosis. The markers in the map, especially the RAPD ones, would facilitate mapping of genes responsible for such mutations induced in the AmutBmut strain.

Isolation and characterization of mutations that affect nuclear migration for dikaryosis in Coprinus cinereus

We identified 14 Coprinus cinereus variants defective in nuclear migration for dikaryosis after restriction enzyme-mediated integration mutagenesis. All the variants were able to donate nuclei but failed to accept nuclei in compatible matings. Of the 14 variants, six were due to single-gene mutations. We characterized num1, a gene responsible for one of the mutations. The num1 ORF interrupted by three introns is predicted to encode a protein of 217 amino acids. The Num1 protein has two leucine-zipper motifs, one at the N-terminal region and the other at the C-terminal region. Num1 is also predicted to form a coiled-coil structure in its C-terminal half. The num1-1 mutant allele is predicted to produce a truncated peptide with only one leucine-zipper motif at the N-terminal region. A plasmid carrying a sequence for the truncated peptide could inhibit nuclear migration when introduced into a wild-type strain, showing that the num1-1 mutant allele is dominant negative. The transcription of num1 is down-regulated when the pathway regulated by B mating-type genes is activated.

The art and design of genetic screens: filamentous fungi

In the 1940s, screens for metabolic mutants of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa established the fundamental, one-to-one relationship between a gene and a specific protein, and also established fungi as important genetic organisms. Today, a wide range of filamentous species, which represents a billion years of evolutionary divergence, is used for experimental studies. The developmental complexity of these fungi sets them apart from unicellular yeasts, and allows the development of new screens that enable us to address biological questions that are relevant to all eukaryotes.

Molecular genetics of sexual development in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus

Sexual development in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus is under the control of two mating type loci, A and B. When two haploid homokaryons with compatible alleles at both A and B loci are mated, the coordinated activities of A- and B-regulated pathways lead to formation of a mycelium termed the dikaryon, in which the two nuclei from the mating partners pair in each cell without fusing. The dikaryon is a prolonged mycelial stage that can be induced to develop a multicellular structure, the mushroom, under proper environmental conditions. The two nuclei fuse in specialized cells on the mushroom and immediately undergo meiosis to complete the sexual life cycle. It has been established recently that the A genes encode two classes of homeodomain proteins while the B genes encode pheromones and their receptors. More recently, molecular genetics has been used to reveal genes that work downstream of the mating type genes to regulate dikaryon formation, mushroom morphogenesis, and meiosis.

Identification of genes in the bW/bE regulatory cascade in Ustilago maydis

In the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, the switch to filamentous growth and pathogenic development is controlled by a heterodimeric transcription factor consisting of the bW and bE homeodomain proteins. To identify genes in the regulatory cascade triggered by the bW/bE heterodimer, we have constructed strains in which transcription of the b genes is inducible by either arabinose or nitrate. At different time-points after induction, genes that are switched on or off were identified through a modified, non-radioactive RNA fingerprint procedure. From 348 gene fragments isolated initially, 48 fragments representing 34 different genes were characterized in more detail. After eliminating known genes, false positives and genes influenced in their expression profile by media conditions, 10 new b-regulated genes were identified. Of these, five are upregulated and five are downregulated in presence of the b heterodimer. Two do not share significant similarity to database entries, whereas the other eight show similarity to disulphide isomerases, exochitinases, cation antiporters, plasma membrane (H+)-ATPases, acyl transferases, a capsular associated protein of Cryptococcus neoformans, DNA polymerases X, as well as to a potential protein of Neurospora crassa. We demonstrate that in one of the early upregulated genes, the promoter can be bound by a bW/bE fusion protein in vitro. Interestingly, three out of the four genes that are downregulated by the b heterodimer appear upregulated after pheromone stimulation, suggesting a connection to the mating process.